1979 cb125. Thoughts? Warnings?

[GoldOxide_imp]

I love these old bikes. I would buy it. I have paid more for some. We need to keep these bikes running, that is what they were made for!

Agreed. But I am by no means a mechanic. I have very few tools and next to no willingness to spend money on tools, as well as a congential allergy to complicated wrenching. Honestly, if you look back through my posts youll see what a disaster it isevery time I pick up a tool.. This is one of the reasons the little cb125 single is still so attractive to me. Theres nothing to it.

Agreed. But I am by no means a mechanic. I have very few tools and next to no willingness to spend money on tools, as well as a congential allergy to complicated wrenching. Honestly, if you look back through my posts youll see what a disaster it isevery time I pick up a tool.. This is one of the reasons the little cb125 single is still so attractive to me. Theres nothing to it.
Sounds like an EV bike is in your future?

An EV bike decorated as a vintage classic small bore dino-pumpin' relic?

 

[misterprofessionality]

if they become less expensive to own and less likely to completely fail in the first 4 years of ownership then yes...it's always been something i will likely transition to. But only as a second bike. I will always have a dino bike.

Bad news...the CB125 fell through. the seller turned out to be the Densest MFer i've ever had the displeasure of talking to. He sold it out from under me even though I offered him cash up front. bonkers. who does that? Irregardless, the CB125 is definitely gone and not coming back. the CL175 is still there but i find myself desperate for a backup bike in case that turns out to be a bad purchase too...

Enter the wild card


1973 Suzuki GT185. that's right. a 2smoke small bore twin. i think i'm taking crazy pills. I know there are some people in the group that have extensive experience with vintage japanese 2strokes. any good advice?

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Although not an impossible task, be prepared to endure routine maintenance. It may mean investing in a few wrenches.

 

[Stichill]

A vintage carbureted small-bore 2-stroke could not possibly be more at the opposite end of the spectrum from a "modern" EFI big-bore 1100cc DOHC 4-stroke. As long as that is well-understood going in...go for it.

 

[Tev62]

What a wonderful bike the GT185 was. I had the 250X7 and the T500. Regular spares like bearings, fork seals, brake shoes should be no harder to get than any other bike. Make sure you have a useful source for internal rubber O-rings or consider an O-ring kit that you can make your own up. It is important to keep the internal seals sound as they form part of the 2-stroke crankcase pressure system. If rebuilding the engine you can plug the inlet and exhaust and test for pressure to the manufacturers spec. Carb inlet rubbers should always be in tip top condition, a weak mixture caused by an air leak can overheat the engine very easily, which can often lead to a melted piston crown. I would keep the air inlet side of things stock personally but pod filters were common on 2-strokes. Lastly, if this model has a 2-stroke oil pump, rather than premix, check it is adjusted properly to make sure it is not under delivering oil to the petrol. Otherwise a really simple machine to work on, it would be a delight.

 

[misterprofessionality]

Really simple he says...after a whole paragraph of Greek :laugh:

But seriously I kid. I can admit that all my instincts are screaming at me to just get a 4 stroke single cylinder small bore instead, but its really hard to resist that 2 stroke noise. I do not want to invest in wrenches either, so im gonna have to see what kind of professional resources are available nearby, in the event that something goes bad wrong and im out of my depth.

It doesnt help that the other option available is also a twin. Honestly that cb125 was perfect. A huge missed opportunity. I will forever curse that sellers name.

 

[the Ferret]

Patience Grasshopper. The CB 125 that got sold out from under you is not the only Honda small bore single on the planet. Another will come along.

 

[misterprofessionality]

Well, here's what we ended up with:

1975 Honda CT90 Trail



1980 Honda C70 Cub


It's a perfect pair for me and the wife. They've both lost some compression over time, the CT90 moreso than the C70, but I'm planning a top end rebuild for the CT90, either by me or by my local honda shop. However, they both function and ride and even lacking their full power are a lot of fun. That little cub is just full of smiles, and the Trail is just a silly motorcycle. it's loud....like really loud, and rowdy, and even with its old suspension tracks really well in the dirt. This is what "small bore" is all about.

 

[Houtman_imp]

Nice little bikes ! Good Luck with them .

 

[peterbaron]

yeah, a little mosquito

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Well, here's what we ended up with:

1975 Honda CT90 Trail



1980 Honda C70 Cub


It's a perfect pair for me and the wife. They've both lost some compression over time, the CT90 moreso than the C70, but I'm planning a top end rebuild for the CT90, either by me or by my local honda shop. However, they both function and ride and even lacking their full power are a lot of fun. That little cub is just full of smiles, and the Trail is just a silly motorcycle. it's loud....like really loud, and rowdy, and even with its old suspension tracks really well in the dirt. This is what "small bore" is all about.

Once suited up the way you want it, it will be a blast around old town Charleston. You likely won't regret it.