Honda XR125 keep dying.........

[j1mster]

Hi all,
purchased a bike last November, 20 years since I had one so got to go through all the tests etc, thought this bike might suit being not the quickest for now. The problem is this:

Honda XR125 L-4

3 month old battery, Bike engine has started to die, exhaust goes pop (backfire?), engine cuts out all together, battery almost completely dead wont restart bike, starter just clicks quickly.

A jump start from a car solves the problem immediately but keeps happening at irregular intervals

Has anybody got any ideas for a total newb?

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers,
Jim
____________________
GSF650S, XR125L-4, CG125
homo sapiens non urinat in ventum

[kingsknight]

how many miles has the bike done? sounds to me like it still could be the battery dying! maybe the bike isnt charging the battery?
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TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

[j1mster]

Hi,
Bike has done approx 13K,
battery has done approx, 400 miles max.

I was thinking possibly an alternator issue, but no real clue tbh.
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GSF650S, XR125L-4, CG125
homo sapiens non urinat in ventum

[nightshaddow]

possibly a charging problem check the voltage while engine running on tick over and while being revved, if the voltage remains at 12.5 volts or less while being revved it charging problem, at around 4000rpm should be showing 13.5 - 14.5 volts, if this is the case your battery almost certainly duff
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"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE Its chinese OFFICER."
Current rides CB 125 TDE(the next project) NS125RK ( now on the road ) CB125TDC (soon to be project 17) melody ( the nephews )

[skatefreak]

Hey,
If you dont have a multimeter to check the voltage i'd suggest checking the bikes lights with the engine off and then starting the bike and revving the engine to see if the lights get brighter/dimmer , this will let you know if the altenator is doing its job or not.

Clicking suggests there isnt enough power in the battery to get the starter going though.

You do mention that the engine itself dies and this i would have to say is very strange indeed, as far as i'm aware the bikes battery is not involved with the running of the engine (Asside the starter of course).

Can anyone confirm if this bike relies on the battery for the spark or not?

I suspect this could be a clue for something other than the battery...

Am sure someone will chime in to help further.

Keep us updated though.

Best regards

-Jvr

[Tank19Josh]

alryt m8, i have a Honda XR125L

my bike battery died a couple of months ago, completely cut out ... i think my battery had more miles on it ...
I had to jump start it home!!

The Fix : 14hour charge, sorted it out ...

hope this helps???

Josh
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Honda Xr125
**-Pain is TEMPORARY ... Pride last's FOREVER-**

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Tank19Josh]

Lol ...

im a rebel you see

Josh
____________________
Honda Xr125
**-Pain is TEMPORARY ... Pride last's FOREVER-**

[j1mster]

Hi all,
sorry for the time to reply, but I finally managed to get hold of a voltmeter.

I rode my bike yesterday for about 20 miles or so then it happened again. Approximately 5-10 engine misfires with gradually dropping revs, then complete cut-out with no power left at all, not even enough to light up the neutral light.

Got my wife to bring the car and connect the jump leads and the bike starts immediately. Left charging for a minute then disconnected, put panels back on bike then after about a minute cuts out again.

Reconnect jump leads, leave for 5 mins charging, got home (about a mile or so). Turned bike off, tried to start again, no charge just quick clicking from what I presume is the starter.

That was about 7pm. I went to cover my bike at 1am and tried to start it, hey presto, it's going again! So I got hold of a voltmeter and this is what happened today:

At rest with no ignition the voltmeter displayed 11.76v
At initial tick-over (quite slowish) voltmeter displayed 10.93v but was dropping by .01v every second.

Left running for 2 mins or so and voltmeter then displayed 6.90v still dropping by .01v but now much quicker until a few seconds later, the bike cut out again.

10 minutes later, the voltmeter now displays 11.14v. As soon as I turn the ignition on, the voltage drops like a stone and there is not enough power to turn over the starter.

I hope this gives you enough information to give me some possibilities as to what may be the problem.

Cheers.
____________________
GSF650S, XR125L-4, CG125
homo sapiens non urinat in ventum

[nightshaddow]

this to me shows a problem with the charging, it is draining power but not replacing it, i would say it prob a regulator prob. did you test the voltage putting on any revs?

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-XR-125-REGULATOR-RECTIFIER-/280482861045?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item414e14cff5

couple of them on eBay, check for other responses first too, other things can cause the same symptoms i belive
____________________
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE Its chinese OFFICER."
Current rides CB 125 TDE(the next project) NS125RK ( now on the road ) CB125TDC (soon to be project 17) melody ( the nephews )

[umberto]

hi
i didnt read the thread but im %99 sure that its the generator the woodruff key is either broken or breaking take the cover opposite the clutch cover off and put the bike into gear and try turning the engine by hand, if it turns the crank and wheel then in neutral with the cover off try starting it, sometimes ud have to hold the starting pinion(the gear that turns) with a socket i would advise to get help from a friend to hold it in or turn the bike on while u hold it, after it starts turn it off straight away and see if its wobbley, if it is then the woodruff key is broken. get a 15-17 mm socket put the bike into 5 gear hold break with a friend and undo the bolt holding the generator on and check the damage, for ur sake i hope im wrong...

[nightshaddow]

i would not think that personally but it is an option, i wouldent say it the battery as that is recharging when left so to speak, though the battery will need charging properly(good overnight charge)
____________________
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE Its chinese OFFICER."
Current rides CB 125 TDE(the next project) NS125RK ( now on the road ) CB125TDC (soon to be project 17) melody ( the nephews )

[umberto]

[nightshaddow]

[j1mster]

Hi all,
thanks for all the advice, here is the latest update:

I bought a reg/rec off fleabay (£25ish from Ireland) and fit it today. Whilst I was disconnecting the old one, I also noticed some corroded joints within the connector blocks so replaced them at the same time.

I started the bike up with no problem (after realising I hadn't turned the fuel back on ) and the voltage now reads as:

at idle, it dances a little around 13.10v +/- .02-3v
at revs it goes up to 14v+ and with heavy revs up to 14.3v+

Seems to have sorted this one out but can anybody verify that the voltage is doing what it should please?

Many thanks for all your help so far

Cheers
____________________
GSF650S, XR125L-4, CG125
homo sapiens non urinat in ventum

[nightshaddow]

[Paxovasa]

The readings are fine and sound right.

____________________
Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[j1mster]

Thanks for that nightshaddow

I'm hoping that my bike is going to run correctly now, I've almost been scared to take it out as there was no real warning as to when it would cut-out.

The only thing I now have to do is replace a leaking fork seal

Cheers
Jim
____________________
GSF650S, XR125L-4, CG125
homo sapiens non urinat in ventum

[j1mster]

[prawny1]

The backfiring was from the ignition system voltage dropping too low creating an intermittent spark.
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hellkat wrote:

Some people are only alive cos its against the law to kill them.

[The Tot]

I had a XR125L a while back (2004-2005) and I can recollect there being a recall being issued to certain frame numbers. It was SOMETHING related to the ignition system which would periodically cause the bike to cut out. I don't have the details personally, but I would BEST check since if yours is an L4, I can only assume that it was part of the affected batch. I would best check any recall history.

https://www.hoc.org.uk/help/

There should be one for the XR125 in there.

Concern : ENGINE MAY STALL

Description : On certain machines, due to an incorrect specification of the wire core material used, and the possible incorrect routing of the wiring harness, there is a possibility of poor durability which can cause an open circuit. Should this occur, the engine could stall, and the lighting system become inoperative.

Remedial Action : Potentially affected machines will be recalled and a countermeasure wiring harness fitted.

Vehicle Id : 9C2JD19A03R200006 to 9CJD19A03R201686
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[j1mster]

[singhxr125]