Question for you guys...

Tbteam
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Tbteam
Edited Date/Time 1/25/2012 11:45am
Back in 01 I had a guy in Texas build me a really beautifully restored 74 CR125M. I asked him to do it so that I could take it to the track and run the vintage races, and then I promptly broke my back (I'm fine) on my CRF450 and decided to take a break. Over the next few years, I did race a few times on a CRF250, but that Elsinore has just been calling me.

Currently, I have no modern bike. Sold my 06 CRF two weeks ago. Now I'm looking at this old/new CR and I'm beginning to jones a bit for some track action.

It's nice. DG radial head, FMF pipe, Works Performance shocks, Tall seat, big sprockets chain/guide, etc. The guys name is Joe Newmann that built it, and I'm really happy with it.

So... do I do it? I haven't raced a vintage bike since... well since they weren't vintage. The Florida vintage scene looks pretty cool and well organized.

Just thought I'd get some opinions.

Mark
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mosher (MD) 6/12/2007 8:41am
6/12/2007 8:41am
Yes, come join the fun!
whipmeister (MD) 6/12/2007 9:05am
6/12/2007 9:05am
No. You should let me ride it for you. I'll tell you all about it.

Best racing I ever did was on that bike.
YZ_John
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YZ_John 6/12/2007 9:53am
6/12/2007 9:53am
Oh Man..... you've got to do it!! Vintage racing is the most fun you will have with your clothes on!! LOL

Just a few tips about vintage racing.... DO NOT get involved in the politics side of things. Everyone has a differing opinion on what, how and why vintage racing exisits. The problem is that in some cases they are all correct!

Go to the track with the attitude of having a good time and just enjoying the day. There are a bunch of cool people in the vintage scene and all have very interesting stories. It is nothing like a modern race day.

Make sure you take lots of photos of your bike (please post some here) so that you will remember how clean it looks after you race it a few times. Mine is still holding up really well but it is cool that I have a bunch of photos before it was ridden in the dirt.

A 1974 CR125 handles much differently than any modern bike so please take that into consideration. The rear suspension is like 4 inches! But those bikes were so much fun to ride cause they were so light and fast (well for a 125)

Do you know anyone in the Florida vintage scene? If not I can hook you up with a buddy of mine who can at least point you in the right direction. PM me for his e-mail address.

Do it! Have fun and enjoy the new memories.

John
newmann
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newmann 6/12/2007 10:49am
6/12/2007 10:49am
Well Mark, my opinion might be a little biased but I say do it. It can always be freshened up again later. Best thing about the 74 CR125 is ten years ago it was the best bike for its class. Today, it is still the best bike for its class and ten years from now will be no different. Imagine being able to ride the same bike for the next decade and not get outdated! Vintage racing does have its good points and the FLVMX group is definitely one of them. Not only a great group of guys but fast as well. They have always made the trip to Texas to beat up on us when the opportunity arises. Just remember the smooth line and keep it pinned, the 125 is pretty gutless down low. Just shout if you need any help getting it sorted out for the track. Take care.
Joe

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newmann
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newmann 6/12/2007 11:10am
6/12/2007 11:10am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
I found this old floppy in my way back machine. Sorry for the poor quality.[attachment=2:3d046]MVC-012S.JPG[/attachment:3d046][attachment=1:3d046]MVC-010S.JPG[/attachment:3d046][attachment=0:3d046]MVC-009S.JPG[/attachment:3d046]
Tbteam
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Tbteam 6/12/2007 11:21am
6/12/2007 11:21am
And it still looks exactly the same, Joe! You did a really nice job on this bike.

So what's next? Just drain the tank/carb, throw in some race fuel and fire it up?

Mark
FLvet
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FLvet 6/12/2007 12:05pm
6/12/2007 12:05pm
FLVMX is a good group of guys. Low key fun racing on easier tracks. Go for it! BTW I hope your left ankle is in shape. You'll shift that puppy quite a bit.
newmann
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newmann 6/12/2007 12:21pm
6/12/2007 12:21pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
[quote="Tbteam":d4bb1]And it still looks exactly the same, Joe! You did a really nice job on this bike.

So what's next? Just drain the tank/carb, throw in some race fuel and fire it up?

Mark[/quote:d4bb1]

Just as long as no jets are plugged from sitting so long that should be all that's needed. Race fuel definitely, the DG head raises the compression a good bit. Put in a fresh plug and make sure the jetting is spot on for those sandy tracks. That motor was a fairly fresh build with only a couple rides on it when I bought it along with a couple truck loads of Elsinore stuff. Thinking it has a Wiseco piston in it so proper jetting is crucial.
vntgmx
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vntgmx 6/14/2007 2:05pm
6/14/2007 2:05pm
By all means go for it!
You'll have a blast on it and you'll be grinning ear to ear after you realize to keep it WFO & shift the shit out of it.
I have one and it's ridicilous how much fun it is to go roost on that thing.
vntgmx
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vntgmx 6/14/2007 2:08pm
6/14/2007 2:08pm
Oh & here's a tip.Ditch the DG head & put a stocker back on & see if you can find a usable stock pipe & silencer.That's been the best engine setup I've found on a true '74 engine.
whipmeister (MD) 6/14/2007 2:44pm
6/14/2007 2:44pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
[quote="vntgmx":02b56]Oh & here's a tip.Ditch the DG head & put a stocker back on & see if you can find a usable stock pipe & silencer.That's been the best engine setup I've found on a true '74 engine.[/quote:02b56]
Agreed. I did like sticking a 2mm bigger Mikuni on. Lasts way longer before signing off on top.

I holeshot two motos - by a mile- of a combined A/B gate on that setup and totally worn out tires. Had those dudes with the Bassani's and high-$$ port jobs scratchin their heads :D
newmann
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newmann 6/14/2007 3:36pm
6/14/2007 3:36pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
[quote="vntgmx":50de8]Oh & here's a tip.Ditch the DG head & put a stocker back on & see if you can find a usable stock pipe & silencer.That's been the best engine setup I've found on a true '74 engine.[/quote:50de8]

If Mark chooses to "ditch" the DG head, I'll be happy to swap him out for a nice stock one. Or two! Those things are bringing 2-3 hundred for a decent one nowadays. It already has a Mikuni 32mm if I remember correctly and that pipe is actually a CircleF or Ace Racing both which perform about the same as a stock pipe. It runs pretty strong as it is, no need to really do anything to it until he gets a few rides in and decides what it may or may not need. A stock 74 motor, carb and pipe setup runs like a turd. A little pull off bottom through mid and then nothing. What "I" like best is a unmolested 75 cylinder, 34mm Mikuni and a stock 75 pipe. That setup will scream yet still have excellent midrange. One brand of head to the other really makes no real difference. Gearing is very critical and very dependent on terrain, rider weight and engine setup. That is the first place to start as long as the motor is running crisp.
Cortex II 6/14/2007 3:56pm
6/14/2007 3:56pm
By all means, if you already have the bike, just do it! I would love to have a vintage low pipe 125, Honda or Suzuki. The vintage racing scene looks way fun!

BTW, thanks for the pics guys, way cool.
vntgmx
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vntgmx 6/14/2007 7:43pm
6/14/2007 7:43pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
[quote="newmann":5050f][quote="vntgmx":5050f]Oh & here's a tip.Ditch the DG head & put a stocker back on & see if you can find a usable stock pipe & silencer.That's been the best engine setup I've found on a true '74 engine.[/quote:5050f]

If Mark chooses to "ditch" the DG head, I'll be happy to swap him out for a nice stock one. Or two! Those things are bringing 2-3 hundred for a decent one nowadays. It already has a Mikuni 32mm if I remember correctly and that pipe is actually a CircleF or Ace Racing both which perform about the same as a stock pipe. It runs pretty strong as it is, no need to really do anything to it until he gets a few rides in and decides what it may or may not need. A stock 74 motor, carb and pipe setup runs like a turd. A little pull off bottom through mid and then nothing. What "I" like best is a unmolested 75 cylinder, 34mm Mikuni and a stock 75 pipe. That setup will scream yet still have excellent midrange. One brand of head to the other really makes no real difference. Gearing is very critical and very dependent on terrain, rider weight and engine setup. That is the first place to start as long as the motor is running crisp.[/quote:5050f]

Well obviouly we see things differently.I hated the '75 engine characteristics.Those thing's are total light switches and my '74 has only the Mikuni upgrade and has a much broader powerband and is hardly a turd.
Oh & I didn't say he had to give the DG head away.By all means put it on evil bay & let the troops overpay for it.That's called letting market forces work for ya.But either way as long as he rides it in any form he's bound to have tons of fun & on this I think we can concurr.
Tbteam
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Tbteam 6/15/2007 7:17am
6/15/2007 7:17am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
[quote="vntgmx":d258a][quote="newmann":d258a][quote="vntgmx":d258a]Oh & here's a tip.Ditch the DG head & put a stocker back on & see if you can find a usable stock pipe & silencer.That's been the best engine setup I've found on a true '74 engine.[/quote:d258a]

If Mark chooses to "ditch" the DG head, I'll be happy to swap him out for a nice stock one. Or two! Those things are bringing 2-3 hundred for a decent one nowadays. It already has a Mikuni 32mm if I remember correctly and that pipe is actually a CircleF or Ace Racing both which perform about the same as a stock pipe. It runs pretty strong as it is, no need to really do anything to it until he gets a few rides in and decides what it may or may not need. A stock 74 motor, carb and pipe setup runs like a turd. A little pull off bottom through mid and then nothing. What "I" like best is a unmolested 75 cylinder, 34mm Mikuni and a stock 75 pipe. That setup will scream yet still have excellent midrange. One brand of head to the other really makes no real difference. Gearing is very critical and very dependent on terrain, rider weight and engine setup. That is the first place to start as long as the motor is running crisp.[/quote:d258a]

Well obviouly we see things differently.I hated the '75 engine characteristics.Those thing's are total light switches and my '74 has only the Mikuni upgrade and has a much broader powerband and is hardly a turd.
Oh & I didn't say he had to give the DG head away.By all means put it on evil bay & let the troops overpay for it.That's called letting market forces work for ya.But either way as long as he rides it in any form he's bound to have tons of fun & on this I think we can concurr.[/quote:d258a]

I will never ride this bike to its full potential, so regardless of the perceived loss of performance, I'll never change the radial head. It looks way too cool!

I'm definitely going to give it a go. Now I need to wait through the Florida summer lull for the next series to begin.
G-man
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G-man 6/15/2007 8:06am
6/15/2007 8:06am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:02pm
The bike looks great Mark and yes you should race it for fun!

I've never done a vintage race probably because I don't have one as the 81 RM125 I had was loss in a garage fire. The thing is I still was going to try and salvage it as it didn't melt to the ground like my 426 and 87 Hurricane.... <img class= " title="Sad">

So I showed up the morning they were tearing down the garage (had one of those LARGE DUMPSTERS in the street) and I asked "where is the bike that was over there"?
"Oh it's in the dumpster" :shock:

I guess at the time the Suzy was the least of my worries, but man do I regret not having them pull it back out. One of my biggest regrets in life, as I had it since new.
MaxPower
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MaxPower 6/16/2007 6:47pm
6/16/2007 6:47pm
[color=#008000:16a47]On The Pipe has a RM125 for you to race Or 4 of them
[/color:16a47]

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