So, first a bit of ‘cheating’. Bought another tank and seat on eBay. I haven’t given up on the original bits but saw them listed on eBay and they were cheap and in better shape than what I had so….
On my CM125C the rear light, mudguard etc. seems all wrong based on pictures on the internet and the workshop manual. There is no grab rail and wiring for indicators has been ‘adjusted’ to fit a different rear light assembly. I’ve taken a conscious decision on this that I want to make it look how I want it to look rather than maybe how it was originally. So I want a chrome grab-rail with chrome indicator stalks, chrome mudguard and rear light assembly. Since the grab-rail was completely missing from my bike, I made a small investment on eBay and got a rather tatty example. Gave it a good clean and straightened it (it was a little bent). It will need re-chroming but that can come later. Got the rear indicator stalks from eBay as well. Again cleaned up ok but will require re-chroming at some stage. Cleaned the indicators and replaced the original steel lens screws with stainless steel ones. The original ones were very rusty and quite difficult to remove. Stainless seemed a good plan and bits were ordered from Westfield Fasteners. Very prompt service from them.
Ordered a new chrome mudguard. This was not as I expected. It is clearly a poor quality Chinese copy – lesson learned as they say. Thought about sending it back but decided to keep it as a prototype for my newly created rear light assembly. Once I have worked out what I want it to look like I think I will enlist the services of a company to make nice top quality mudguards for me and get them chromed.
Couldn’t source the rear light assembly I am looking for and Honda don’t seem to make it anymore so sourced a unit on eBay that I can modify to my requirements. It will take a bit of fettling but I think it will work.
I had a first try at putting all the bits together and discovered why the bike had no grab-rail. One of the rear shock-absorber mounting studs had been sheered off and was a good 15mm shorter than the other side. Previous owners obviously decided to dispense with the grab-rail so the nut would fit. Going to be a bit of a challenge to fix so will park that for the moment. I left out a few washers on the shock mounts and reassembled everything at the back. Lovely new stainless bolts to hold the grab-rail and mudguard on (sourced from good old Westfields). I removed all the bodged wiring from the back and reworked it all a bit so the indicators could all be connected correctly. Connected a car battery temporarily and the indicators all work (I need these little things to keep me motivated).
Cleaned the new eBay seat and it came up a treat. At least its not ripped. Replacement fuel tank has been hand painted by someone at some stage and not very well but at least its rust free. My petrol cap is rubbish – will need a new one of those before I am finished. I’ve thrown the fuel pipe away. Decided it had seen better days and was due for renewal. Can’t decide whether to be extravagant and go for a coloured fuel pipe or stick with good old fashioned plain braided pipe as originally supplied.
Pictures below are all a bit temporary but does give a flavour of where I am at. Note, addition of one new wing mirror – genuine Honda bought new on eBay. Dials have been cleaned and polished and gold paint removed. The bodged starter button has been removed and a replacement right hand grip obtained on eBay and fitted. Indicator stalks have been cleaned and polished and the stainless screws added to hold the indicator lenses.
Below shows rear mudguard fitted with grab-rail and new seat.
I’ve now removed the air-box, battery holder and tappet cover for cleaning. In case you were wondering, its freezing in my garage at this time of year so I take bits off and clean them on the dining room table – much warmer.