First trail ride!

[McRuss]

So I thought this was a nice little gentle trail, only a couple miles long and almost in town! Surprise! After a few switchbacks that were fun, the trail connected with an old jeep road that has apparently been closed off for years. It consisted of very rocky steep (very steep) spots. I stopped to let some hikers come down one such hill and when they got to me, they asked if I had been on the trail before. When I said "nope, first time," they said "it gets steeper and rockier". So, knowing where the trail comes out, I decided to cut my losses and go back to fight the battle another day from the other end!

And some revelations from this ride:
1) I have a modified shift lever that works OK but even the stock one could also suffer from accidentally getting poked into neutral at a bad time (this trail was a 1st gear trail with a 13 tooth sprocket).
2) I like this bike but it does not have much power. I had to paddle it up a couple of spots at the very top when it ran out of poop.
3) I need to get my knobby tires mounted!
4) Install a 12v outlet and carry my little air pump so I can drop the tire pressure when hitting the trail and air back up for the pavement

 

[SneakyDingo]

4) Install a 12v outlet and carry my little air pump so I can drop the tire pressure when hitting the trail and air back up for the pavement

If you're thinking of using a SAE cable this step can take about 15-20 min.

I ran mine out the back near the snorkel:

1. Remove the battery cover body panel. (5mm Hex + push pin)
2. Remove the airbox cover (5mm Hex + push pin, gently work your fingers around the airbox cover so you don't snap the clip off marked 12 in this diagram)
3. Remove the battery case (I can't remember what this is as I didn't write the details down very well, but I think it was 2x 5mm Allen, NW and SE on the battery cover itself)
4. Unscrew the battery screws (JIS screwdriver).
5. Add the SAE cable connections to the battery. Run the SAE cable along the snorkel. The plug will exit on the upper surface of the snorkel just behind the body panel, near the rear tray.
6. Reinstallation of everything is in reverse. No torque values are noteworthy.

You don't need to use a longer battery bolt but you can if you need to. I'm using the originals because my local Home Depot sucks for metric fasteners.

 

[McRuss]

Thanks! I appreciate the detailed instructions, have been in the battery box to wire in my USB port, might need a longer bolt with this! And I think you might mean 'battery cover' rather than 'battery case.' But I get it at any rate.

 

[SneakyDingo]

Thanks! I appreciate the detailed instructions, have been in the battery box to wire in my USB port, might need a longer bolt with this! And I think you might mean 'battery cover' rather than 'battery case.' But I get it at any rate.

Honestly, it's kind of weird for what they call it. There's the battery cover body panel on the outside, one of the few panels with a hole in it right near the 5mm hex bolt, the... battery cover underneath the body panel? then the case itself I guess, which sits under the battery? Naming things is hard.

 

[McRuss]

Well, a few days have gone by and the 125 is ready for its next adventure. New knobby tires, GPS, 12V pigtail (thanks Sneaky for the idea), camera mounted. I checked out some trails in the Cloudcroft, NM, area this weekend and will haul the 125 there once the monsoons die down.

As for the SAE cable, I did need a longer 'bolt' at the plus side of the battery since I also have my USB port wired there. I hadn't considered the SAE cable, my first thought was an 'outlet' for a lighter type plug but the mini pump I am going to use already has an SAE connector! Perfect solution, thanks again for the idea!

 

[SneakyDingo]

I have the USB and the 12V attachments. With their powers combined, I can plug in ALL THE THINGS.

 

[McRuss]

Yessir! I have my Garmin plugged into the USB with room for another device. The SAE plug is reserved for the mini air pump. Can't have too may THINGS.....And BTW, I love the big Ant box, plenty of room for my extra tools, rain gear and a lunch box!