The Best, Worst Honda CR125 build, 1998 edition

bonseff
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Frisco, TX, USA
bonseff 10/28/2019 3:11pm
10/28/2019 3:11pm
Back in the day I bought one new and had instant regret passing the yamaha shop. Rode and raced for a couple seasons because I was young and financed it. Sounds wack but my fav gearing was a 14/49 - it spread out the 5 gears and prolonged the mid range hit. That being said, I replaced three swing arm chain guides, the bend around the swing arm was stupid thin, keep an eye on it. Also, the airbox design is ridiculous.

But holy hell the bike was bullet proof. Enjoy it!
kdiringer
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Commerce Township, MI, USA
kdiringer 10/28/2019 7:31pm
10/28/2019 7:31pm
bonseff wrote:
Back in the day I bought one new and had instant regret passing the yamaha shop. Rode and raced for a couple seasons because I was...
Back in the day I bought one new and had instant regret passing the yamaha shop. Rode and raced for a couple seasons because I was young and financed it. Sounds wack but my fav gearing was a 14/49 - it spread out the 5 gears and prolonged the mid range hit. That being said, I replaced three swing arm chain guides, the bend around the swing arm was stupid thin, keep an eye on it. Also, the airbox design is ridiculous.

But holy hell the bike was bullet proof. Enjoy it!
Luckily I changed the swingarm to a 2000-01 swingarm and an updated cr airboot that solves alot of the issues that certainly weren't ironed out on the first iteration. It's a good bike, I'm definitely planning a good vintage season next year running transition.
1
Markopolo400
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St. Paul-ish, MN, USA
Markopolo400 10/29/2019 6:41am
10/29/2019 6:41am
Nice bike! Maybe I missed it, why the PC pipe over the BUD that you had on there originally?
1
kdiringer
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Commerce Township, MI, USA
kdiringer 10/30/2019 11:23am
10/30/2019 11:23am
Markopolo400 wrote:
Nice bike! Maybe I missed it, why the PC pipe over the BUD that you had on there originally?
I took the buds pipe off that I initially has thinking that the fitment with the kicker was off, but I now believe that I have a 2000+ kickstart, I've ordered the correct model year kicker and will reassess the fitment with the newer kicker. I might go back to the buds pipe as they're easily replaceable vs a works pipe that was NOS.
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kdiringer
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154
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4/4/2019
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Commerce Township, MI, USA
kdiringer 2/24/2020 4:03am
2/24/2020 4:03am
Got the bike out for an early shake down, roll it out of the shop and immediately notice a coolant leak, that'll have to be addressed, otherwise, it started fine, I think I'm still not quite happy with jetting, it seems to break up a little when I try to tip in hard, so might have to change the clip position, otherwise, its ready for 2020!


8
Borz#36
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RO
Borz#36 4/24/2020 3:24am
4/24/2020 3:24am
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some question: Why you did not fit a crf shock in the bike? Can you make some pictures of the weldings and adjustments on the subframe?
Thank you.
kdiringer
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kdiringer 4/24/2020 3:57am
4/24/2020 3:57am
Borz#36 wrote:
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some...
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some question: Why you did not fit a crf shock in the bike? Can you make some pictures of the weldings and adjustments on the subframe?
Thank you.
I used a KX shock because it was what I could find that was relatively cheap. Additionally, the shock tank was close to the same shape as the stock shock. I wanted it to look stock to the layman, an ohlins or crf shock may not have done that for me.
Borz#36
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Borz#36 4/24/2020 5:25am
4/24/2020 5:25am
Borz#36 wrote:
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some...
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some question: Why you did not fit a crf shock in the bike? Can you make some pictures of the weldings and adjustments on the subframe?
Thank you.
kdiringer wrote:
I used a KX shock because it was what I could find that was relatively cheap. Additionally, the shock tank was close to the same shape...
I used a KX shock because it was what I could find that was relatively cheap. Additionally, the shock tank was close to the same shape as the stock shock. I wanted it to look stock to the layman, an ohlins or crf shock may not have done that for me.
Do you think i can fit this type in? I’l have to cut the subframe and also modify the airbox, but i don’t know what to do...

kdiringer
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kdiringer 4/24/2020 9:00am
4/24/2020 9:00am
Borz#36 wrote:
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some...
Hi kdiringer. I am also rebuilding a 98 cr125 and i want to buy a 2010 crf ohlins shock for it. Let me ask you some question: Why you did not fit a crf shock in the bike? Can you make some pictures of the weldings and adjustments on the subframe?
Thank you.
kdiringer wrote:
I used a KX shock because it was what I could find that was relatively cheap. Additionally, the shock tank was close to the same shape...
I used a KX shock because it was what I could find that was relatively cheap. Additionally, the shock tank was close to the same shape as the stock shock. I wanted it to look stock to the layman, an ohlins or crf shock may not have done that for me.
Borz#36 wrote:
Do you think i can fit this type in? I’l have to cut the subframe and also modify the airbox, but i don’t know what to...
Do you think i can fit this type in? I’l have to cut the subframe and also modify the airbox, but i don’t know what to do...

I'd say that is going to be a serious struggle, I guess anything is possible with enough cutting and welding.

kdiringer
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kdiringer 6/15/2020 7:20pm
6/15/2020 7:20pm
Updated the bike with some black backgrounds since I finally found a shape that did the bike some justice. Been out racing it in the 125/250 class as the oldest bike running.


8
Rickyisms 6/15/2020 9:57pm
6/15/2020 9:57pm
Thing looks prime. Nice build.
Borz#36
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Borz#36 9/21/2020 10:51am
9/21/2020 10:51am
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels are wider?🤔
kdiringer
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kdiringer 9/21/2020 10:53am
9/21/2020 10:53am
Borz#36 wrote:
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels...
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels are wider?🤔
I’m sure there a bearing/spacer combination you could get to work, I used a 2000-01 swingarm,brake,axle so it’s just a bolt on affair
spiros84
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spiros84 3/26/2021 3:14am
3/26/2021 3:14am
Borz#36 wrote:
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels...
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels are wider?🤔
kdiringer wrote:
I’m sure there a bearing/spacer combination you could get to work, I used a 2000-01 swingarm,brake,axle so it’s just a bolt on affair
Hello! I’m doing a rebuild on a 1998 125 and I have a 2015 kxf air fork and I think it is longer than the stock one. Did you do anything about this or the ride hight in the rear. Thank you very much!
kdiringer
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kdiringer 3/29/2021 5:16am
3/29/2021 5:16am
Borz#36 wrote:
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels...
Hi kdiringer! I want to ask you if it’s enought to change only the wheel bearings to fit the newer crf wheels. Or the newer wheels are wider?🤔
kdiringer wrote:
I’m sure there a bearing/spacer combination you could get to work, I used a 2000-01 swingarm,brake,axle so it’s just a bolt on affair
spiros84 wrote:
Hello! I’m doing a rebuild on a 1998 125 and I have a 2015 kxf air fork and I think it is longer than the stock...
Hello! I’m doing a rebuild on a 1998 125 and I have a 2015 kxf air fork and I think it is longer than the stock one. Did you do anything about this or the ride hight in the rear. Thank you very much!
I think both the fork and shock in my case are longer, the bike feels tall, but it handles quite well, so I haven’t worried about it
spiros84
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spiros84 1/4/2022 2:01pm
1/4/2022 2:01pm
Just finished my bike.your build inspired me to do the swing arm with the difference that it is a crf 250 2008 item. Needed some milling about 2mm on each side but it went in really good.it has a rare SPES PIPE and I’ve fitted a fmf shorty.next is a38 carb and a tomasin r&d head.


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brimx153
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brimx153 1/7/2022 7:50pm
1/7/2022 7:50pm
spiros84 wrote:
Just finished my bike.your build inspired me to do the swing arm with the difference that it is a crf 250 2008 item. Needed some milling...
Just finished my bike.your build inspired me to do the swing arm with the difference that it is a crf 250 2008 item. Needed some milling about 2mm on each side but it went in really good.it has a rare SPES PIPE and I’ve fitted a fmf shorty.next is a38 carb and a tomasin r&d head.


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