1978 RM125 Restoration - 4/2021 Update

riv187
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riv187 12/24/2017 7:06am
12/24/2017 7:06am
Really Nice 125!!!. I'd like to share that shox on this bike with stock aluminum arm 15.75"...when you get into aftermarket arms there are different combos. 17 1/2" on a LOP,,,I also have a Thor/fox arm on another rm and it has 17.5s..but run a longer Simon front end.
The 15 1/4s (15 3/8 if bumpers inside squished) is 76- maybe 77 RM with steel swingarm.
acr798
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acr798 12/25/2017 8:31pm
12/25/2017 8:31pm
15.75 with a stock arm? Isn’t the stock shock length for a 78 RM125 14.75 ?
1
rodeorl
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rodeorl 3/7/2018 8:23pm
3/7/2018 8:23pm
Who makes the most authentic plastic looking fenders for the 77 rm

The Shop

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Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 3/8/2018 9:07am
3/8/2018 9:07am
rodeorl wrote:
Who makes the most authentic plastic looking fenders for the 77 rm
I'm not sure how many different options you have on these but I got mine through Vintage Suzuki. In my opinion, they are very high quality and look great.
OldPro277
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OldPro277 3/8/2018 2:26pm
3/8/2018 2:26pm
I agree . Vintage Suzuki plastic is super quality and Tony is a great dude.
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 3/17/2018 4:52pm
3/17/2018 4:52pm Edited Date/Time 3/17/2018 4:55pm
I put my son to work today and we got a little work done on the old RM. Although they’re a little shinier than I wanted, I had the lower tubes polished and then reassembled the forks and one of the rear shocks today. After I finish the second shock and clean up the swing arm, I can get this bike back on two wheels.

Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 4/2/2018 11:43pm
4/2/2018 11:43pm
A little reassembly progress today. Triple clamps, forks and bars mounted. Next up, the swing arm, shocks and finally back on two wheels.


Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 4/4/2018 3:17pm
4/4/2018 3:17pm
Made a little more progress today.



PK97
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PK97 4/5/2018 6:31am
4/5/2018 6:31am
Very nice work, look forward to seeing the continued progress
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 4/6/2018 9:31pm
4/6/2018 9:31pm Edited Date/Time 4/6/2018 9:32pm
I sill need to clean up and buff out the tank but everything is coming together nicely.



Tokyo_Tiddler
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Tokyo_Tiddler 4/7/2018 11:47am
4/7/2018 11:47am
She is going to be a beauty. Didn't the 78's have a metal fuel tank, or was that just for the 76 and 77 RM's?
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 4/7/2018 5:49pm
4/7/2018 5:49pm
Thanks Tokyo...Metal tanks were all the rage until Suzuki switched to plastic tanks beginning in 78 and never looked back.
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 5/7/2018 12:14pm
5/7/2018 12:14pm Edited Date/Time 5/7/2018 9:43pm
Made a little more progress this weekend. Carb cleaned up nicely and I was able to tear into the motor. The drain plug was rounded and tighter than tight but I was able to bust it loose with a little heat, a pair of vice grips and a breaker bar. I pulled the head and cylinder and was surprised how good the bore looked. It appears the piston is 2.00 over stock...edit/correction...the piston is one over stock at 54.25mm. As soon as I remove the flywheel I can split the cases. Hopefully everything inside is in good shape.






MaxPower
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MaxPower 5/8/2018 4:47am
5/8/2018 4:47am
I really want one of those. Remember Suzuki used to have an event where everyone was on RMs? Don't remember what it was called. Your bike looks great
TG130
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TG130 5/8/2018 10:26pm
5/8/2018 10:26pm
MaxPower wrote:
I really want one of those. Remember Suzuki used to have an event where everyone was on RMs? Don't remember what it was called. Your bike...
I really want one of those. Remember Suzuki used to have an event where everyone was on RMs? Don't remember what it was called. Your bike looks great
I think it was called the RM Cup.
suzukimadness
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suzukimadness 6/24/2018 7:14pm
6/24/2018 7:14pm
Haven't been on here in awhile but was wandering if any of you guys and gals of course would have any stators for 1979 rm 125n with four wires four sale haven't been able to find any new or used ! Babbits Suzuki sells new but not four wire , ricks stators doesn't have one either . So I thought I might try on this forum i seen Rm mike said he might have some extra parts looked like he had some 78 RM 125 but I need 79 Rm125 stator any help would be a lot of help
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 6/24/2018 10:41pm
6/24/2018 10:41pm
suzukimadness wrote:
Haven't been on here in awhile but was wandering if any of you guys and gals of course would have any stators for 1979 rm 125n...
Haven't been on here in awhile but was wandering if any of you guys and gals of course would have any stators for 1979 rm 125n with four wires four sale haven't been able to find any new or used ! Babbits Suzuki sells new but not four wire , ricks stators doesn't have one either . So I thought I might try on this forum i seen Rm mike said he might have some extra parts looked like he had some 78 RM 125 but I need 79 Rm125 stator any help would be a lot of help
If you don't have any luck here or elsewhere on Vital try the Facebook group Vintage Suzuki RM, PE, RS, & TM Motorcycles 1970 through 2000.

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riv187
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riv187 6/25/2018 6:53am
6/25/2018 6:53am
I have 78,79,80 RM125s....78 stator is different than 79/80. You may know,,but just in case
rodeorl
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rodeorl 7/8/2018 11:19am
7/8/2018 11:19am
I need help finding fork boots for my 78 rm Are your's oem? any ideas where i can find a pair? thanks
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 7/8/2018 1:18pm
7/8/2018 1:18pm
I originally bought new OEM boots from Suzuki but didn’t know until after I received them that they were blue and not black so I returned them. Of the two on the bike when I bought it, one was still good and I ended up finding another one on eBay. A little Armor All made them look new again although the rubber is not nearly as soft and pliable as the new blue ones were.
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 7/8/2018 1:30pm
7/8/2018 1:30pm Edited Date/Time 7/8/2018 1:34pm
If you can’t find any on eBay, try the Facebook groups Vintage Suzuki RM’s or Vintage Suzuki RM, PE, RS and TM Motorcycles from 1970 through 2000.
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 8/26/2018 12:08pm
8/26/2018 12:08pm
It's been way to hot to work out in the garage this summer but it finally cooled of to a nice 85* yesterday so I found some time bolt the swingarm back on so I could get this thing back on two wheels. Slowly but surely its coming together.


barnett468
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barnett468 8/26/2018 7:11pm
8/26/2018 7:11pm
Mr. Sandman wrote:
If you can’t find any on eBay, try the Facebook groups Vintage Suzuki RM’s or Vintage Suzuki RM, PE, RS and TM Motorcycles from 1970 through...
If you can’t find any on eBay, try the Facebook groups Vintage Suzuki RM’s or Vintage Suzuki RM, PE, RS and TM Motorcycles from 1970 through 2000.
"Fast forward to 1985 and I bought a brand new Honda ATC250R which I still own and race occasionally in CALVMX events."

Did you ride the last calvmx at perris or lake elsinore?

Where did you get the front number plate for the 125?

Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 8/27/2018 7:34am
8/27/2018 7:34am
barnett468 wrote:
"Fast forward to 1985 and I bought a brand new Honda ATC250R which I still own and race occasionally in CALVMX events." Did you ride the...
"Fast forward to 1985 and I bought a brand new Honda ATC250R which I still own and race occasionally in CALVMX events."

Did you ride the last calvmx at perris or lake elsinore?

Where did you get the front number plate for the 125?

No I didn't. It's now been a couple of years since I raced the 250R.

The front and side number plates are OEM Suzuki. Blew me away that they were still available 40 years later.
barnett468
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barnett468 8/27/2018 9:23am
8/27/2018 9:23am
barnett468 wrote:
"Fast forward to 1985 and I bought a brand new Honda ATC250R which I still own and race occasionally in CALVMX events." Did you ride the...
"Fast forward to 1985 and I bought a brand new Honda ATC250R which I still own and race occasionally in CALVMX events."

Did you ride the last calvmx at perris or lake elsinore?

Where did you get the front number plate for the 125?

Mr. Sandman wrote:
No I didn't. It's now been a couple of years since I raced the 250R. The front and side number plates are OEM Suzuki. Blew me...
No I didn't. It's now been a couple of years since I raced the 250R.

The front and side number plates are OEM Suzuki. Blew me away that they were still available 40 years later.
ok thanks for the info. I need to adapt the front plate to my 1980 yz250.

i just raced calvmx at lake elsinore and they have another at perris on the 16th and they have around 12 atc's show up. you should go out to one of their races.

Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 8/27/2018 3:22pm
8/27/2018 3:22pm
I'll get out there again with it one of these days. Gotta keep things with 3 and 4 wheels on the down low here on Vital to avoid being flamed or labeled LOL.
barnett468
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barnett468 8/27/2018 5:18pm
8/27/2018 5:18pm
Mr. Sandman wrote:
I'll get out there again with it one of these days. Gotta keep things with 3 and 4 wheels on the down low here on Vital...
I'll get out there again with it one of these days. Gotta keep things with 3 and 4 wheels on the down low here on Vital to avoid being flamed or labeled LOL.
That's just cuz they are jealous cuz they can't ride them worth beans!
Mr. Sandman
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Mr. Sandman 9/2/2018 10:41pm
9/2/2018 10:41pm
Finally split the cases and cleaned everything up nicely. The internals look good and once I get the cases themselves dipped, cleaned and repainted, reassembly with new bearings and seals will begin.


MX438
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MX438 9/3/2018 2:37pm
9/3/2018 2:37pm
Great work! It's going to be amazing when you're done.

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