OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Kawasaki => Topic started by: yamaico on November 13, 2014, 10:16:29 am

Title: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on November 13, 2014, 10:16:29 am
I just got onto a very original unmolested '76 KX125. You certainly don't see them like this too often.

(http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii534/yamaico/P1010678_zpsf8cfd3e0.jpg) (http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/yamaico/media/P1010678_zpsf8cfd3e0.jpg.html)

(http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii534/yamaico/P1010679_zps1302d04f.jpg) (http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/yamaico/media/P1010679_zps1302d04f.jpg.html)

I know there has been some discussion previously about these being identical to the '74 and '75 models, with the possibility of them being declared a carryover model for pre '75. Does anyone happen to know if this is the case. I don't imagine this bike would be particularly competitive in pre '78, particularly motocross, but probably wouldn't be too bad in pre '75. Regardless of the outcome, it's a great little bike, particularly in this condition.

Pete.
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: Slakewell on November 13, 2014, 10:22:15 am
Great little bike, Ask Dave T he owns one and should know about about the carry over pre 75 deal. IMO they should be pre 75 legal.
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: Mick D on November 13, 2014, 10:26:27 am
Wow what a great pick up Pete 8)
I have a dunger 74 KS125 in my hoardings,,,,
Picked up a dunger 76 KE125 for spares, can't tell the difference except for paint scheme.
The exhaust port went to the right hand side on latter models.
There are a couple of blokes on here would know the right answer though.

I think TM Bill has also has a good mental archive on these things?
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: William Doe on November 13, 2014, 12:41:43 pm
Pete that is a fantastic score  8) You don't often see them come up that original .

Its got all the good original stuff on it still, in spite of public opinion parts are relatively easy to source if you need any, I use modern YZ 85 rod kits in mine . 

They are a great bike and ultra competitive in pre 75 . I don't know what the Aussie ruling is on them re pre 75 and I don't want to start a debate over it .

I have a 74 and a 76 and to me they are the same bike, Sans paint and graphics ( my 76 has had longer shocks fitted and forks modified ) but in std trim I don't believe there's any difference .

Only my opinion but the 76 125 belongs in pre 75 only my opinion .

The 250 / 450/ 400 were very different bikes in 75 and are pre 78 without question , but little bro should be pre 75  :D

Keeper Dave has been harping on forever that he wants one of these .



Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: bazza on November 13, 2014, 12:53:47 pm
Pete awesome fast little bikes. Dave #14 will be your new mate, a real keeper. Just spoke to frank in the hospital.
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: GMC on November 13, 2014, 01:26:43 pm
According to my notes of the 548 parts that make up a 74 KX 125 only three show up as a one model only part, the con rod, side cover emblem and a bearing.

There are 4 other parts that are for 2 models, the 74 & 75...
Front and rear backing plates & 2 more bearings.
(although there are other part numbers for other backing plates that are listed as for 3 models which may be because the early ones were superseded)

Everything else comes up as 3 or more models, some of which are the KS, KE & KD models (besides the KX models)
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on November 14, 2014, 08:10:23 am
According to my notes of the 548 parts that make up a 74 KX 125 only three show up as a one model only part, the con rod, side cover emblem and a bearing.

There are 4 other parts that are for 2 models, the 74 & 75...
Front and rear backing plates & 2 more bearings.
(although there are other part numbers for other backing plates that are listed as for 3 models which may be because the early ones were superseded)

Everything else comes up as 3 or more models, some of which are the KS, KE & KD models (besides the KX models)

Thanks for going to the trouble of looking that up Geoff, great job. It would seem from your research that there would be a very good argument for a carry over inclusion - hard to see any reason why not.

Pete that is a fantastic score  8) You don't often see them come up that original .

Its got all the good original stuff on it still, in spite of public opinion parts are relatively easy to source if you need any, I use modern YZ 85 rod kits in mine . 

They are a great bike and ultra competitive in pre 75 . I don't know what the Aussie ruling is on them re pre 75 and I don't want to start a debate over it .

I have a 74 and a 76 and to me they are the same bike, Sans paint and graphics ( my 76 has had longer shocks fitted and forks modified ) but in std trim I don't believe there's any difference .

Only my opinion but the 76 125 belongs in pre 75 only my opinion .

The 250 / 450/ 400 were very different bikes in 75 and are pre 78 without question , but little bro should be pre 75  :D

Keeper Dave has been harping on forever that he wants one of these .

Thanks Bill. I suspected it would be a good thing. I worked for Kevin Cass years ago and he built one into a very competitive road racer that the late Dave Burgess raced to second place in the Australian 125cc road racing championships against a field of TA125 Yamahas.

If I wasn't such an honest person I would just paint the tank in '74 colours (nicer colour scheme anyway IMO), put some white guards on and go racing. 8) Thanks for the conrod tip, I'll definitely go down that path.

Thanks Mike, Mick and Mick. I get really excited about finding bikes in this condition. I haven't seen it in the flesh yet, but I'm thinking it's going to be a beauty. Just proves that they are still out there.

This ones a keeper for sure ;D
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: Ted on November 14, 2014, 09:41:11 am
Now build it a Worrell pipe ;D
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on November 14, 2014, 12:20:37 pm
Now build it a Worrell pipe ;D
That'd would be a good one to give it a try on Ted. Nice gentle bends, not too complicated :o
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: oldyzman on November 22, 2014, 10:04:38 am
Yamaico:
That is a real cute bike. It reminds me of Sandra Sully. I recently saw one (approx mid 70's) at ACT dirttrack running on methanol. It had a 34mm carby fitted externally and facing forwards. Looked hot and really fast too!
Brett
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on November 25, 2014, 11:34:02 pm
Yamaico:
That is a real cute bike. It reminds me of Sandra Sully. I recently saw one (approx mid 70's) at ACT dirttrack running on methanol. It had a 34mm carby fitted externally and facing forwards. Looked hot and really fast too!
Brett
Sandra Sully Brett??
Just need to go and pick it up then get it ready for Nepean next year. I'll have as many bikes out there as Jim Garvey ;D
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: piney on November 26, 2014, 06:47:36 am
Nice 1 Yamaico,
Gonna be great to see some green on the grid at Nepean.
My 76 Kx400 will be on the grid....... If my rod kit ever arrives,
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: 80-85 husky on November 26, 2014, 08:29:54 am
how does the gearbox hold up? I vaguely remember them having dramas back in the day. they are the nicest looking bikes of that era imo
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: William Doe on November 26, 2014, 09:16:01 am
Touch wood the gearboxes in mine have never given any trouble , the very early 74 models had big end issues that were resolved for the 2nd shipment .

In my experience they are as reliable as a brick , for a pre 75 125 they are suitable for a novice as the power is so linear and doesn't load up yet are a championship contender and Elsinore beater in the right hands ( Rob Tumes ) for one  :)
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: Lozza on November 26, 2014, 07:53:30 pm
Touch wood the gearboxes in mine have never given any trouble , the very early 74 models had big end issues that were resolved for the 2nd shipment .

In my experience they are as reliable as a brick , for a pre 75 125 they are suitable for a novice as the power is so linear and doesn't load up yet are a championship contender and Elsinore beater in the right hands ( Rob Tumes ) for one  :)

Power of the mighty spinning disc Bill  ;)
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: 211 on November 27, 2014, 08:20:41 am
apart from the black guards and metal flake paint the only difference between the 76 and the 74 is the foot pegs - they are otherwise identical and like the CR125M1 pre 75 legal.
from my experience these are bullet proof and fast making good mid range power unlike my TM125 thats a tad peaky
One of my fav
211
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: saint on November 27, 2014, 08:52:12 am
Not a green person, but aren't these similar (for parts or a project)?

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/gympie/motorcycles/kawasaki-ke125a/1062902843
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: 80-85 husky on November 27, 2014, 10:44:05 am
the power was always good, no doubt about that!
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on November 27, 2014, 11:08:18 am
apart from the black guards and metal flake paint the only difference between the 76 and the 74 is the foot pegs - they are otherwise identical and like the CR125M1 pre 75 legal.
211
That's a good bit of news Dave, thanks.
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: 211 on November 27, 2014, 09:13:21 pm
its a great find, its also a great ride - well done
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: jimson on January 07, 2015, 01:31:48 pm
G'day Pete good score mate  :)  from memory didn't I sell you a road trail enduro model some years back. I was wondering if any parts were interchangable. jimson
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on January 12, 2015, 10:23:56 am
Hey Garry,
I don't think that too much is interchangeable between the two. I'm going to pick it up in the next couple of weeks so will know more then. Apparently there are old mxers in sheds everywhere around where he lives so I'm looking forward to going there.
Pete.
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: bazza on January 12, 2015, 11:01:44 am
Pete, Happy new year to you and jackie
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: William Doe on January 12, 2015, 11:09:01 am
If its the KE 125 trail version you will be surprised how much is interchangeable, motor and cycle parts   ;)
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on January 12, 2015, 01:52:56 pm
Pete, Happy new year to you and jackie
Thanks Mike, all the best to you and Carol too.
If its the KE 125 trail version you will be surprised how much is interchangeable, motor and cycle parts   ;)
Hi Bill,
The one I have is an F6, not a KE unfortunately. I'm not sure what's interchangeable on them. The little KX looks that good that I'm hoping it doesn't need too much at all, however I will definitely fit the YZ85 rod kit as suggested by you,
Pete.
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: Ted on January 12, 2015, 06:41:23 pm
Yamaico:
That is a real cute bike. It reminds me of Sandra Sully. I recently saw one (approx mid 70's) at ACT dirttrack running on methanol. It had a 34mm carby fitted externally and facing forwards. Looked hot and really fast too!
Brett
Sandra Sully Brett??
Just need to go and pick it up then get it ready for Nepean next year. I'll have as many bikes out there as Jim Garvey ;D

Screw Nepean Pete. Get it up to Conondale with a fast guy on it next August. You might get your money back ;D
Title: Re: KX125 '76 model
Post by: yamaico on January 12, 2015, 10:04:56 pm
Yamaico:
That is a real cute bike. It reminds me of Sandra Sully. I recently saw one (approx mid 70's) at ACT dirttrack running on methanol. It had a 34mm carby fitted externally and facing forwards. Looked hot and really fast too!
Brett
Sandra Sully Brett??
Just need to go and pick it up then get it ready for Nepean next year. I'll have as many bikes out there as Jim Garvey ;D

Screw Nepean Pete. Get it up to Conondale with a fast guy on it next August. You might get your money back ;D
Good plan Ted, won't have to win much to get my money back though.... ;D :D