Topic: just picked up a1973 cb125s- a few questions

[d3buttz]

i know nothing about these 125's but its complete and i got it for 30 bucks!- heres my q's-
is this a 2-stroke?
 does it mix?
does it have an oil tank?
6v battery?whats the difference and, where do i get a battery?
 thanks guys!

[mlinder]

Its a 4 stroke.
No need to mix.
Oil is in the crank case (wet sump)
6v batteries can be got at a battery store.

[d3buttz]

does auto zone/advanced carry these?

[GoatBaSS]

Call n ask. If not Batt + may have them.

[kirkn]

Great bikes!  Great little motors!

Help:

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/?    especially the Vintage sub-forum

http://xlboard.aimoo.com/   not particularly busy, but lot of good info.


Battery can be had from WalMart, many cheapie auto parts stores, JCWhitney.com, DennisKirk.com, BikeBandit.com

Good luck, and post some pictures of your $30 jewel...

Kirk

[d3buttz]

 Thanks for the info!
i drove all over town looking for one at wal-mart(the zoo), auto zone(Racing Floormat store),  and Batteries plus, all had to order (1 week? jeeze)and charge me shipping,-but i lucked out and found one instock at NAPA!  i also got a plug.  2 hours later after doing the carb, and a PO rewire repair- VROOM! the parts were $1.32 more than the bike!  i lucked out, the carb was drained, the oil was perfect but i changed it anyways.

i had a blast riding this little bike around today......ill post some pics tomorrow.

[kirkn]

Outstanding!

Man, I'm jealous!  I love the little tiddlers.  Does yours have the single mechanical front disk brake?  I know for a few years in the mid-70's they came with that disk, along with Honda's CB200.  Neat.

I have a '74 CB200 that I commute on right now that has that mechanical disk brake. 

Enjoy your ride, and yes please, post some pix.

Kirk

[d3buttz]

Kirk, too bad this doesnt have the disc, but i rebuilt the drum and it stops my 200lbs-with both brakes!

IVE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS!

funny thing going on with this little bike, it starts and runs without the battery connected. So am i an idiot or are these little bikes like a "lawnmower" that creates its own spark?  are the 6volt batteries for the blinkers lights etc and not for ignition??

[mlinder]

The little twins have a permanent rare earth magnet generator, they can make power without a battery. The battery is, in fact, for the lights, etc.

[d3buttz]

ha!  i thaught i wound up with Herbie's little cousion that had a mind of its own......thanks mlinder!

[kirkn]

Well, yes and no...

They DO have a permanent magnet type alternator, and CAN make power without the battery needing to supply anything.

BUT, none of them (the twins) are set up to power the spark that way.  On them, they ALL need battery to feed the coil to spark the plug.

On your 125, it depends on the year.  The early 70s versions (and the CL's and SL's) needed the battery, same as the rest  (well, technically, they could be adapted, but it's not a trivial matter, so I ignore it here).  But, in '74 when the XL125 superceded the SL125, they switched over to a magneto-style ignition.  On those, they didn't require a battery to spark the plug.  The CB125 got the same treatment, I guess...

Looks like a real sweetheart.

Kirk

[d3buttz]

thanks kirk, would you or any one know the valve adjustment numbers for the intake and exhaust?
the paints all done!-enjoy

[Bill/BentON Racing]

CB125/intake .002 /ex .002,

[rawfish]

Nice little bike!

[mlinder]

Yeah, didn't go quite that far into it. Bikes like the cb350twin, which still have a rare earth magnet generator, still can't run (without modification) sans battery.

[Shenanigans]

I had a SL125 that stupid thing was a blast to ride on the street. I once rode it on out to the desert about 20 miles out of town, After tucking and having 4 miles to get to speed I was doing 56 (SL are geared lower that the "street" CB's) for about 45 mins 2.5 grand OVER the redline trying to keep up going there and back. It never even complained and still ran perfect. I have always wanted a CB125.

[Caminokid]

I had a SL125 that stupid thing was a blast to ride on the street. I once rode it on out to the desert about 20 miles out of town, After tucking and having 4 miles to get to speed I was doing 56 (SL are geared lower that the "street" CB's) for about 45 mins 2.5 grand OVER the redline trying to keep up going there and back. It never even complained and still ran perfect. I have always wanted a CB125.

My second bike was a red and white 74 CB125. The most I could get out of it was about 54 MPH...and that was with the wind at my back and going down hill! LOL. I only weighed about 140 at the time. And I also was 12 years old. The night we got it up to about 80...we dumped racing fuel in it with some everclear a buddy of mine swiped from his dad liquor cabinet. Needless to say...that was the last time it ran.