CR125R 2002 Cr125 thoughts?

[Yotasforlife]

Hey ya’ll so I have the opportunity to trade my 2007 Crf250r for a Clean 02 Cr125 and I love to trail ride so I was wondering what you all think of the 02’s. How is the motor? How is the suspension? How can I make this as trail ready as possible? And I know you are thinking get a cr250 for trails but I just don’t want a 250 I love the light feeling of a 125. I have had a kx125 and I’ve ridden a yz125 but I just love Honda’s so I want a cr. Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Do you guys recommend a big bore set up for bottom end? I am 5’10” and 140 pounds. 

[SmokinJoe]

From the tests of the 03 cr125 the 02 was a dog. 

[shrubitup]

02 range of its weak power was about 550 rpms wide 

Edited June 27, 2021 by shrubitup

[mlatour]

14 hours ago, Yotasforlife said:

How can I make this as trail ready as possible?

If you are mostly trail riding and rather than a purpose built enduro/off-road bike (WR, KDX)

are still considering a 2-stroke MX race bike, re-consider getting a 250 instead.

Maybe 10-15lbs heavier than a 125 but has much more usable torque which will compensate for the tall 1st gear of the close-ratio mx gearbox.

 

For trail riding, a 2006-current YZ125 / X probably has the best 'low end' out of any stock 125

but is still nowhere close to your current CRF250R and will require new clutching skills and a more aggressive style of riding.

 

I have a riding buddy that's your size that went thru the very same dilemma,

after owning a KDX200 and wanting a lighter more nimble bike (he trail rides but also races amateur/intermediate level enduro)

he tried his best to convert a 2002 CR125 to enduro usage (suspension revalve etc.)

rode it for a few seasons, wearing himself out charging thru stuff larger cc bikes simply chug thru effortlessly 

and, realizing just how much more effort it took to ride due to the lack of low end torque, tall gearing etc.

sold it and switched over to a BETA 300 X-Trainer.

 

An enduro/off-road bike may cost more initially but, in the end will be cheaper than trying to convert or,

selling the 'wrong' bike to finally buy the 'right' one for the job.

 

Edited June 27, 2021 by mlatour

[shrubitup]

3 hours ago, mlatour said:

If you are mostly trail riding and rather than a purpose built enduro/off-road bike (WR, KDX)

are still considering a 2-stroke MX race bike, re-consider getting a 250 instead.

Maybe 10-15lbs heavier than a 125 but has much more usable torque which will compensate for the tall 1st gear of the close-ratio mx gearbox.

 

For trail riding, a 2006-current YZ125 / X probably has the best 'low end' out of any stock 125

but is still nowhere close to your current CRF250R and will require new clutching skills and a more aggressive style of riding.

 

I have a riding buddy that's your size that went thru the very same dilemma,

after owning a KDX200 and wanting a lighter more nimble bike (he trail rides but also races amateur level enduro)

he tried his best to convert a 2002 CR125 to enduro usage (suspension revalve etc.) and after realizing

just how much more effort it took to ride (lack of low end torque), sold it and switched to a BETA 300 X-Trainer.

Sure sounds familiar. The 02 cr 125 frame has a great frame. That’s about it. The cr250 would be much better other than the crazy tall first gear. 

[Motox367]

Good bike just not very fast. Doesn't mean can't go fast on it tho and could be good trail bike

[Yotasforlife]

6 hours ago, mlatour said:

If you are mostly trail riding and rather than a purpose built enduro/off-road bike (WR, KDX)

are still considering a 2-stroke MX race bike, re-consider getting a 250 instead.

Maybe 10-15lbs heavier than a 125 but has much more usable torque which will compensate for the tall 1st gear of the close-ratio mx gearbox.

 

For trail riding, a 2006-current YZ125 / X probably has the best 'low end' out of any stock 125

but is still nowhere close to your current CRF250R and will require new clutching skills and a more aggressive style of riding.

 

I have a riding buddy that's your size that went thru the very same dilemma,

after owning a KDX200 and wanting a lighter more nimble bike (he trail rides but also races amateur/intermediate level enduro)

he tried his best to convert a 2002 CR125 to enduro usage (suspension revalve etc.)

rode it for a few seasons, wearing himself out charging thru stuff larger cc bikes simply chug thru effortlessly 

and, realizing just how much more effort it took to ride due to the lack of low end torque, tall gearing etc.

sold it and switched over to a BETA 300 X-Trainer.

 

An enduro/off-road bike may cost more initially but, in the end will be cheaper than trying to convert or,

selling the 'wrong' bike to finally buy the 'right' one for the job.

 

Thanks ya I am just 15 and have been riding for around 2 years so I don’t think that a 250 2t would be great. I want to race gncc so I want something that will be a good beginner bike to gncc. Do you know what your buddy did to his cr to make it more trail friendly?

[Yotasforlife]

33 minutes ago, Motox367 said:

Good bike just not very fast. Doesn't mean can't go fast on it tho and could be good trail bike

Ya I’ve heard they are the slowest but best handling 125. Do you think at my skill level ( I have been riding for around 2 years) that I would notice the power difference between a yz and a cr?

2 hours ago, shrubitup said:

Sure sounds familiar. The 02 cr 125 frame has a great frame. That’s about it. The cr250 would be much better other than the crazy tall first gear. 

What was bad about the bike other than not much bottom end?

[Yotasforlife]

8 hours ago, shrubitup said:

02 range of its weak power was about 550 rpms wide 

Ok so if I’m not enduro riding it then it should work fairly good?

14 hours ago, SmokinJoe said:

From the tests of the 03 cr125 the 02 was a dog. 

I can’t see what it says about the 03, what was different about it from the 02?

[shrubitup]

14 minutes ago, Yotasforlife said:

What was bad about the bike other than not much bottom end?

Narrow range of power. 05 + Yz125 has a much better power spread. 

[shrubitup]

13 minutes ago, Yotasforlife said:

Ok so if I’m not enduro riding it then it should work fairly good?

Not bad if on a track; horrible at technical woods. 

[Motox367]

29 minutes ago, Yotasforlife said:

Ya I’ve heard they are the slowest but best handling 125. Do you think at my skill level ( I have been riding for around 2 years) that I would notice the power difference between a yz and a cr?

What was bad about the bike other than not much bottom end?

Only if you ride back to back. But honestly it's still a 125 and fast enough ?

[ron_m]

I have owned a 2002 CR125R and a 2007 CRF250R.  For GNCC type racing, I would stay with the CRF250R.  The 2002 CR125R has very poor bottom end performance in stock form.  However, when they come on in the middle, they will roll and I would consider it to be one of the best handling bikes I have ever ridden.  The ergonomics and chassis always felt great and it made it a blast to ride once the power came on.  Currently, I still own a 2002 CR250R and I absolutely love it.  I only trail ride with it and I feel as though it is highly underrated for the woods.  The power is more manageable than that of my 2007 YZ250, and it turns and handles better.  Overall, I am a little faster on my YZ250, but I still get more enjoyment out of riding my CR250R.  If you do end up buying a 2002 CR125R, make sure that the technical service bulletin procedure has been completed for the manufacturing defect where the airbox-to-airboot joint did not seal properly.  This is a very serious problem until the joint is properly sealed.  Good luck with your decision either way!

Edited June 27, 2021 by ron_m

[mlatour]

5 hours ago, Yotasforlife said:

 Do you know what your buddy did to his cr to make it more trail friendly?

By memory, aside from adding the usual 'protective' hardware (skidplate and radiator guards, bark busters) and a larger fuel tank, he also:

- re-valved the suspension

- don't remember which brand (perhaps a Bill's Pipe) but an exhaust to enhance low-to-mid

- flywheel weight

- optimized the cylinder's squish band height

- smaller carburetor, again to enhance low-to-mid

- a 1 tooth smaller front sprocket to help with the tall 1st gear (which killed all top speed / cruising abilities)

- fresh engine top to bottom

 

and despite all of that, the engine still felt anemic in the low-to-mid versus my completely stock 2010 YZ125.

I rode it a few times and it really felt like a 85cc instead of a 125... and that was on an MX track were it could stretch it's legs.

Trail/off-road, my friend's very respectable skills (20+ years of riding/racing) made up for a LOT of that bike's shortcomings

but it simply wore him out too much, the opposite of what a 'light and nimble' dirt bike is supposed to do but again,

the lack of low end torque makes you work much harder and doesn't forgive mistakes.

 

Your 2007 CRF250R is actually a VERY good bike, that early generation Unicam 250 engine design likely having

equal or better low-to-mid power than any rev-happy late-model 250F.

Suspension re-valved closer to CRF250X specs (I've done it for a friend's 250R) it could make for an excellent GNCC bike,

it's tall 1st gear perhaps only an issue for slow technical trail riding.

 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by mlatour

[Yotasforlife]

1 hour ago, mlatour said:

By memory, aside from adding the usual 'protective' hardware (skidplate and radiator guards, bark busters) and a larger fuel tank, he also:

- re-valved the suspension

- don't remember which brand (perhaps a Bill's Pipe) but an exhaust to enhance low-to-mid

- flywheel weight

- optimized the cylinder's squish band height

- smaller carburetor, again to enhance low-to-mid

- a 1 tooth smaller front sprocket to help with the tall 1st gear (which killed all top speed / cruising abilities)

- fresh engine top to bottom

 

and despite all of that, the engine still felt anemic in the low-to-mid versus my completely stock 2010 YZ125.

I rode it a few times and it really felt like a 85cc instead of a 125... and that was on an MX track were it could stretch it's legs.

Trail/off-road, my friend's very respectable skills (20+ years of riding/racing) made up for a LOT of that bike's shortcomings

but it simply wore him out too much, the opposite of what a 'light and nimble' dirt bike is supposed to do but again,

the lack of low end torque makes you work much harder and doesn't forgive mistakes.

 

Your 2007 CRF250R is actually a VERY good bike, that early generation Unicam 250 engine design likely having

equal or better low-to-mid power than any rev-happy late-model 250F.

Suspension re-valved closer to CRF250X specs (I've done it for a friend's 250R) it could make for an excellent GNCC bike,

it's tall 1st gear perhaps only an issue for slow technical trail riding.

 

 

 

Ok thanm you for all the info, how much does a revolve cost? And what gearing would you recommend? 

[Yotasforlife]

5 hours ago, ron_m said:

I have owned a 2002 CR125R and a 2007 CRF250R.  For GNCC type racing, I would stay with the CRF250R.  The 2002 CR125R has very poor bottom end performance in stock form.  However, when they come on in the middle, they will roll and I would consider it to be one of the best handling bikes I have ever ridden.  The ergonomics and chassis always felt great and it made it a blast to ride once the power came on.  Currently, I still own a 2002 CR250R and I absolutely love it.  I only trail ride with it and I feel as though it is highly underrated for the woods.  The power is more manageable than that of my 2007 YZ250, and it turns and handles better.  Overall, I am a little faster on my YZ250, but I still get more enjoyment out of riding my CR250R.  If you do end up buying a 2002 CR125R, make sure that the technical service bulletin procedure has been completed for the manufacturing defect where the airbox-to-airboot joint did not seal properly.  This is a very serious problem until the joint is properly sealed.  Good luck with your decision either way!

Ok thank you for the information, after all my research and your guys input I think I’m going to keep my crf250! Thanks again for the info

[mlatour]

Cost of re-valve depends if you venture to do it yourself (involves LOTS of trial and error!)

or on which suspension shop you deal with, also if they get it right the first time.

 

Final drive gearing is a trade-off on a trail/off-road ridden MX race bike equipped with a close-ratio gearbox.

For the low speed grunt you may gain by going to a smaller front / larger rear sprocket

oppositely comes a slower top speed in top gear, also meaning buzzing the engine on long stretches / open terrain.

 

This quickly becomes apparent if you ride with friends as either they all slow down (never likely to happen) to match your limited top speed

or, they'll leave you in the dust when travelling dirt roads.

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by mlatour

[Smithy86]

I have owned my cr125 2002 for 10 years , the power does take a while to kick in, mid range on the power band is great, feels like half the weight of a 4stroke so you notice that after a day out ,I have vhm head on mine v force reeds and dep pipe so maybe that improves it a bit im not a racer so wouldn’t really notice only ride  practice days , the best thing about my bike had been reliability it has never let me down never blown up or broke down etc