2004 RM 125 Project - Finished

Spagina767
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912
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Fredericksburg, VA US
Edited Date/Time 10/18/2022 6:50am
Hey guys just thought I'd share my latest 2-stroke project. I picked up this 04 rm 125 for cheap - it had just been rebuilt, but as you can see was in pretty bad shape. It was a diamond in the rough though as most bearing were great, suspension was tight with no leaks, and the bike felt like it was not ridden hard (just not maintained) the kicker, footpegs, shifter, brake pedal, etc all felt showroom tight.



I got it home, and pressure washed it and then hit it with acid wash.









Next I tore it down to nuts and bolts. Sandblasted frame and used an epoxy black on it, with a 2 part urethane clear. I didn't want to dump a ton into powder because down here in VA I couldn't get a half decent price.






Polished the outside of the tranny cases. Sandblasted the clutch and ignition covers then acid washed them to turn them a brown color.





I found the stock color pink/ clear carb vent hoses.


When I tore the bike down I noticed a scratch in the cylinder. I checked the crank for tolerance, and it was great. I flushed the bottom end just in case. Ended up sending the cylinder to Powerseal USA - those guys were great, and quick.


I went with a Pro Circuit works pipe, r-304 silencer.


Got a full acerbis plastic kit with the 2013 front fender and plate. All new bearings, cables, throttle tube. Chain, sprockets, and bars are pro taper. New brake pads front and rear.


I had new stock excels powder coated black.

And here it is, done. A set of MX-51's's on it now it's ready to go. I didn't mess with suspension since the bike is for sale, I'd rather let people do what they want with it.

Here's the final pics, let me know what you think!













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Huey497
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Marion, IA US
11/1/2013 5:43pm
Nice job it looks great! What are you asking for it?
LilZebb
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Henderson, NV US
11/1/2013 5:47pm
Beautiful bike, I do like the idea of acid washing the covers to turn them the brown color, what did you use? I'd really like to do that to my covers!

The Shop

48dirtbikekid
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Victorville, CA US
11/1/2013 6:06pm
Looks really good, your attention to detail is pretty immaculate! Good job!
Spagina767
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Fredericksburg, VA US
11/1/2013 6:09pm
I sandblasted the covers then used eagle 1 mag wheel wash. I let it soak on there, and rinsed it off & repeated 2-3 times. Right after I rubbed the covers with oil because raw magnesium can react with the moisture in the air. After washing I always just make sure to spray wd40 on them.
Spagina767
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11/1/2013 6:17pm
Thanks guys! I probably have 100 hours into it, a lot of which were polishing and cleaning. The worst part is that the pipe is the only used part I bought... Got it off eBay for a great price. The seller said it was dirty, and the pictures showed that it was surface rusted/ dirty, but zero dents or dings. I said okay no big deal. Well I got the pipe and it had been painted with header paint. 2.5 hours of sand blasting, wire wheeling, and scotch brite sanding later and it looks good. Negative feedback lol, painted does not = dirty!
burn1986
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bossier city, LA US
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3303rd
11/1/2013 6:56pm
Man, that sucker looks tough!
Hank_Thrill
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Arlen, TX US
11/1/2013 6:57pm
I just about fell out of my chair.

That is one of the nicest transformations on a Vital rebuild I have seen.

I would like to nominate this steed, for the VitalMX 'Bike of the Month.'
BAMX
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Fallbrook, CA US
11/1/2013 7:57pm
Looks great...Where did you get the pink lines for the carb?
48dirtbikekid
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11/1/2013 8:01pm
I just about fell out of my chair. That is one of the nicest transformations on a Vital rebuild I have seen. I would like to...
I just about fell out of my chair.

That is one of the nicest transformations on a Vital rebuild I have seen.

I would like to nominate this steed, for the VitalMX 'Bike of the Month.'
x2 but that's going to be tough to beat no matter who goes up against it, things so tits!
shortcourse
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Lewiston, ID US
11/1/2013 8:11pm
I just about fell out of my chair. That is one of the nicest transformations on a Vital rebuild I have seen. I would like to...
I just about fell out of my chair.

That is one of the nicest transformations on a Vital rebuild I have seen.

I would like to nominate this steed, for the VitalMX 'Bike of the Month.'
x2 but that's going to be tough to beat no matter who goes up against it, things so tits!
X3 Really nice job! Hope my 2000 RM250 comes out close to that..........Maybe bike of the year!
JW381
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Harrisburg, OR US
11/1/2013 8:25pm
Very nice! Do the case-reed, Mikuni-equipped, RM125s have as bad or a reputation as the 02+ CR250s? haha
Spagina767
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11/1/2013 8:26pm
BAMX wrote:
Looks great...Where did you get the pink lines for the carb?
I found a 10' roll on eBay for 9 bucks. Try and find the fuel line for nitro RC cars, that's all it is! If I did it over I'd probably just buy 50' so I have it in the future. I used about 6 1/2' on this one carb alone.

Thanks for all the positive comments guys! I was going to add it into bike checks tomorrow.
Bruce372
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US
11/1/2013 9:49pm
looks really nice...what model rmz is the front fender from and how did you mount it and the front number plate up?
EZZA 95B
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AU
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11/1/2013 10:22pm
Wow! This and the Castrol Honda are just unbelievable...
We're a bit sadistic when you think about it... I would spend hours with a pack of Q-Tip's and a Toothbrush, getting every last bit of dirt I could without pulling the bike apart, (completely). Then you enjoy getting the thing dirty!Silly
mnomis484
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L AT
11/2/2013 1:10am
How much are you asking for it?

And how much did you put into it Wink
Spagina767
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Fredericksburg, VA US
11/2/2013 3:29am
Bruce372 wrote:
looks really nice...what model rmz is the front fender from and how did you mount it and the front number plate up?
I used the 2013 RMZ 250 front fender and plate, although 10-13 are the same as 08-13 450 ones are the same.

For the fender, the rear bolt holes for almost perfect, I just had to elongate them a bit. After that I had to drill two new front holes. After fitting the fender the front inner plate actually just fit on perfectly like it was made for it.
Spagina767
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11/2/2013 3:46am
mnomis484 wrote:
How much are you asking for it?

And how much did you put into it Wink
I have well over 3k into it. I haven't decided on an asking price yet. I know I won't get dollar for dollar what I put in, but it still has to be worth it for me to sell it or else I may just end up with my own 125 like I've wanted for a long time.
burnside
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London US
11/2/2013 4:54am
What was with the black tank? Had that been spray painted?
Spagina767
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Fredericksburg, VA US
11/2/2013 5:17am
Yeah it was spray painted. I found online that spray paint can be removed very very easily. Use Easy Off brand oven cleaner spray. I let it sit on there for a few minutes then hit the tank with my pressure washer. The paint melted off.
Dirt_Dawg
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11/2/2013 5:40am
mnomis484 wrote:
How much are you asking for it?

And how much did you put into it Wink
Spagina767 wrote:
I have well over 3k into it. I haven't decided on an asking price yet. I know I won't get dollar for dollar what I put...
I have well over 3k into it. I haven't decided on an asking price yet. I know I won't get dollar for dollar what I put in, but it still has to be worth it for me to sell it or else I may just end up with my own 125 like I've wanted for a long time.
Nice transformation...Im not a big fan of black rims on the zooks, yellow looks more appealing to me. But hey great job broWink
MOTO120
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MOTO, IL US
11/2/2013 5:49am
Looks great man….VERY nice!
Spagina767
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Fredericksburg, VA US
11/2/2013 6:03am
mnomis484 wrote:
How much are you asking for it?

And how much did you put into it Wink
Spagina767 wrote:
I have well over 3k into it. I haven't decided on an asking price yet. I know I won't get dollar for dollar what I put...
I have well over 3k into it. I haven't decided on an asking price yet. I know I won't get dollar for dollar what I put in, but it still has to be worth it for me to sell it or else I may just end up with my own 125 like I've wanted for a long time.
Dirt_Dawg wrote:
Nice transformation...Im not a big fan of black rims on the zooks, yellow looks more appealing to me. But hey great job broWink
Thanks man. I actually really like the yellow too. I had yellow wheels on my 09 rmz 450, and if I got a brand new Suzuki for myself and did wheels it would be a real toss up. It was more cost effective to go with black powder vs yellow anodizing though.
beamer
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Squaw River CA
11/2/2013 7:28am Edited Date/Time 11/2/2013 7:31am
I just about shit coffee thru my nose when when I saw the before pictures, what a roach!!! LOL

Very nice job on on the transformation, great work!

Im in the process of doing the same thing with a RM250, check out the thread in the Race shop forum if you wish.

What did you use to polish the cases??
motomike894
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Waterloo, IN US
11/2/2013 7:48am
Spagina767 wrote:
Thanks man. I actually really like the yellow too. I had yellow wheels on my 09 rmz 450, and if I got a brand new Suzuki...
Thanks man. I actually really like the yellow too. I had yellow wheels on my 09 rmz 450, and if I got a brand new Suzuki for myself and did wheels it would be a real toss up. It was more cost effective to go with black powder vs yellow anodizing though.
What acid wash did you use.

Thanks

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