Honda XR 125 Downshifting Problems

[JonE]

Evening All

My Honda XR 125 has developed a bit of a problem when downshifting.

On the way to work this morning when changing down I was having problems selecting a gear 5th-4th was ok, and most of the time so was 4th-3rd, but 3rd-2nd and 2nd-1st was a problem it pretty much refused to go into these gears when moving and even when at a stop I needed to knock the lever down a few times to get anything. It just feels slack/loose like theres nothing there.

It was the same on the way home this evening, the chain was a little bit loose so I tightened that and went out for a quick ride this evening and it is still the same.

Apart from a couple of tight spots in the chain (which have been there since I have owned the bike) the chain and sprockets look ok.

Anyone got any ideas as to what the problem could be?

Cheers

Jon

[Frost]

Changing gear when not moving is hard. Try letting the clutch out between gear changes and see if that helps. Another problem might be clutch adjustment, it might be constantly slightly engaged. Other problems might be the gear selector linkage, worn selector drum of selector forks. But those last 2 are unlikely unless it's a high milage bike.

[N cee thirty]

check your clutch cable

my cg's cable came undone making it impossible to put it in gear,then i looked down to see the nuts had come undone
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[JonE]

Cheers for the quick replies.

The bike has only done just over 5k, 1k of them in my relatively gentle, mechanically sympathetic ownership and the problem has only just started so I'm hoping it's nothing too serious.

I'll check the clutch adjustment tomorrow.

Cheers

Jon

[Vincent]

[Frost]

A bit of grease on the moving bits is always a good idea. Not because they generate a huge amount of friction, but because they can rust and seize up. An engine oil change can be useful too.

[JonE]

[Chalky.]

How tight/loose is your chain?

[JonE]

[JonE]

[Vincent]

[JonE]

[Vincent]

[JonE]

[Vincent]

[JonE]

Cheers Vincent.

Unfortunately Haynes don't do a manual for my bike and the Honda ones nearly never come up on eBay, so I'll just have to bite the bullet and pay the £30 for one.

Hopefully that will have some trouble shooting tips.

Cheers

Jon

[N cee thirty]

just get one for a 07 cg,same engine
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[G]

How long since the last oil change?
That engine actually needs fairly frequent oil changes I believe thanks to a low oil capacity - sometimes old oil can impede gear changes.

[JonE]

Last oil change was about 200-300 miles ago.

Cheers

Jon

[G]

That should be fine?
Presume there wasn't excessive amounts of swarf in the old oil?
Worth checking your level anyway (and for water) if you haven't recently.

[Vincent]

[JonE]

No it was fine before, it was only yesterday the problem started, I used a semi synthetic oil, I think it was Comma stuff I'll check in a bit.

Could the oil cause the problem? I remember reading that Castrol Magnatech can cause clutch slip etc.

Cheers

Jon

[Vincent]

[JonE]

Just checked the bottle and the oil I used was Comma X-Flow it is a car oil but after reading many debates on here about what oils to use I decided that as it was free from work it would do.

I will try changing it to a bike specific oil and see if that helps.

Cheers

Jon

[kingsknight]

change your oil then adjust your clutch. Your problem will be fixed!
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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)