Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1469337
scales right down around the FIM minimum (176 pounds). In fact, Honda opted for a steel tank and sprocket (in depar- ture from the 250) in order to get the weight above the limit. The steel tank is more durable than the aluminum one found on the 250, but just can't quite match the alloy for looks... "The 125 requires that you keep it buzzing, and six speeds both empha- size and assist. Another one of those tricky Keihins mounts on the back of the cylinder and delivers super-crisp throttle re- sponse. The throttle tum is around 3/16, and, if the engine is on the powerband, the action starts right away. Off the powerband, the engine doesn't load up or falter, it just develops about one-third the horsepower. It is necessary that you pick the right gear or be in major distress upon occation..." We followed up the test by answering a few questions. How fast is it? "It is faster than any stock 125 motocrosser now available. Not by a whole lot, but a substantial amount. It is as fast as most modified 125s. A few super spe- cials will beat it. But, if you want more out of it, it's in there waiting to be let out." How does it handle? "It does some things better than any bike, and some it does not do as well. You'll have to learn to live with a fairly pipey motor. You can. Put together the pluses and minuses and you don't have enough difference from the best to allow for per- sonal preference. It handles as well as any." How much does it cost? "It will basically cost about as much as your dealer wants for it. Your problem will be getting one. In dollars you might look around $950 to $1000." Is it reliable? "As far as we have taken it, it hasn't faltered. If it's like the bigger two-stroke, it's pretty reliable. Plus, it will cost less to fix than the European bikes." Our summary of the 1974 Honda CR125M: "If you're using the 125 class as a steppingstone to bigger bikes, you might not want to drop the money involved in the Honda. You can buy a bike for a lot less that will suit the purposes of the beginner. But, if you think you want to stick around, there's a pretty good chance that the CR-125M Honda is the bike you want to be riding." I never did get the chance to own one of those early CR125s. Worse yet, I've never even rode one. By the time my skills (and piggy bank) reached the point to where I could buy one, Honda had rested on its laurels a little too long and the other Japanese manufacturers all had passed it up. Someday, however, I think it would be cool to ride one. But until then, I'm quite happy just reading about the CR125M in Cy- cle News when that silver jewel first came out and remember just how good I thought it must be to ride one at that time. I'm sure if I rode one now, all those high expectations and great memo- ries I had for the CR125M would be blown out the window. So, I guess I'd just as soon live on with those thoughts and be content to revisit the old tests. CN P142 Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives fix than the European bikes." 1974 Honda CR125M: "If you're using the 125 class as a steppingstone to bigger bikes, you might not want to drop the money involved in the Honda. You can buy a bike for a lot less that will suit the purposes of the beginner. But, if you think you want to stick around, there's a pretty good chance that the CR-125M Honda is the bike you want to be riding." chance to own one of Photo models? What photo models? We don't need no stinkin' photo models! CN III ARCHIVES