Posts
424
Joined
2/21/2013
Location
AU
Edited Date/Time
5/28/2019 4:22pm
I owned and raced a 1983 yz125K back in the day. Recently, me and a few friends decided to get into VMX racing. I chose the 83 YZ125 as I always thought it was one of the best bikes I ever owned, being light, fast and reliable. There were none in OZ at the time, so I located one in New Jersey and had it shipped over. When I first saw pics of Lechien’s OW125, I decided to make a tribute model.
The OZ models were white, so shipping a yellow one from the US made sense at the time but it was an expensive and regrettable decision. Anyway, I stripped the old girl down and set about a total rebuild. The theme was Lechien’s OW125, but using the Yamaha 1983 Race Report to make the bike a competitive VMX racer.
Lechien was sponsored by Wrangler, Maxima, and Scott etc…, so I trolled the internet looking for pics and then replicated the decals and jersey he ran back in the day. MXM on here made a great replica jersey that I hope to get signed one day.
The OZ models were white, so shipping a yellow one from the US made sense at the time but it was an expensive and regrettable decision. Anyway, I stripped the old girl down and set about a total rebuild. The theme was Lechien’s OW125, but using the Yamaha 1983 Race Report to make the bike a competitive VMX racer.
Lechien was sponsored by Wrangler, Maxima, and Scott etc…, so I trolled the internet looking for pics and then replicated the decals and jersey he ran back in the day. MXM on here made a great replica jersey that I hope to get signed one day.
Then engine was tired and needed a full rebuild. Every single bearing and seal was replaced. In fact, the cases were replaced as well as getting Eric Gorr to resleave the cylinder back to standard, fit a Wossner piston, machine the head, match the power valve and do a port job. The OW had a rotary valve engine so I was never going to replicate it, but I could make screamer by following the Yamaha Race Report.
The rads were bent, so I sent them together with the hoses to GPI and had them reverse engineer a set for me. These came back and fitted great. The yellow silicon hoses are quite trick too.
Lechien ran a vented black number plate back in 83. There were a few variations on the “holeshot” plate, but I found a genuine Preston Petty plate which is very similar. The OW also had Takasago rims, so I had mine rebuilt with gold Takasago rims with gold nipples and Dunlop tyres. I also drilled out the rear brake arm similar to what the works bike ran.
Race Tech in OZ rebuilt the rear suspension. It took 3 shocks to get one that was suitable as the alloy bodies get scored and become unserviceable. Gold valves and a heavier spring were fitted and the initial feel is fantastic.
The Shop
MXM, yes the jersey looks great. I was hoping the Dogger was coming to Connodale in OZ this year so i could get it signed.... perhaps next year.
The Lechien tribute bike has a twin. I am doing it up as my Euro version practice bike. Only have the engine and a few bits to go. Originally, the Euro version had gold rims. I rebuilt the wheels using new OEM spokes, but had the hubs and original rims powder coated black.
It is interesting how the rear wheel/suspension set up (chain/sprocket moved to the LH side, brake by itself on the RH side, suspension linkage under the swing arm) of Lechien's '83 works bike did not show up in production until the '86 models. Just proves again how far in advance the works machines were over production. Oh how I miss those days....
--albert n.
Pit Row
Cheers,
If you can confirm the Ron will be at Unadilla MX rewind in 16 just have someone going bring it. I had him sign a buddies helmet two years ago. It was a remake of the dog bone theme and he was stoked. Not sure I am going yet as that is right around my youngest graduating HS but I would be happy to do it if I go.
Nice job on that bike for sure.
If anyone else has any old pics of Lechien on the OW125, it would be great if you could post them up.
Cheers,
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