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  #1  
Old 27 Feb 2010
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Repairing bike for novice
Hi, i am planning a UK-Russia trip over summer on my cg125. I am a novice as far as it comes to repair, but like learning - and have done simple things lie change the exhaust and both fenders because they were rusty.

Anyway, i have 2 week to prepare for the trip before i leave at the end of June, would it be worth me taking the bike completely apart and then putting it back together to learn how it works properly, so if things go wrong on the trip i can do make-shift repairs on the side of the road???

have a haynes manual but it seems easier to look at it for guidance but learn how bikes actually work by taking it apart / looking at all the individual parts then putting it back together,

Thank you for any help / advice you may have (soz i didnt know were else to post this, hope this is the right bit),
cheers,
Rob
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Old 27 Feb 2010
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Old 27 Feb 2010
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Haha, was my question really that bad Pigford??? ))
have just reread it - when i said i have 2 weeks to prepare for it - i mean i have 2 weeks of solid free time (ie. no work etc.) to prepare for it, obviously things like maps / camping stuff / other details i will plan before that (hence me posting on this great forum),
thank you to anyone who does reply
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Old 27 Feb 2010
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If the bike works, I say don't pull it apart. A thorough service, however, would be a good idea: checking the valves, changing the oil and filter, the plug, checking the brakes and chain/sprockets.

I would love to know how to fix my bike through-out but, realistically, knowing how to service you bike would be more useful. Ad hoc jobs like replacing the chain and sprocket, taking a wheel off and then the tyre, etc; these are the kinds of tasks that would be most useful to you. After that you can find a local mechanic to help out.

You can get a Haynes manual for your bike, or the generic Haynes Basic guide to MC mechanics, or just look here.
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Old 27 Feb 2010
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Originally Posted by Warthog View Post
If the bike works, I say don't pull it apart. A thorough service, however, would be a good idea: checking the valves, changing the oil and filter, the plug, checking the brakes and chain/sprockets.

I would love to know how to fix my bike through-out but, realistically, knowing how to service you bike would be more useful. Ad hoc jobs like replacing the chain and sprocket, taking a wheel off and then the tyre, etc; these are the kinds of tasks that would be most useful to you. After that you can find a local mechanic to help out.

You can get a Haynes manual for your bike, or the generic Haynes Basic guide to MC mechanics, or just look here.
Got to agree, just change the oil every 1000miles and you 'should' have no problems, the CG is a very reliable bike.
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Old 28 Feb 2010
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Yeh, thats pretty much what i ahve been doing - can service all the basic stuff but thought it wouldnt be too hard to work out how to put a cg125 together and how it works, though thinking about it, thats probably a very bad idea.
the bike is 9 years old and has 40k miles - hopefully it wont break to seriosuly though - will it be realitvely easy to get it fixed / get parts for it in Eastern EU (slovenia / romania / Ukraine) - looked in russia and am pretty sure their not sold there...
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