SteveMather
1979 Honda CB125s
Purchased this single-cylinder, 124cc, Honda CB125s in 1979. Read, many years ago, that Japan taxed motorcycles based on engine displacement, hence 124cc instead of 125cc. And, other countries have a series of maximum engine displacements for beginning motorcyclists.
Here's Dan, replacing the slightly-leaking crankcase gasket in our well equipped workshop of newspapers on the garage floor.
Early CB125s have chrome fenders. Later models have plastic fenders * Gasoline was rationed in 1979. Was able (at least, that's what I told my wife) to siphon gasoline from our cars and make sales calls on the 125 at four or five times the miles-per-gallon. I failed to factor in seamstress repair costs for suit coat linings ripped apart in the slipstream.
Low displacement, single cylinder motorcycles require more throttle to launch from a stop, or they cough once or twice, die, lock the chain, and do their best to pitch you over the handlebars. I only passed the new-Ohio-resident motorcycle test by observing that a fellow CB125 rider flunked for not being able to idle (hand off the throttle) through a 50-foot section of the course. No CB125 can do that. I only passed because I adjusted my carburetor idle screw to an abnormally high RPM range where it would 'idle' through, hand off.
This bike was stout enough to tie number-3 child (on the tank, hanging on to the handlebars) to number-2 child (on the tank, in front of me and locked between my knees), to me, to number-1 child (on seat, behind me) for many rides through the neighborhood. There were always arms, legs and giggles everywhere. All three learned to drive this bike after their legs were long enough to reach the ground. Dan (number-3) currently owns it, with approximately 8,000 miles on the odometer.
My longest trip? 58-miles from Cleveland to Warren, Ohio on the Ohio Turnpike (5-BHP minimum) drafting tractor trailer trucks at 60-65 mph. And, return * The narrow tires allowed this bike to outpace aquaplaning four-wheelers in a torrential downpour on I-71. My windshield wipers didn't work as well as theirs. And, they didn't have to pour water out of both shoes upon arriving home.
Please view companion photo at... www.flickr.com/photos/mathersteve/9916621205/
1979 Honda CB125s
Purchased this single-cylinder, 124cc, Honda CB125s in 1979. Read, many years ago, that Japan taxed motorcycles based on engine displacement, hence 124cc instead of 125cc. And, other countries have a series of maximum engine displacements for beginning motorcyclists.
Here's Dan, replacing the slightly-leaking crankcase gasket in our well equipped workshop of newspapers on the garage floor.
Early CB125s have chrome fenders. Later models have plastic fenders * Gasoline was rationed in 1979. Was able (at least, that's what I told my wife) to siphon gasoline from our cars and make sales calls on the 125 at four or five times the miles-per-gallon. I failed to factor in seamstress repair costs for suit coat linings ripped apart in the slipstream.
Low displacement, single cylinder motorcycles require more throttle to launch from a stop, or they cough once or twice, die, lock the chain, and do their best to pitch you over the handlebars. I only passed the new-Ohio-resident motorcycle test by observing that a fellow CB125 rider flunked for not being able to idle (hand off the throttle) through a 50-foot section of the course. No CB125 can do that. I only passed because I adjusted my carburetor idle screw to an abnormally high RPM range where it would 'idle' through, hand off.
This bike was stout enough to tie number-3 child (on the tank, hanging on to the handlebars) to number-2 child (on the tank, in front of me and locked between my knees), to me, to number-1 child (on seat, behind me) for many rides through the neighborhood. There were always arms, legs and giggles everywhere. All three learned to drive this bike after their legs were long enough to reach the ground. Dan (number-3) currently owns it, with approximately 8,000 miles on the odometer.
My longest trip? 58-miles from Cleveland to Warren, Ohio on the Ohio Turnpike (5-BHP minimum) drafting tractor trailer trucks at 60-65 mph. And, return * The narrow tires allowed this bike to outpace aquaplaning four-wheelers in a torrential downpour on I-71. My windshield wipers didn't work as well as theirs. And, they didn't have to pour water out of both shoes upon arriving home.
Please view companion photo at... www.flickr.com/photos/mathersteve/9916621205/