Old Bike Australasia

Tough customer

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Great article in issue 87 on the Honda SS125AE. I became the third owner of an SS125 after the first two got sick of falling off it. The front brake was minus the cable and after refitting it I found out why they fell off. The cast iron sleeve had been moulded off-centre in the alloy hub, locking the brake solid at the softest touch of the lever. A machining job fixed that.

Every comment in the article was spot on, the mufflers being unobtainab­le by 1970 (locally), mine looking very tired after a series of laydowns. The bike had low bars with scuffed ends, not the high risers on the featured bike. Over seven years it was used as a road bike in original trim, learner bike for wife and four kids, dirt bike with knobby tyre and 10 tooth bigger back sprocket, trial bike with 20 tooth bigger rear sprocket, then back to work bike for 14 years without missing a beat and mostly over 100MPG. Modificati­ons of course had to happen. Two short reverse cone megaphone mufflers were found in the back room of the local bike shop. The removable baffles were removed permanentl­y, made a beaut sound but required several sizes bigger main jet, a 3 inch long bell mouth tube (removed from a toy trumpet), replaced the air cleaner and a 5 tooth bigger than standard back sprocket to make top gear more useful. Not much flat riding in NW Tassie. In this form it regularly passed the 70 mph mark. At what revs? Probably because of this, the speedo disintegra­ted with 63,000 miles (101,000 km) registered.

For services rendered I gained a front wheel from a CB200, with twin leading shoe brake, and surprising­ly it fitted with no mods needed. That fixed the braking problem, the original brake was not up to the job. Speedo from a CB125 with 38,000km was fitted. The bike was pensioned off with 81,500km on the clock which meant the little beats did approximat­ely 154,000km with no engine repairs needed except for very regular oil changes, every 500km, a couple of spark plugs each year and several back chains and tyres. I enjoyed every minute for 21 years. The sound of this bike at 9,000plus revs turned many heads, especially those of the two stroke brigade, and several others in blue. After some friendly advice, I agreed to keep it up 5,000 rpm while in town. How could 62ccs make such a glorious sound? Starting involved turning on the key, putting it into gear, and rolling off the centre stand. No choke was ever needed, kick starter was rarely used, and after take off, gear changes were done without bothering the clutch. I am approachin­g 82 years old now and have been kicking myself ever since reading the article for parting company with a great little steed. Keep up with the good work.

Brian Pease Burnie, Tasmania

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