Posts
90
Joined
5/4/2018
Location
Madison, OH
US
Edited Date/Time
5/8/2018 8:23am
I finally finished one of my 1981 yz125 restorations. Put about 2 years into it after rescuing it from a neighbor that had beat it to death. I got it for $200 so I couldn’t resist the challenge. I have another all original running 1981 that I’m going to tackle next but it will be a much easier resto.
The Shop
I remember 1981 here, me too was quite young (as we all were I guess!) -most people seemed to have the RM125X in 1981 and not really too many Yam YZH at all, a few had them but most seemed to go for the RM then and think the RM won often with the handy riders who had them.
I seem to remember well known Grand Prix rider Kurt Nichol having KX's in that year and he also won alot of the Nationals back then. So suppose it wasn't only the RMX that won! Also was not that many CR125's that were raced that year, lots of RM's, then prob some Yams but not that many and a few KX's and probably even fewer CR's that year, speaking of the youth divisions back then this is.Maybe was different in different regions but that is how I remember it mainly in the Southern and Mid regions.
Were the gold rims original for that year in US then? Think we had silver rims over here on the YZH's that year but I maybe wrong.
Good job and show us the other one when you get working on it!
also alot of the Yam owners here used these red 'Yamoto' stamped tank covers, think they were made by Yamaha themselves- they were sort of trick looking abit like leather even and some people also changed the fenders to red to match the red tank covers. Not seen one of those covers for years! Not sure if you used the tank covers over there.
Yes, your bikes look rearly original- parts must be quite hard to find? or not?
Also forgot how square the barrels were on them, opposed to the round ones of the RM's.
As you say, seem to remember the YZ appearring in the press reviews and them ranting about them, then the RM came along and probably blew it away.
Seem to recall late in 1980 season(still aircooled), a few of quick Suzuki sponsored kids appearred on the new watercooled RM's and really flew on them- turns out they were a batch pre-production water cooled/ Full floaters(RMX's)- think they were the first bikes in the country before the production ones got released. The top Zook 'sponsored kids' got them I think and were different to the production ones that appearred the following year(81), think the frame was different and the exhausts and poss other stuff. Remember seeing the first ones, drooling at them and thinking a spaceship had landed! They were SO trick looking compared to the aircooled bikes and the watercooling and Floater suspension blew me away.
there was also some quick lads on the YZ H's though, think remember seeing/reading that a few of the top ones got some special parts from the GP bikes to use in the National youth division races and to take something to the RM's..
I wasn't quick enough by far but remember that period for sure with good memories of both the bikes and riders. as said remember Kurt Nichol winning lots around that time on the KX in the Youth Divison before he went onto GP/ adult fame somewhat. Max Ansties old man, 'Merv' was also very quick in 81 remember! think he was on KX also.
81x was the first year of WC for the 125 and 1982z for the 250.
first adult bike I rode was a YZ465 I seem to remember, straight from a 125!
Yea- get one- then you will have a YZ nice set!
Keep up the good work!
Anyone got a link or anything for any magazine shootouts of the old 81 125cc's? Love to read some.
Would love an 81x or a 82z, come to that a YZ125h- as in this thread also... super era of racing- it all changed when the watercooling appeared.
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