Posts
135
Joined
2/1/2022
Location
Lancaster, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
11/17/2022 6:21am
Picked up a 2002 TM Racing 125 MX off marketplace. It's...not...great... but I was looking for a resto project and it's definitely a project. One of the owners decided to give the frame a person touch. They also paint/clearcoated the plastics. I haven't decided how far to really take the build but to start it will get the suspension refreshed, new bearings, plastics and whatever else it needs to get it race ready. The bike is the quintessential 20-year-old neglected dirt bike.
The compression adjuster nut was not tightened by who ever worked on the shock last. The shims are nicely roasted.
the rebound needle is jammed as well.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
I havent decided what direction to take the bike on the aesthetic front. Stock or another route. I really like how the bike looks stock.
For now need to focus on the mechanical side of things.
Had to "make" a cartridge holding tool out of a 41mm GSXR fork tube. Put the GSXR axle in the fork lug as a handle.
Of course, the Powervalve is gross.
Clutch basket isn't horrible.
Stator.....
Some jackass welded the shifter to the shaft, ill have to grind off the weld there so I can split the cases.
Again, was expecting worse, especially from the cylinder, not too bad. And the head looks great.
Motors built on carts (SV650 engine on the cart next to it)
Everything that's disassembled from the bike gets put on aluminum lunch trays and put on my lunch lady tray rack.
Surgery is in 2 weeks and about 2 months in wheelchair then maybe we can get back to work. I've also pinned down another TM125 to pick up and restore. Plan was to get it this coming saturday but that is now on hold for obvious reasons.
Heal up and good luck with PT so you can finish the bike.
Surgery today was a success. Surgeon said it went way better than expected and my recovery time has gone down. TM build will start back up sooner than expected.
Contacted Dubya to get new spokes and nipples, i just have to get the stock ones shipped to them. Much cheaper than ordering the OEM ones.
Got some plastics, graphics, valve shims, bud racing silencer, pro taper handlebars, clutch basket, gaskets, stem bearings, and some other things in. The plan right now is to do it up as a "black dream" look while i plan on racing it. Want to do the vintage SX day at daytona in 2023.
Then slowly collect the required parts to turn it into the 2002 race bike replica when its time for the proper restore. Love how they look but dont want to ruin the oe seat cover/graphics/plastics racing it. That might sound dumb to some, but thats what im going with.
^sorry for the bad grammar/typos, typing on tablet from hospital while in some pain. My body doesnt really respond to pain killers.
Pit Row
Forks also done. If anyone has one of these, you can use this Yamaha fork kit. You will need 1 extra bushing for the forks.
The lugs are a bit faded, at some point I'll get those redone.
As for tm12502 i used what i think was a RM125 96-98 Answer carbon silencer.
Scored a NOS Pro Circuit pipe and right blue shroud. The carbon Bud silencer doesn't seem to work with the procircuit pipe but the stock one does.
Going to ditch the black CR fender and get blue TM fender. 
I was going to send the hubs and triples out to get cerakoted but have since decided against that to go for a more OEM look. Started to clean up and polish the hubs. they're about 85% done. I've yet to send out the original spokes and nipples to dubya to get some made so that's the next step.
Not a real update , just pictures I took for my own records, figured I'd post them.
Finally got the fly wheel off. The stator cover was cracked and who ever owned it before just rode it and let all the dirt get stuck in there.
I was also able to source a new shift selector shaft so I can now safely grind off the welded-on shifter knowing a new part is on the way.
Waiting with baited breath....
Like the 99, except this one can't even roll and is getting buried by road race bike stuff. One is being torn down right outside the frame of the picture as you can tell by the parts piling up under the TM.
Was having issues sourcing 02 graphics. Found places but they didn't want to ship to US. I had ordered 2001 graphics and seat cover. The seat cover was not made correctly; would not line up with the graphics. The 01 blue is more of a navy blue (which I do like) compared to the normal TM blue however the graphics looked less than desirable against the TM blue shrouds. I was hesitant at first but the navy blue was cut out of the graphics, and I purchased a TM Blue motoseat seat cover. It was the right choice.
Looks great, I've been making more headway with the moving parts than the aesthetics. Engine rebuilt, tuning carb, swapping to a VForce 4R Reeds, Chain, sprockets, rollers, etc. Buzzed it around the hood a little, hoping to get 1 proper ride before snow flies.
Then strip for powder coating and work on bearings, seals, suspension, etc. It's a lot of work compared with buying new for sure...
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