125-200cc is it ever too late to own a WR125?

Well, after many years nearly grabbing one or being distracted with other bikes, user 2Premo on here was nice enough to point one out for me that was for sale within a few hours of me.

Well, long story short. Grabbed it tonight. Actually, this is my first 125 ever, in all of my 28 or so years of riding. Kinda doing it backwards....

She's a very clean, low hour '99 WR125. Doesn't look like it's ever been laid over? Pretty much one owner really, it was in the fam. Last ridden 2005, but maintained still (garaged/covered) and recently started after a carb clean and all oils gone through. Was part of a collection of 12 or so bikes. Owner was son of a VERY famous person who then sold to his nephew (who I bought it from), but nephew just took possession of it after many years now finally, but never rode it, since he landed a 2013 or something FE350 Berg in the meantime, which he'll be riding instead. Kinda neat history. From the looks of it, bought at Uptite Husky and he remembers him and his uncle going into Uptite and having conversations with George.

Came with front headlight and speedo too, which I have. He thinks he has the manual too, but will send it down later.

If I had to guess, maybe 40-50 hours on bike?? If that. All original. And of course, starts in one kick and puurrs, haha.

Bike needs to be washed up some and I will go through the entire bike to get it up to speed and refreshed where needed.

Ill have a lot of questions, esp around jetting and basic setups. There are zero funds left for a WB165/UT167 setup this year, but possibly next. So, need to make what I have shine, so hopefully I'll get a lot of feedback from all of the veteran 125 owners out there with a plethora of experience and know-how so mine gets sorted quickly and I can enjoy it for what it is. It's been awesome to see the 125 crowd grow over the years. I finally got on board, so I'll get to see what all the fuss is about here soon enough.

I'm hoping it helps me improve my technical riding where I've been lazy all these years.

Ok, I'm beat, another long day tomorrow.

Appreciate all the help in advance too! As I go through it, I'll post new pics.

very nice - wish I could find one like that
Good luck . I am sure you will like it and grow to love it .

It's never too late I'd guess ... One thing about the states, you can almost always find a well kept bike at a good price if you look around ...

Congratulations and good luck and ride safe .... And if you wanna improve your riding, it's seat time. After quitting work and riding all I want to now (24\7\364), it's so obvious that riding 1-2 days week, 1\2 the year, was not gonna make much of rider of me, at my age. Your mileage may very of course ... Signing out now

PS -- That bike looks better than all my bikes that are a ~decade newer ... Except for the EFI bike I just take to the tracks and I'm not there very often.

definitely a great score

Nice mint one I would say

If you have already in mind to do an engine upgrade later, a short time improvement that will benefit now and later would be installing a lectron carb

besides that buy petrol and tires and ride it

Robert-Jan

That 99 is cleaner than my 2009 300 Nicely done. I have been wanting to pick up a 125 and you just scored

Rock: Of cos you can find one. I had to wait years before I found a nice 410 again, but found one at Halls on a whim one late evening when cruising their site, a leftover 2000 in a crate, back in ’08..and at the time, wife said I could have it for ann gift. What a sweet day that was. I won’t even tell you what I paid for it….let’s just say it’s fractions of a new one…haha Thanks, I hope I enjoy it too! Would be a waste not to!

Thanks Kelly…appreciate that. Yes, I’ve read your posts from the past on that WR250 and you’ve given it much praise for its ability to still dominate among much newer machines while out. Testimony I tell ya. Will be interesting to see how this suspension performs. Being I’m around 220 right now, yes too heavy for just over 5’9, and ride mostly desert….not sure where the current valving and whatnot will feel like. However, with this 125 of a weapon, I plan on riding it in the local mountains too, so some Corral Canyon here in San Diego county, etc, where I can improve my tech riding, so the suspension will need to cater between that world and more open Mojave Desert stuff… so not sure how to achieve that quite yet. Talked with Ty on my 360/410 the other wk, and he’s going to work on them next month for me to get the valving dialed in for dez, based on all the great feedback I’ve heard on this board. Thanks for the tidbit on the cool features. Sweet to know.

Yeah, was wondering if I should stick with the factory silencer or go with the FMF with sparky, as they’re available. Worthwhile\meaningful upgrade? Sound better? I didn’t like the sound on my 360 which uses the same style, so switching it this wk to the FMF.

Ray: I hope not, because if it is too late, I’m going to struggle to man handle this thing the way it needs to be. From Kelly’s last post, seems the newer you go on the 125’s, the racier they became….meaning you likely need to ride them even more aggressively to make it shine. This kind of bike goes against my style in general, but that’s what I needed, something different, something completely outside my comfort zone. True man….patience will always pay off if you wait long enough, something will pop up out here for sale. Thanks….def ride safe…for sure. You’re very right about that. With the VERY limited desert trips I do each year, my goal is to get out in the afternoons where I can when the weather is cooler up in the local mtns, since I get off work super early usually. Seat time, that will help the most! Don’t worry, I ride less than anyone on this board…HAHA! I like a clean bike, for some reason it hurts my head if the bike is all jacked… just an OCD thing. Enjoy all that riding you’re doing too!

2Premo: Again, much thanks for pointing that one out to me. I normally look, but you beat me to it… I certainly owe ya! Figure something out there for a finders fee…hehe

RJ: I am interested in seeing how clean I can get it after cleaning it, just to see how mint..that way get that original owner layer off and I can start my own collection of funk on it…lol I agree, the Lectron would be an awesome improvement, I completely think so too. I just won’t have the funds for that until next year I think. I literally shouldn’t have bought this bike since I’m in the middle of so many other projects, but figured it’s so hard to find a clean 125, I just need to do it. The carb might have to wait until next year, along with the engine upgrades, since I imagine I’ll need that to scoot me around that much easier, haha. May have to buy someone used PWK for cheap or just try and dial in the TMX for the year. But yes, tires are about half there, so need to get those going. Thanks RJ!

Marc: Thanks man! Yes, but you likely ride that 300! Haha. Now we need to find you a nice 125, eh’!

So…..
I’m up for suggestions on tires….need something that can do Corral Canyon, mountain trails with hardpack rocky stuff and also some desert stuff, which is still some hard pack, but some soft sections at times too of course. Any ideas? Need to get those ordered up.

I saw an old o-ring sitting on the swingarm, so figured the chain may need some love too. Which chains you guys going with on these days?

Anybody actually have a link to the ’99 WR/CR125 workshop manual? I didn’t see it listed on the NL site.

2Premo: Again, much thanks for pointing that one out to me. I normally look, but you beat me to it… I certainly owe ya! Figure something out there for a finders fee…hehe


So…..
I’m up for suggestions on tires….need something that can do Corral Canyon, mountain trails with hardpack rocky stuff and also some desert stuff, which is still some hard pack, but some soft sections at times too of course. Any ideas? Need to get those ordered up.

I saw an old o-ring sitting on the swingarm, so figured the chain may need some love too. Which chains you guys going with on these days?

Anybody actually have a link to the ’99 WR/CR125 workshop manual? I didn’t see it listed on the NL site.[/quote]



buy me a tall cool one when i get down there

there has been a thread running on tires recently, good info

the O-ring might be because the chain was removed and replaced, look hard to see if the O-rings are cracked, if so plan to buy a chain, i am biased to Regina

workshop manuals have shown up on ebay pretty reasonable

tire thread, in the oldies (Swedish) forum

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/tires-whats-the-hot-ticket-lately.79046/page-5#post-518165

On my 125s I prefer Dunlop Geomax mx52 100/90/19 on my wr250 and yz450 I prefer AT81s. The 125 needs the narrower width to get the pounds per sq inch, the wide tires kinda hydroplane rather than get a bite.

Not a prob on the drink Premo. Lots of amazing beer places now in San Diego. We’re a beer mecca now! Haha

Cool, I’ll look more closely on the chain. It’s pretty sad really, I end up replacing parts on bikes more often because of age, not wear. I will change that now on this 125. I will finally try and ride at least 1-2x, maybe up to 3x a month if I can in the near future, compared to 1-3x a year.

Appreciate the tire link too. Lots and lots of options. Hopefully something stands out.

Lanky: Thanks for the feedback on the tire you like. This bike runs an 18, since a WR. Yes, quite true. I need to dig/get real traction and not float so much. I’ll try and see what the most used width is on these 18” 125 setups…. Sounds like a need just a standard, well proven all around general offroad tire with good value.

don't forget to ride her like a 125. she will thank you for it. very nice mint condition machine.

Thanks Robertaccio! I'm going to have to learn how to do that, being my first 125 ever, but have a general idea what that means. By the time I learn how to do this, next year or whatever it might be a 16x and have to learn all over again....

This work on tires? Thoughts..

Stock is 120/90/18 but I know it was mentioned not to go to wide on that little 125.

Maxxis M7305D Maxxcross Desert IT 110/100-18

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Product/maxxis-m7305d-maxxcross-desert-it-rear-tire/368-2197.aspx

&
Metzeler Unicross All Terrain MX
90/90-21

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Pro...-all-terrain-mx-front-tire/335-0312-0098.aspx

Ok, looks like these parts thus far are on the way...

-Filter, plugs, regina o-ring chain (not cheap are they, haha), new carb hoses, (wonder if I need to do any coolant hoses, hmm), grips, crossbar pad, and FMF silencer...

waiting to hear back on radiator guards, skid plate and jetting pieces I'll need for the TMX... and figure out tire selection, ugh.

Ride her like a 125 means rev the hell outta her and stir that lever on your left by your foot! ALOT!
Also means keeping it pinned through tight twisties you would not be able to do on a larger cc. Awesome flickability

Oh yeah i bet you cant manage to not smile riding one like above method states.

Definitely going to be a new riding style for me....but I need the change! Good stuff Juicy! I think I look forward to the flickability component the absolute most to be honest!

Yup theyre like riding a powered pushbike silly light if your used to any 4pop or big bore two smoker.
Let us know how ya go.

whoa, no wonder your bikes look good!