Posts
154
Joined
4/4/2019
Location
Commerce Township, MI
US
Edited Date/Time
1/7/2022 7:50pm
I decided I wanted to build a first gen Aluminum Frame Cr to go along with my 2014 CRF250 that I am nearly done with.
Started searching the interwebs for a 250, but ultimately decided a 125 would be a fun build and still enjoy myself when I did decide to go out with it.
I found this 1998 CR125 for $400 on the ole Facespace Marketplace, the owner said it needed a top end, but we sent it and spent the first week tearing into it to see what all was going to be needed.
It had new plastics, but was all kinds of roached out, blown suspension, cracked wheels.
This goes along with my current mess of a garage as 4 bikes and a trailer, one torn down completely makes for less than ideal space.
SwingArm:
Tore the engine down to find that the Bottom and top ends were in good shape:
Cleaned the Frame up and started ordering Parts:
At this point, I was hoping to be able to try to make it to the Mid-Ohio Vintage festival over the 4th of July weekend, but it seems like the parts are coming in slowly and I have too much work to finish prior to then, so I'll spectate and wait until next year.
Started searching the interwebs for a 250, but ultimately decided a 125 would be a fun build and still enjoy myself when I did decide to go out with it.
I found this 1998 CR125 for $400 on the ole Facespace Marketplace, the owner said it needed a top end, but we sent it and spent the first week tearing into it to see what all was going to be needed.
It had new plastics, but was all kinds of roached out, blown suspension, cracked wheels.
This goes along with my current mess of a garage as 4 bikes and a trailer, one torn down completely makes for less than ideal space.
SwingArm:
Tore the engine down to find that the Bottom and top ends were in good shape:
Cleaned the Frame up and started ordering Parts:
At this point, I was hoping to be able to try to make it to the Mid-Ohio Vintage festival over the 4th of July weekend, but it seems like the parts are coming in slowly and I have too much work to finish prior to then, so I'll spectate and wait until next year.
I did some reasearch and found that the 2000-2001 CR swingarm would fit the first gen AF, only changes that were required were taken care of by taking the swingarm and having the linkage mount bolt location drilled to 15mm.
I had this machined, though looking back it could likely have been done on a drill press.
This allowed me to use 2000+ CR/CRF rear wheels which are much more common and lighter.
Parts you'll need:
2000-01 CR Swingarm
2000-01 CR Rear brake carrier
2000+ CR/CRF Rear wheel
2000+ CR/CRF rear axle
Got the top end replaced with new gaskets and new hardware.
The engine went in without issue
New Old stock engine mount bolts replaced the home depot bolts I had removed.
New pipe came in and was installed
I decided that the blown forks would be replaced to more modern suspension, which opened more options for rebuild. This required fitting a set of CRF clamps that I had left over from another build. simple as replacing the bearings and fitting up.
You can see the spacer setup that I had to use to get the stock fender to fit to the newer triple clamp
Something that keeps the drive going:
Built up the controls prior to my bar mounts coming in
My graphics finally came in, Throttle Jockey killed it as always, this should really bring the vintage-ish theme together
Period Correct UFO Stadium plate
A bunch of smaller items are on order as I work though the myriad of issues that a basket case comes with, such as the 95 kicker that wont fit when a pipe correct to the year is fitted. and so on.
I'll keep updating as I find time to work on this.
Cheers Vital!
Anyways, on to what everyone is here for: The Pictures
Current plan is to get everything fitted prior to cleaning for the final time to verify fitment before spending the time to detail.
Cheers Vital!
I should have everything to get this running and then really get into the final assembly and get this finalized.
The last thing I need to evaluate is the rear shock, there seems to be some current production shocks that may fit, though the length is my main concern, which I suppose could be solved with a different dog bone, I may look at the bike's Rear geometry as it comes together.
The Shop
I finally got a few nights to work on the bike, got the electronics reinstalled and had good spark. I rebuilt the carb, but it seems like the float might be stuck as its leaking fuel once the petcock is turned on, so that will have to come off again.
I got Pro Circuit Pegs from CRGuy, and fit them to the bike with some Ti Hardware.
I decided to hold on doing the carb as I wanted to fit everything to see what was left to do before I have a gauntlet of races, 3 weekends back to back to back.
I got the wheels mounted up and trimmed the brackets from the brake caliper bracket which seems to be standard procedure. I still need to mount up the brake line in the rear and that will likely be and early next week job, after tackling the carburetor.
I cleaned the rad louvers which are not available anymore, but they were still in quite the sorry state. I decided to plastidip them to see how they would look and would be removable if all else fails. Jury is still out on these, I also picked up another set of used louvers in a bit nicer condition so I may swap to those as the final touches are put on.
I got the plastics, graphics and seat cover installed and put on the bike, the front plate is a 2013 era stadium plate which fits the clamps that are on the bike, I haven't made a bracket to fit the clamps, and decided to take the most expensive method of mounting the correct front plate and ordered 2000+ CR125 (Rubber Mounted) clamps with special bores to fit the 2017 KX forks. This should make the fender and front plate a bolt on affair and should give the front geometry that I was looking for.
One of the last few things to do: Decide on the Rear shock/linkage to give the rear the behavior that I would like.
Anyway, onto the pictures:
Finally, a picture beside my current bike a 2014 CRF250R, mama always said I bled red
I also ordered a new shock for the bike with what seems like the correct length. It'll be revalved and resprung with a damping curve I'm currently working on to get in the ballpark based on my expected wheelrate and bike weight.
Finally: I'm looking for a new/mint condition red renthal barpad, preferred to be vinyl but with the older style Renthal font(seen on the cloth barpads) if anyone has one that isn't being used let me know as I think it would match better than the current red pad that is on the bike.
KC
Otherwise, this has somewhat slowed down, I plan to do the wheels over the off season when I have more time. Is there anyone that has tried to fit a cycra brake disk guard on a Kawi? I'd like to pic your mind on the bracketry that you used to get it mounted up.
I believe I will also do the mesh behind the airbox vents as the box has been trimmed to mimic the later models.
Cheers!
Onto the pictures, I still need to find the right bar pad, as well as fit the correctly sized fork decals, which should be in tomorrow just in time for me to leave for the weekend so it will be until at least monday before I have a chance to finalize the finer details.
Thanks to my roomate for taking some of these while I stood back and admired.
Pit Row
I have a 99 that needs some love
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