1983 RM 125 shock

mb60
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mb60
Edited Date/Time 9/10/2015 7:46am
Have a couple of questions from the RM guys around here. What year shock will work on the 83 RM 125 ?

And will a 250 spring from similar years work to make a bit heavier ?
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MXVet261
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MXVet261 4/29/2015 8:51am
4/29/2015 8:51am
I'm pretty sure the 250/465/500 had a larger shock body and the springs will not fit the 125.
barkhard696
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barkhard696 4/29/2015 9:44am
4/29/2015 9:44am Edited Date/Time 4/29/2015 2:13pm
Suzuki "miniaturized" the RM125 shock with the '82 model. The two years ('82-'83) RM125 are unique in this respect. The '81 has essentially the same shock as the 250/465/500.

The first-gen Floaters are great years for us Suzuki guys, it will be worth the effort to get the bike set up properly. You can also try FullFloater.com on FB, lots of guys there who race these bikes regularly, you should be able to find a spring for a swap or buy. Or, try RaceTech or Works Performance for springs .. but it is possible that you might have to get one custom wound.

CamP knows a place to get this done, he races an '82 RM250, and he's in your area (Grapevine-Colleyville). He's a regular here and on FullFloater.com FB and is one of the great guys of our hobby.


CamP
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CamP 4/30/2015 8:03pm
4/30/2015 8:03pm
mb60 wrote:
Have a couple of questions from the RM guys around here. What year shock will work on the 83 RM 125 ? And will a 250...
Have a couple of questions from the RM guys around here. What year shock will work on the 83 RM 125 ?

And will a 250 spring from similar years work to make a bit heavier ?
Hey Mike, when did pick up an RM? The springs rates are going to be way too soft for you. Fortunately, Race Tech offers a full assortment of spring rates for the '83 RM125, so you won't be in the custom spring boat the 250 owners run into.

If you install the proper stiff rear spring, you will need to add a lot more rebound damping. The easiest fix is to run 7wt, rather than experimenting with shim shuffling. If you run modern light shock oil w/ a considerably stiffer spring, the rear will be a pogo stick.

You guys racing Burleson? We'll be camping out Sat night and have the Vegas SX on.
mb60
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mb60 4/30/2015 8:44pm
4/30/2015 8:44pm
Hey Cam have not bought it but going to bring a 83 RM 125 out to Burleson. It's the bike Doug had for awhile that has Race Tech springs in the front but not in the back yet. I will talk to you Sunday about it. The shock has been rebuilt by Enzo but will need the stiffer spring.

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mb60
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mb60 5/3/2015 12:32pm
5/3/2015 12:32pm
Cam or Barkhard on the Race Tech site they call for a 6228 rear spring. That seems to be a pretty common spring on alot of bikes. Will that spring work with the collars you think ??
barkhard696
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barkhard696 5/3/2015 8:24pm
5/3/2015 8:24pm
My '81 had a custom Ohlins. I would verify with RaceTech that the spring will work with your collars, it sounds like it could be a kind of "universal" spring for KYB applications.
mb60
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mb60 5/5/2015 4:31pm
5/5/2015 4:31pm
After more digging around on this shock the seal head was blown and the bladder has a crack inside the reservoir. Anybody have any luck in this department ?? Race tech said the have a bladder that is slightly longer then stock. Has anybody ever had to replace the bladder inside the shock as well ?
CamP
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CamP 5/6/2015 4:16am
5/6/2015 4:16am
mb60 wrote:
Cam or Barkhard on the Race Tech site they call for a 6228 rear spring. That seems to be a pretty common spring on alot of...
Cam or Barkhard on the Race Tech site they call for a 6228 rear spring. That seems to be a pretty common spring on alot of bikes. Will that spring work with the collars you think ??
The 6228 is used on late model YZ250F. That should open up a lot of options for you, including a stock Titanium YZ250F spring which has a 5.3kg rate. That should be about perfect for a 200# rider on an '83 RM125.

I gave David Lux a titanium 5.3kg YZF spring a while back and I don't think he used it. I'll see if he still has it.
barkhard696
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barkhard696 5/6/2015 10:49am
5/6/2015 10:49am
>The 6228 is used on late model YZ250F.

CamP, you knew this off the top of your head?!? Seriously amigo you should enter dirt bike Jeopardy or become the next Mr. Know-It-All or something.

That is very, very cool to about the YZ spring. Heck that's close to a pound off the bike right there, and 125s are light anyway, esp compared to modern 4 strokes.
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CamP 5/6/2015 12:18pm
5/6/2015 12:18pm
barkhard696 wrote:
>The 6228 is used on late model YZ250F. CamP, you knew this off the top of your head?!? Seriously amigo you should enter dirt bike Jeopardy...
>The 6228 is used on late model YZ250F.

CamP, you knew this off the top of your head?!? Seriously amigo you should enter dirt bike Jeopardy or become the next Mr. Know-It-All or something.

That is very, very cool to about the YZ spring. Heck that's close to a pound off the bike right there, and 125s are light anyway, esp compared to modern 4 strokes.
Thanks Chris, but I far from know it all. Just recognized that number from cross checking the YZF springs for the old '95 CR250. The nice thing about the Ti YZF springs is you can get them for next to nothing. I paid $50 for the last one I picked up.
neverwasfastenuf 5/6/2015 12:33pm
5/6/2015 12:33pm
barkhard696 wrote:
My '81 had a custom Ohlins. I would verify with RaceTech that the spring will work with your collars, it sounds like it could be a...
My '81 had a custom Ohlins. I would verify with RaceTech that the spring will work with your collars, it sounds like it could be a kind of "universal" spring for KYB applications.
What was that like compared to the stock spring?

I had an '81 125 and opted for the OEM heavier spring due to my size. It helped an already great setup.
mb60
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mb60 5/6/2015 2:20pm
5/6/2015 2:20pm
Cam,

Thanks for the info as I had seen that on Race Tech and I was able to score the spring and the collars for $ 100.00 brand new.

Now if I can figure out why this 83 has a bladder in the reservoir ?? LoL
yzweldon
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yzweldon 5/6/2015 4:11pm
5/6/2015 4:11pm
mb60 wrote:
Cam, Thanks for the info as I had seen that on Race Tech and I was able to score the spring and the collars for $...
Cam,

Thanks for the info as I had seen that on Race Tech and I was able to score the spring and the collars for $ 100.00 brand new.

Now if I can figure out why this 83 has a bladder in the reservoir ?? LoL
I will trade you my 82 shock when I get yours rebuilt Mike. Did you get the Ty spring or a steel one?
mb60
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mb60 5/6/2015 6:35pm
5/6/2015 6:35pm
Weldon I just got the spring from Race Tech. I know you would like to have a clickers ...... LOL
mb60
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mb60 7/7/2015 6:20am
7/7/2015 6:20am
Well it seems that my shock after a total rebuild is leaking again just sitting on the stand. Has anybody sent there shock off to race tech to have the shaft anodized ? And will I have to replace the whole seal head or can I just replace the 2 seals after anodizing ?
450exc115
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450exc115 7/7/2015 10:19am
7/7/2015 10:19am
The shaft should be chrome. You can remove the chrome and redo it but that is about the same cost of having one made from scratch. Race Tech may be able to help. Do you have a nick in the chrome? You can often sand them down and it will still work with minimal weeping.
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wolfy0067 7/7/2015 3:46pm
7/7/2015 3:46pm
you can pick up shocks really cheap on bay, I rebuilt several may RM 125 shocks, I've used the 82 body 84 shaft with better rebound and piston setup, also installed an 86 Honda cr reservoir for comp.adj. you will need to mill the upper shock mount to fit the narrower 82 bell crank not a real big deal to do.

Currently have an 82 RM250 with this setup 6.8 race tech spring, works real good, also get the complete seal head your bushings are probably worn allowing it to flex the seal.
mb60
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mb60 7/8/2015 10:14am
7/8/2015 10:14am
wolfy0067 wrote:
you can pick up shocks really cheap on bay, I rebuilt several may RM 125 shocks, I've used the 82 body 84 shaft with better rebound...
you can pick up shocks really cheap on bay, I rebuilt several may RM 125 shocks, I've used the 82 body 84 shaft with better rebound and piston setup, also installed an 86 Honda cr reservoir for comp.adj. you will need to mill the upper shock mount to fit the narrower 82 bell crank not a real big deal to do.

Currently have an 82 RM250 with this setup 6.8 race tech spring, works real good, also get the complete seal head your bushings are probably worn allowing it to flex the seal.
Wolfy,

Do you think a 1986 RM 125 shock will work on the 1983 ? I have replaced the seal head already with new bladder and spring. I believe the shock body is worn and causes the seal head to start leaking. I called race tech and they can anodize the body for $ 250.00 plus new seal head and labor I'm looking at $ 600.00 almost. I have already spent $ 250.00 on the last rebuild w/o even riding.I found a pretty decent shock on ebay for a 1986 that I could put new seals in go with that one if it will work.

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wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 7/8/2015 12:05pm
7/8/2015 12:05pm
Do a little research, I believe the shaft diameter is larger, and the linkage is way different, they went with a cam type setup,(shaft speed) the shock body shouldn't make the shaft leak, just poor performance. shaft is either worn and you can't see it by eye or you rolled the tension spring off the seal when installing the seal head. I am assuming you did the whole seal head assembly. You are saying you replace the seal head with a new bladder and spring. two different items.
Anyhow, if you replace the seal head, tape the shock shaft threads till almost the size of the shaft to protect from cutting the new seals and ride over the shock shaft lip easier.

If you don't have access to nitrogen, go to the local bicycle shop purchase a high pressure pump for forks about 25.00 one time purchase, they pump up to 200psi. used this on all my shocks for years.


Check with Bike Bone Yard he should have a shock you can pickup under 50 bucks, there's tons of these laying around cheap.
mb60
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mb60 7/8/2015 12:46pm
7/8/2015 12:46pm Edited Date/Time 7/8/2015 12:46pm
Thanks for the info Wolfy and I replaced the seal head. Also I replaced the spring and the bladder in the resevoir.

So all is new and it just seems to be weeping from the new seal head. I have heard the shock body can expand and blow the seal out if the body is worn. I will check Bike Bone Yard as well and thanks for the info.
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wolfy0067 7/9/2015 3:31am
7/9/2015 3:31am


Let me know how you make out I think this is an 83 shaft, if you can't find a whole shock you can certainly have this part.

Shaft is in good condition
mb60
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mb60 7/9/2015 8:04am
7/9/2015 8:04am
Wolfy,

That might be perfectly what I need. Please let me know what I can send you for price and shipping on it.

I have a feeling I might have somebody rebuilding it again.
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captmoto 7/9/2015 11:44am
7/9/2015 11:44am
Noleen is doing hard chroming on fork tubes, hit them up, they might be able to replate your shaft.
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ThePipe 7/9/2015 5:22pm
7/9/2015 5:22pm
1981 through 1986 RM125 Shocks will all interchange
ThePipe
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ThePipe 7/9/2015 5:23pm
7/9/2015 5:23pm
Naturally a blown 81 shock is useless
mb60
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mb60 7/9/2015 7:49pm
7/9/2015 7:49pm
ThePipe wrote:
1981 through 1986 RM125 Shocks will all interchange
All I have to do is hook my hose up with the reservoir and it will bolt right up you say ?
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 7/10/2015 11:33am
7/10/2015 11:33am
I don't necessarily agree the 86 shock work . If it does you will definitely need to revalve due to the different rising rate and shocks shaft speed
mb60
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mb60 9/9/2015 8:02am
9/9/2015 8:02am
barkhard696 wrote:
Suzuki "miniaturized" the RM125 shock with the '82 model. The two years ('82-'83) RM125 are unique in this respect. The '81 has essentially the same shock...
Suzuki "miniaturized" the RM125 shock with the '82 model. The two years ('82-'83) RM125 are unique in this respect. The '81 has essentially the same shock as the 250/465/500.

The first-gen Floaters are great years for us Suzuki guys, it will be worth the effort to get the bike set up properly. You can also try FullFloater.com on FB, lots of guys there who race these bikes regularly, you should be able to find a spring for a swap or buy. Or, try RaceTech or Works Performance for springs .. but it is possible that you might have to get one custom wound.

CamP knows a place to get this done, he races an '82 RM250, and he's in your area (Grapevine-Colleyville). He's a regular here and on FullFloater.com FB and is one of the great guys of our hobby.


Brian,

Do you know if the 1981 RM 125 shock will work on the 1983 ? I did find a pretty clean one in Germany but was not sure if the 82-83 was different from your post.
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Mit12 9/9/2015 9:35pm
9/9/2015 9:35pm
I think that the 83 had a top out bumper inside the shock. The 81 and 82 had the bumper mounted on the frame. Give Ross Mieda from Enzo a call he would know.

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