Posts
756
Joined
11/3/2014
Location
Chantilly, VA
US
Edited Date/Time
3/21/2015 1:39pm
Every so often I come across a part on ebay that I have no idea of its origin (only that it is different) and I end up winning the auction on that hunch. That said, take a look at the below photos of this exhaust I won on ebay (completely rusted externally). The seller stated it was an unknown aftermarket pipe for the 1990 RM125. What peaked my interest was that I have seen a couple aftermarket pipes for this bike and this one was different, specially the welding. Now, I know that when works parts were delivered to the U.S. they came stamped with numbers, but I am not so sure if the stamping applied to all works parts in Europe, especially around 1990. I say this because 1990 was the fourth year of the production rule in the US and while the factories were still using works bikes in Europe, the 1990 RM125 that Donny Schmidt rode was production based (very similar to the one Guy Cooper rode I’m pretty sure).
The exhaust in the photo does not have a lower frame mount bracket like the stocker and other pipes for this bike such as PC or PSI. I also included a photo of Donny Schmidt’s 1990 works RM125 and when comparing it with this exhaust they are very similar in terms of the welding (which was different from the welding used on the exhaust for Guy Cooper’s bike). One of the photos is of the pipe alongside the stocker. I put about 3hrs of sanding into it so it’s starting to come around but more work is needed. If anyone can help shed some light on this exhaust I would be most grateful. Also, the words "works" written on the pipe in yellow mean nothing as far as I am concerned.
Thanks, Mike
The exhaust in the photo does not have a lower frame mount bracket like the stocker and other pipes for this bike such as PC or PSI. I also included a photo of Donny Schmidt’s 1990 works RM125 and when comparing it with this exhaust they are very similar in terms of the welding (which was different from the welding used on the exhaust for Guy Cooper’s bike). One of the photos is of the pipe alongside the stocker. I put about 3hrs of sanding into it so it’s starting to come around but more work is needed. If anyone can help shed some light on this exhaust I would be most grateful. Also, the words "works" written on the pipe in yellow mean nothing as far as I am concerned.
Thanks, Mike
Thanks, Mike
Along the same lines as this, I picked up a PSI pipe to put on a 91 rm125 and it does not have that tab, also the flange is 2mm too big for the cylinder. It could be a PITA to remove that flange to have 2mm shaved off, even though its just brazed on.
The Shop
I don't know about it being paper thin though it is very light, but I can certainly weight it against the stocker and the Pro Circuit I have in the shop. The only other thing is that the works RM that Donny Schmidt rode was a bit different than Guy Coopers bike in 1990 (though they look similar) as they used different exhausts and upon closer look, Donny used a works swing arm as well, so I am not sure how different the exhaust materials would be between their bikes (if they were different at all). The similarities I can see is that the suspension was about the same but who knows what the factory did to Donny's bike as they could legally do what they wanted. I'll weigh the exhaust.
I'm curious, where is this 2mm difference you are talking about? I have not tried to put this exhaust on my bike, but it does look a bit different in terms of how the pipe is shaped too me.
Any marking at all on the pipe you have that I could look for?
Okay, those measurements are what I am looking for, but also photos if possible as i would like a close up of the mounts and the visible welds. Thanks again, Mike
Cheers.
As it sits now the pipe looks works. What was the seller like? Was he selling lots of vintage parts or was it amount quad parts and old baby cloths in his listings? It's would be pretty bad ass if you did come out with a real works pipe
I have a similar project ahead of me with an old cone pipe I found for my bike that I'd like to make halfway close to results that SgtHubbard achieved on his 250
I was going to sand blast it then sand it. Chasing the welds with a torch looks unbelievable. Are there any negatives to that other than spending time on my bike instead of working on my house ?
Careful with the offer of free beer mini elsie - my cousin Dave lives in HB - I was just there in August and I really like beer! If you surf you might know him as he's been around a while and that is his passion not much different than some of us are with bikes.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! For obtaining these photos and the measurement. I now believe with about 99.5% certainly after reviewing several aftermarket pipes for this bike and the photos you sent that my pipe is a works pipe. I do not believe it is a US spec works pipe like the one Guy Cooper used although I have not been able to examine that pipe up close either. In addition to the welds, in the second to last photo you posted of the upper part of Donny's pipe, there is a weld just behind the pipe mount. Take a look at the below photo of my exhaust as it has the same weld in the same place (I put a box around the weld). Additionally, i measured my pipe in the same place you took the measurement on Donny's and the measurement matches exactly (14." and some change). None of this really surprises me as 90's works parts are pretty common find because most of the factories had gone to production based bikes for the most part anyway (none of that super trick mid 80s stuff).
Thank you again so much and if there is anything you need me to look into in and around the DC area just let me know! Mike
A few more of Donny's bike if you want more ammo. The one at 30" is the tape from the flange following around the bottom to the weld by the upper mount:
The measurement at the bottom of the U:
Weld at the largest diameter:
Clearance at water pump:
Thanks for additional pics and did you notice if there was a lower frame mount? Looking at the last photo you sent it looks like there is one right in front of the radiator hose going into the water pump? And I really love the 83 CR250 (nice bike you have there). Who did you number plate backings? Also, I was just at Lake Sugar Tree about 2 months ago and had a great conversation with Gary Bailey and I'm looking forward to going back again. That track is prepped so well that most of the other tracks seem like disappointments to me. I have only raced there once (over 2 years ago) and I won after taking a 6 year break (I probably only rode like 3 times in the 6 years), but riding Lake Sugar Tree was really confidence inspiring for me as that was my second race since the 6 year break. Hope to see you there, Mike.
Pit Row
Dave will know Slater's 50/50. Beers and bacon-burgers on your next trip.
Sorry for the brief thread detour MikeP!
Cheers.
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