Might Be picking Up an 03 KX125 Need Some Quick Advice!!

Lightning78
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Edited Date/Time 11/6/2020 7:59am
Need to reach out to the vital brain trust real quick, I just found A 2003 KX125 for sale in my area after looking for 9 months and losing out on the last one because the seller was an asshat (long story I'll explain it later if someone wants to hear it)

Anyway I just talked to this guy and he seems to think that the cylinder might be overbored and I'm hoping to find out if theres a quick and easy way to check the cylinder and know that it does or does not have a sleeve installed in it? I know thats kind of hard question to answer but maybe someone knows???

Btw the bike looks to have the original chain and sprockets plus theres very little boot wear on the frame and clutch cover. Plastics dont look too great and cosmetically it needs some love but the main things are the lack of boot wear and oem chain and sprockets.

I want to avoid asking if I can take the cylinder head off or something like that to check it because the answer will likely be a hard "no"

I'd appreciate any and all input from the experts on here about this situation. I personally don't think it's overbored, in his ad he says its one of the fastest bikes around lol And he told me that his brother told him to say that it was bored out to a 128CC because that makes it sound way fast............ lol again!!

I'll delete this thread as soon as an answer that from the vital brain trust can tell me if its possible.
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11/3/2020 7:43pm
If it's got original chain and sprockets I highly doubt that work was done.
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Lennon
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11/3/2020 8:07pm
I can't think of way you could tell from the outside, unless whoever did the work put some markings on the cylinder. Assuming it's a stock cylinder. Athena does make cylinders for that engine in stock and 58mm (144cc). Sounds like the guy doesn't know anything about it.
MX558
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11/3/2020 8:31pm
My advice is pass . Those bikes were shit , they handled great only because they were slow as shit
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MX558
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11/3/2020 8:33pm
My advice is pass . Those bikes were shit , they handled great only because they were slow as shit
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The Shop

erik_94COBRA
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11/3/2020 9:32pm
If you pull expansion chamber you may be able to feel for liner along bottom of exhaust port. Shouldn’t be any change in material. If there is, or worse a step, then it might have a liner.

Seems unlikely based on original chain and sprockets.
Lightning78
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11/3/2020 10:23pm
Thanks guys!!! ..... cosmetically the bike isnt the prettiest but look close at the rear sprocket, the lack of boot wear on the frame AND on the clutch cover.

Hes asking $2900
I offered $1500 cash tonight
He came back with $2000 and said I can come get it.
I called him and told him I had $1635 cash at home and was ready to come bec in this inflated market $2900 ....even $2000 for a bike this old is too much and I'd lose my ass if I paid that much.
He said he was on his way home, said he would call me back in 45mins which was 2.5 hours ago.

Should I wait it out and see if he takes my offer? He sounded like he was seriously contemplating it and I think he had to run it by a family member.

Do I offer $1800 which is the max I'll pay for it and see of he just goes with that?




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Lightning78
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11/3/2020 10:26pm
MX558 wrote:
My advice is pass . Those bikes were shit , they handled great only because they were slow as shit
Quite the opposite...... they copied the Yamaha engine and while they didnt have as much bottom end as the yz125, they flat out ripped on top!
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TKL965
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11/4/2020 1:52am
Only thing i will say is the 03 is the only year, 04 chnged rear linkage and pipe mounts, forks, triples and few other things changed, I have a 03 and finding pipe and other parts i wanted was hard.
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chump6784
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11/4/2020 1:56am
I'd pass on it. What chain and sprockets came on them stock? I can buy the same chain and sprockets that came stock on my 2010 yz250 and they are the same price or cheaper than other brands. Could have just put a new chain and sprocket on it and as for the lack of wear on the frame and clutch cover, dude probably wore work boots.

The seat is ripped, pipe is dented, fork covers have been painted black by the looks and it has a ronnie mac front guard. That tells me all I need to know about that bike
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Lightning78
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11/4/2020 2:25am
chump6784 wrote:
I'd pass on it. What chain and sprockets came on them stock? I can buy the same chain and sprockets that came stock on my 2010...
I'd pass on it. What chain and sprockets came on them stock? I can buy the same chain and sprockets that came stock on my 2010 yz250 and they are the same price or cheaper than other brands. Could have just put a new chain and sprocket on it and as for the lack of wear on the frame and clutch cover, dude probably wore work boots.

The seat is ripped, pipe is dented, fork covers have been painted black by the looks and it has a ronnie mac front guard. That tells me all I need to know about that bike
@chump6784 I disagree about the chain and sprockets and I'll tell you why ....... the lack of boot wear on the frame AND clutch cover. In my conversation with this guy he did not strike me as someone that would be "smart enough" to replace the c&s with OEM stuff to make the bike look good.

And TKL965.....the reason I'm so all about the 03 kx125 is because I currently ride an 03 KX250 so all that 1 year bike stuff works into my favor, not to mention that my stock kx250 springs will drop right into an 03 kx125 and be PERFECT for my size, weight and ability.

It would be soooopah nice to have an exact match for my kx250 so I could set both bikes up ergonomically matching and just jump from one to the other. Yes I am fully aware that the plastics need some love and the mac fender will be tossed but dont let a bikes appearance fool you, the wear parts have the lack of wear showing it's a really nice stock bike
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luke11
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11/4/2020 2:40am
Sounds like deep down you know you want it regardless, offer him the 1800 and if he accepts, buy it.
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Question
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11/4/2020 3:33am Edited Date/Time 11/4/2020 3:34am
Idk but the fork looks strangely low, probably need a real service. You may hear a weird metallic sound by pushing it. No leak may equal no oil in this case too.

Check all the bolts (plus check if dented/welded swingarm, dented rims, pegs shape, radiators, gear shifter & its axle, check the filter and the box, hear the linkage and try to see if it is shot or not, check the chain kit if it is shot or not too, pass all the gears and see if the bike starts easily, have good compression and run well), that will give you a better indication if the bike is very low hours or not, if it has been abused or not maintained at all.

With wd40, try to tighen the spokes too, I guess they are gripped as s.... When gripped or stuck, the seller usually change his face, proving he didn't do much. ("well maintained" and "new top end" ads with gripped spokes is common on older bikes...)

All that may help your negotiation too ; go with 2000, and discuss cash in hands.

Otherwise, in this market, and as it is the bike you want for a long time, then go for it, $400-500 in plastics/graphics/seat/oil & grease/tires and the bike would look great. And the pipe looks ok too, some little dents is just what it look like after a few rides and you can always bring it back by heating it and with a compressor. That bike can be saved, the base looks already ok. Congrats, you are soon about to have a PC or Stewart replica Wink
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11/4/2020 3:48am
Good gracious man, that thing has had a rough life. Not a reason not to get it but just remember that I'm sure you will uncover more surprises as you get into it. I've bought much rougher than that and really enjoy bringing them back. Good luck with it if you get it.
gristle568
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11/4/2020 9:08am Edited Date/Time 11/4/2020 9:11am
I’d pass on that one for $1800. Looks really rough. I bought an 04 last year that needed a stator for $1000 and rebuilt it but ended up selling this past summer.
yak651
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Fantasy
11/4/2020 9:39am
I would stick with your original offer of $1500. Buuut it sounds like you really want it, so if you have the cash laying around buy it.
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yzf162
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11/4/2020 9:56am
Buy it. It seems like your smart enough to know it's possible it's going to cost a decent coin to get it to where you want it. I did the same thing 03 kx125 in worse shape for 1500.00
But i wanted it and wanted to do a build. Lucky forks kit, kit shock frame neon green powder coat smooth hubs built to the max motor, carb ECT. Yeah buy the time i was done i was 4,700 into it but i had a "brand new" kx125 that was fast as any other built 125 in the country. To start with a newer ktm or YZ I'd be looking at 7-9 grand for what i have.
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jc34
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11/4/2020 10:50am
Id offer him $500 and a 6 pack of Michelob.
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BobPA
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11/4/2020 11:20am
I would pass at the $1800 mark. Something is wrong with those forks, they are riding way low in the stroke. That baby looks like it would need a complete overhaul to be a good 125. I love my 2003 Kawasaki, still one of my favorite bikes to this day.

BTW you can run a 2004-2005 pipe on the 2003 with some simple bracket fabrication. I ran both a PC and Scalvini pipe on mine, both from 2004.

I also still have an OEM 2003 pipe I'd give you for the cost of shipping...A few dingers in it
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Sawfish
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11/4/2020 11:33am Edited Date/Time 11/4/2020 11:33am
That thing is roached! Is the bike market really this crazy right now? That’s a thousand dollar bike.
Skerby
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11/4/2020 12:48pm Edited Date/Time 11/4/2020 12:51pm
The wheels will tell the tale. Check the wheels, it's always the wheels.

Careful with the 2 bike stuff. I did the same thing as you and got a matching 125 for my yz250, spent a lot of time getting them to be basically identical besides the motor, then I stopped riding the 250 entirely. I couldnt make myself ride it when the 125 was so much fun and so much easier for me to ride. Sold 250 when covid hit and actually got good money for it.

Chance1216
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11/4/2020 3:06pm
$1800 could get you a lot more for your money. I bought a low hour 01 CR 250 which had the original tires on it for exactly that price. Its tough when you see a bike or year of bike your searching for to not pull the trigger. By the looks of it, there hasn't been much done in regards to maintenance. Unless your ready to drop more then what you'd bought that bike for bringing it up snuff, pass.
OldPro277
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11/4/2020 3:34pm
If you are just looking for a 125 to build and race, I'd pay 1200-1400 for that bike....BUT if you want an 03 KX 125 to have matching bikes then its worth 1800. Don't lose it over a couple of hundred bucks. If you're anything like me, you'll go thru all of it and do all the seals/bearings etc,etc. Its not like there's an endless supply of 2003 KX125's being sold and as rough as that one may be,it certainly looks like a great foundation to start with. Go get it
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mwssquad827
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11/4/2020 6:41pm
I agree the bike is rough... it’s not roached by any means... when a bike maintenance is in question when I buy a bike, I take a wrench and pull out the rear axle.. it’s super easy to do and it shows if it has been greased or seized in.. also it shows what the wheel bearings look like as well...

I also agree with go over the bike and negotiate with cash in hand...
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Racer142
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Byhalia, MS, USA
11/5/2020 6:37am
Like others have said that bike is rough. You seem to keep going back to frame wear and I can tell you that one is wore. The ridges in the frame make it look better than it is i promise. I had an 04 250 with the same frame ridges. That black like about an inch or two above the ridges is the wear line.
rider892
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11/5/2020 6:49am
That looks like a bike worth 800-1000 right now... things I’ve noticed worn old tires, plastics, torn seat , painted fork guards , dirt on rims (could be fork oil also), frame wear, dented up exhaust, most likely extremely dirty air filter, will need all new bearings , probably needs a fresh motor rebuild, new bars , probably needs brakes redone , suspension probably needs complete rebuild and don’t forget carb rebuild also


I would definitely avoid that bike, you don’t want to buy something that your going to put way more money into then if you hold off for longer for something better to come up. Maybe look at a town close to you and see if there is one for sale.
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11/5/2020 7:04am
Drop the hammer and grab it if that's the bike you want, all you guys complaining about the work it might need are crazy! you might never find a cream puff and even if you did good luck cost 3500+ ...Spending the garage time getting to know the bike and working on it s almost as much fun as riding the ole girl!
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Lightning78
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11/5/2020 9:38am
I agree the bike is rough... it’s not roached by any means... when a bike maintenance is in question when I buy a bike, I take...
I agree the bike is rough... it’s not roached by any means... when a bike maintenance is in question when I buy a bike, I take a wrench and pull out the rear axle.. it’s super easy to do and it shows if it has been greased or seized in.. also it shows what the wheel bearings look like as well...

I also agree with go over the bike and negotiate with cash in hand...
So I went and looked at it yesterday.... it was a COLOSSAL pile of shit!!
Guy had the forks lowered but didnt know how the shop accomplished this and the seals looked to have been blown since the 90's and never fixed (yes I know it's a 2003 bike)
Same exact condition for the shock....blown and the bumper was toast, all split.
The engine looked like it had been in a saltwater air environment for a long time but the bike ran really really well.
Both tires were "ridden on the road" roached
Seat cover was more garbage than it looks
Oh, and he told me he couldnt find the pink slip.

I passed.....if I WAS going to buy the bike I wouldve paid $500 for the shape it was in.
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11/5/2020 9:50am
Sawfish wrote:
That thing is roached! Is the bike market really this crazy right now? That’s a thousand dollar bike.
A thousand dollar bike? It's worth that to Kart racers for the engine/radiator/electronics.
1
Question
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11/5/2020 9:53am
I agree the bike is rough... it’s not roached by any means... when a bike maintenance is in question when I buy a bike, I take...
I agree the bike is rough... it’s not roached by any means... when a bike maintenance is in question when I buy a bike, I take a wrench and pull out the rear axle.. it’s super easy to do and it shows if it has been greased or seized in.. also it shows what the wheel bearings look like as well...

I also agree with go over the bike and negotiate with cash in hand...
So I went and looked at it yesterday.... it was a COLOSSAL pile of shit!! Guy had the forks lowered but didnt know how the shop...
So I went and looked at it yesterday.... it was a COLOSSAL pile of shit!!
Guy had the forks lowered but didnt know how the shop accomplished this and the seals looked to have been blown since the 90's and never fixed (yes I know it's a 2003 bike)
Same exact condition for the shock....blown and the bumper was toast, all split.
The engine looked like it had been in a saltwater air environment for a long time but the bike ran really really well.
Both tires were "ridden on the road" roached
Seat cover was more garbage than it looks
Oh, and he told me he couldnt find the pink slip.

I passed.....if I WAS going to buy the bike I wouldve paid $500 for the shape it was in.
Good for you. It looked ok on the pics but sometimes it is indeed better to pass in front of the bike when it is too roached, especially when the price differential is too big.
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Sawfish
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11/5/2020 10:03am
Sawfish wrote:
That thing is roached! Is the bike market really this crazy right now? That’s a thousand dollar bike.
A thousand dollar bike? It's worth that to Kart racers for the engine/radiator/electronics.
I forgot I was on vitalgokart.

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