CBR125 Help Please

[Mattchewone]

Hi, I am new to the forum, I have recently got a CBR125 for a bit of fun and commuting due to having to sell one of our cars due to cost saving.

I picked it up just over a week ago and its a 58 plate, 3500 miles on the clock and has not been riden much this year as the previous owner passed his full test and got a bigger bike. But he has changed the front sprocket and chain this year, he gave me the rear sprocket as he couldnt change it so I am getting this done along with a service within the next few weeks.

I have a few queries though, first, my rear brake light doesnt come on unless I am standing on the rear brake, the rear brake works fine just no light coming on when it should, how can I fix this?

Also I was slowing down for a set of lights the other day and I was crawling along and put it into first and gently released the clutch and the bike chugged along as if it was slipping or something, any ideas what it might be?

Thanks in advance!

[neil.]

Should be able to find the rear brake light switch somewhere around/behind the pedal, and you'll probably have to take off the panel to access it. If you have an owner's manual it'll tell you where to look and what to look for. You can adjust it by screwing the knurled ring clockwise a couple of turns, then trying the pedal to see if it comes on earlier, and repeating until it comes on a bit before the brakes make contact themselves.

Not sure about the gear issue but you might want to change the engine oil, as it's not unheard of for older oil to cause 'sloppiness' with gear changes (like dropping back to the previous gear) etc.

[Mattchewone]

Thanks Neil, will look through the manual. Oil's will be changed within the next week or so when I get the bike serviced.

[ThoughtContro...]

There's a knurled black plastic nut behind the right foot peg heel plate. Give it a few turns up or down to adjust the point where the brake light comes on. It may be a bit stiff if it's not been adjusted before and become clogged with crap.

How come he couldn't change the rear sprocket? Nuts frozen with corrosion? It's a simple enough job to do If you've a decent socket set , some time and a few choice swear words if they're being awkward.

I'd recommend buying a Haynes. The oil change is easy and a job you could do yourself. The air filter, if it needs doing, is not difficult either once you've got the tank out of the way. The oil filter needs to be checked/cleaned at the first 600 mile service, so that should have been done. After that this only needs doing every 7500 miles, which is a good job, because you've got to remove the clutch cover to do it.

No sense in paying a garage to do the simple jobs. You can buy some decent tools with the money you'll save, and you'll learn something along the way. A garage even charges you for used oil disposal and does you out of a litre of free chain lube. A swizzle if ever there was one
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[Mattchewone]

Have adjust it slightly but every time i turned it the pipe that is attached to it twisted it back so was struggling to turn it. I had to try and hold the tube and turn the plastic nut which was difficult, any tips?

As for the service I want it looked at properly this first time, after that i'll be doing work myself, but as I only want it for a year until I pass my test I want to be able to sell it and a decent service history helps sell.

[Vincent]

If it's the normal type of brake light switch, undo the spring from the pedal, lift the entire switch up and then screw the locknut clockwise a few turns. Then return the switch to its mount, put the spring back on and - voila!

The sprocket bolts probably have loctite on. You'll need to heat them up a bit first, preferably with a hot gun but a hairdrier on full heat will suffice.
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