Honda XR125 L anyone?

[earthmover]

Anyone have any experience of the current (05 on) Honda XR 125 L?
I have a couple of reasonably priced ones locally, but wondered what they are like for a learner traillie?
Mark

 

[piebaps]

I used an XLR125 for my test in 2004. A cracking little bike.

Hauled my 19 stone lardy arse around and still gave around 80mpg. Light manoeverable and hard as nails. There are times when I wish I still had her!

 

[Timpo]

FFS, trying to get Denice her own little 'Denise' to take Denise's interest of your 'Denise'..........

If you know what I mean...........














...please let me know as I haven't got a fecking clue. Sort of lost it at the first 'Denise'....


Oh, and the XRL125 is a Honda, enough said!


Timpo.

 

[rc mad]

i had one for a while. If it's still the l then it'll be the same as my 04

Cracking little bike, Did 165 to reserve and handled some off road stuff quite well, it helped that i could pick the thing up with one hand Not that i ever dropped it. I could only ever get 60mph out of mine tho

There are a couple of bits you can buy from honda for it, heel plates and a sump guard. they look quite trick, the sump guard had honda etched ointo it and the heel plates had xr etched onto them. Came to about £150 for both i think and they do protect the engine and the frame pretty well, might want to get them powdercoated or anodised first, they come as bare ally.

I added a set of cheap handguards, (had to drill and tap the weights in the end of the bars) handlebar brace, gaiters and a disc / fork leg protector. Looked quite good by the time i sold it - when the dakar arrived. The front section of the exhaust did start to rust, seemed to be the heat sheild more than anything tho.

Biggest beef i had with it was the measly 35/35 headlight bulb. I swapped it out for a really hard to find 55/60 bulb. Took me about 3 weeks to find one. Might be better going for a hid setup if there is space. Don't think its a h4 bulb tho, One will fit with a bit of modding.

heres the bike just before i sold it

and one of the places it got me too.

 

[earthmover]

Cheers RC, that's the kind of bike I'm after. The headlight shouldn't be too much of an issue, it can't be as bad as the one on my CRF (can it?), and I hope we won't be out after dark. Main thing is for it to start, run, and get my G/F along some gentle lanes until she decides it's a) a really dumb idea and she hates it, or b) it's a brilliant idea, can I take my test now please and pinch your CRF. I'm a bit concerned about the drum rear brake, but I'm sure I can remember how to strip them, after all, it's only been 20 odd years since I last did it! Have a couple lined up for careful scrutiny this weekend. Only hope she doesn't turn out to be as good as Tina, and show us all up!
Mark

 

[rc mad]

The headlight really was appaling, at least to me. I bought the bike from doncaster and came home down the a roads, pitch black and i could hardly see the road. Ended up stopping, adjusting the light way down just so i could see the road infront of me. The bulb was a 35/35 watt BA20D non halogen bulb. (I just remembered that )

Replaced it with a 35 (not a 55 ) watt halogen which was a vast improvement, didn't damage the plastic lens either, i don't know if a higher wattage bulb will , having said that i've just found a 45/40 bulb online here for just under £6 delivered. The 35/35 is about the same. Check with the bike first before you buy one I guess the bulbs are easier to find now as well, typical


It should handle the lanes just fine, it used to start first time everytime regardless of the weather. Based on the cg125 engine but 're-tuned'

There was one recall i know about on the 04 bikes at least, something to do with the starter coil letting water in i think., might might be worth asking the question when you look at the bikes.

The bike manual should be under the seat, If it isn't already water damaged it will soon be. The tools are in a little cannister opposite side to the exhaust, Really easy to get panels and seat off to work on the bike. Can't remember much else