HONDA CR125R 2-STROKE: PROJECT BIKE SPOTLIGHT

We love 125 two-strokes. They’re light, they handle great and they make you feel like a hero. Unfortunately most Japanese makers stopped producing them long ago. For this project, we wanted to make our 2000 Honda CR125R look as good as it ran. That meant bringing the appearance up to modern day standards as well as giving it a little boot in performance. Here’s what we did.

Pretty much every bolt on this build inside and out was replaced using a complete bike rebuild kit from Bolt Motorcycle Hardware. Kits are available in brand- and model-specific configurations or two and four-stroke universal applications. These types of kits are a must for older project bike builds and great to have around the garage for general usage.

The overall look of this CR125R was changed dramatically with a Polisport CR Restyle plastics kit that uses OEM mounting points without any additional modifications required.
A custom six-rib gripper seat cover from SDG was matched to the color scheme of the bike, replacing the worn-out OEM model.
Made with proprietary materials, the TM Designworks chain sliders, guides and rollers are made to withstand just about anything and look great doing it.
Maxxcross SI tires from Maxxis are designed for soft/intermediate terrain and are equipped with anti-flex knob bridges in the side lugs for straight-line stability.
Boyesen’s aluminum ignition and clutch covers are available in black and magnesium color for the Honda CR125R.
Samco radiator red hoses add some bling to our build, along with providing additional puncture resistance and heat dissipation.
The ARC RC-8 clutch perch is CNC-machined featuring an adjustable folding lever, on-the-fly quick-adjust system and a nylon sleeve at the handlebar contact point for movement during a crash.
Factory Connection rebuilt the suspension,
replacing all the seals, bushing and oil. The internal valving was changed to accommodate our needs, and new springs were installed on both ends.
Designed to protect fork seals from debris, Zip-Ons from SealSavers feature a unique dual-flap zipper for fast installation and removal.

The Tag Metals drivetrain features a rear sprocket constructed of aviation-grade 7075 T6 lightweight aluminum with machined mud grooves and are available in four different anodized color options. The Works gold chain is factory-certified for high-performance racing applications.

Faster USA made our stock wheels look better than new, all for more than half the cost of a new set. The rebuild service includes cleaning the hubs, applying a desired Cerakote finish, replacing bearings, new spokes, nipples, new rims and all labor required.

One of the most significant performance changes was the addition of the Lectron carb.

Scalvini two-stroke factory works pipes are hand-assembled cone by cone to their proprietary specifications, creating a pipe that looks factory and designed for maximum performance. The silencer is designed to enhance the performance of the works pipe and features an aluminum body and carbon fiber end cap.