The CR125 Project: The 1987 CR125

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The 1987 CR125

This bike is really the one that got my interest up in these bikes. I had this same bike in 1987 and was rather fond of it. For years I have wanted to find one and restore it, a while back I finally started a restore project on a 1986 KX125 (also a bike I previously owned) and knew that at some time I would find the CR125 to do the same. Didn't really think I would find it before the KX was done but the deal was just too sweet.

In the photo below you can see that the sub frame has been tweaked a bit but these bikes had steel sub frames so I should not have a problem getting this one back into alignment.

The Chain shows some serious neglect, Lots of rust from sitting in the barn and not being taken care of after rides. Also the chain is super tight, hope that didn't cause any other issues.

Also notice in the photos of the frame that there is very little paint worn off at the foot pegs.

This bike still has the original front tire. Yes it could have been replaced with another K490 but really who in there right mind would put that crap tire back on there if your going to buy a new one.

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The Back Story

This bike was originally purchased by a woman and her husband for some recreational trail riding. I have her name because its still on the title. They bought this bike (the 87) along with a 1986 CR125 (that I also bought) at the same time new in 1987. They proceded to ride the bikes for a couple of years as the story goes maybe three or four times a year. Then things between them went bad and they ended up divorcing in the early 90s. She got the bikes in the settlement. In 1995 She has a new boyfriend or husband and they decide to give the trail riding a try, they went out a few times but it turned out that they were over it. The bikes then sat in her garage untill Feb of 2010. Now the next owner comes along with his teen age son to purchase the bikes and use them for trail riding together. Neither of the new owner knew anything about bikes (and from the looks of just a few of the things on them I do mean they knew NOTHING about them) so the son takes off like he is invincable on the 1986 bike and procedes to ruin it from what I believe is running it without the use of pre-mix, ( I have not pulled the top end apart just yet). The son then decides to play mechanic and started pulling things apart without knowing what he is doing, so there are some small parts missing but was stopped before too long by Dad and saying they would have someone take a look at them. The 1987 bike was run some but at a much slower pace but probably still with no Pre-mix (it still has compression). So the bikes sit in a barn for some time waiting for Dad to have them looked at. It never happened, Son moved out Dad needs to move across country. After another year and a half in the barn now December 2011 I find the add on Craigs list and bang like that, I have two lightly used mid 80s CR125s for super cheap.