CB125 Lifan 200 conversion question...

coldfuzion76 · 01-23-2013, 02:12 PM

So I'm converting my wife's 1974 CB125 to Lifan 200 power. So far it's been gravy, got the engine installed, and wired up, and even running. But I need to know if there's a different right side engine cover that I could use. One, because the little oil sight glass is slightly in the way of the exhaust, and two, because I need a mechanical tach drive. I had considered trying to take my 125 side cover and see if it will fit, but the clutch lever seems a lot shorter, and I'm concerned that would make the clutch harder to pull. Has anyone ever tried that? I did goolge around and found that some version of this motor have the tach drive, but I never saw a pic and can't seem to find one. Thanks in advance for the help!

FastDoc · 01-23-2013, 02:22 PM

great project. We have an antique Honda expert here, Sprint66 (Steve). He helped me with the restoration of my 1972 CB175.

Can you use the Honda side cover with the Lifan clutch actuation lever?

Another thought would be the side cover from a Honda NX125. That may work. You may want to look at pictures and see if it's a match.

coldfuzion76 · 01-23-2013, 02:46 PM

The 125 lever is on the rear of the cover instead of the top. It looks to actuate the same place, just in a different position. And I don't know for sure the bolts will even line up. I did just find a Lifan 150 side cover that does have the tach drive, but still has the sight glass. I can go with this and tweak my exhaust a little maybe, but I'm worried the stock 125 exhaust may be too restrictive as is. I've had some ideas for the bike,but they all have to go through the wife. She's pretty particular about what she wants!

katoranger · 01-23-2013, 03:27 PM

My lifan with a pushrod engine had a mechanical tach so there is 200cc clutch covers out there with tach drives.

Weldangrind · 01-24-2013, 01:28 AM

Welcome! I would focus on a new exhaust; maybe a scrambler style. That would be cool.

SpudRider · 01-24-2013, 09:04 PM

Welcome; we are glad you joined us.

This sounds like a fun project!

Spud

coldfuzion76 · 01-25-2013, 04:48 AM

The scrambler exhaust would be sweet, but I'm not that good of a welder. Lol. Why, oh, why did they have to put that stupid sight glass in the side cover?

katoranger · 01-25-2013, 08:49 AM

I think you sure give the original cover a try. Maybe the shorter lever will not add much resistence. I am thinking that it may also be easier to modify that lever than an exhaust or something else.

Weldangrind · 01-25-2013, 10:28 AM

You might pick up a couple of tips from Junglebiker; check out this thread: http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...hlight=#160111

Try sending him a PM and see if he responds.

coldfuzion76 · 05-03-2013, 04:45 AM

Sooo, I haven't posted anything in forever on my project. Never was good at keeping logs. But it's almost done. Still gotta install the side cover with tach drive, but that's basically it. My wife was very particular about everything I did on the bike, so it's really her design. Here's a little list of everything I did:
Lifan 200 conversion, which converted everything to 12V, and almost completely rewiring the bike. It has a SYCLbatts.com 4 cell lithium battery, all new switches for electric start and turn signals. Clubman bars and bar end mirrors, since she liked the girl with the dragon tattoo bike so much. She also like the satin finish I used on my bike (CM400 in the background of the following pic) but wanted a stock appearing red, so I went with Hot Rod Flatz Pro Street Red. Everything else was restored, cleaned repainted or replaced. I think it turned out ok, and it is a fun little ride!

MICRider · 05-03-2013, 07:24 AM

The bike looks great! I love those old classic Honda's, cut my teeth on them many years ago!

(Though I gotta say, mine didn't look anywhere near that good!) :wink:

katoranger · 05-03-2013, 08:04 AM

I like that alot. My CB100 is far from that condition. Still undecided on what to do with it.

Weldangrind · 05-03-2013, 10:32 AM

Brilliant execution! Very nice job. The clubmans are a nice touch.

Was the front end originally equipped with a disc brake? Are those decals on the side of the tank? Was the 200 swap a true bolt-in?

FastDoc · 05-03-2013, 12:09 PM

I'm in love. Lovely little bike. :P

coldfuzion76 · 05-03-2013, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the praise. I've not been doing motorcycles very long, this is is my first build of this extent, so it's nice to hear! Those are vinyls on the tank. Not long after that picture was taken, they bubbled up on me, and I'm waiting on replacements to redo them. It is an original disc brake front. Cable operated, and honestly I wish it had the drum. I think it would stop better. I may look into a CB200 front end at some point, but the wifey is comfortable with how it stops.

01-23-2013, 02:22 PM	#2
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	great project. We have an antique Honda expert here, Sprint66 (Steve). He helped me with the restoration of my 1972 CB175. Can you use the Honda side cover with the Lifan clutch actuation lever? Another thought would be the side cover from a Honda NX125. That may work. You may want to look at pictures and see if it's a match. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

01-23-2013, 03:27 PM	#4
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	My lifan with a pushrod engine had a mechanical tach so there is 200cc clutch covers out there with tach drives. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

01-24-2013, 01:28 AM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Welcome! I would focus on a new exhaust; maybe a scrambler style. That would be cool. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

01-24-2013, 09:04 PM	#6
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Welcome; we are glad you joined us. This sounds like a fun project! Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

01-25-2013, 08:49 AM	#8
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I think you sure give the original cover a try. Maybe the shorter lever will not add much resistence. I am thinking that it may also be easier to modify that lever than an exhaust or something else. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

01-23-2013, 02:12 PM	#1
coldfuzion76 Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 9	CB125 Lifan 200 conversion question... So I'm converting my wife's 1974 CB125 to Lifan 200 power. So far it's been gravy, got the engine installed, and wired up, and even running. But I need to know if there's a different right side engine cover that I could use. One, because the little oil sight glass is slightly in the way of the exhaust, and two, because I need a mechanical tach drive. I had considered trying to take my 125 side cover and see if it will fit, but the clutch lever seems a lot shorter, and I'm concerned that would make the clutch harder to pull. Has anyone ever tried that? I did goolge around and found that some version of this motor have the tach drive, but I never saw a pic and can't seem to find one. Thanks in advance for the help!
	0

01-23-2013, 02:46 PM	#3
coldfuzion76 Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 9	The 125 lever is on the rear of the cover instead of the top. It looks to actuate the same place, just in a different position. And I don't know for sure the bolts will even line up. I did just find a Lifan 150 side cover that does have the tach drive, but still has the sight glass. I can go with this and tweak my exhaust a little maybe, but I'm worried the stock 125 exhaust may be too restrictive as is. I've had some ideas for the bike,but they all have to go through the wife. She's pretty particular about what she wants!
	0

01-25-2013, 04:48 AM	#7
coldfuzion76 Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 9	The scrambler exhaust would be sweet, but I'm not that good of a welder. Lol. Why, oh, why did they have to put that stupid sight glass in the side cover?
	0

01-25-2013, 10:28 AM	#9
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	You might pick up a couple of tips from Junglebiker; check out this thread: http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...hlight=#160111 Try sending him a PM and see if he responds. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

05-03-2013, 04:45 AM	#10
coldfuzion76 Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 9	Sooo, I haven't posted anything in forever on my project. Never was good at keeping logs. But it's almost done. Still gotta install the side cover with tach drive, but that's basically it. My wife was very particular about everything I did on the bike, so it's really her design. Here's a little list of everything I did: Lifan 200 conversion, which converted everything to 12V, and almost completely rewiring the bike. It has a SYCLbatts.com 4 cell lithium battery, all new switches for electric start and turn signals. Clubman bars and bar end mirrors, since she liked the girl with the dragon tattoo bike so much. She also like the satin finish I used on my bike (CM400 in the background of the following pic) but wanted a stock appearing red, so I went with Hot Rod Flatz Pro Street Red. Everything else was restored, cleaned repainted or replaced. I think it turned out ok, and it is a fun little ride!
	0

05-03-2013, 07:24 AM	#11
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	The bike looks great! I love those old classic Honda's, cut my teeth on them many years ago! (Though I gotta say, mine didn't look anywhere near that good!) :wink:
	0

05-03-2013, 08:04 AM	#12
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I like that alot. My CB100 is far from that condition. Still undecided on what to do with it. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

05-03-2013, 10:32 AM	#13
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Brilliant execution! Very nice job. The clubmans are a nice touch. Was the front end originally equipped with a disc brake? Are those decals on the side of the tank? Was the 200 swap a true bolt-in? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

05-03-2013, 12:09 PM	#14
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I'm in love. Lovely little bike. :P __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

05-03-2013, 12:11 PM	#15
coldfuzion76 Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 9	Thanks for the praise. I've not been doing motorcycles very long, this is is my first build of this extent, so it's nice to hear! Those are vinyls on the tank. Not long after that picture was taken, they bubbled up on me, and I'm waiting on replacements to redo them. It is an original disc brake front. Cable operated, and honestly I wish it had the drum. I think it would stop better. I may look into a CB200 front end at some point, but the wifey is comfortable with how it stops.
	0