1979 Honda CR125 Clean Up

wfoskir
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wfoskir
Edited Date/Time 12/25/2020 5:05pm
I picked up this bike about 2 months ago and have been cleaning it up to get it in good running shape. Not trying to make it a show piece but more of a rider/racer. I like my bikes to be clean and period correct as much as possible.
I thought I would share a few pics. Also I could use any info out there on where to find a 23” front tire.
This is what the bike looked like after purchase, with new fenders I installed. Then I decided to go bit further.







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aberg
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aberg 8/4/2018 2:35pm
8/4/2018 2:35pm
looking great, love seeing cleanup/resto projects
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a22
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a22 8/4/2018 3:13pm
8/4/2018 3:13pm
Looks like you are doing a good job and great bike. I had a 23" whole wheel and hub a couple of years ago but chucked it out- stupid as now hard to find!
Good luck with the bike and post more pics- loved these at the time with the red rocket engines!
a22
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a22 8/4/2018 3:57pm
8/4/2018 3:57pm
How did you clean the forks? They looks good.Smile
barnett468
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barnett468 8/4/2018 8:15pm
8/4/2018 8:15pm Edited Date/Time 8/4/2018 8:31pm
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy these bikes. Most people that have them put 21" front wheels on them. Also, the 1980 is far better in nearly every regard and is legal for calvmx GP1 and ahrma GP classes.
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SLOWTIME
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SLOWTIME 8/4/2018 8:47pm
8/4/2018 8:47pm
The tank is beautiful! I hope you leave it as is.
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KMC440
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KMC440 8/5/2018 4:45am
8/5/2018 4:45am Edited Date/Time 8/5/2018 5:00am
I have a whole 23" front with the stock Bridgestone still on it. Would LOVE to see it go to a good home. It has the Trail Wing dual purpose on it and a quick search looks like that's the only one left out there for the 23. Hope I'm wrong in your case.

Basically out of my garage is good enough. Whistling

Oh ... and the tire is in pretty good shape hardly worn.
wfoskir
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wfoskir 8/5/2018 8:52am
8/5/2018 8:52am
a22 wrote:
How did you clean the forks? They looks good.Smile
I used a scotch brite wheel on an electric drill. I don’t know what grit it was, Brown in color. I put the leg in a vise and went around the leg. I didn’t want a high polish just trying to get something that resembled the original finish. I was happy how they turned out.
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wfoskir
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wfoskir 8/5/2018 8:56am
8/5/2018 8:56am
barnett468 wrote:
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy...
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy these bikes. Most people that have them put 21" front wheels on them. Also, the 1980 is far better in nearly every regard and is legal for calvmx GP1 and ahrma GP classes.
Yea, I kind of was assuming that about the 23” wheel/tire. I didn’t check that before I purchased. Probably wouldn’t have held me back but would have been nice to know first.
I was figuring I would need to get a 21” wheel. I heard they handle different with a 21” wheel. Is this true? If so how big a difference?
wfoskir
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wfoskir 8/5/2018 8:58am
8/5/2018 8:58am
SLOWTIME wrote:
The tank is beautiful! I hope you leave it as is.
Thanks. Yes, actually feel the same way and plan to leave it as is. I want to ride this bike and don’t want to make so perfect I would afraid to do so.
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wfoskir
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wfoskir 8/5/2018 8:59am
8/5/2018 8:59am
KMC440 wrote:
I have a whole 23" front with the stock Bridgestone still on it. Would LOVE to see it go to a good home. It has the...
I have a whole 23" front with the stock Bridgestone still on it. Would LOVE to see it go to a good home. It has the Trail Wing dual purpose on it and a quick search looks like that's the only one left out there for the 23. Hope I'm wrong in your case.

Basically out of my garage is good enough. Whistling

Oh ... and the tire is in pretty good shape hardly worn.
Can you send me a pic?
barnett468
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barnett468 8/5/2018 9:26am
8/5/2018 9:26am
barnett468 wrote:
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy...
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy these bikes. Most people that have them put 21" front wheels on them. Also, the 1980 is far better in nearly every regard and is legal for calvmx GP1 and ahrma GP classes.
wfoskir wrote:
Yea, I kind of was assuming that about the 23” wheel/tire. I didn’t check that before I purchased. Probably wouldn’t have held me back but would...
Yea, I kind of was assuming that about the 23” wheel/tire. I didn’t check that before I purchased. Probably wouldn’t have held me back but would have been nice to know first.
I was figuring I would need to get a 21” wheel. I heard they handle different with a 21” wheel. Is this true? If so how big a difference?
unfortunately the 21" wheel changes the steering head angle and helps one issue by improving cornering but it causes others, and there is no way around it, but unless you ride half way fast, it will be "ok".
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barnett468
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barnett468 8/5/2018 9:26am
8/5/2018 9:26am
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nicko-31
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nicko-31 8/5/2018 5:04pm
8/5/2018 5:04pm
Get a hold of Newman. He knows all about using a 21" front wheel on the 79 and the Al Baker Mode that is required to make it work.
newmann
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newmann 8/5/2018 6:26pm
8/5/2018 6:26pm
nicko-31 wrote:
Get a hold of Newman. He knows all about using a 21" front wheel on the 79 and the Al Baker Mode that is required to...
Get a hold of Newman. He knows all about using a 21" front wheel on the 79 and the Al Baker Mode that is required to make it work.
Laughing Reading through this thread thinking, "the Al Baker mod is easy" and then I see your post. I think I have the article on my computer at work.
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wfoskir
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wfoskir 8/5/2018 6:42pm
8/5/2018 6:42pm
What is the Al Baker mob?
newmann
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newmann 8/5/2018 7:08pm
8/5/2018 7:08pm
wfoskir wrote:
What is the Al Baker mob?
Cut about 9 mm out of the top frame tube, pull it back and tack weld in place. Heat the front downtube where it joins the cradle to stress relieve. Gusset the lower cradle and weld and gusset the upper tube. Gets you where you want to be for the 21 inch front wheel.


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newmann
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newmann 8/5/2018 7:13pm
8/5/2018 7:13pm
The 80 model seat contours up into the tank much better than the 79 after the frame mod. A little taller at the front of the seat if you stick with 12 inches of travel. 10.5 here, front and rear. Works Performance pro racer adjustable piggy backs and Race Tech modded Fox Forx with emulators and full spring/no air. Young son is a little shorter than I am.
wfoskir
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wfoskir 8/5/2018 8:00pm
8/5/2018 8:00pm Edited Date/Time 8/5/2018 8:01pm
Thanks for the tip. This is not exactly what I was hoping for. Longer travel forks won't do the trick? I am short as well, the 79 seat may be just fine for me. If I was able to find a 23" tire, does the bike work fine like that or is it still suggested to install a 21"? I plan to ride the bike, possibly race it but really not trying to make it the bike to win races with. Just a fun thing.
Your bikes look good.

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newmann
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newmann 8/6/2018 11:20am
8/6/2018 11:20am
My first 79 CR125 I had back in 1994 had a 21 inch front wheel on it with everything else being stock. It didn't handle too odd as I remember. It just had the crappy stock suspension on it.
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aberg
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aberg 8/6/2018 1:26pm
8/6/2018 1:26pm
barnett468 wrote:
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy...
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy these bikes. Most people that have them put 21" front wheels on them. Also, the 1980 is far better in nearly every regard and is legal for calvmx GP1 and ahrma GP classes.
wfoskir wrote:
Yea, I kind of was assuming that about the 23” wheel/tire. I didn’t check that before I purchased. Probably wouldn’t have held me back but would...
Yea, I kind of was assuming that about the 23” wheel/tire. I didn’t check that before I purchased. Probably wouldn’t have held me back but would have been nice to know first.
I was figuring I would need to get a 21” wheel. I heard they handle different with a 21” wheel. Is this true? If so how big a difference?
barnett468 wrote:
unfortunately the 21" wheel changes the steering head angle and helps one issue by improving cornering but it causes others, and there is no way around...
unfortunately the 21" wheel changes the steering head angle and helps one issue by improving cornering but it causes others, and there is no way around it, but unless you ride half way fast, it will be "ok".
have a copy on a thumb drive of how Al Baker from FMF would cut the frame just in front of the air box remove 8mm then weld bake together, I am going to do this to mine as I am planning to race it, not a big deal if you have a strong flat table and can weld.
KMC440
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KMC440 8/6/2018 2:42pm
8/6/2018 2:42pm
KMC440 wrote:
I have a whole 23" front with the stock Bridgestone still on it. Would LOVE to see it go to a good home. It has the...
I have a whole 23" front with the stock Bridgestone still on it. Would LOVE to see it go to a good home. It has the Trail Wing dual purpose on it and a quick search looks like that's the only one left out there for the 23. Hope I'm wrong in your case.

Basically out of my garage is good enough. Whistling

Oh ... and the tire is in pretty good shape hardly worn.
wfoskir wrote:
Can you send me a pic?
Sure pm me the digits so I can text it to you ...
wfoskir
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wfoskir 9/23/2018 4:01pm
9/23/2018 4:01pm
Haven’t made much progress lately. I have decided to stick with 23” front wheel for now. Mainly because I just want to get the bike rideable at this point. Thanks for the info on the frame mods. I am likely to do the frame mod later.
Does anyone out there have a stock silencer that would part with?. I have seen a few on eBay, but they look pretty beat. I have a super trap that has been modified to fit. Who ever did it did a nice job, I just don’t want the super trap. If someone is interested in it I would sell it or trade.
I have attached a few photos of the bike as it sits currently and the super trap.
Thanks


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sandman768
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sandman768 9/24/2018 3:15am
9/24/2018 3:15am
Doing a great job...I would keep it close to original & not cut up the frame....seems like a lot of work for minimal gains...
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ssnake919
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ssnake919 10/7/2018 9:58pm
10/7/2018 9:58pm
barnett468 wrote:
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy...
As far as i know there are no mx style 23" front tires left on the planet which is one big reason why people don't buy these bikes. Most people that have them put 21" front wheels on them. Also, the 1980 is far better in nearly every regard and is legal for calvmx GP1 and ahrma GP classes.
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in original wrappings



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barnett468
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barnett468 10/9/2018 9:29pm
10/9/2018 9:29pm
ssnake919 wrote:
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in...
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in original wrappings



And where and when did you buy them?

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wfoskir
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wfoskir 10/9/2018 9:34pm
10/9/2018 9:34pm
ssnake919 wrote:
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in...
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in original wrappings



barnett468 wrote:
And where and when did you buy them?

Well that bike looks good and the tire too. Now, how do I get my hands one?
Do you have a silencer you would sell?
Dick Trickle 10/10/2018 7:54am
10/10/2018 7:54am
We used to call the 79 CR125 the Penny Farthing..



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ssnake919
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ssnake919 10/10/2018 8:36am
10/10/2018 8:36am
ssnake919 wrote:
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in...
Oh yes there are, I have 2 NOS Bridgestone M16 23" tires. One I put on the 79 cr125 I restored and the other still in original wrappings



barnett468 wrote:
And where and when did you buy them?

got them from a guy 2 years ago that had a garage full of NOS tires
barnett468
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barnett468 10/10/2018 9:04am
10/10/2018 9:04am
ssnake919 wrote:
got them from a guy 2 years ago that had a garage full of NOS tires
ok, that kinda proves my point. if someone needs one now, they aren't going t find one.

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a22
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a22 10/10/2018 1:53pm
10/10/2018 1:53pm


That looks one sweet bike though- nice job!
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