WHAT IS IT? 1995 HONDA CR125R
WHO? Steven Johnstone
WHERE DID YOU BUY IT? Newcastle
HOW MUCH? $700 (it was seized)
THE RIDER
I had returned from a California motocross holiday where I had snapped my Achilles tendon at Cahuilla Creek motocross track. Just out of surgery I was looking down the barrel of three months on the lounge. So to give me something to do I thought I’d embark on a retro build. I started looking for something that I could build from the ground up that could be competitive at VMX rounds and that also would be fun to ride.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT?
The bike was completely stripped and I started from the frame up which was painted in the factory colour Shasta White. A range of parts, engine cases, kick starter, brake pedal, swingarm, linkage, brake reservoirs, and airbox went to Pioneer Finishes for vapour blasting. Meanwhile I was slowly buying parts from all over the world and if anyone has built one of these bikes they know how hard these parts are to come by.
I was chasing a Pro Circuit works pipe, carbon silencer, works connection frame guards, OEM white radiator louvres etc.
The motor had a full rebuild top and bottom with all new bearings and bolts, topped with a 38mm PWK Airstryker carburettor and VForce reeds. Applied Racing did a front end conversion with their triple clamps, so I’ve got a 2006 CRF450 Showa Twin Chamber front fork. Both the shock and fork legs were sent to Japan for Kashima coating and DLC coated shafts, with clevis and fork lugs anodised grey. The brake reservoirs were Cerakoted grey plus the brake calipers, and the brakes were rebuilt with braided brake lines.
I added titanium pegs, gold Excel rims with silver Talon hubs, a Clarke tank and I finished off with nuclear red plastics along with Throttle Jockey graphics and seat cover. Every other nut and bolt was replaced on the bike either OEM or close to it.
HOW DOES IT GO?
I had it tuned by Danny at APRO Motorsports, and it took a couple of rides to dial the suspension and motor in, but it’s a little rocket ship. It’s so much fun to ride, handles unreal, picks up really well and for an 18 year old bike it really surprised me. Running it on Roo 99 racing fuel really makes a difference. The frame is very forgiving, and the front end conversion works really well. Overall I’m very happy with how it turned out.
WOULD YOU RECCOMEND BUYING ONE?
100% I would but it’s a bit of a journey with plenty of ups and downs. This bike took me four to five years to build and I think now with parts getting rarer I’d say it would be harder but the juice is definitely worth the squeeze. It’s quite an accomplishment to complete a build of this calibre and it’s not cheap but when riding it for the first time after all that work, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
