Older Vet guys...and their 125's.

rosebud441
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Bellingham, WA, USA
2/14/2017 10:01am
I actually forget i'm an old guy, don't like to think about it..

Maybe that's why i keep riding 125's, takes me back to a time when i started racing and moto was my life,, Anyway i'm a 125 rider for life.. Plus they just sound and smell so good..







LeeD
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2/17/2017
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San Pablo, CA, USA
2/17/2017 7:08pm
Used to race my 125 Suzuki's, Yamaha's, and KX in Vet Novice and Intermediate, but by Expert, the starts killed me, and the old guys learned to block me going slow into the turns, taking my lines, and weaving in front of me. So, I countered with Open bikes, which solved that problem.
For me, at 140 lbs or so, I was faster on lap times with the 125, but long sandy tracks favored the Open bikes.
1
mark_swart
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11/2/2011
Location
Chapin, SC, USA
2/19/2017 11:24am
Just to follow up on this thread...spoke with my wallet yesterday, worked out a good trade for this 2006 YZ125 plus some cash for my 450F. Can't wait to try it out next weekend, I've been riding an 04 125 so I know this one should kick things up a notch. Plus my numberplates swapped right over haha!



2
2/19/2017 12:01pm
I'm in a similar boat. Rode MX until I was 14, mid pack supermini rider/125C rider on a 2002 YZ250F before a crash and high school IB program took me out of the sport. Did dual sport/ADV riding after I got out of college. Then, 2 years ago picked up a used 08 YZ450F on a whim from a coworker. Liked it at first until I started riding more technical tracks, and anytime I rode on a beat up track, I'd be worn out in 2 laps.

I only weigh 155 pounds, so traded it for a YZ250 2t, and currently still have one now. Even with a flywheel weight and an X CDI, I still find it too much at times. Got to ride a mutual friends 2016 125SX three weeks ago and already decided going that route in the next 2-3 months. Handling and the ability to just use all the power has me sold. Yeah, it's more work but I honestly belive it will make you a better rider since you will have to be more critical of line selection, clutch control and how you are with the brakes. Teaches you to use momentum over just twisting the throttle ala point and shoot 450 style.

With that said, with any 2t, if you're worried about doing your own maintenance with replacing a set of rings and piston 1-2 times a year, I'd shy away.

You'll see more people on 125s because it's getting more and more expensive for an average joe to buy a new 450f or 250f being $9k plus. I've seen leftover YZ and SX go for well under $1000 off MSRP local to me. And with the AMA rule of no one under 14 on 250Fs, more amateur riders are going to be forced to ride 125s for 2-3 years.

Long live the 2t.

The Shop

Frodad78
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USA
2/19/2017 1:01pm
man I wish all us plus 30 125 guys lived in the same area, we would have our own class!
305FC250
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Miami, FL, USA
2/19/2017 1:29pm
I ride a 2015 Husky FC250... Local dealer has a '17 TC125 and this thread really is making it difficult for me to resist lol.
1
motomojo
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Kingman, AZ, USA
2/20/2017 10:15am
All these Vet 125 riders way more than i figured how cool would it be to get everyone together for a 125 ride day somewhere no thumpers no 250's just 125's
I would go for sure.


1
Mx746
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Marietta, GA, USA
5/20/2017 4:31pm
Great thread, I'll be joining you fellas in a few weeks
1
CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA, USA
5/20/2017 4:52pm Edited Date/Time 5/20/2017 4:52pm
motomojo wrote:
All these Vet 125 riders way more than i figured how cool would it be to get everyone together for a 125 ride day somewhere no...
All these Vet 125 riders way more than i figured how cool would it be to get everyone together for a 125 ride day somewhere no thumpers no 250's just 125's
I would go for sure.


125 Dream Race at washougal in August. I'm going!Evil
OR Racer46
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11/24/2014
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Eagle Point, OR, USA
5/20/2017 5:13pm
Joe are you going to race your 125 ? I will have a bike in that race .
CarlinoJoeVideo
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5/20/2017 5:43pm
OR Racer46 wrote:
Joe are you going to race your 125 ? I will have a bike in that race .
Yeah man, are you going to ride?
JRMX59
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Location
Colfax, CA, USA
5/20/2017 8:38pm
I raced a 125 until I was 43, then a 250t until 49, then a 450. Now I'm back on a 250t. That 125 was the most fun.
1
PJRAUS
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AU
5/21/2017 3:31am
I bought an old 06 yz 125 a few weeks ago , the cheapest one I had seen come up for a long time and unbelievably it was in a town just 40 km away.
Put a piston in it, cleaned the power valves ,went trough and serviced everything and made a list of what I'm gonna replace come rebuild time.
Spent about 300 on parts so far . Got to ride it once only so far on a club ride day.....had an absolute bast!
Bike ran great.
125"s have always been my favourite bike! I hadn't had a bike or ridden in 3 years, hopped on that 125 and was at home and comfortable instantly and passing lots of guys on 450's
I also just got a great deal on a brand new 17 yz 450 , but I won't get to ride it for a while yet.
In any case , that 125 will be the bike I ride the most.
I'm 51

1
yzaddict106
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COLLEGE STATION, TX, USA
5/21/2017 6:38am


I'm in the process of building one right now from the ground up. 2003 kx125. Should be done in a few weeks.

1
RockyMtnMX
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27
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11/14/2016
Location
Denver, CO, USA
5/21/2017 7:11am
I'm 47 and have a 2006 rm250 and a 2004 rm125. I rebuilt the 125 from the ground up and I absolutely love riding it....and I'm not even in an ideal environment for it at 5000 ft elevation. I just enjoy focusing on being a better rider with it and nothing beats holding the throttle wide open everywhere......I then feel like I ride my 250 with more aggression and speed after a few Moto's on the 125

Plus a matched pair would look sick in the garage :-)
jeffro503
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St Helens, OR, USA
5/22/2017 10:04pm
Glad to see this thread alive! Perfect timing too...as last Saturday I finally had a chance to ride my Husky for the first time on a descent track.

All I can say is that after 8 freaking motos , I fell in love with that little sucker! Gawd dang...I totally get now what so many other guys have said.

I have some things I want to do to mine , as far as suspension setup , changing the bars and a few other things. But man , that little bike has so much potential!

This past Saturday at mtn view Mx.



1
crc245
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Location
Yorba Linda, CA, USA
5/22/2017 10:14pm
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits Cool

Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is involved in making these tiddlers scream, here's a reminder:
https://youtu.be/yAr71WPFBb4
crc245
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Yorba Linda, CA, USA
5/22/2017 10:20pm
PJRAUS wrote:
I bought an old 06 yz 125 a few weeks ago , the cheapest one I had seen come up for a long time and unbelievably...
I bought an old 06 yz 125 a few weeks ago , the cheapest one I had seen come up for a long time and unbelievably it was in a town just 40 km away.
Put a piston in it, cleaned the power valves ,went trough and serviced everything and made a list of what I'm gonna replace come rebuild time.
Spent about 300 on parts so far . Got to ride it once only so far on a club ride day.....had an absolute bast!
Bike ran great.
125"s have always been my favourite bike! I hadn't had a bike or ridden in 3 years, hopped on that 125 and was at home and comfortable instantly and passing lots of guys on 450's
I also just got a great deal on a brand new 17 yz 450 , but I won't get to ride it for a while yet.
In any case , that 125 will be the bike I ride the most.
I'm 51

Love hearing these stories! While you're replacing parts, have you checked into the shift stop by chance? We lost a transmission and cases after the 06' OE bearing style went out...New Yamaha part number supersedes the defective bearing style with a solid wheel for more consistency.

https://www.thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/512858-replace-your-shift-stop…
1
billyslad
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GB
5/22/2017 10:54pm


I help out a friend Rob Mead who rides a 89 CR125 in the over 45 class against 250s and 500s in the UK Evo series and he make that bike rock
The start line is always a struggle against the bigger bikes but once he gets it wound up it stays that way
Three wins from three at the weekend !
Nothing sounds as wicked as a125 with the taps open
1
PJRAUS
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AU
5/22/2017 11:44pm
crc245 wrote:
Love hearing these stories! While you're replacing parts, have you checked into the shift stop by chance? We lost a transmission and cases after the 06'...
Love hearing these stories! While you're replacing parts, have you checked into the shift stop by chance? We lost a transmission and cases after the 06' OE bearing style went out...New Yamaha part number supersedes the defective bearing style with a solid wheel for more consistency.

https://www.thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/512858-replace-your-shift-stop…
Yes I have replaced it, I was right onto it thanks to a heads up in one of the bike build threads here. The stock bearing style shift stopper was actually in perfect nic, but I replaced it anyway.
However I did have bik problems with up shifting at full throttle from third to fourth...was before I replaced the stopper and haven't ridden it since.
Everything about the bike says that it has never been used for motocross. Owner said it had been used for dirt track and that makes sense.
Anyway, the cylinder is very worn, as are the swing arm bearings and seals. No matter. Gonna get lots of hours on it then do a full , ground up rebuild....
Although it will be very hard to be without it during the rebuild process....hoping I am really enamoured with the new 450.... Time will tell!
jeffro503
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St Helens, OR, USA
5/22/2017 11:52pm
crc245 wrote:
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits B) Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is...
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits Cool

Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is involved in making these tiddlers scream, here's a reminder:
https://youtu.be/yAr71WPFBb4
Thanks man! Going out and hitting it again tomorrow too! This is so much different from my 250 It's crazy. Very little bottom end....but dang , once you get her moving , it picks up real strong. One other thing that completely shocked me was the braking. Such strong brakes on this bike and being super lite...it stops on a dime. I'm really looking forward on learning how to ride it the right way. It'll be a fun learning experience too!
PJRAUS
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5/23/2017 12:33am
lostboy819 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/05/22/197275/s1200_DSC01145.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/05/22/197276/s1200_DSC01150.jpg[/img]




That looks so good! I find that having a 125 makes me feel 16 years old again! Perhaps racing a 125 is the key to the fountain of youth?
PJRAUS
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AU
5/23/2017 12:37am Edited Date/Time 5/23/2017 12:39am
crc245 wrote:
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits B) Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is...
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits Cool

Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is involved in making these tiddlers scream, here's a reminder:
https://youtu.be/yAr71WPFBb4
jeffro503 wrote:
Thanks man! Going out and hitting it again tomorrow too! This is so much different from my 250 It's crazy. Very little bottom end....but dang...
Thanks man! Going out and hitting it again tomorrow too! This is so much different from my 250 It's crazy. Very little bottom end....but dang , once you get her moving , it picks up real strong. One other thing that completely shocked me was the braking. Such strong brakes on this bike and being super lite...it stops on a dime. I'm really looking forward on learning how to ride it the right way. It'll be a fun learning experience too!
Envy is green ! Shame Kawasaki don't make 125's anymore..I had 2 or three of them from memory!
Congrats on that new Husky! Does it make you feel 16 years old again? I bet it does!
Stay away from those brakes....they only slow you down!
Far as I could tell, Stephan Everts and James Stewart never used them...
CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA, USA
5/23/2017 6:10am
crc245 wrote:
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits B) Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is...
Congratulations Jeffro! Those new Husky's look so trick; even better with the added carbon bits Cool

Just in case people have forgotten how much effort is involved in making these tiddlers scream, here's a reminder:
https://youtu.be/yAr71WPFBb4
jeffro503 wrote:
Thanks man! Going out and hitting it again tomorrow too! This is so much different from my 250 It's crazy. Very little bottom end....but dang...
Thanks man! Going out and hitting it again tomorrow too! This is so much different from my 250 It's crazy. Very little bottom end....but dang , once you get her moving , it picks up real strong. One other thing that completely shocked me was the braking. Such strong brakes on this bike and being super lite...it stops on a dime. I'm really looking forward on learning how to ride it the right way. It'll be a fun learning experience too!
Hey Jeffro, I've had some good luck changing my power valve tension on my KTM125. It's the square bolt near the water pump. You can change the character of when the power valve will hit and how hard. This helped me adapt back to the 125.
RockyMtnMX
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Location
Denver, CO, USA
5/23/2017 9:31am
Good looking 125s! Here is my 2004 RM125 (now a 139)

2
CarlinoJoeVideo
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7517
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA, USA
5/23/2017 9:53am
If this doesn't get you jacked up on 125s, I don't know what willEvil

2
jeffro503
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27645
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St Helens, OR, USA
5/24/2017 7:38pm
Hey Joe...just wanted to say thanks on the tip on the power valve adjustment. My buddy Wardy and Matt both clued me in on the same thing. I found that mine stock was turned out quite a ways. We went in 1.5 turns and it was quite a bit better on the bottom end. I then went one more 1/2 turn and think that's the sweet spot for now. I'll get a few more rides on this stock exhaust then slap on the Scalvini and FMF powercore , re-jet accordingly. Suspension will go to FC here soon , just need the time to drive it on up there.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA, USA
5/24/2017 9:03pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Hey Joe...just wanted to say thanks on the tip on the power valve adjustment. My buddy Wardy and Matt both clued me in on the same...
Hey Joe...just wanted to say thanks on the tip on the power valve adjustment. My buddy Wardy and Matt both clued me in on the same thing. I found that mine stock was turned out quite a ways. We went in 1.5 turns and it was quite a bit better on the bottom end. I then went one more 1/2 turn and think that's the sweet spot for now. I'll get a few more rides on this stock exhaust then slap on the Scalvini and FMF powercore , re-jet accordingly. Suspension will go to FC here soon , just need the time to drive it on up there.
Awesome, I'm at about the same, I think 1.75 with FMF pipe and shorty.

Drop me an email. I'll be up in Portland Mid June-July. Let's go rip. Carlinojoe@yahoo.com

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