2006 RM125 “Sleeper” build

JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC
Edited Date/Time 11/19/2021 11:18pm
Recently picked up this diamond in the rough. Bought from original owner that bought it new for his 12yr old son back in 2006. He never really got into it and has only been desert ridden. Then sat in a trailer for years before I scooped it up!

Besides the obvious dirty surface, the motor has never been opened up. Stock front and rear tires. Almost every bolt has never had a wrench on it.

Super excited for this one!















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sandman768
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sandman768 5/14/2021 3:45pm
5/14/2021 3:45pm
That’s nice! Best way to find them....
1
seth505
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seth505 5/14/2021 3:49pm
5/14/2021 3:49pm
Look at all those fresh fasteners, nothing rounded off! Cool
2
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/14/2021 4:25pm
5/14/2021 4:25pm
sandman768 wrote:
That’s nice! Best way to find them....
It was listed for sale for 3 full months before I bought it. Crazy no one bought it. I got lucky! Haha
1
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/14/2021 4:26pm
5/14/2021 4:26pm
seth505 wrote:
Look at all those fresh fasteners, nothing rounded off! Cool
Nothing rounded off… yet… lol jk Wink

The Shop

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romain524
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romain524 5/15/2021 1:20am
5/15/2021 1:20am
Wow that’s really clean! I got a low hours 2005 last year in SoCal too! Mine looked worst than yours but was still really low hours with stock tires, sprockets.

What are you going to do with it?
quiknic
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quiknic 5/15/2021 7:06pm
5/15/2021 7:06pm
JohnCharlesC - Awesome find! I sent you a PM regarding the bike
Pgd09yz450 5/16/2021 4:23am
5/16/2021 4:23am
Get this man a vapor baster!!! Nice bike
1
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/16/2021 3:03pm
5/16/2021 3:03pm
romain524 wrote:
Wow that’s really clean! I got a low hours 2005 last year in SoCal too! Mine looked worst than yours but was still really low hours...
Wow that’s really clean! I got a low hours 2005 last year in SoCal too! Mine looked worst than yours but was still really low hours with stock tires, sprockets.

What are you going to do with it?
Nice! Do you still have the bike? What have you done to it since?

I’m going to frame the bike, go over everything, check the bearings, seals, brakes, etc. and some new parts here and there.

But I want to leave it mostly stock for now.
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/16/2021 3:04pm
5/16/2021 3:04pm
Pgd09yz450 wrote:
Get this man a vapor baster!!! Nice bike
Haha. Thank you!
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/16/2021 3:47pm
5/16/2021 3:47pm
Most of the stuff is just surface/caked dirt so I’m excited for that. The carb is surprisingly clean.



















Radiators are pretty much in perfect condition just dirty. Nice!



Factory grease in the swingarm Cool

8
BToz
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BToz 5/18/2021 6:00am
5/18/2021 6:00am
Looking forward to seeing the end result! What’s the plan for the frame?
romain524
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romain524 5/19/2021 1:55am
5/19/2021 1:55am
JohnCharlesC wrote:
Nice! Do you still have the bike? What have you done to it since? I’m going to frame the bike, go over everything, check the bearings...
Nice! Do you still have the bike? What have you done to it since?

I’m going to frame the bike, go over everything, check the bearings, seals, brakes, etc. and some new parts here and there.

But I want to leave it mostly stock for now.
Yes I still have the bike, it’s pretty much ready, I’ll just have to buy a new clutch basket I think because those rubbers behind the basket seems like to come appart, I saw tiny chucks of rubbers when I drained the oil. It gave play in the basket and it’s making a knocking noise kinda.
I have pretty much done the exact same things as what you’re planning to do! I framed the bike, serviced suspensions, checked and greased everything ( the original grease was still decent in the linkages and swing arm), changed the piston, changed tires, one of the big labor was removing the black paint on the tank... the previous owner decided to paint the tank and plastics.

I have to do graphics still, but I’m not sure of what I want to do. Maybe Davi Millsaps 2004 graphics or 2005 stock graphics. I was able to find a brand new stock pipe and also a PC pipe for $50 and I had a FMF pipe and silencer with the bike. So I’m gonna test those different pipes combo.

Where do you usually go riding?
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/19/2021 6:19pm
5/19/2021 6:19pm
BToz wrote:
Looking forward to seeing the end result! What’s the plan for the frame?
For now, I’m going to rattle can it. I have the exact paint match. Then use some grip on the frame sides. Eventually will get it powder coated but this bike probably won’t be ridden very much so not too concerned.
1
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/19/2021 6:23pm
5/19/2021 6:23pm
JohnCharlesC wrote:
Nice! Do you still have the bike? What have you done to it since? I’m going to frame the bike, go over everything, check the bearings...
Nice! Do you still have the bike? What have you done to it since?

I’m going to frame the bike, go over everything, check the bearings, seals, brakes, etc. and some new parts here and there.

But I want to leave it mostly stock for now.
romain524 wrote:
Yes I still have the bike, it’s pretty much ready, I’ll just have to buy a new clutch basket I think because those rubbers behind the...
Yes I still have the bike, it’s pretty much ready, I’ll just have to buy a new clutch basket I think because those rubbers behind the basket seems like to come appart, I saw tiny chucks of rubbers when I drained the oil. It gave play in the basket and it’s making a knocking noise kinda.
I have pretty much done the exact same things as what you’re planning to do! I framed the bike, serviced suspensions, checked and greased everything ( the original grease was still decent in the linkages and swing arm), changed the piston, changed tires, one of the big labor was removing the black paint on the tank... the previous owner decided to paint the tank and plastics.

I have to do graphics still, but I’m not sure of what I want to do. Maybe Davi Millsaps 2004 graphics or 2005 stock graphics. I was able to find a brand new stock pipe and also a PC pipe for $50 and I had a FMF pipe and silencer with the bike. So I’m gonna test those different pipes combo.

Where do you usually go riding?
That’s awesome, I’m sure the end product will look good! Post some pics later.

I usually ride at all the tracks around SoCal.
1
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 5/19/2021 6:28pm
5/19/2021 6:28pm
Cleaned up the triple clamps, subframe and swingarm. Came out looking great Sideways












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BToz
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BToz 5/19/2021 8:01pm
5/19/2021 8:01pm
BToz wrote:
Looking forward to seeing the end result! What’s the plan for the frame?
JohnCharlesC wrote:
For now, I’m going to rattle can it. I have the exact paint match. Then use some grip on the frame sides. Eventually will get it...
For now, I’m going to rattle can it. I have the exact paint match. Then use some grip on the frame sides. Eventually will get it powder coated but this bike probably won’t be ridden very much so not too concerned.
I like it that turned out really good!
1
Socal trail rider 5/22/2021 11:09am
5/22/2021 11:09am
Looks great! I got lucky also and found a 1996 RM125 for cheap !! It maybe has a hour of use.
2

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JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 7/19/2021 11:44pm
7/19/2021 11:44pm
Was able to find a pair of period correct RG3 triple clamps. It needed a little bit of clean up so I decided to get them re anodized.








Pressing in the stock stem




So Fresh Cool


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JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 7/21/2021 12:06am
7/21/2021 12:06am







Going to vapor blast the hubs






Polished up the spokes





6
Slosh 112
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Slosh 112 7/21/2021 2:19am
7/21/2021 2:19am
Looking good mate, I have a soft spot for last gen RM125's.
1
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 7/22/2021 1:21pm
7/22/2021 1:21pm
Slosh 112 wrote:
Looking good mate, I have a soft spot for last gen RM125's.
Thanks dude! I saw your RM125 build too.. that frame gave you so much headache... ughh
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 8/2/2021 11:05pm
8/2/2021 11:05pm
Giving the engine and carb that Sauce!










8
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 8/2/2021 11:14pm
8/2/2021 11:14pm
Also, the VForce ending up being a pain to install.. Have to cut off the OE intake boot ducts. I dont have a band saw so I ended up using a grinder. Made a mess everywhere and smelled like burnt rubber. The boot is tough to cut!







JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 8/3/2021 10:57am
8/3/2021 10:57am
Finished up the clamps and some before photos too..











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JWACK
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JWACK 8/3/2021 6:12pm
8/3/2021 6:12pm
Lookin good!
1
Socal trail rider 8/4/2021 8:28pm
8/4/2021 8:28pm
JohnCharlesC wrote:
Giving the engine and carb that Sauce! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504071/s1200_IMG_5405.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504070/s1200_IMG_5406.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504072/s1200_IMG_5407.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504074/s1200_IMG_5386.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504073/s1200_IMG_5387.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504075/s1200_IMG_3024.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504077/s1200_IMG_5400.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504078/s1200_IMG_5401.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/08/02/504076/s1200_IMG_5402.jpg[/img]
Giving the engine and carb that Sauce!










Looks great, who did your vapor blasting ?
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 8/5/2021 7:22am
8/5/2021 7:22am
JWACK wrote:
Lookin good!
Thanks dude, excited for it to be finished!
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 8/5/2021 7:29am
8/5/2021 7:29am
Socal trail rider wrote:
Looks great, who did your vapor blasting ?
Thanks, I’m actually doing it myself! I have a vapor blasting shop in Ontario (91761). If you ever need something done let me know!
JohnCharlesC
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JohnCharlesC 8/5/2021 7:41am
8/5/2021 7:41am
Decided to install the Loudmouth as I had a good experience with it back in 2009 on my 09 kx250f.

Was hoping I could just install it but had to trim some rubber off the boot..

Overall looks good!










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