Posts Tagged ‘74’

Dirk Bike magazine did a review of the 1974 Kawasaki KX125 when it came out and the text of their article is here for interest as it is one of the bikes we are looking to restore.

GREEN MUSCLE Machine

Fastest unfinished package in the Klass

1974 KAWASAKI KX125 SPEED FREAK

Kawasaki really blew it. Seriously blew it. Last year, Kawasaki was impressive. They had Brad Lackey, Jimmy Weinert, Peter Lamppu and Jim Cooke riding for them. It was all paying off. Weinert drowned the Europeans in the mud at the Houston Trans-AMA. Lamppu had third place in the National motocross open class. Wyman Priddy had tenth place. Jimmy took fourth nationally with his 250.

With a little road show and some publicity, Kawasaki could have sold eight jillion motocrossers. But they didn’t, because they didn’t have any. And if they had brought out this bike, this little KX 125 we’ve been testing, back then .. well, they’d be more common than crushed beer cans at the track on Sundays. Because this is a really neat little bike. Read the rest of this entry »

1974 Honda CR125

This was my first purchase of a vmx bike, I watched these CR125′s race as a kid and didnt have any money to buy one in 74 and then I saw this one on eBay.  Trouble was it was 2,000 miles away on the other side of Australia and there were no bikes for sale in my area at all!

It was listed as being previously restored and in great condition but in my enthusiasm I took that as being correct and did not ask for close up photos of the bike or ask for a list of defects, it did look good in the long shots though.

I paid top money and had it freighted over…

• Fork seals were both blown
• Frame looked weary
• Leaked engine oil
• Original air filter cage was missing, small filter was bolted directly on the carb
• Side panels were both cracked
• Sprocket cover was missing part, common from chain throws.
• Chain guide was missing
• Rear wheel has several big flat spots
• Brakes very weak
• Lever perches were mismatched, missing rubbers.
• Compression was weak
• First text ride, engine bogged down in corners when leaned over.
• Bummer!

LESSON 1 : If buying a bike unseen, ask for detailed pics and for a list of issues/defects. Not everyone will disclose the defects in their ads and you need to ask.