Honda CG125 (es) -- now with pics

[pdg]

20 years ago, in a factory in Brazil, a little red CG125 was born.

Imagine it's thoughts, full of wonder as it embarked with it's brethren (most of which it would likely never see again) on a huge adventure across the high seas to it's exciting forever home of England.

*For the first few years it was probably loved by it's companion(s) as together they explored the land of new found freedom, made new friends and grew both emotionally and in experience.

As the years rolled by, time and subsequent companions took their toll, it's body wore in places and the lack of love in fleeting relationships meant attention was only given when absolutely necessary (and even then it had to be noticed by another and legally compelled, it appears any suggestions were ignored).

There were periods of neglect where it was unable to fulfill it's purpose of providing reliable transportation (due to law), including a span of 3 1/2 years where it sat, forgotten and alone.

Wondering what it did wrong.

These were, of course, intermingled with times where it was brought back into a relationship that it obviously hoped was the start of something beautiful, but alas, hopes were consistently dashed as it soon realised it was only intended to fill a gap until something newer, prettier and faster came along.

Somewhat jaded by these experiences, it now has difficulty accepting that it can ever again be really wanted, pushing back against any care by allowing underlying issues to surface as a form of self destructive sabotage.

But, I truly believe that with a little time, a healthy amount of patience and sufficient attention, it can learn to love again as beneath it all it definitely displays a willingness to work with a new partner, one who can accept it's minor cosmetic imperfections and help it heal it's scars of the past.



*MOT history reference source, possibly embellished for the purposes of this post.


tl;dr - I bought a CG and it needs a few bits sorting.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[pdg]

So, here she is after I convinced her to follow me home.

She's a little unsure of her surroundings but I think she'll settle in.

And she brought a friend with her...

https://i.imgur.com/VXJtEJL.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/HN29JAu.jpeg
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[pdg]

Now, unfortunately she wasn't given the very best start in life. Whoever was responsible for making the wiring looms had a bit too much of a "that'll do" attitude.

Got a bit of extra length on the wire? Never mind, just curl it up and cover it in tape, that'll do...

My forensic analysis is thus:

At some point over the next 28,000+ miles a combination of vibration and a slightly rough edge on a loom hook against the bump in the loom caused the layers of insulation to fail.

https://i.imgur.com/WLWRPW6.jpeg

This is right under the rear of the petrol tank.

https://i.imgur.com/3PsqPUN.jpeg

Orange wire, left indicator.

The resultant path to ground increased the load on the circuit, prompting larger fuses to be fitted for the indicators (20A fitted when I got her, should be 5A).

This increased load wasn't good for the electronic flasher unit, so that failed too, to be ever so professionally replaced with a bimetallic unit.

https://i.imgur.com/RUsseAc.jpeg

During investigation I was holding the bare wires onto the spades of the flasher, high amps and poor connections equal heat - the culmination of these factors:

https://i.imgur.com/6dtwx0K.jpeg

I did ouchied my fingey.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[pdg]

A couple of bits for the sake of completeness...

She's a she. We are becoming besties. She is called CeCe.

Deal with that in your own way.

Her friend (Lexmoto Hunter 50) also needs some work, but it's entirely uninteresting to document (probable carb issues, a bit of rust in the tank, needs a wash) so that's just a thing my son and I will be plodding on with - it's entirely unmolested, just been sat a while.


In related news, I did an oil change - no pics, because it's just an oil change... 250ml came out ( ) and an entire litre of the finest 10w40 semi that I had in the shed went in (finest=cheap, I use it in my car and my mowers - my mowers are Hondas too and they love it).


To be continued.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[blurredman]

I dunno whether I miss my CG or not....
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k.

[stinkwheel]

I put the actual proper honda branded oil supplied as part of an OEM service kit in Mrs stinkwheels Honda Wave at the last service. It is well below modern lawnmower spec. CG (no relation) grade mineral oil.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[pdg]

[pdg]

[pdg]

So to continue with "stuff that needs doing" to make it look like progress while nothing is really happening:

I imagine this is quite common on these...

https://i.imgur.com/uR7PaN4.jpeg

The front of the seat rests against the back of the tank, rubs at the paint and the staples that hold the cover on go rusty as does the tank.

I'm part way through cleaning and rubbing down the area, while there's some pitting it's still pretty sound and not going through or leaking - some sort of paint will go on. Not entirely sure what yet though, I once was reasonably proficient at feathering and blending in touchup areas but that's a skill that requires practice... I'll either practice on something else and see if I can find a suitable match or I'll mask off a section and accept that it's a different colour (a slight mismatch looks gopping, I'd rather just do a black section if I can't match and blend).

It's paint, if I'm not happy down the road I can redo it.

As to the seat, well in the first pics of the complete bike it had a slip fit velcro'd strap-on that kind of served a purpose but I can see the Amazon ad being like "prefect fiting to any motorcycle, camper or horse, Look like factory new. Comfy long time for your satisfaction pleasure."

It felt lumpy underneath, so I took it off

I expected the worst and was not disappointed.

https://i.imgur.com/GoNOBw8.jpeg

Thankfully the foam is in serviceable shape, the base is moulded plastic and fine - I just have to dig out the remnants of the staples and make a new cover. The possibility remotely exists that I may play with different foams and/or seat colours... In all likelihood it'll stay stock foam and black vinyl.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[stinkwheel]

You can't see the bit on the back of the tank. De-rust/stabilise, prime and paint it whatever colour with something tough. Then put some vinyl wrap/protective film over the area to stop it happening again. The tank on my 97 VFR is the same where the seat goes and that was their flagship bike at the time.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[pdg]

Unfortunately the edge of the damaged paint is visible just above the top of the seat - it had been ignored for an indeterminate period of time and the paint had bubbled/separated around where it had actually rusted.

There is however the recessed area (the edge of which is the visible part) so as long as I can save 'enough' to that edge it shouldn't look too out of place to black that section.

Initially the important thing is to get back to clean metal and sound paint and protect it - as long as it doesn't get any worse I'll be happy enough for now and can do aesthetics later.

There's some rust on the frame and swingarm to sort too - nowhere near structural, yet.

Mulling the prospect of powdercoat - advantage is that it's a tougher finish than paint and I can just hand it to someone and get it back done, disadvantage is that it does still chip, can't be touched up and it's a complete ballache to strip in future when it needs replacing (I have no intention of CeCe leaving, so thinking long term...)
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[stinkwheel]

Regards the tank, obviously anything loose has to come off. I've been using loctite 7503 a lot recently to stabilise rust then primering over it and painting.

I've gone off powder coat too. No reason you can't get someone to sandblast the swingarm though because it's the prep that's the ballache. Most powdercoating places will also blast parts off for you. Bearings out, degrease and remember to blow out any resisual sand when you get it back.

I've done my last couple of bike frames with alkyd resin paint. The tractol branded stuff is very good quality. Paintmaster skip and container paint is a more budget version but also good. It brushes on and self-levels. Once cured it's extremely tough, it's what you paint agricultural machenery with. The downside is it can take a long time (like a couple of weeks) to fully cure and is dry but a bit soft up to that point. Put it on fairly thick, just below the point where it sags, get the worst of the brush marks out then walk away.

Enfield bullet frame sandblasted then brush painted with paintmaster skip paint. I do trials on it so it gets beaten up. You can paint over any scrapes easily too.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPk6v7HpCt50YD5kEtcqDjmulyOVLtoEh7HylucEQ8EH66iM3eQVFaGw2D4MJkSGl5IvLaB3Yw-GO6I20eNTlKkUZp606saTk4Lvg-suYg4HayeC1N6ocdc5mFlgAweXebVwbdaHH68F7HFTA3W2QAz=w1160-h870-s-no

I actually tried spraying tractol on my last build and made an unholy mess of some parts. I eventually lost my temper with the side panels, sanded it back and slapped it on with a paintbrush, thinned about 10%. Came out better than the sprayed parts I didn't cock up. Here's one of the side panels which, if I hadn't been in such a bad mood and gone over it with a tack-rag to remove sanding residue first, would have come out perfect. Deffo good enough for a swingarm.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPTHCZL1MNyHRmvgSUcQU2TPsR3X1gYMhoqGoy90MVNtaC6lFILsXs8JbRpktzZ3xc0pXeKLetC6UCrzhlwDp_trxjgSSuBgg5_ywj4mgTv9BO78rFZXKyinFAXTWhp8tDY3NGaVKPoC8pOrNzumCSD=w1547-h870-s-no
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[pdg]

I have a blasting/powdercoating company about a mile away from home - I've had a quick chat with them and they're happy enough to just blast stuff. The only downside is the cost and that it's open ended (hourly rate, in person I imagine they'll be able to give a good estimate if they've got experience).

I'm not complaining about someone making a living - once all the overheads are accounted for it's not like they're aiming to be a ripoff (in fact, it's actually reasonable for what's involved).

What's super annoying is I have my own upright blast cabinet that I can fit a complete frame in - but I have a broken compressor that I've been unable to source valve parts for (don't know why, it was only made in the 40s so it's practically new).

The 'big' consideration is whether to do a complete strip down now, or to get the worst bits up to scratch enough and get her riding again then do a more intensive restore/rebuild/repaint on down the toad. I'm leaning toward the latter as there's a couple of bits I'd like to replace and might as well make it one job...

On the lookout for a headlamp bucket (cracked) and a stock airbox (cover is missing and been chopped to accommodate a cone filter) at a minimum. Going for bone stock - although I may swap the handlebars.

Her swingarm is a "might as well do now" job as it was on a previous advisory and I'm putting a new tyre on - if the wheel is out anyway getting her arm off is the work of minutes.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[stinkwheel]

You'll get a new, pattern CG125 headlamp unit (probably a metal one designed for an earlier model but the fitment is pretty universal if you use some imagination with which of the holes you stick the wires through) and a used OEM airbox for a CG on ebay for around £20 each, maybe less.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[pdg]

[Feasty]

Loving the write up and pic's pdg, brings back fond memories of my time with 125's.
My first was this Yamaha SR125, hated it at the time - endlessly cutting out randomly. Checked everything, replaced lots and in the end sold it on and moved to a newer Honda XR125.
I'd love to have it back and see what it feels like now.

I've just run an MOT check on the Yamaha, I had it in 2006 with 25k on the clock, last MOT was 2008 with 28k on, so guess that came to a sad demise...
____________________
Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[pdg]

[pdg]

Having been distracted by work and other stuff, not much has been achieved in the last day or so.

I shockingly discovered that her engine cases need a coat of looking at

https://i.imgur.com/8BcC44s.jpeg

And her exhaust has seen better days

https://i.imgur.com/TBqLY4C.jpeg

I gave the casing a bit of a scrape, but neglected a photo as yet...

The exhaust got a little attention with some wire wool, although it's not finished and some autosol wouldn't go amiss (I had done a little of that in the first pic before I remembered pics...)

https://i.imgur.com/ZXFvsEk.jpeg

And I had a look at a wheel

https://i.imgur.com/qgyarZC.jpeg

The rust on the spokes comes off easily with the wire wool too.


Oh, and I emptied the fuel tank and gave it a bit of a flush out with new fuel - not much nasty came out, so I didn't bother taking a pic of nothing.


Wow, that's a disappointing update.

I promise to make the next one more eventful.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[stinkwheel]

That seems to be a thing with Honda alternator covers, for some reason they only put one layer if shitty paint on them and it doesn't seem to be well attached. They clean up nice though. I usually use either plastikote bbq paint for black ones or simoniz high temp for silver ones and bake them off in the oven after getting busy with the paint stripper/wire brush/wire wool.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[pdg]

Bye bye stupid pod filter that has had no fuelling compensation work completed and just sounds like farting in a biscuit tin. A nice induction roar is one thing, but on a 125?

Hello instead:

https://i.imgur.com/xfRVn8c.jpeg

I'll slip it in 'er when it's not rainy and I don't have to go to work...

Off a low mileage bike (according to description, condition supports this and the air filter inside looks new), under £18 after coupon and cashback from eBay. A nice bonus is the breather tube which is split at the end on mine.




Just in case... I have nothing against modified bikes, I do however prefer if they're done right rather than the sort of cobbled together shitheaps I used to run

Little Cece here though, she's going OEM as much as is sensibly possible without spending a fortune - stuff like headlight bucket and indicators will probably be aftermarket/pattern (we'll see, I'm still looking on eBay), and I'll make the seat cover myself but in the main she'll be stock.

That may mean that this thread isn't as interesting as it might be as it's essentially going to be a spruce up /light restore - but I'll have a solution for that in the nearish future.......
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[pdg]

Well, the chopped up old airbox came out:

https://i.imgur.com/PcRdU5F.jpeg

And the new one went in, but it's dark and my attempt at a photo was terrible, so you'll have to wait.

I mentioned before how the starter solenoid was stuck - it stuck again, that was it's last chance.

https://i.imgur.com/jf8791N.jpeg

I would like to replace it with OEM, but apparently that means almost 50 quid. No. A pattern made in china (and y'know, the OE one is likely PRC too anyway) is about a tenner and I'd have to wait 3 days - scrap scooter to the rescue again, at least for a while...

https://i.imgur.com/3P8Mz5Q.jpeg

It has flyleads instead of blades, but the can is the right size to fit in the original mount and some uninsulated spades mean it goes right in using the original wiring connector with no mods - so if I decide to source a new one it'll be a drop in like it should be.

Again, dark, no pic - but it works.


New problem, the neutral switch seems to be in a strop with me.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[blurredman]

Pity yours doesn't also have the kicker on it.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k.

[pdg]