I Raced a 96 CR125 against modern 125s at AMCA championships

I decided to race my 96 CR125 in the final Moto at Warmingham lane this last weekend. I had gone 2-1 in the previous motos on my yz125. I’ve only ridden this bike twice so was keen to see what it would be like in race conditions. I really enjoyed it. Put my fastest lap in on the last lap of the race. Biggest difference was the bottom end power and brakes.

[@ThomasDoubting5]

If you never experienced the power band on an old school CR 125 , it means business its not messing about and to me the fact that a mid 90s CR is still very competitive in Motorcross is absolutely no suprise . Its like unleashing hellfire on the throttle 😂

[@JohnDoeEagle1]

Nearly proof that EXTRA $3,000 - $4,500 on the price tag along with 27 years of "wasted" "unnecessary" technology and doodads are about worthless.

[@JohnDoeEagle1]

Never thought I would see a new 2-stroke 125cc be selling for $7,000 +/-. Crazy!!

[@motoyamasnigglepuff8654]

Not very dramatic are you?

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It is only competitive against other 125 2-strokes, or so I thought before I found this off road vid. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fX-pqWV-otmgkKc

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@JohnDoeEagle1 2 bad things that happened that raised the cost of a bike. It is intervention of free enterprise that raises costs the most. The first intervention was the FIM and the 1986 production rule, that stopped development in the USA and tripled the cost of a bike in 5 years. The last was the 4-stroke forced on the industry by a dictatorship called the EPA. Both, should be illegal acts.

[@reedjet]

so refreshing to hear someone that can really run a clutch on a 125. you ride that thing beautifully

[@daneg]

😆 my first race (nervous novice) at southwick. fried the clutch on my '92 RM 125 in the sand. no lie: that was how I learned what clutch plates were and how they worked (well...when I had to replace them anyway). 🤣😂🤣😅

[@memorris2]

The first thing i thought when the race went past turn 1 was, " damn! Dude can run a 2stroke!"

[@Lilmickcrocodiledundee0001]

Right!?

[@bulletlottery]

Proof that there’s no problem with buying a older bike if it’s properly maintained! The 90s was the peak of moto-x so it makes sense this bike performs as well as it does! #Respect

[@JBlinky67]

Holy crap. I seriously haven't enjoyed a race that much in years! You are railin' through those turns the more laps you put in. Thank you for sharing that with us!

[@nevsta272]

Cheers mate 😁👊🏻

[@allanmcelroy9840]

Hearing that engine wine reminded me of motorcoss madness 2

[@moonjumper66]

Always nice to hear 2-stroke power...i was riding competition in 1980 in Belgium on a 125 honda cr .thanks for uploading.

[@nevsta272]

1996 CR125 was my first bike after 80cc suzuki 😁✊🏻💨

[@dalehicks6112]

The modern bike was pulling you on the straights but you got'em in the corners! Way to go!

[@dougbloom3672]

Turns are for dough, jumps are for show

[@A-non-theist]

We watched a different race.

[@knifelyfe6565]

What straights? Only straight I saw was to the first turn.Perfect 125 track.

[@wannabecarguy]

​@@dougbloom3672.. not if you stay low..

[@str3072]

Thanks for your motivation You are always showing no matter what conditions what tracks You are example

[@nevsta272]

Thanks for the kind words bud

[@Tumid1]

I feel your pain. I've been in the same situation..you put in a yeoman ride for 2nd but some alien disappears into the distance without even breaking a sweat.

[@EkonRekon]

He got him at the gate

[@hawks2252]

that 52 must be an alien.

[@lukebaker1167]

Great stuff Nev, what a savage dry nasty looking track!!!

[@daneg]

aye. not my kind of track for sure. I want loam or sand. I had a hard time picking ruts through his gopro, but he clearly had no issue.

[@bro.jamessoc5830]

Fantastic ride!!! Thanks for sharing! Those were the days!!

[@milesjohnson2780]

It’s been so long since I’ve raced. I literally got arm pump watching this video being the condition of the track and you being on a 96 CR125. My dad had the 250 and man I wish I could’ve rode it. I was on 80’s at the time.

[@jamessmith84240]

1996 - a great year for music and motocross bikes!

[@nevsta272]

Hell yeah 💯💯💯🤝

[@Lilmickcrocodiledundee0001]

Hell yeah bro. Old school rider myself. Glad to see others out there. I sure do miss the day's i did this. Great job bro

[@ataylor1314]

Awesome riding! That last lap was mega, blowing through some of those ruts like they weren't even there 👊

[@nevsta272]

Cheers bud. Got to learn the bike through the Moto 😁✊🏻💨

[@bobdillon2642]

Wow! Must take some doing keeping her on the pipe on that hard pack. I'm getting my 96 cr ready for super evo 125 foxhill vmxdn...do you have any jetting or gearing tips so I can stop abusing the clutch so much lol. Cheers

[@calvinbass1839]

Good stuff! Seeing a dust trail ahead of you always helps you go faster! Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed day.

[@nevsta272]

Thanks buddy. You too 👊🏻🤘🏻

[@dougbloom3672]

Really nice ride 👌🏼 i miss this so much .. Thank you .

[@jimcole1578]

Fantastic video! The bike bike sounded great and amazing riding on a rough course, well done.

[@nevsta272]

Thanks mate 👊🏻

[@peterthornton2396]

Absolutely love this mate. I had several RM’s back in the 90s

[@randyterwilliger7457]

That brought be back a few decades . I really felt like I was back “ there “ again on my 73 cr 125 . Thank you .

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud. Glad you enjoyed 😁

[@patbrophy7693]

Had cr s 125 for most of my teen yrs raced in early 80 s to mid 90s loved my C R s go RED hell ya. Great video u killed it thank you

[@540ok1]

Right On! Bruh, that was sweet riding! Competed in the Midwest in the 70’s and 80’s on Yamaha YZ 125’s. The days on 2 stroke bikes! Thanks for sharing!

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud 😁👊🏻✊🏻💨💨💨

[@wygantsh]

Sounds awesome. Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing.

[@andrewgeorgelang]

That was awesome. Thanks for sharing man. Only thing I didn't like, at the #4 booth the wooden fence. That's gonna take someone's life . Take a look

[@johngray6397]

Loved the instant power of the 2 stroke engine, had a Honda and Suzuki dirt bikes. Fun times racing!

[@sutreB]

I still have a 2007 CR125 .There is no power in that comparing to a SX125 from that period. I should sell it now, in my country they are sold for like 3000 euro. Bought it for 5000 in 2008. (It came from the US, we discovered that in the US the silencer is way smaller and has only one bolt to hold it. With the noise rules getting more important we needed to have a silencer with 2 bolts. (Standard on EU bikes already at that time.)

[@pillsareyummy]

I always thought that the RM's were the weakest out of the bunch. I owned CR's in the late 80's early 90s. KX's were beasts.

[@gpiper23]

Awesome raced there a few weeks back , brilliant track

[@harbinger224]

This was brilliant mate, well done!

[@nevsta272]

Thanks boss ✊🏻

[@Breakrite]

Wow. I got sea sick and an arm pump watching that. Excellent!

[@katanga416]

Grande,bella partenza bel sound, Top CR!!!🇮🇹

[@johnjames5842]

Had a 98 CR80r , and a 2004 CR125r , damn those things were fast, that 80 would go 75mph, 2 strokes are superior

[@volksquadman]

LOve you lines. Pace & stamina///All on a "96 end to end Ace mate!

[@nevsta272]

Cheers mate 😁👊🏻

[@B-Rad412]

Raw.... I thought that was McGrath himself.... it's not the power it's the technique and skill!.....subscribed 🙌🙌🔥🔥

[@nevsta272]

Yeeewwww thanks boss 👊🏻🤘🏻

[@markwhelan9887]

You gotta love the old school Screemin Deemin hitting band was like releasing the hounds nothing survived it.... Great racing my man Neville the Beast Master....29 years old yet it still gave them a lesson in skill and abillity 2nd Overall and the fastest lap Thats 100% B,O,T esp with the age gap between bikes...

[@ehsnils]

My experience is that most of the evolution in motocross was during the 1980's and after that the most differences were mostly due to refining the design. However it's what's between the ears that's most important to win now.

[@snowblindoz]

Great video! Loved the old school track, fast and without the overkill of jumps. It's been 35 years since i raced my CR250 in the AMCA Experts, brings back great memories. I bet nowadays you guy's miss having to knock in 700plus, 4 inch round stakes and rope them off, before each of your home club's meeting.🤨 Three nights graft with a manual post rammer before the race, no wonder i got arm pump on home race day!

[@nevsta272]

Haha the amca tracks are always super natural and get nice and rough

[@beez7753]

That was awesome video man! Sounded like some of the others had 2 strokes. Or am I just crazy. Didnt sound like that yz450 when it came out. Dude behind you in 3rd sounded peppy when he was coming up behind you in the beginning of the race before you left him.

[@jannievanniekerk6290]

Jissus, jy ry daai cr!! I have a 96’ cr 125 too but definitely can’t ride it that fast. Awesome riding Nev.

[@nevsta272]

Shot ma boetie 🤘🏻

[@EkonRekon]

Dude that was a sweet pass at the end by the gate!

[@franckmerien7923]

Quel 125 cr et qu'elle bonne année 96 ca envoie bien et le pot fait son role et le pilote trop bien merci a toi Neville Bradshaw !!! Yeah ...

[@franckmerien7923]

Great the 2 strokes yeah !! Wonderful i'm french good lucky .

[@karts-fish-Rc]

Your rippin bro and that 125 sounds awesome

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud 👊🏻👊🏻✊🏻💨

[@Jared45513]

Great ride! The 125 can be difficult to ride well, mistakes can set you back multiple corners. You had good lines I thought. Bike sounded good

[@nevsta272]

Thanks. Yes escpecially on the old ones with no bottom end power. Fun bikes to race tho 😁

[@chad6504]

My 1990 CR125 was a beast of a motor! I always was getting the hole shot with it and it’s power was far and away the best for years after. It was the first year of the upside down fork, so it always seemed like handling was more work than my buddies KX and RMs. But it was fast! Won many of races on it and wish I still had it for nostalgia sake.

[@nevsta272]

I race a 89 CR125 sometimes and that’s also super strong

[@daneg]

90s CR motors were renowned for their powa! and the showa suspension was usually getting ragged on (although as an amateur, it was nothing that stiffer springs couldn't fix for me).

[@jimmadonna1436]

Right on man, 96 was one of the best years for the125 and the 250.

[@nevsta272]

💯💯👊🏻

[@stevenburton7922]

Wow...well done....thanks for posting!

[@nevsta272]

Thanks mate 👊🏻

[@stephenburns3222]

That freaking cr is screaming and tuned to perfection

[@dirtbikedave]

Nev, if u could please elaborate on the last statement in the description. It would be cool if you can rate those aspects (and any other characteristics of the two bikes) from 1 to 10 (10 being the best, in your experiences), I think a lot of viewers would appreciate your perspective. Thanks for posting and keep up the good work!

[@nevsta272]

Hey buddy. I’m going to do a back to back lap comparing the 2 bikes 👊🏻

[@mg43472]

I had a 92 and it ripped!.. Used some of the suggestions of Eric Gorr.. (if anyone ever heard of him).. I used to toast a lot of bikes that were newer.. loved it..

[@travis10ist]

I missed you especially on 500, glad you still racing.

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud. 500 was GoodTimes

[@Gaba.Groove]

You killed it! 🔥🔥🔥

[@nevsta272]

😁✊🏻💨💨💨

[@stevenmcallister2230]

Nice buddy great racing🏆

[@nevsta272]

Thanks mate 👊🏻👊🏻

[@craighoffman6876]

Well done! You rode the snot out of that CR, which is how 125s are supposed to be ridden.

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud ✊🏻💨

[@YouCanCallMeDon]

Great riding. That bike is pretty close to modern bikes for sure.

[@justiningle8884]

Anyone who ever owned this model already knows it a rocketship, hole shot snatching bike

[@_JimS]

That's awesome Neville, kicking tail with a 27yo motorcycle. If it was me, in-between motos I'd have taken a hacksaw to those flags the track workers put in the racing line that were beating you in the face......Lol!

[@nevsta272]

Haha yes they were annyoying 🤯🥴🥴

[@jerryhill4893]

Your riding that steed very well. Smoove.

[@nevsta272]

Haha trying to get all she has ✊🏻✊🏻💨

[@hawks2252]

good vid man. legend has it that 52 is an alien. who the hell is he.

[@nevsta272]

Haha cheers mate. Luke Dean. Solid racer

[@vikramejames]

@nevsta272 absolute privilege to watch, done 3 repeats already. Can you please advice on this build? Piston? Ported? Carb? Sprokets? Pipe? And so on...

[@HooligansMx]

I love going out and waxing the field on 90s bikes it's such a freaking blast

[@nevsta272]

Haha GoodTimes 💯💯💯

[@mikedrury2748]

I had a 95 cr 125 back in the day loved that bike. Motocross magazine I can't remember which one called it a motor with handlebars lol

[@future_me_6067]

Never turned his head to look back. Stayed focused. Great rider.

[@nevsta272]

Cheers :-)

[@muddypawsadventurer7775]

Took me back to the ol' days of when Sunday morning at the track and the sound of 125's and the smell of Caster oil...😎😃

[@nevsta272]

The golden days

[@jacob-67tune18]

great job man

[@spyder000069]

To put it in perspective in 1996 after winning a race with this bike you couldn't go home and netflix and chill because there was no such thing. You could blockbuster and chill though. Don't forget to rewind that VHS though because dvd rental didn't hit main stream until late 90's. If you were lucky enough to have a cell phone you might have to extend its antenna first. Some people hadn't moved on from pagers yet and we still had wall hanging phones. File sharing over the internet for movies and music wasn't really a thing but "You Got Mail" was still popular and AOL diskettes and CD's were found in everyones mailbox. Also kids still played outside. That is how old this cr125 is. LoL

[@nevsta272]

The GOOD days my man 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@hawks2252]

I would have to ask Jeeves if this is correct. awesome.

[@Lou-eye]

Memories,.. my last bike was a '96RM 250 , retired from racing in '2000 at 42yrs old.🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@nevsta272]

Good bikes the mid 90s Suzukis

[@unruly7]

Sick riding 👌

[@chrispinkney8002]

Maté absolutely love that noise brings back my memories from my 96 cr , where was that track 👍👌

[@nevsta272]

The good ol days mate 😁. Warmingham lane near Sandbach UK

[@dh-flies]

Nice ride!!

[@marvelousministry9434]

Replace your stock Honda steel exhaust flange. With a o-ring pipe flange. Back in 1994 to 1997 when my friend and I were racing Hondas. I made a custom aluminum flange with two small O- ring grooves. I used viton O-rings. I hand ported the flange so it wasn't just a cylindrical flange besides I widened out to match the sides of the exhaust port and on the top and the bottom I tapered to match the original exhaust Port shape. I evened up the shape of the exhaust port. It worked amazingly well. No more losing our dribbling out of the pipe at the flange. It had amazing power. I made it on a 12 x 54 Craftsman lathe that I had in the garage. I also had a small milling attachment for the lathe that I used. A local LA Performance Shop wanted me to make five of them for him. I never did and years later I saw in the back of the dirt bike magazine that somebody was making that very type of flange but they didn't have the tapered design that I did.

[@KLLKASDirtStrBuilder]

Hey Marv,Right on,years later in 04 or 05 I purchased a ported Alum,rings,Nice , made by Boysyeen Reed Co. For a 03cr250, thanks your hard work,worked great. Neville knows it's 30% bike ,70% Racer if anyone cares .the bike has to be good an setup.

[@rockypup1968]

Fuck yeah Mr B ! You had that old girl singing , great riding fella !

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud

[@keemoncloud4823]

You rode the hell out of it ⛽️💨

[@nevsta272]

Yeewwwww 😁✊🏻💨💨💨

[@nicholden1768]

Smashed it big nev 💚👊

[@nevsta272]

😁✊🏻💨

[@derekdavis6508]

Bradshaw, sounds familiar I know of some around these parts that ride, I just always rode trails more of a weekend warrior, I can ride trails for hours.

[@STP-bc5cy]

Had CR125 long time ago. That bike was light and very quick.

[@romeoalphafoxtrot9517]

Nice riding! You were hauling ASS Dude!

[@ssrider7]

Great ride man,holding with top on 96....90s into early 2000s 2 stroke are the Best beasts, Shes tuned nicely...great sound...what pipe you using FMF?

[@nevsta272]

Cheers mate. Got it set up a bit better now. I’m using a DEP system

[@chrisvids1820]

Good stuff! Ive got a 96 Kx250 that i love to ride. Need to add a 125 to the collection

[@nevsta272]

96 was a good year all round. Purple seat?

[@chrisvids1820]

@nevsta272 yes sir, and purple shrouds/louvers! I have the works style graphics, but they are getting worn. I might go full purple with the stock graphics. My dad also has a CR500 with purple shrouds. I think it's a 96 also

[@franciscolopez3229]

Wow, your bike sounded really nice and crisp. Well tuned. Like the saying goes, 80% rider, 20% bike. Well done.

[@nevsta272]

Cheers bud 🤘🏻

[@franciscolopez3229]

​@@nevsta272 Do another video.

[@observer-8145]

👍👍👍👌👌👌 thnx man , great driving 🇳🇱👌

[@nevsta272]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Sn0w1981]

Sweet! Dang those moto3 ruts though!

[@nevsta272]

Haha gnarley huh

[@woodysrockspyro6436]

Crazy.... the cr 125 was awesome that year. Loved my 96 kx125. Raced almost every weekend on it. 😊 time flies when you are having fun.

[@nevsta272]

Feels like last week we were racing steel framed 2 strokes

[@G82JOE]

You are a great rider!

[@nevsta272]

Thanks bud 👊🏻

[@marksmith402]

When you come into those DEEPLY Rutted turns etc so hard, it almost makes me nauseous....Bad experiences with ruts...😅😂 Awesome! But then again, that's why you're Neville Bradshaw!!!

[@nevsta272]

Haha cheers Mark 😁👊🏻

[@ak47og18]

Nice Bike. I miss my old RM 125.

[@nevsta272]

I raced RM 125 97-2000. Good bikes

[@tcrides2137]

Those old Hondas are awesome, but not good about that pipe joint leaking! Ride safe my man

[@nevsta272]

Cheers bud 👊🏻

[@veritas6466]

Loved my CR125!

[@robloubier803]

You’ve revealed the secret of winning. Get that front disc slippin guuud. 😉

[@nevsta272]

🥴🥴😂

[@paulmryglod4802]

For the young guys watching, i had a ported 98 cr125 dyno at 37 hp. My son's 2019 yz125 makes 39 with a pipe and has bottom end power too. These old bikes were tricky to keep on the pipe.

[@_750ZO]

Ok…

[@2K-Tan]

​​@@_750ZOHe isn't lying though. Modern 2 strokes are insane compared to the older ones. The old 2 strokes had almost nothing at the bottom compared to the new one's. With the old ones if you didn't keep the revs up 24/7 you were very slow.

[@Bellyboyyy420]

Baby eagle right there🇺🇸💯💪

[@DLT704]

Holy smokes 1st place checked out quick

[@bobdillon2642]

Wow must be hard keeping her on the pipe on that hard pack! I'm getting my 96 cr ready for super evo 125 foxhill vmxdn...do you have any jetting or gearing tips so I can stop abusing the clutch so much lol. Cheers

[@nevsta272]

They’re not easy to ride hey. I think just keeping momentum up is the only way. I think an ignition would help heaps too

[@bobdillon2642]

@@nevsta272 ok cheers pal

[@DisciplesofDrift]

Hi there I had a 96 cr125 new. Best thing is go two teeth up on the rear sprocket. Riches up on the needle and main jet .fuel dependant of corse. I use to do heaps of tricks I learnt over the years riding for Honda. Bloody good bike wish I could find my old one. Big thing is to check the clutch plates are the steel ones not the factory alloy ones. A bills pipe and shorty muffler for over rev.. just keep it full open use the clutch as the throttle. 125s love it.

[@augieh6146]

Just after 3 mins I can see where the old bike is a little slower. Good job

[@nevsta272]

Haha no bottom end

[@widetrack1960]

The whizzers were the greatest! Still love 2stroke.

[@ShakaBrah3]

Brilliant, Nev! Well done and congratulations!

[@nevsta272]

Thanks Gary 👍

[@motocrossman18]

I had a 93 and 97 cr125 and also a 2003 yz 125 and 2002 cr125. It was noticeable how much more power my 93 had over the rest. The 93 motor just sounded like it worked harder

[@nevsta272]

Yeah I think that generation honda was ahead of the game 💯

[@johnfields6603]

I have a “93 CR500. Good year.

[@MrMelvinkennedy1]

Whoever is on that first 😮 goodness

[@nevsta272]

Guy was on the gas ✊🏻✊🏻

[@pauld2761]

Nice ride. That guy up front just checked out after 5 corners.

[@nevsta272]

Yeah he was gone. Took a lap to get to learn that bike. Kinda stabilised the gap after 3 laps

[@pauld2761]

@@nevsta272 Great race. Good job, and thanks for sharing.

[@aarondostie7366]

Bro you rode that thing like it was 1999 gaddamn you were flying

[@nevsta272]

Haha cheers bud 🤘🏻👊🏻

[@TEAMVISKAT81]

omg the jetting I spot on, the 96 honda cr is a besat, cool to see some still racing the old iron frames...

[@nevsta272]

Cheers bud

[@multitablez7825]

man, hearing this sound , brings back memories. i rode a 95 yz80, my friend 97 cr 125, we swaped bikes all the time... The old bikes are faster! esp with good supension.. and the heavier frame actually gives the bike much more traction on a 125..

[@nevsta272]

Great memories hey bud 💪

[@agmc4me]

The way MX should sound!

[@nevsta272]

Hell yeah!