2003 KX125 RAW Frame

samdolbel
Edited Date/Time 5/20/2022 6:58am
Hey guys. Thought I would add my 2nd KX125 build and show how it turned out. Will keep it sweet and short.

I originally brought the bike for a cheap $2000 AUD. The bike had just had a full re done motor and clutch. I picked it up from the carpark of a local hardware shop, test riding it in the dark. The bike sounded mint, and game me a solid foundation to start with.

It was in reasonable good condition for its age and I went completely though it and re done it all. Wanting to do a RAW frame all by my self, Vapour wash plenty of parts, Powder coat some pieces, Build wheels, Re store a Pro Circuit header, Modify and fit a Stinger PC Muffler, Replace all bolts through out, Install a Keihin carb, Higher seat, and install a 2020 CRF front end into it for handling and braking power.

Find attached plenty of photos of everything and hopefully you enjoy !
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Lowlander
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Lowlander 4/26/2022 2:41pm
4/26/2022 2:41pm
mint...
Joshracing 5/16/2022 5:46am
5/16/2022 5:46am
OK, as long as you don't ride it now, you've totally destroyed the frame but altering the integrity of the metal by heating every joint as you have. Hang it on the wall, call it a day!
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samdolbel 5/16/2022 2:18pm
5/16/2022 2:18pm
Joshracing wrote:
OK, as long as you don't ride it now, you've totally destroyed the frame but altering the integrity of the metal by heating every joint as...
OK, as long as you don't ride it now, you've totally destroyed the frame but altering the integrity of the metal by heating every joint as you have. Hang it on the wall, call it a day!


I actually race this bike mate. I'm sure if free riders have no issues I should be fine on grasstracks etc
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Joshracing 5/16/2022 11:31pm
5/16/2022 11:31pm
Joshracing wrote:
OK, as long as you don't ride it now, you've totally destroyed the frame but altering the integrity of the metal by heating every joint as...
OK, as long as you don't ride it now, you've totally destroyed the frame but altering the integrity of the metal by heating every joint as you have. Hang it on the wall, call it a day!
samdolbel wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/05/16/550510/s1200_20210926142201_IMG_9609.jpg[/img] I actually race this bike mate. I'm sure if free riders have no issues I should be fine on grasstracks etc


I actually race this bike mate. I'm sure if free riders have no issues I should be fine on grasstracks etc
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic reasons, never seen that!!! Good luck with it!
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samdolbel 5/17/2022 1:56am
5/17/2022 1:56am
Joshracing wrote:
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic...
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic reasons, never seen that!!! Good luck with it!
Thanks mate. But the likes of Tyler Bereman, Cole Seely have done it and they do big jumps with them. Looks great.
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Joshracing 5/17/2022 5:51am
5/17/2022 5:51am
Joshracing wrote:
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic...
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic reasons, never seen that!!! Good luck with it!
samdolbel wrote:
Thanks mate. But the likes of Tyler Bereman, Cole Seely have done it and they do big jumps with them. Looks great.
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're all seen bikes fall in a heap after modifications (engine swaps), but man, heating the frame like this, it's asking for trouble! See your local engineer... see what they say about it!!!
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seth505
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seth505 5/17/2022 11:12am
5/17/2022 11:12am
Joshracing wrote:
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic...
Totally cool for light duty! When you take it to the limit, when she'll let go! Never seen anyone intentionally heat a motorcycle frame for cosmetic reasons, never seen that!!! Good luck with it!
samdolbel wrote:
Thanks mate. But the likes of Tyler Bereman, Cole Seely have done it and they do big jumps with them. Looks great.
Joshracing wrote:
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're...
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're all seen bikes fall in a heap after modifications (engine swaps), but man, heating the frame like this, it's asking for trouble! See your local engineer... see what they say about it!!!
Why are you so convinced that it's going to fail? All heat is not created equal, temperatures matter.

Beautiful bike OP!
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mxracer666
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mxracer666 5/17/2022 11:39am
5/17/2022 11:39am
Frame is fine. What do you think - Kawasaki heat-treated the frame after welding it up? LOL! What about Kawasaki factory bikes of the day having welded on skid plate mounts or water pump guards? Did Kawasaki send the frames back to Japan to have them "properly re-heat treated" , to factory specs?
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samdolbel 5/17/2022 2:22pm
5/17/2022 2:22pm
Joshracing wrote:
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're...
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're all seen bikes fall in a heap after modifications (engine swaps), but man, heating the frame like this, it's asking for trouble! See your local engineer... see what they say about it!!!


I'm sure intrigued how you would imagine this is air brushed mate ?
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Jake_CR250R
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Jake_CR250R 5/18/2022 4:43am
5/18/2022 4:43am
Joshracing wrote:
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're...
Me has a feeling they might airbrush.... I don't know a mechanic on the planet that'd intentionally weaken a MX bike frame in this way! We're all seen bikes fall in a heap after modifications (engine swaps), but man, heating the frame like this, it's asking for trouble! See your local engineer... see what they say about it!!!
Okay, let’s dig into the nitty gritty of this. Annealing steel is when the steel is heated beyond the critical point (1300+ degrees F) then cooled very quickly. This realigns the grain structure of the material and yes, does in fact create a stronger but more brittle material. This does happen during the welding of the frame at the factory, and must be tempered after (heating to below critical then slowly cooled). I’m sure what temperature to temper at can vary, but regardless it happens below the critical temperature.
With op’s raw frame look the material probably didn’t sustain any heat beyond the 600-800 degree F (below critical temp) range, yes the flame itself is hotter, but what was absorbed by the frame probably didn’t exceed that. Along with that (and I could be wrong) I’d assume OP wasn’t quenching the frame in water after each cycle but just letting it passively cool down.

I could be wrong on all this, but I think OP should be just fine to ride this. Also, the bike looks absolutely fantastic!
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matix287
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matix287 5/20/2022 6:57am
5/20/2022 6:57am Edited Date/Time 5/20/2022 6:58am
Looks Amazing!

I've got (2) 03 KX125 myself I need to get going on.

briangreathouse 9/17/2025 10:33pm
9/17/2025 10:33pm
samdolbel wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545833/s1200_20210919_102548.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545835/s1200_20210919_102541.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545836/s1200_20210919_102532.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545834/s1200_20210919_102448.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545832/s1200_20210919_102355.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545831/s1200_20210919_101052.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545839/s1200_20210919_100925.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545840/s1200_20210919_100830.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545837/s1200_20210919_100654.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/04/24/545838/s1200_20210919_100735.jpg[/img]










Now how did you do the raw frame🤔 just sand blast, polish then heat??

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