[NSR] Victory is mine!

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 3:36 pm

After months of aggravation and expense, the asthmatic powerplant of the CB125S has finally wheezed to life. In recognition of the countless hours of unadulterated tsouris with which it has enhanced my existence, I have decided to name it "Nagasaki Nutbuster".

Took it for a short ride around the neighborhood, but I've gotta wait for the insurance cards to get it registered/plated.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:28 pm

Congratulations! Are parts hard to find?

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:49 pm

Southerner wrote:Congratulations! Are parts hard to find?

Thanks.

Well, yes and no.

Some parts are constant throughout the model years and can still be sourced directly from Honda. Ditto for parts from other models - different part numbers, but completely compatible.

The two biggest headaches - tires and the carb.

I need to use Michelin Gazelles since they're the only ones I can get in both 2.75-18 and 3.00-17. Michelin seems to do only one run a year, so it pays to order in advance.

The carb - forget it. It's a weird Keihin that they only used for three model years and they're IMPOSSIBLE to find anywhere. I had to purchase an "almost-right" Chinese knockoff and do some creative plumbing.

Perhaps the most annoying problem is constantly getting the wrong part from suppliers because their compatibility info is dead wrong.

It runs OK now, but I still have to tweak the carb a bit and noodle around with a coupla other little annoyances.

While I'm happy with the results, this project cost me almost the entire riding season and I'm pretty sure that I won't be going down the restoration path again. The simplicity of scooters sorta spoils the hell out of you I guess.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:04 pm

It does sound like it's been a trial. As for simplicity, what can be more simple than a single cylinder, air cooled basic Honda? I can see how a scooter could be as simple but how could it be more simple?

Light bulb moment: I was just thinking that I'd rather pay the difference and just buy a new SYM Wolf when it occurred to me that just maybe the carb from that might fit.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:09 pm

Yippee!
Ride up to Rice-o-Rama next year!

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:28 pm

Southerner wrote:.....Light bulb moment: I was just thinking that I'd rather pay the difference and just buy a new SYM Wolf when it occurred to me that just maybe the carb from that might fit.[/i]

True, but would you be able to make that same claim 36 years from now? Of course, if you're in my age bracket, 36 years from now we'll probably both be trying to scrounge parts for Hover-rounds.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:42 pm

Nice job!

phatch · Post by **phatch** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:53 pm

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!! I'm trying to convince my pops to go pick up a '75 360T offa CL for himself. Very nice!!

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:05 pm

Used to want a 360 bad back when they were new. Couldn't swing it financially at the time and had to wait a few years. In '81, I bought a Suzy GS450S and loved it. Now they're gone but I've been seeing a black one in the mornings that somebody has been commuting to work on. Looks brand new.

Sorry for the drift down memory lane.

I think that since Kawasaki has uprated their famous 250 to 300cc's, we may be able to experience good days again, if the trend catches on.

Everything old is new again.

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:10 pm

Sweet and nostalgic! Congradulations. R

CROSSBOLT · Post by **CROSSBOLT** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 10:01 pm

Charlie, those are pictures from Honda's archives. Only kidding! You have done an outstanding job! I am insanely green with envy. May inspire me to rescue some old, forlorn machine from the shredder!

Karl