Post by: spencer.price3 on October 16, 2013, 01:47:04 AM
Post by: cnrcpla on October 16, 2013, 05:43:07 AM
Post by: Stusmoke on October 16, 2013, 10:30:13 AM
Hey guys, so I am buying a 2001 YZ 125 on Saturday as a project. The bike is pretty beat so this should be pretty fun. Anyway, the bike needs a new cylinder, but the OEM cylinder is crazy expensive. What is your opinion on Athena's Big Bore Kit? I am looking at it, and it looks prett good. Any complaints or praises on Athena?
Heard rave reviews about the 134cc kit. You won't gain much peak HP but what you will end up with is a broader powerband with slight HP increases. But like I said the two guys I spoke to said they bought it for the powerband, not the power, and they well and truly got their moneys worth. For peak output you're better off going to 144 or 167. Note: Both people had latest gen YZ125s, not the older engine you're working with.
Post by: eprovenzano on October 16, 2013, 01:08:10 PM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 16, 2013, 05:46:23 PM
Post by: eprovenzano on October 16, 2013, 06:09:24 PM
I have heard that when you install a Big Bore kit specifically on YZ125s that you need to modify the cases, does anyone know something about this?
I believe that is only if you go to a 144 (someone please correct if I am wrong). The 134 does not require modification.
Post by: Stusmoke on October 16, 2013, 09:35:31 PM
I have heard that when you install a Big Bore kit specifically on YZ125s that you need to modify the cases, does anyone know something about this?
I believe that is only if you go to a 144 (someone please correct if I am wrong). The 134 does not require modification.
x2 I THINK its with the 144 and its a little bit of clearance off hte crank cases. Definitely something to check though.
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 16, 2013, 11:13:47 PM
Post by: Stusmoke on October 17, 2013, 05:33:06 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 17, 2013, 05:41:54 AM
I guess I will have to do more research
Post by: Stusmoke on October 17, 2013, 07:28:39 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 17, 2013, 07:48:40 AM
Post by: Stusmoke on October 17, 2013, 08:17:29 AM
I have priced things out, and the Athena kit is a much better option as it comes with a brand new head, piston, ring, gaskets, and powervalve assembly. The kit comes with everything I need for the top end. So in the end this is cheaper. I am sure that the Eric Gorr option will give more power but I am only a novice rider, so I will focus more on suspension and stuff like that. I will keep you guys updated and hopefully have pictures of the bike up on Saturday. This will be my first rebuild of a bottom end, and I am rebuilding the crank myself, so that on its own should be interesting. I am more than open to tips, suggestions and comments
Sounds like you've got your head screwed on right. Makes a nice change... YZ suspension components are typically very good stuff. It won't be up to snuff with the SSS equipment on todays YZ line, but its still very good. The Yaba kit on my 01 YZ250 was better than any jap stuff I've tried since, not set up either. Jap stuff excluding the SSS that is
And they were lightyears ahead of the stock WP components...
Post by: Jeram on October 17, 2013, 08:36:03 AM
Just on a side note: I think that now Gore is part of Millenium Technologies (Nikasil Platers), You might see a present increase in service and reliability as Millenium are simply great.
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 17, 2013, 08:23:30 PM
Post by: Stusmoke on October 17, 2013, 09:43:50 PM
I have done some research on the Athena 144 kit, and it looks like there are quite a few complaints about the kit, and it also requires modifications to the cases, which I would not be comfortable doing myself, so that would mean I would have to pay the local Yamaha dealer 100 bucks an hour to do these small modifications. So I found that Athena makes a 125 kit, it comes with everything I need, so I will be keeping the bike a 125. I really do not mind because I am used to racing a stock cr125 which is apparently in no comparison to a YZ125 motor.
Fair enough mate. Whatever way you slice it it'll be a blast to ride. Yes the CR motors weren't the best, but they could be brought up to speed. But that should have been done in Japan...
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 19, 2013, 07:34:52 AM
Anyways, looks like I have lots of work to do but I already got lots done today.
Post by: Stusmoke on October 19, 2013, 09:36:15 AM
So, today, well I guess yesterday, October 20, I went and picked up the YZ. As I suspected the thing was bagged. The bike was in pieces, the cylinder was missing, bottom end siezed, bolts were mismatched, fenders cut, tires bald, air filter was so old that the oil on it was dry, chain rusted, and the list goes on. One of the weirdest things I found was that the clutch perch was broken, so the owner had wired it together with chicken wire and then taped it with electrical tape.
Thats upsetting... Although I'm not ashamed to admit I tacked a clutch perch back together with a 1200 mig welder in desperation to ride
That was a great weld...
Post by: eprovenzano on October 20, 2013, 01:22:51 PM
So, today, well I guess yesterday, October 20, I went and picked up the YZ. As I suspected the thing was bagged. The bike was in pieces, the cylinder was missing, bottom end siezed, bolts were mismatched, fenders cut, tires bald, air filter was so old that the oil on it was dry, chain rusted, and the list goes on. One of the weirdest things I found was that the clutch perch was broken, so the owner had wired it together with chicken wire and then taped it with electrical tape.
Thats upsetting... Although I'm not ashamed to admit I tacked a clutch perch back together with a 1200 mig welder in desperation to ride
Ah the things we do just to get a ride in...
Post by: cnrcpla on October 20, 2013, 03:25:22 PM
Quote
So, today, well I guess yesterday, October 20, I went and picked up the YZ. As I suspected the thing was bagged. The bike was in pieces, the cylinder was missing, bottom end siezed, bolts were mismatched, fenders cut, tires bald, air filter was so old that the oil on it was dry, chain rusted, and the list goes on. One of the weirdest things I found was that the clutch perch was broken, so the owner had wired it together with chicken wire and then taped it with electrical tape.Sounds like you picked up my friends 125, this kid took it to the track with chicken wire holding the chain together, 9 teeth missing on the rear sprocket, and I don't think he had any bearings in tact. Great day
Sounds like you got your work cut out for you though, have fun with the project
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 20, 2013, 09:10:24 PM
Post by: Stusmoke on October 21, 2013, 05:43:47 AM
Post by: rlaj1004 on October 23, 2013, 01:00:52 PM
make a photo bucket account, upload the photos to photobucket, copy and paste the [IMG] URL into the reply box and it should display the photo.
X2, pictures before, during and after are required. Failure to do so will be to forfiet the finished bike to the riders on this forum for a day on the track.
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 23, 2013, 11:23:34 PM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 23, 2013, 11:25:16 PM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 23, 2013, 11:26:38 PM
Post by: Stusmoke on October 23, 2013, 11:48:58 PM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 24, 2013, 12:03:09 AM
The bike is all disassembled now, frame and subframe are getting ready to be sandblasted, then will be painted. Silencer has been painted, I was surprised as this was one of very few parts that was in good condition. Just waiting to go to the Montana border to pick up parts, then I can start re-assembling
Post by: _X_ on October 24, 2013, 12:07:41 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on October 24, 2013, 12:20:19 AM
shes the DEVIL !
Yeah haha, I will be getting the number replaced too
Post by: mj4trax on October 24, 2013, 09:33:45 PM
I think you'll be happy in the end as '01 is a good year for the yz125.... I know I like mine an awful lot.
'01 is the last year they had a steel frame AND a 6-speed trans.... '02-'04 went to a 5 speed trans and '05 went to aluminum frame.
I also think you'll be happy having it stay a 125... once you go up in displacement, it loses a lot of its charm.
Post by: Stusmoke on October 24, 2013, 10:05:07 PM
That's one rough bike to start with.... which will make the build more rewarding.
I think you'll be happy in the end as '01 is a good year for the yz125.... I know I like mine an awful lot.
'01 is the last year they had a steel frame AND a 6-speed trans.... '02-'04 went to a 5 speed trans and '05 went to aluminum frame.
I also think you'll be happy having it stay a 125... once you go up in displacement, it loses a lot of its charm.
Yamaha went to a 5 speeder from 02 onwards? Really? As if the Hondas weren't enough of a failure.
Post by: mj4trax on October 29, 2013, 07:00:12 PM
Yamaha went to a 5 speeder from 02 onwards? Really? As if the Hondas weren't enough of a failure.
Only the '02, '03 and '04 yz125 were 5 speeds. They still generally won the shootouts, though typically in spite of the 5 speed.
'05 onwards went back to a 6 speed trans, and they have aluminum frames (which are not my preference).
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 01, 2013, 01:16:54 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 01, 2013, 01:23:46 AM
Post by: Stusmoke on November 01, 2013, 02:25:28 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 01, 2013, 03:48:26 AM
Post by: Stusmoke on November 01, 2013, 10:16:19 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 01, 2013, 08:52:31 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on November 02, 2013, 10:15:42 PM
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 18, 2013, 04:53:00 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 18, 2013, 04:54:28 AM
Post by: _X_ on November 18, 2013, 11:19:51 AM
Post by: mj4trax on November 18, 2013, 06:50:44 PM
Oh! Also, how do you know if you need a new head, and where could I get one repaired, or even modified?
Is there damage on your current head? Typically it will only need replaced/reworked if there is pitting in it from detonation. The pitting will create an initiation site for future detonation.
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 28, 2013, 04:23:18 AM
Post by: spencer.price3 on November 29, 2013, 08:36:07 AM