Identify the engine..and frame...and...

[robocog]

Picked up a rather tatty CG125 today and I /think/ its a bit of a "bitsa" affair

Engine has got me really quite confused as I thought they were all 1 down 4 up
my engine seems modern- as its CDI (and is stamped on left cover as well as 'made in Japan') and the gearing is 4 speed...all down with neutral at the top

It also has a rev counter cable ( that has been cut off) on the right side panel and can see the inner cable happily whirling round

Its deffo a 125cc and looks like my other CG engine apart from these differences

I have had it up and running today and it sounds like a happy little motor and is certainly the best bit of the bike

I managed a few laps of the garden before stripping the machine down to parts ready for "cafe racing it up" or whatever happens to it

I guess my question is, what else could the engine be from with this gear shift arrangement and the rev counter?
(both side covers have got honda cast into them and the serial of the engine starts CG125E 040xxx)
The clutch arm does not look like a Honda part and looks suspiciously cheap and nasty compared to the one on the Brazillianone I have, and is a lot longer ..but does seem to work OK

Frame has also got me
sticker on frame says 125s
stamped frame number and plate mate up with each other....phew!
frame also says made in Japan and is stamped CG125 57403xxx
and shows the date as 98-08
not entirely sure what to believe as I thought the 125s Japan was an early one (6v and points)??
The rear swing arm is quite a bit shorter than my Brazillian BRk CG and the forks/top yoke is not like any in the manual
(top yoke not on pinch bolts, but are bolt through) and only seem to have a very small ammount of travel (dust witness marks show where they bottom out!)
The fork lower legs also seem a lot shorter than the Brazillian one
(are they off some other machine?- does anyone recognise them as being from another machine?)

popped some piccys on my website for anyone to try and work out/have a laugh at the bitsa I just brought home..and no I didn't pay a lot for it

https://www.robocog.dyndns.org/cg125/donor/

Regards
Rob

[Tristan.]

David silvers imported some Japanese made, modern CGs in 2001. I had one and I've seen a few about. Heel toe shift 4 speed box. Rev counter, bodywork like the old fashioned Japanese made CGs.

It's not a bitsa, it's meant to be like that, and it's a lovely bike and it made me nostalgic

[Edit] mine was nicked actually, 2 years ago. Identifying features: missing left hand panel and mudguard, and it had a black front brake lever and a silver clutch lever I found my V5 and the numbers are different though

[steo]

all the details about your cg are correct, it's just been neglected & the modern upgrades compared to the old cg have probably thrown you & made you suspicious. about 10 yrs ago the design of the cg went back to it's old pre-brazilian days & the bike was once again made in japan, it worked off 12volts & had a cdi. in 2004 they upgraded it again with a disc brake & electric start. google the cg, all the info is there.

[robocog]

Ahh..
Nice one cheers for that info
I will try and give him a call with the full vin to see if he has any records of it
(not able to fill in the V66 as the last tax disk has not survived well since it was last taxed in 06 and the reg cannot be read, and it came with no plates...)

Based on that I guess getting the missing bits/spares and parts are going to be a tad easier to tie down if it is one of the ones he imported

There's plenty bits that have been abused and broken on this one

Going to try and get a set of early CB125 clocks as they should suit it better than the newer "plastic brick" jobs and should have rev counter and a trip meter...luxury!

Worst abuse seems to be the rear wheel hub which was as good as locking up every 1/2 turn
Back off the brakes and oil everything externally and problem didn't get any better

When I dismantled the rear and had a look
only 1 drum shoe had any friction material left (and not much of it!)
The inner drum surface is proper deformed and is egg shaped and not even remotely round...bugger (can the hubs collapse in this area internally? not sure I understand fully why it has failed like this)
externally theres nothing obviously wrong looking about the hub, no cracks or splits

Looks like a new (2nd hand) rear wheel will be needed as I doubt the rim is worth re-lacing, though does look like it could be fun to do- I have built push bike wheels before

If it was a fairly modern import with retro styling it really hasn't lasted the short time span well- I had kind of assumed it was a bitsa due to the condition ranging from engine being as good as new to plenty of rust on the chassis , completely rotted out bits (mudguards under seat etc and even a hint of some mig weld repair round the center stand area)

Will try and keep my website up to date with stuff as it gets sorted
It may become a retro / cafe style bike yet

Once again cheers for the heads up- will be calling them on Monday to see if he can shed any more light on its origins

Regards
Rob