You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Classic<br />
Masterpiece<br />
On our visit to pro Dirt bike in Vereeniging, we noticed a very pretty Honda Lurking in the corner. We<br />
dragged it out into the sunshine and got the whole story…. Words: Roley Foley<br />
A CR144? Yup that’s what it’s labelled<br />
as. It started life as a very ratty, incomplete<br />
1989 CR125 that was lying in some old<br />
garage minus an engine. Honda Classic<br />
enthusiast Mark Rowntree scragged the<br />
chassis and started the rebuild… Around a<br />
year later, here’s the bike.<br />
Rebuild?<br />
It’s more like a remanufacture much like<br />
the big 500 that we featured a few months<br />
ago. Mark runs a very neat workshop that<br />
specialises in once off jobs. The entire<br />
chassis was stripped, the frame repaired<br />
and powder coated. All the bearings were<br />
bashed out and replaced. New wheels<br />
were sourced, anodised in the standard<br />
gold finish and re-laced.<br />
The suspension was stripped right<br />
down, new Racetech inners and seals<br />
fitted and reassembled.<br />
A new oversized disc was fitted and<br />
the standard calipers were completely<br />
overhauled and reconditioned. Every<br />
nut, bolt and screw on the bike was<br />
reconditioned, polished up or replaced<br />
with genuine Honda parts.<br />
Renthal bars found their way to the<br />
front with all standard levers and cables<br />
– and yup – you can still source parts for<br />
these old smokers. Mark had an old 125<br />
motor in the shop – this was stripped to<br />
the bones, completely rebuilt, new crank,<br />
new seals, new bearing and gearbox<br />
components and the top end was bored<br />
out with a 144cc Wiseco piston. He<br />
imported a 36ml Air Stryker carburettor –<br />
pre jetted for our altitude and the bore.<br />
Sprockets are by Talon and the fumes<br />
are delivered by a full FMF fatty pipe.<br />
48 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2017
Change language