Possible 125 project

MX_Andrew83
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Morehead city, NC US
I'd like to pick up an 05 or newer 125 to completely rebuild. I've had a couple of YZ125s as well as a CR125. Not really interested in Suzuki for some reason which only leaves the KX and I don't have to much experience with them. If you were to build one, which would you choose?
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CarlinoJoeVideo
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7517
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11/30/2013
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
8/5/2016 7:01pm
If I went to a bike in the 05 range, i'd do a PC Kawi for sure. If I got the right deal on a used 2016, i'd do a KTM.
8/5/2016 7:07pm
Heres my kawi


mxjon454
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1448
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10/27/2009
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Menifee, CA US
8/5/2016 7:22pm
My buddy has a 05 kx125 and theyre good bikes. I have a 04 suzuki 125 and i love it, but ive always been a suzuki guy. Id never get a cr125, ridden a 05 and a kx100 was probably faster lol go for the kawi, you wont be disappointed.
MX_Andrew83
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Morehead city, NC US
8/5/2016 7:33pm
mxjon454 wrote:
My buddy has a 05 kx125 and theyre good bikes. I have a 04 suzuki 125 and i love it, but ive always been a suzuki...
My buddy has a 05 kx125 and theyre good bikes. I have a 04 suzuki 125 and i love it, but ive always been a suzuki guy. Id never get a cr125, ridden a 05 and a kx100 was probably faster lol go for the kawi, you wont be disappointed.
My friend had an 05 cr125 and I felt like it was way underpowered. I'm leaning towards a kx right now.

Nice bike!

The Shop

Phillip_Lamb
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2062
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12/14/2010
Location
ORANGEVALE, CA US
8/6/2016 9:19am
ive had an 04 rm125, 04 kx125 and a 05 yz125. and raced them when I was a novice/C

kx had worst suspension stock wise but can be made to work(or swap some showas from a kx250f) it handled straights well and it cornered well too, on ground and air it felt very light

rm felt the tallest, is nimble and could carve turns, showa suspension was good but on the light side

yz was ok in handling nothing bad/good. of the three I would say it turned the worst but no by much, and suspension is the best stock

most "issues" can be cured with suspension work or suspension linkage (kx needs the rear dropped)

motor wise (stock) the rm is mid top power, it liked to rev, I also had a modified engine that had good power all over

yz has a well balanced engine with good bottom, I ran it with a PC pipe and it made it too pipey,(sac bottom) and I didn't like it, preferred stock or fmf

the kx had a really strong mid and was the only one that gained the most from a pipe silencer (it helped open to top)

I ran a shorty on every bike. never ran on a track where I didn't need the extra bottom from it


personally I've been more of a sucker form Suzuki's and they fit me better with the taller setup (5'10")
kx was opposite felt low and small
yz again middle of road closer to rm feel compartment wise
8/6/2016 9:24am
The Aluminum Frame YZ's don't justify their premium cost on Craigslist these days. For the money you're way better off picking up a KX, I love the RM's but I also know how much their OEM parts are Dry
PDUB481
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137
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3/3/2009
Location
O Fallon, IL US
8/6/2016 9:44am
Bought this one for $400.00



mxer512
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293
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5/15/2015
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Wichita, KS US
8/6/2016 10:08am
PDUB481 wrote:
Bought this one for $400.00[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146110/s1200_before_125.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146111/s1200_after_125.jpg[/img]
Bought this one for $400.00



8k later
seth505
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10180
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4/1/2008
Location
SD, CA US
8/6/2016 10:13am
I built an RM 2 years ago and it was awesome though not as strong as a yz motorwise. I'm building a CR right now and am wondering if I'll like it as much. Ultimately I want a new KTM Smile
cali11
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2/28/2016
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Federal Way, WA US
8/6/2016 10:49am
PDUB481 wrote:
Bought this one for $400.00[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146110/s1200_before_125.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146111/s1200_after_125.jpg[/img]
Bought this one for $400.00



Nice job!
8/6/2016 11:44am
seth505 wrote:
I built an RM 2 years ago and it was awesome though not as strong as a yz motorwise. I'm building a CR right now and...
I built an RM 2 years ago and it was awesome though not as strong as a yz motorwise. I'm building a CR right now and am wondering if I'll like it as much. Ultimately I want a new KTM Smile
The CR will be even weaker motorwise..
Grizz
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3105
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7/2/2012
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Los Angeles, CA US
8/6/2016 11:48am Edited Date/Time 8/6/2016 11:49am
Kx125rider wrote:
Heres my kawi [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/05/146052/s1200_IMG_7005.jpg[/img]
Heres my kawi


Your subframe looks jacked. Or the fender is broke? Something is making it sit too high.
Markee
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3659
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4/15/2013
Location
Suffolk, VA US
8/6/2016 12:07pm Edited Date/Time 8/6/2016 12:08pm
PDUB481 wrote:
Bought this one for $400.00[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146110/s1200_before_125.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146111/s1200_after_125.jpg[/img]
Bought this one for $400.00



mxer512 wrote:
8k later
Piss off. Dude brought a bike back from the dead and there is always a piece of shit waiting to add something that is not worth a damn thing.
8/6/2016 12:42pm
PDUB481 wrote:
Bought this one for $400.00[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146110/s1200_before_125.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146111/s1200_after_125.jpg[/img]
Bought this one for $400.00



mxer512 wrote:
8k later
And a priceless amount of fun and building later...
xr70
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4/1/2008
Location
La crescenta, CA US
8/6/2016 12:47pm
Kx125rider wrote:
Heres my kawi [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/05/146052/s1200_IMG_7005.jpg[/img]
Heres my kawi


Grizz wrote:
Your subframe looks jacked. Or the fender is broke? Something is making it sit too high.
I was thinking the some thing.
8/6/2016 12:55pm
Kx125rider wrote:
Heres my kawi [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/05/146052/s1200_IMG_7005.jpg[/img]
Heres my kawi


Grizz wrote:
Your subframe looks jacked. Or the fender is broke? Something is making it sit too high.
xr70 wrote:
I was thinking the some thing.
Haha, its actually twisted slightly to the left, but not up. Maybe better angles?



MX_Andrew83
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748
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10/6/2010
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Morehead city, NC US
8/6/2016 1:15pm
My last YZ is in my profile pic. I got rid of it about 3 years ago.
seth505
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SD, CA US
8/6/2016 1:38pm
seth505 wrote:
I built an RM 2 years ago and it was awesome though not as strong as a yz motorwise. I'm building a CR right now and...
I built an RM 2 years ago and it was awesome though not as strong as a yz motorwise. I'm building a CR right now and am wondering if I'll like it as much. Ultimately I want a new KTM Smile
Kx125rider wrote:
The CR will be even weaker motorwise..
Ya, I'm really curious at this point. The RM was a 134 and the CR is a 134 as well and I'm doing more mods to help it, the intake/boot/vforce/head/etc.
brett12486
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280
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5/2/2012
Location
Milton, NY US
8/6/2016 3:21pm
Started to rebuild this then ran out of time. 2003 cr 125. I'm located in NY around the Hudson valley Incase you're interested in purchasing it.

jj welks
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712
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5/14/2015
Location
NH US
8/6/2016 6:06pm
PDUB481 wrote:
Bought this one for $400.00[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146110/s1200_before_125.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146111/s1200_after_125.jpg[/img]
Bought this one for $400.00



Rags to riches lol... Nice work!!
8/6/2016 10:47pm Edited Date/Time 8/6/2016 10:49pm
Had a 04 kx 125 new for a year n half before I got my 06 yz 125 I liked the kx but the yz was better all around period. The yz is better to work on simple little things like the linkage bolts the yz has the flat locking heads on the one side so you only have one nut to remove and only need one wrech. Where the kx has a regular bolt head and you need two wrenches to remove it.

The newer 03 plus kx engine is a copy of the yz engine the power valve porting are a copy of the yz it also a good 5 pounds heavier than the yz. Suspension not even close to the yz stock and the yz makes better power. Sure you can mod the kx a fix the flaws thing I disliked the most on my kx was the lack of ground Clearance make sure your toes are pointing up.

First newer bike I've had in a long time when bottomed out I could feel my feet touch the ground it happened more than once and I don't have big feet!

ledger
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3669
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1/17/2013
Location
TN US
8/6/2016 11:47pm
If I went to a bike in the 05 range, i'd do a PC Kawi for sure. If I got the right deal on a used...
If I went to a bike in the 05 range, i'd do a PC Kawi for sure. If I got the right deal on a used 2016, i'd do a KTM.
^^^^ Yep.
8/7/2016 12:09am Edited Date/Time 8/7/2016 7:31am
I just picked up a 01 YZ 125 with a locked up motor for $100 Now that I have torn into it I am finding its not in bad shape at all, gonna do a yellow hurricane retro kit with black frame and a yellow clark standard size tank so there wont be any blue on it. Dont think i will ride it much but if I do I will throw all the blue plastic on it and go thrash it a little. Cool
mxer512
Posts
293
Joined
5/15/2015
Location
Wichita, KS US
8/7/2016 7:16am
Markee wrote:
Piss off. Dude brought a bike back from the dead and there is always a piece of shit waiting to add something that is not worth...
Piss off. Dude brought a bike back from the dead and there is always a piece of shit waiting to add something that is not worth a damn thing.
oh so I'm a piece of shit? Did I say anything negative? Did I say it wasn't a great build? People like you who are quick to make a personal assessment of ones views off a 7 letter comment. Sarcasm? have you ever heard of it. BTW you may kindly go eat a bag of dicks.
HenryA
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3784
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12/29/2011
Location
Stockholm SE
8/7/2016 9:11am
The KX is a great bike if you can find it for cheap. Go for it Cool
dobe539
Posts
36
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
WA US
8/7/2016 9:43am Edited Date/Time 8/7/2016 9:46am
My dad and myself rebuilt 2 2004 cr 125!

Picked up the 539 one for 1k, have around 1k -1500 into it. Didn't go over kill, just the basics.

726 was 1300. Around 600 into it.

We didn't care about the power issue. They are just fun to ride, and fun to rebuild! Hope you have as much fun as we did with your project.




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gsxr6
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1956
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9/3/2011
Location
Anderson, CA US
8/7/2016 10:11am
That fender or subframe is def bent
burn1986
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12246
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4/16/2010
Location
bossier city, LA US
8/7/2016 10:20am Edited Date/Time 8/7/2016 10:20am
Kx125rider wrote:
Haha, its actually twisted slightly to the left, but not up. Maybe better angles? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146134/s1200_IMG_6917.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/06/146135/s1200_IMG_6915.jpg[/img]
Haha, its actually twisted slightly to the left, but not up. Maybe better angles?



Pretty bike, looks awesome. But . . . is that rear fender sticking straight up in the air? Could you bend it down?

8/14/2016 1:44am
I just picked this up for $550. It doesn't run, but seems like it just needs a carb clean job. I hope to do a Bradshaw replica with it. I already have a lead on a white tank and hope to make it pretty nice with a budget of roughly $2000.





JImmyb1998
Posts
13
Joined
5/4/2016
Location
Brooklet, GA US
10/27/2016 12:45pm
Really enjoyed reading this entire thread. Bike looks great.

We just finished completely rebuilding a 2003 KX125 from the frame up for my son. We race the Southern Off-Road Championship Series, www.sorcs.net, and several GNCC's. He races for Team Kawasaki of Statesboro. He's moving up from the mini class and coming off a 2015 KX100. He's only 14 but 5'10" so he out grew mini's. We thought he was going to move up to a 2015 KX250F. He started practicing and doing a few races on my KX250F and he was doing OK, complained about the weight and not being able to "flick it around". He borrowed a friends RM125 and DESTROYED our test track and came back with a huge grin on his face. I went and bought a donor KX125 that week for 850 bucks, RUNNING!!

Total frame off restoration. Sent motor to Eric Gorr to upgrade it to a 144. We added a 7oz flywheel weight. Brand new Hot Rods crank and bottom end. Sent suspension off to Factory Connection. Pro Circuit exhaust with shorty 304. IMS over sized tank. EVERY bearing, nut, bolt, washer, and hose replaced. Powder coated frame. Polished swing arm. All new Works Connection controls. All new plastics with updated 2016 front fender and number plate with custom graphics. Boyesen magnesium clutch and ignition covers (not pictured because of back order status) New set of DNA wheels, black with green hubs.

www.sorcs.net
https://www.facebook.com/teamkawasakiofstatesboro/?fref=ts

Here are a few pics and some videos of testing.
https://youtu.be/7oJmpu-29P4
https://youtu.be/rCk0X3dxNU8

Thanks,
Jimmyb



















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