Retro MX Reviews #8: 1987 Honda CR 125

This review takes a look at the model that won all of the magazine shootouts in 1987, as well as defending the 125 AMA Outdoor national championship with Micky Dymond. Probably an equal accomplishment was Guy Cooper winning nationals on that same bike as a privateer with limited support. Spoiler alert: it is a pretty awesome bike. My build has been going on for a few months and this will be one of my race bikes for the coming years, stay tuned as I try to find ways to upgrade it and dial it in as much as possible!

[@ChristianSokol.]

MAN she sounds good!

[@craigsteinman9807]

I fell ya mark ..iam 52and got the water-cooler yz125 in 81..so trick at the time..but I fell in love with a 1983cr 480 when I was 18 in 1986...something about those red machines turns my crank every time I see a. Cr from '83- 87..such glory years for our sport..

[@markswartmx56]

I really feel like they were great years too! Bike development was moving fast, riding styles were really evolving, Supercross was getting into the format we are familiar with now. Great era!

[@craigsteinman9807]

@@markswartmx56 well said ..I am sure u remember the days of sx in the Kingdome..when they raced Saturday night..then again Sunday afternoon...iron men!..but the best thing was on Sunday afternoon all the locals in all classes raced on the track till 9pm so awesome ..I was hooked ..took 25years off and now I ride again and am hooked.. lol

[@dalehicks6112]

Great review Mark! Looks like a lot of fun. I have also noticed how a person sits down in to the bikes of the 80's as apposed to sitting on top which makes for railing the corners easier and more fun. I enjoy listening to your reviews of the older bikes. Keep it up man!

[@markswartmx56]

Thanks Dale, I appreciate the kind words and encouragement!!

[@PremixandPedals]

I always loved the 87 CR's! Honda just decimated the competition in 86 and 87. You did a great job, that bike looks totally amazing!!! That track looks really fun!!!

[@markswartmx56]

Thanks! With any luck we will have an 86 CR 125 test coming soon and maybe even some laptime comparisons between the two!

[@williamkudrna5843]

Had a 87 CR 125 while in High school...we must be the same age. Class of 91? I also spent a lot of time in the military. Great review. I hated working on that barrel and linkage for the ATAC. Very delicate. I had a Pro Circuit pipe on mine and the barrel and head were from North Shore racing. Was smooth and very fast for a 125. I'm looking for one to restore, along with a 85 KX80, and a 83 yz490. :-)

[@markswartmx56]

Class of 90 here!! I used to order so much stuff through North Shore too, they were awesome. If I decide 6o pirt it I might give them a call to see if they still do them. If you get back into riding, consider looking into VetMX Foundation. We have active groups of riders across the country and everyone is really supportive and just a lot of fun. It's really cool to show up at a track and have people around that you have a lot in common with.

[@shaunsavage1726]

Wish I could go fast without crashing. Pros make it look easy

[@ankrapek12]

basically nearly 100% parts interchange between 87 and 02 years, you can fit a 2002 year model cylinder on 87 cases and it will work, i am not sure about the connecting rod length on 87 i think it's longer a bit, which can be made up to with 2 or 3 base gaskets but it still fits!

[@cwtoyota]

You look very comfortable on that thing and it sounds great!

[@markswartmx56]

Thanks Chris!! I spent so much time on that exact model as a kid, I guess it's sort of like muscle memory? It is sort of crazy how quickly I felt at home on it. I just saw your Top Gun videos the other night BTW... good grief man, you put a hurting on Warrior Class, that was incredible!

[@Dirt_Bike_Dave]

Very cool review...my 1st brand new bike was that 1987 CR 125....she was a ripper back in the day..still looks fast today.

[@markswartmx56]

Thanks!! It was every bit as fun as I remembered it from when I was a kid, that's for sure!

[@tonycerino9645]

I love my 87

[@jessejarzabski5076]

Damn Mark you were killing it on that track!!!...that bike just hooks u and braaaappsss around amazing ....those other dudes were straight eating roost!!.....you obviously didnt need the roost boost on that run!!!!....lol

[@ducaveli]

I enjoyed that 125 rippin around 🤟🏼

[@keithpeterson3447]

87 was an awesome lineup for Honda.

[@gorillahd9247]

Good video and an awesome bike!

[@shannonguy1589]

just bought one , which model yz footpegs did you use

[@markswartmx56]

It’s been a few years since that build, I honestly can’t remember. If you look at YZ pegs it should be fairly easy as they didn’t change very often. I’m guessing early to mid 2000s?

[@mrsendy4821]

What’s the best way to downshift a 2 stroke?

[@markswartmx56]

If you mean clutch or no clutch, the answer is no clutch, just shift down.

[@eli_mx1733]

I’m freinds with drake, I saw you at dna

[@THEDUKELOVER]

what year yz250 pegs did you use and how did you convert to 95 case?

[@markswartmx56]

I used mid-2000s YZ pegs, I can't remember the exact year but they are all the same. With the clutch cover / waterpump case, it is a direct bolt on, I just picked up one on ebay.

[@THEDUKELOVER]

@@markswartmx56 thanks man im going to give it a try

[@THEDUKELOVER]

what rear shock did you switch to?

[@markswartmx56]

@@THEDUKELOVER it was just a stiffer spring, I didn't change the shock. The spring was from an '88, it was slightly stiffer.

[@THEDUKELOVER]

@@markswartmx56 thanks man just got to get my cylinder fixed and she be complete