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Honda Trail 125 Forum

Welcome to the Honda Trail 125 Forum! We are an enthusiast forum for the Trail 125, Hunter Cub, CT125 or whatever it's called in your country. Feel free to join up and help us build an information resources for this motorcycle. Register a free account today to become a member. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Hello from VA

Big Earl 125

New member
Joined
Jul 31, 2022
Messages
8
I have been wanting a Trail 125 since it was brought back two years ago. Happened to call a local dealer two weeks ago and he had one available so I bought it sight unseen. Brought that bad boy home and now have it sitting in my garage with 0 miles on it. My first bike was a Triumph 650 Tiger I purchased in 1966 when I got my motorcycle endorsement at the age of 21. Bought a few other bikes and scooters over the years with the last being a Harley Softail Delux, which I sold a few years ago. Being 6ft tall and 285lbs, trying to get comfortable on this small bike is a challenge. Hopefully we have some other big boys here who will chime in with suggestions. Anyhoo, Hello from Williamsburg, birthplace of our country.
Big Earl0D4CEC2C-F845-48BB-AE50-19A871784423.jpego
 

SneakyDingo

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 6, 2021
Messages
1,561
You're about the same size as I am. I switched out the rear suspension, added preload to the front suspension, rotated the handlebar mounts and changed the seat. Of those, I'd be more discerning with the seat; the Diablo seat lowers the seat height a little which is less comfortable for a taller rider.

Specifics of what I did:
@m in sc will suggest using PVC piping over the Chimera bolts that I ordered and it would be cheaper and faster to get than the bolts I ordered. I went with the Chimera bolts; I don't really regret it.
I also went with m in sc's suggestion of the Treatland Dual Spring Rate progressive & adjustable suspension in black to be a discrete upgrade. You will need a lockring tool to install this.
The rotated mount trick is described here:
 

Big Earl 125

New member
Joined
Jul 31, 2022
Messages
8
Thanks Sneaky D, The shocks are out of stock so I left a ” Let me Know “ message. Not sure I understand the Chimera bolt thing, little more explanation for an old man please. Checked and I still have my lock ring tools so good to go there.
 

SneakyDingo

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 6, 2021
Messages
1,561
Not sure I understand the Chimera bolt thing, little more explanation for an old man please.

Going over the basics (and for anyone else who is reading this in the future): on the inside of the Honda fork, this is what it looks like (pictured below). There's the Fork End Cap bolt, an o-ring, a spring collar, a joint, the spring itself, a piston ring, a pipe seat, and the rebound spring (where names are taken from the Honda OEM parts list).

If we add a spacer between the fork bolt (#19) and the spring collar (#4) without increasing the overall length of the forks, this will add compression to the spring (#3) aka adding preload.

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Pictured below is the Chimera bolt next to the regular fork bolt (#19). As you can see, the main difference is that the shaft of the Chimera bolt is longer, which is designed to add preload to the system by pressing on the spring collar (#4) when screwed in completely. However, if you had a piece of PVC piping cut to the same length placed between the stock #19 fork bolt and the #4 spring collar it would feel exactly the same. The main point for bringing this up is the Chimera bolts are quite expensive for what you get, since the stock bolts are $4.15 and the Chimera bolts are $70.

20220705_142505255_iOS.jpg
 

Big Earl 125

New member
Joined
Jul 31, 2022
Messages
8
Thank you Sir, That takes all the unknown out of it. Do you have a good link for the bolts? The one you referenced takes you to a kick stand. Thanks Again.
Big Earl.
 
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