Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

of Bridgestone M23 front and M58 rear tires handled the tractio n duties. Su ch a racy looking m achine just wouldn't be complete without a set of numbers and numberplate backing. Rather than going the usual routes, we . contact ed Paul Crumling of Pro Pla tes International. Crumling, himself a Grand National dirt tracke r, specializes in makin g custom n umber p la tes fo r the roundy-rounders bu t has recently ventured into th e motocross an d o ff-road ma rkets as well. With "cu stom" be ing the key word, Crumling whipped ou t a trick set of numbers for us, and su pplied a set of n umberpla te backgro unds as well. The digits themse lves are cut from 5mil-thick vinyl, and are covered by an addit ional 5mil-th ic k layer of cl ear m yla r, which give the m a permanent, shiny finish. Needless to say, this is the m ostextensive project bike that we have built to date, and it was almost a shame to get it dirty on the track. But an assignment is an assignment, an d the deed had to be done. From the moment we fired u p the bike, it was a p parent that t he C R' s engine had been modified. Even without clicking the bike into gear, we could tell that the engine revved faster and higher, wit h grea tly-improved throttle response. The tiny Bill's Pipes silencer also emitted a vici ous-sound ing exha ust note. The few minutes that it took to warm up the engi ne seemed lik e an e terni ty, as we were quite anxious to take to the track. The easiest way to describe the Bill's Pipes-modified motor is as simple as this: stock Honda times two . The stock engine's strength is its broad (as broad as a 125 can be) spread of power that s tarts down low (as low as a 125 can) and pulls hard and strong throughout the powerband. The Bill's motor has the same manners, but - if you can believe it - it feels about twice as fast! Unlike other modified 1255 that are hard to ride, the Bill's motor is as easy to keep on the pipe as the stocker, but the power output has been beefed-up throughout. Throttle response was quick and clean. Th er e isn't a flat spot to be found, and at times, it's hard to believe that the bike is still a 125. To our delight, the sus pension modifications proved to be just as impressive. The Enzo-modified sus pension gav e the entir e bike a well -b alanced feel , a nd gone was the harshn ess in the fork, and the saggy rear end. When powering out of com ers, the rea r end stayed in th e upper ha lf of th e t ra ve l, ra the r than squatting like the stocker did . By raising the bike's rear end, overall hand ling was im proved - go ne were the occasional swaps that a sagging rear could invite . As for the forks, they - like the shock rode higher in the travel and delivered a pl us he r feeling ov er small or squ ar eedged bumps. Large hits were soaked up without a whimper, an d though we (Above right) The AFAM Chain and Sprockets were more durable than t he stock parts. (Right) The IMS footpegs were comfortable and easy on the arches of your feet. The Bill's Pipes exhaust was potent. (Below right) The Bill's Pipes silencer is tin y, yet effective. (Below) Hand li ng was Improved greatl y by the Enzo Racing fork mod ifica tions. were able to bottom the forks on occa sion, it was ne ver a painful affa ir. The gold-anodized forks added to the trick look of the bike, and drew stares and stock. While the OEM Honda rims questions wherever we went. can be bent and dinged quite easily, Without a doubt, the addition of the the gold Excel loops resisted several Answer Pro Taper bars helped smooth hard hits without distortion. And out the shocks delivered through th e they look cool, too. rider's arms. Add to the package all of the nicWhat can we say about the rest of the nacs that White Bros . added - the bike, except that it definitely attracts a lot skid ' plate, Dunlopad brake pads, of attention. From the bright yellow lMS wide pegs, Twin Air filter, etc. fenders to the shiny, polished parts, and our project CRI25 was quite a everything about the bike is trick. White machine. The 1995 Honda CRI25 is Bros.' attention to detail was painful. due to arrive at our offices any day Though they don't offer aluminum polnow, but in all honesty, it's going to ishing services to the public, we have a have to be quite a machine to get me hunch tha t with so me pleading, yo u to give up this baby. . . C'l might get your way. With th e exception of th e polished DeVol frame guards, all of th e polished pieces AFAM U.SA Enzo Racing : .". held th eir shine th rough. .5953 Engineer Dr. . 17658 San Candelo . . out many rides. Huntington Be ach, CA 92649 Fountain Valley, CA 92708 . One of our test sessions 800/290-9040 . .. n4l9~010 ' ..... ". was on a ha rd -pa cked, ro ck- s tr e w n course that . .,. Pro Plates International .: .' Ansvier Products . has on more than one occa. P.O. Box 911 ' . '. ' 27460Avenue Scott sion left us w ith flat tires . . MI.Wolf, PA17347 Valencia, CA 91355 and dinged-up rims. While . 717/266-0268 · 6051257'4411 ' . we will be the first to ad mit that we can't tell the White Bros. Bill's Pipes difference between the on24845 Cortlit PI. . 1167 Hamner Ave. . track feel of an 18 and 19" Yorba Unda, CA92687 . NOrco, CA 91760 ' rea r wheel , we w ill testify . . 714 /692-3404 909/371-1329 t hat the Excel ri m s are much, much stronger than ~a.. .Ia.ey C::«:»S. BiR's head and cylinder mods $200.00 BiB's exhaust pipe .$160.00 BiB's silencer $64.95 Enzo Racing gold follt tubes ., .$400.00 Enzo Racing Fork mods . .. . . •. . . ... ... . .$150.00 Enzo Racing Shock Springs • ., $80.00 Enzo Racing Fork Springs .. ., ., .,$75.00 Enzo Racing shock mods .$150.00 Answer Pro Taper Handlebar ..• ••... ... •.$99.95 Answer Pro Taper ClarI1l $149.95 AFAM SI4*trOSS Chain & Sprodcet Kit • . . .$128.95 Pro Plates Custom Numbers ea.$2.5O Pro Plates Numberplate Backgrounds • •. . . ea.$2.5O CeaI Dyna Cover ., $69.95 Devol Frame Guards ., $52.99 Dunlopad Front Brake Pads .,$36.95 Dunlopad Rear.Brake Pads . ..• .. • . • . . ..• .$36.95 Excel Front Rim, Gold $110.65 Excel Rear Rim, Gold . • • .• .. . • •. . .• • . . • .$115.64 IMS Wide Footpeg5 . , . . . • . .• .• .. . . . . .. • .$59.95 Renthal Waffle Grips ., $8.95 Sun Une Gas Stop 1-Way Valve . . • . . . . .. .• .$3,95 White Bros. Supercross Skid Plate . ..•.• .. .$59.95 UFO Factory Replica Radiator Covers $45.95 UFO Factory Replica Fork Guards . •. . •.. . . .$39.49 UFO Factory Replica Numberplate $26.92 UFO Factory ReprlCa Front Fender $19.03 UFO Factory Replica Rear Fender •. ... . •• . .$23.69 Werks TanklShroud Graphics . .. . . . .. . • . • .$59.95 While Bros. Brake Snake .. .... .. ., $6.95 Twin AirRiter ., . . . . • ., $24.95

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