AR125 ongoing project! Pic heavy!

[Avora]

Here is my AR125 B8 1994...I'm very proud of it
This is my first 125 (still not ridden it yet properly)
I bought it a couple years ago as a impulse buy to replace my scooter when I turned 17. When it arrived it looked like this:

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-06-17110601.jpg


First thing was to hear it running...which due to this:

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMAG0034.jpg

made it very loud and silly. This was soon fixed by heating a metal plate which we moulded around the bottom of the exhaust and welded on. And painted up.


Next I noticed the forks were beyond repair, pitted and leaking. So I ordered these at first chance:

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-07-03110103.jpg

I knew at £30 for a NOS set of stanchions I was laughing. Bought new fork oil and seals. Then I promptly stripped for overhaul.

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-07-06192543.jpg

I found this to be somewhat difficult on one fork as one of the bolts had been "secured" with some household sealant before I got it. Fixed this and fitted them.

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-07-08145458.jpg
Mmmmmm shiny and new.

Figured I might as well change these

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-06-17110621.jpg

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-07-24122212.jpg

Will also give you an after shot of this once I had tackled the rust when I find it

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110212_115646.jpg

Hammerite is a glorious thing even if all it does is stop the corrosion and decay until one day I strip and powdercoat everything.

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110130_153925.jpg

Will soon provide an update, just need to sort a few things and find some blooming photos.
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[Frost]

Hammerite is alright for short periods, but you need to wire brush the hell out of things before you put it on. With bits that rusted you might want to check the electrics are okay. A roll of wire and a bored afternoon can have most as new.

Also mirrors though they may look dorky are bloody useful!

[Avora]

Haha, yes, with the swingarm I started to rub the whole thing back (by hand) to bare metal to check the welds and for any cracks. Turned out fine. And had several coats. With the linkage I had a wire brush attachment with my cordless drill for a good while. The mirrors, well, it only came with one...which was buggered up. And my garage is full of crap, so it was easier whilst I knew it wasn't on the road to take it off. Will buy new ones before the MOT
Also all the electrics function fine, and have checked all the earths too.
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[Frost]

I'm pretty sure they're not required for the MOT, but they'll stop you speeding when there's a police car right behind you

[pepperami]

More please with pictures
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Howling Terror]

^^^What the spicey one said.

It's been short of little' keep it on the road' posts.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[N cee thirty]

cool lots of pics pleze

might get one of these myself if one comes up close
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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

[waffles]

That swingarm is shocking! Bet it looks much better after a lick of paint though. Good project, post more pictures
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Avora]

[Avora]

Aha more photies!

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110221_114343.jpg

Looks much better I thought (for a hammerite jobby)

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110130_125956.jpg

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110130_153925-1.jpg

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110319_093402.jpg

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110319_094019.jpg

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110319_094042.jpg

Proof new seals were fitted:
https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/2010-07-06192603.jpg

I stripped this carburettor more times than any other part of this bike, thinking the idling issues I was having was its fault. Turned out to be an O ring on a piece I will picture up today.

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMAG0038.jpg

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMG_20110319_094030.jpg

Shiny new Metzeler tyres, which the rear took over 2 months to arrive from Far Far Away. Fitted by me...or atleast I got the front right, the rear I took back off, it wasn't seating right...might let my dad do it.

Shes only just been run in

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/IMAG0037.jpg

Thats all for now folks! I will take some new pics today.
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[satelliteone]

oerr.. nice, from my youth, i remember them well, and nippy bikes too.


keep up the good work
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Honda XLR125R - Project
TZR125RR Belgarda 4DL - Sold
Chinki Project done n Dusted/sold** DTR125 2003 - Finished/sold

[Frost]

A mate had one, the rear tyre blew out on him at high speed causeing the bike to cartwheel, there wasn't much left of it

[Avora]

Apologies! I have been busy elsewhere. But good knews! It runs and idles perfectly now. And has the back wheel back on it. I think I could take it for an MOT as it stands and only need some split pins...anyone know if they are needed?
Either way, I have a short video and some more piccies which I will upload later on. I am desperate to get it on the road...but I know that theres little point as I should hopefully be going to uni at the start of september.
Today I have had the side of the engine off and sorted out the Oring causing my poor running, and taken a chance for now with the warped Disc Valve. Shouldn't be a problem, but I will order one soon, and seen as its not going to be going anywhere shouldnt matter.

Next on the list is to tidy up the looks of my little AR. More to come.
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[pepperami]

MOAR!
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Avora]

Ok, here are some pics, not much, but even so.

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/SAM_0001.jpg

See how warped this is? Maybe can't tell from the picture.

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/SAM_0003.jpg

Old shock...mmm rusty

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/SAM_0067.jpg

Old tank

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/SAM_0069.jpg

New..er tank

https://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h346/Avora1/SAM_0070.jpg

Video link to come also...busy uploading, just for proof it now runs and man does it sound mean
Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dutzPZiZC3I
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[Frost]

I think that shock might be beyond saving, try looking on German ebay, they have plenty of parts "stossdaempfer" is what you need.

[Avora]

Thanks, I bought an OXON shock which is on it now. But when you push the bike down, it returns fairly slowly. Like its leaked. The rusty one had a leak, would hiss when pushed. I thought the current one was the linkage, so it has been apart and regreased. Still does it...hmmm. Might need to replace the shock again. Damn!
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[Frost]

Likely the old one has leaked and had no oil in it therefore just making it a spring. It would have returned very rapidly when pushed down. A shock needs to have what's known as rebound damping where the shock is slowed in the speed at which it returns. I suspect that either you're just not used to a shock with damping, or that the damping is set too high on that shock. Another possibility is incorrect fitting, stiffness in the linkages or not enough preload. Stick both preload and rebound damping on the middle settings and work from there.

[Avora]

The shock only has preload settings, which I had set to the middle set before installation. But it is unusally slow. Thats what I thought, hence I took the thing apart again. Oh well, I will have to have another look at it . Thanks
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[TUG]

Amazing project, keep up the good work! I nearly bought one of those when I was 17 which I still kind of regret.

Always had a soft spot for those little kwaks.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[bradh511]

hi mate i have a mircon for an ar125 sat at my freind need a weld by the hanger where someone broke it by comeing off the bike it was on and is not reli rusty at all £20 to you if you wants it also if the rest of bits are there i have 2 barrels 1 headplate .. think both barrels are ok and a rusted up bottom end may be good for something .. £50 the lot? be good spares also have a loom and 2 cdi's

[Avora]

[jcewright]

did anything come of this project? I have a couple of AR's and restoring them slowly.
Quick question for the op, Where did you get the stanchions ? cheers

[Avora]

The project is still going. But I'm at uni in Edinburgh now. So not much is happening. The stanchions came from eBay for £30. A bargain that I promptly snapped up.
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Kawasaki AR125 B8 - Getting ready for a summer time soon!

[jcewright]

ah right will keep an eye out. yours is going to look cracking when your done. this thread was a good read.