2004 YZ125 Build (Finished)

Cleaning and reassembly



Obligatory linkage polishing (that's NOT a euphemism)





Stripped the stock pipe and blued the welds for that fake fast look

Waiting on wheels

I've read a lot of reviews/tests/testimonials on "cheap" wheels. These Tusk sets seem to have very high satisfaction rates so I went for it. Pleased with the quality, though the front wheel had bearings for a '14+ axle. Currently waiting on the retrofit bearings.


Mounted some fresh meats


Almost there!

Damn, that’s a nice bike!

Looks good!

Very cool build. Brings back memories. I used to have an 04, was a great bike!

I think your wheels have spacers to make them fit your bike. Mine came with enough different spacers to make them fit any yz

byronf29 wrote:

I think your wheels have spacers to make them fit your bike. Mine came with enough different spacers to make them fit any yz

Yeah I thought one of the 3 sets they sent would work but alas all for the wrong size axle.

Looks clean.

Thanks dudes! Got it out to the track tonight. She rips.

Bike turned out awesome. How'd you strip the paint off the factory pipe?

samcampbell wrote:

Bike turned out awesome. How'd you strip the paint off the factory pipe?

Thanks, man!

It took about two hours of wire wheeling, then another hours worth of sanding and scotchbrite. My fingers were about as raw as the pipe by the time I finished.

bike looks sick, makes me want to do a steel frame 125

Very nice now i won't be the only 125 at the gulch.
Looks good Tyler!!

damn bike looks great man!

b_kowalsk wrote:

Very cool build. Brings back memories. I used to have an 04, was a great bike!

Always love me some YOT.

Nice work Tyler! Memories of my YOT

RiverockMX wrote:

Nice work Tyler! Memories of my YOT

So clean!

Picked up a new noise enhancer. I’m having so much damn fun riding this bike. Haven’t ridden my 350 since I finished this thing.

SSS forks and new shock purchased from a fellow Vitard. Should have them in early April.

Agent, never let go of that bike.... It does not get any better than the 04 YZ125 !! I could write a book on how much fun my son and I had on the 04, it did everything Perfect and took one helluva beating, we changed the shift fork ( I think that's right ) ? at some point to be on the safe side, other than that, it was bullet proof. Anyway, good looking bike, you have done a mighty justice to the Ole 04. I'm a little jealous, lol.

ledger wrote:

Agent, never let go of that bike.... It does not get any better than the 04 YZ125 !! I could write a book on how much fun my son and I had on the 04, it did everything Perfect and took one helluva beating, we changed the shift fork ( I think that's right ) ? at some point to be on the safe side, other than that, it was bullet proof. Anyway, good looking bike, you have done a mighty justice to the Ole 04. I'm a little jealous, lol.

Funny, I was just telling a buddy how I think this will be one of those bikes I keep forever. It's pretty damn easy to make it new again every couple years and I can't imagine it ever being too far behind the curve in the two stroke world.

Cheers!

Nice budget build. I'm looking at doing something similar soon to an 04 YZ125. What was your process for cleaning up the frame and engine cases? Did you repaint any of the frame? How'd you polish the link? Looks good man!

The Captain wrote:

Nice budget build. I'm looking at doing something similar soon to an 04 YZ125. What was your process for cleaning up the frame and engine cases? Did you repaint any of the frame? How'd you polish the link? Looks good man!

Sorry for the late reply, I just saw your questions.

For basic cleaning duties I use a generic purple parts cleaner from Ace Hardware. Dont use it on the engine cases though, it will turn them a weird dark gray. I used a little bit of dish soap and water for the cases with a few different plastic and wire brushes. For the big surfaces I threw a wire wheel on the drill.

The frame was in pretty good shape and the only worn spots ware covered by the frame guards so no powder coat necessary.

Used a Dremel to take down the casting marks on the linkage then sanded it down in 3 steps. Finished with a light buffing wheel on the drill.

Cheers!

I have a rare set of pro circuit triple clamps for 04 yz if anyone is interested
Robertmartin517@yahoo.com

Nice bike!

CrGuy2T wrote:

I have a rare set of pro circuit triple clamps for 04 yz if anyone is interested
Robertmartin517@yahoo.com

Just when I thought I was done spending money on this thing...

She’s done! SSS and new shock setup installed. Stoked with how it turned out!

Dang! She's looking perdy now!!!

Damn sexy!

Badass I'm eyeing up a 03 on craigslist right now!