Photo Request – Ron Lechien Works Kawasaki SR125

Paul333
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Paul333
Edited Date/Time 7/28/2014 12:38pm
Good challenge for you guys. I’m looking for a photo of the works SR125 that Kawasaki build for Ron Lechien specifically for the Steel City 125 USGP. I cannot remember what year it was, but he missed the race so the bike never got to see any action. I remember reading about it when it happened.

I’d love to see the bike again if anybody has a photo.

I’ve done the usual search engine searches and came up empty. I was hoping someone could help me out.

Thank you in advance for any help.
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Wandell
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Wandell 12/28/2012 7:09pm
12/28/2012 7:09pm
Lechien never raced a 125 for Kawasaki to the best of my memory.
Sully
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Sully 12/28/2012 7:31pm
12/28/2012 7:31pm
The production rule was in effect when Lechien started at Kawasaki in '86, why would they build a one-off bike for him to race at a one-off event?
Paul333
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Paul333 12/28/2012 9:57pm
12/28/2012 9:57pm
I remember this happened. Lechien was supposed to ride the Steel City 125cc USGP. Kawasaki brought in a full works SR125 for him to ride. Being a GP there was no production rule.

I am a big Lechien fan. but if I remember correctly he over slept and arrived at the track too late to race.

It's been close to twenty years but I remember a few photos of the bike. I just cannot find them now.
jtracing6
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jtracing6 12/29/2012 4:46am
12/29/2012 4:46am
Find him on Facebook and ask him if he has any photos.

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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 12/29/2012 6:21am
12/29/2012 6:21am
Paul333 wrote:
I remember this happened. Lechien was supposed to ride the Steel City 125cc USGP. Kawasaki brought in a full works SR125 for him to ride. Being...
I remember this happened. Lechien was supposed to ride the Steel City 125cc USGP. Kawasaki brought in a full works SR125 for him to ride. Being a GP there was no production rule.

I am a big Lechien fan. but if I remember correctly he over slept and arrived at the track too late to race.

It's been close to twenty years but I remember a few photos of the bike. I just cannot find them now.
This sounds right. I'm pretty sure I have the old MXA with this GP. I'll see if I can dig it up...might be a pic of the bike there.
TooOldToPlay
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TooOldToPlay 12/29/2012 7:10am
12/29/2012 7:10am
The 1987 Steel City 125cc USGP was won by Eric Kehoe. I have some clippings here somewhere. I'll find them in a little bit and post what I can find of Lechien.
Paul333
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Paul333 12/29/2012 12:27pm
12/29/2012 12:27pm
TooOldToPlay, outstanding.

For some reason I remember the SR125 they brought in for Lechien was totally different from the production based KX125 Eddie Warren raced.

Hopefully some one will have a photo.

Thank you for the help.
Bigfoot
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Bigfoot 12/29/2012 4:23pm
12/29/2012 4:23pm
Paul333 wrote:
TooOldToPlay, outstanding. For some reason I remember the SR125 they brought in for Lechien was totally different from the production based KX125 Eddie Warren raced. Hopefully...
TooOldToPlay, outstanding.

For some reason I remember the SR125 they brought in for Lechien was totally different from the production based KX125 Eddie Warren raced.

Hopefully some one will have a photo.

Thank you for the help.
Yeah, my memory is conjuring up a picture of a welded swingarm, aluminum tank and some anodized bits.
Sully
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Sully 12/29/2012 5:09pm
12/29/2012 5:09pm
Paul333 wrote:
I remember this happened. Lechien was supposed to ride the Steel City 125cc USGP. Kawasaki brought in a full works SR125 for him to ride. Being...
I remember this happened. Lechien was supposed to ride the Steel City 125cc USGP. Kawasaki brought in a full works SR125 for him to ride. Being a GP there was no production rule.

I am a big Lechien fan. but if I remember correctly he over slept and arrived at the track too late to race.

It's been close to twenty years but I remember a few photos of the bike. I just cannot find them now.
That's awesome. I had no idea that he even thought about riding a 125 at that point in his career. Still seems strange that Kawasaki would build a one-off bike for one race, but I guess they did. Thanks for the history lesson.
mxnick
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mxnick 12/29/2012 5:37pm
12/29/2012 5:37pm Edited Date/Time 12/29/2012 5:43pm
Yes, it happened, and it was 1987. He was riding (or was supposed to ride) a bike that really closely resembled the 1988 KX 125. Or it was the 1988 KX125.

Basically, Dogger overslept and missed either the first practice or the event sign in - I do not recall which it was. I think it was sign in, but I am not certain.

They (the race officials) then would not let him race. It was a major bummer and crappy call.

To answer your question about photos, I know they exist. One of the mags, I think it was either Dirt Bike or Dirt Rider, had a full page color photo of the bike sitting on the stand in the pits. I clearly remember drooling over it and wishing that the Dogger would have won the event on that cool bike. I also think the same photo or a similar one was featured in the Dirt Bike / MXA calendar for 1988 as well, and which was sold on newstands.

See if Matthes or Tblazer has that image somewhere. Shouldnt be too hard to find. I think MXA also had a smaller photo, but it was black and white. Not sure which month to look for though as I have no idea when that event was held.

Fun wives tale fact about that event: Basically Big Dave Coombs was told by the AMA that if he wanted to hold a national at Steel City, then he had to hold the 125 USGP to see how things went, or something of the sort. He then got the Steel City national added to the calendar after that event.
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ga_pike 12/31/2012 7:27am
12/31/2012 7:27am
On a side note... did you guys realize that the 1st 125 qualifier of the day was won by local boy "Mad" Mike Jones on his privateer Yamaha 125? He wore #55 that day and I am the proud owner of the vented white and red Gear Racewear jersey he wore in that moto.
Paul333
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Paul333 1/4/2013 12:16pm
1/4/2013 12:16pm
Thanks guys, I will point Matthes & Tblazer towards this thread to see if they can add anything.
MaxPower
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MaxPower 1/6/2013 7:06am
1/6/2013 7:06am
What, Isn't a Moto history question complete unless Matthis puts his stamp on it?
Paul333
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Paul333 1/7/2013 7:00am
1/7/2013 7:00am
I just sent Matthis a private message pointing him towards this thread. Hopefully he will come in and help us out.
SmokinJoe439 1/11/2013 7:41pm
1/11/2013 7:41pm Edited Date/Time 1/11/2013 7:42pm
I remember it was in MXA I think on the cover it was described as possible '88 KX 125 - I think I may have that magazine think it was July or August issue? Not a kawie but it was donny schmit's RM 125 from that same race and you can tell it was not close to a production '87 was more like an '89.

Paul333
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Paul333 1/12/2013 7:57am
1/12/2013 7:57am
I just posted a link to this thread on the FB "Ron Lechien Fan Page". I figured they might be able to help.
kawboy388
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kawboy388 1/13/2013 5:20am
1/13/2013 5:20am
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
I remember it was in MXA I think on the cover it was described as possible '88 KX 125 - I think I may have that...
I remember it was in MXA I think on the cover it was described as possible '88 KX 125 - I think I may have that magazine think it was July or August issue? Not a kawie but it was donny schmit's RM 125 from that same race and you can tell it was not close to a production '87 was more like an '89.

More like an 88 RM125,with 88 RM250 tank,rad shrouds,and seat.

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bd
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bd 1/17/2013 8:46pm
1/17/2013 8:46pm
Any luck on this story? Would love to see "The Dogger's" SR 125
Paul333
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Paul333 1/28/2013 6:55am
1/28/2013 6:55am
Wow, I wonder if that's it?
tblazier
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tblazier 7/9/2014 8:39am
7/9/2014 8:39am
Paul333 wrote:
Good challenge for you guys. I’m looking for a photo of the works SR125 that Kawasaki build for Ron Lechien specifically for the Steel City 125...
Good challenge for you guys. I’m looking for a photo of the works SR125 that Kawasaki build for Ron Lechien specifically for the Steel City 125 USGP. I cannot remember what year it was, but he missed the race so the bike never got to see any action. I remember reading about it when it happened.

I’d love to see the bike again if anybody has a photo.

I’ve done the usual search engine searches and came up empty. I was hoping someone could help me out.

Thank you in advance for any help.


barkhard696
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barkhard696 7/11/2014 5:38pm
7/11/2014 5:38pm Edited Date/Time 7/12/2014 5:13am
Brandon, good guess, but the fork sliders were anodized magnesium to reduce unsprung weight. The tubes do look like they are Ti coated from reflecting the yellow plastic. But they are just really shiny chrome. I'd bet a cold one these are Showa works forks like the great Honda teams used. Some of those were 46mm or possibly larger, even in 1985.

Look a little more closely at the brake rotor... Honda had some kind of "exclusive" deal with Nissen on the brakes but the other teams were always getting back-door HRC brake components to run. Honda was SO crazy ahead of everyone back then, it's not even funny. That may well be a factory Honda brake on a factory Suzuki!

245
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245 7/28/2014 12:12pm
7/28/2014 12:12pm
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
Is this the pic? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/01/27/1988KX125_3506.jpg[/img]
Is this the pic?

Set here talking to Ronnie at the Tucker Rocky sale meeting and he said yes that was his bike. For why he didn't race that day was his air went out in his room. Hotel switch his room but not the wake up call. FIM would not let him race with out least one time practice lap which he never made. He said Chicken later raced that bike and it was not fast at all. He want to race it bad since he had 250 and 500 GP win. That's the story as told by Ronnie.
Aceofspades 7/28/2014 12:38pm
7/28/2014 12:38pm
That SR was supposedly a bone stock 88 engine pre production. I had a couple of friends with 88 kx125's and they were great, great little bikes. Another friend had an 87 CR125 though that smoked the 88 kx125 so bad it made me feel sorry for the guys with the kx's lol. I had an 86 RM 250 and that 87 CR125 was nearly as strong. One of my friends only recently sold his old 88 kx125....for $100. Sad He said "I didn't think you'd want that old bike." No, of course I didn't.

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