78 FMF RM125

Looks great !!!!!!!!!!!!

OldPro277 wrote:

This one I completed 2 years ago. It's been raced approx 12 times since and just completely rips. Tom Morgan did the cylinder mods, I used ceramic main bearings, PVL ignition, Mossbarger 6 petal reed, Lectron 34HV carb(Legal), an original Emler stamped porky head, FMF cone pipe with billet Richter style silencer, Simon's with Gold Valves, Ohlins Piggy Backs on the rear. Pro-Fab Alloy arm, adjustable billet rear torque arm, custom gripper seat,works side panels, misc titanium fasters and custom fabbed alloy pieces throughout. Bike runs and handles as good as it looks. Revs to the moon and feels like it weighs 150 lbs..



















[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/12/11/464926/s1200_IMG_20200426_155644894.jpg[/img

lostboy819 wrote:

Looks great !!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankee thankee

Now that revs me up

Awesome build/bike. 78 tank aluminum 78.5 plastic?

sandman768 wrote:

Awesome build/bike. 78 tank aluminum 78.5 plastic?

Nope. 77 aluminum tank modded to work on the 78. I absolutely abhor plastic tanks and use alloy whenever possible. The only 78.5 was the 250, designated as the C2 which did make the change from aluminum to plastic,( among other changes) but all 78 125's had gone to plastic from the beginning of the model year

OldPro277 wrote:

Nope. 77 aluminum tank modded to work on the 78. I absolutely abhor plastic tanks and use alloy whenever possible. The only 78.5 was the 250, designated as the C2 which did make the change from aluminum to plastic,( among other changes) but all 78 125's had gone to plastic from the beginning of the model year

Nice👍

Out standing bike!!

Can’t get more Bad Ass than that 🏆 Here is my 82’ PVL ignition and just got my 34 Lectron last month. Made a Huge difference. Restoring a 84’250 now

Nicely done Mx! Are you going to Donie for the TVRC race Sunday?

wfoyz250 wrote:

Nicely done Mx! Are you going to Donie for the TVRC race Sunday?

Man I have been sick ever since last week racing the AHRMA event at Wildwood 🙏🏼 Damn cold and rain got me ! Not COVID just the Flu, have 250 down to the frame, have all motor parts ordered and all Race Tech stuff ordered, think I am going to tear the 125 back down and go over everything for next season. Plan on hitting all the AHRMA events I can and Daytona for sure. 45 years of racing and Having more fun than ever with the old school 2-strokes and tracks 😁🗽🇺🇸

Hey OP where did you get those factory style sideplates and that cool case saver ?

I made the case saver --those are pretty simple and just takes basic skills. The factory "works" style sideplates I got from Tony at Vintage Suzuki. Pretty pricey and not always available ,but damn cool !!!

Fantastic!!!

OldPRO277,,,, What red is on the pipe ??? Was this on it when it was raced 12 times and it didn't burn off the header section????
Thanks

riv187 wrote:

OldPRO277,,,, What red is on the pipe ??? Was this on it when it was raced 12 times and it didn't burn off the header section????
Thanks

Well.... funny you should ask. Whats shown in the pic is normal powder coat. It definitely bubbles/burns off of the first 6-8" after a moto or two. So I tried hi-heat 1200* paint (in a similar red), but it didn't last any longer. I'm pretty close to my powder coater dude (with 24 restored vintage bikes-its become a love-fest for him,lol) so I just have the pipe blasted and re-coated at the end of the season ,or before a big event like Mid-Ohio or Unadilla. If someone out there has a secret formula I'd love to know about it though. I get a lot of cerakoting done as well ,and they can do a super high-heat ceramic coating which DOES stay on nicely which I've done on the black pipes, but he tells me there is no High-heat red available.

riv187 wrote:

OldPRO277,,,, What red is on the pipe ??? Was this on it when it was raced 12 times and it didn't burn off the header section????
Thanks

OldPro277 wrote:

Well.... funny you should ask. Whats shown in the pic is normal powder coat. It definitely bubbles/burns off of the first 6-8" after a moto or two. So I tried hi-heat 1200* paint (in a similar red), but it didn't last any longer. I'm pretty close to my powder coater dude (with 24 restored vintage bikes-its become a love-fest for him,lol) so I just have the pipe blasted and re-coated at the end of the season ,or before a big event like Mid-Ohio or Unadilla. If someone out there has a secret formula I'd love to know about it though. I get a lot of cerakoting done as well ,and they can do a super high-heat ceramic coating which DOES stay on nicely which I've done on the black pipes, but he tells me there is no High-heat red available.

That's alot of work to keep it red!
Someday there will be a coating in red that will stay on without burning off.
I was admiring your bike and workmanship ,,,,gives me ideas for resto on my 77 FMF RM80. I found it pretty much like this,,FMF emler head,FMF pipe, FMF porting with the "FMF" engraved in cylinder fin. I did the foxs for it and a bigger carb. Raced it the day shown at Waldo FL. Boy it screams...my cheeks hurt for 3 days after from smiling and laughing so hard.Would look super sweet redone like yours!

riv187 wrote:

OldPRO277,,,, What red is on the pipe ??? Was this on it when it was raced 12 times and it didn't burn off the header section????
Thanks

OldPro277 wrote:

Well.... funny you should ask. Whats shown in the pic is normal powder coat. It definitely bubbles/burns off of the first 6-8" after a moto or two. So I tried hi-heat 1200* paint (in a similar red), but it didn't last any longer. I'm pretty close to my powder coater dude (with 24 restored vintage bikes-its become a love-fest for him,lol) so I just have the pipe blasted and re-coated at the end of the season ,or before a big event like Mid-Ohio or Unadilla. If someone out there has a secret formula I'd love to know about it though. I get a lot of cerakoting done as well ,and they can do a super high-heat ceramic coating which DOES stay on nicely which I've done on the black pipes, but he tells me there is no High-heat red available.

riv187 wrote:



That's alot of work to keep it red!
Someday there will be a coating in red that will stay on without burning off.
I was admiring your bike and workmanship ,,,,gives me ideas for resto on my 77 FMF RM80. I found it pretty much like this,,FMF emler head,FMF pipe, FMF porting with the "FMF" engraved in cylinder fin. I did the foxs for it and a bigger carb. Raced it the day shown at Waldo FL. Boy it screams...my cheeks hurt for 3 days after from smiling and laughing so hard.Would look super sweet redone like yours!

Thanks riv, and that 80 is waaay too cool. You gotta do it, nothing more badass than a well done 70's 'zook. (or Husky, or a YZ, or what the hell, ANY late 70's bike,lol ) . I've only done a couple of mini's ---my Works '77 HRC XR75 that I posted here awhile back , and an ECC Suzuki DRZ125 that I posted a month or so ago. I have a 76 JR50 thats sketchy ,but all original that needs restored , and a perfect condition ,all original 81 YZ60 that is absolutely terrifying to ride , no way in hell I'd let a little dude ride that thing !!! It hits really hard and wheelies thru the gears even with my 225 lb ass on it. By the way, diggin the retro jersey.

Now.... if you decide that the little Rm is too much bother..... I could probably find a good home for it

That FMF125 is lovely! and the RM80 also just posted looks so interesting!

In the UK we had DG modded bikes but I do not recall the FMF's- were they like a company like DG that provided trick performance parts?
Would like to know more- that 125 is lovely and the pipe and head and red paint work is just great.
Proper air cooled tricked out thing! So thin and lean looking- damn super job.

a22 wrote:

That FMF125 is lovely! and the RM80 also just posted looks so interesting!

In the UK we had DG modded bikes but I do not recall the FMF's- were they like a company like DG that provided trick performance parts?
Would like to know more- that 125 is lovely and the pipe and head and red paint work is just great.
Proper air cooled tricked out thing! So thin and lean looking- damn super job.

Thanks a22--- and as an FYI, I read your comments to myself in the proper British accent and it sounds SO much better,lol.

FMF was pretty much exactly like DG back in the day. They both developed race parts (mainly in the 100 and 125 classes) hired the hottest of shoes to race and showcase their pieces . There was also Moto-X Fox (obviously) , LOP, CH Industries (Cliff Hughes) , Miller Mano, and a couple of others that built crazy cool 125's. It was a very,very competitive era , with huge changes and developments on an almost weekly basis.

OldPro277 wrote:

Thanks a22--- and as an FYI, I read your comments to myself in the proper British accent and it sounds SO much better,lol.

FMF was pretty much exactly like DG back in the day. They both developed race parts (mainly in the 100 and 125 classes) hired the hottest of shoes to race and showcase their pieces . There was also Moto-X Fox (obviously) , LOP, CH Industries (Cliff Hughes) , Miller Mano, and a couple of others that built crazy cool 125's. It was a very,very competitive era , with huge changes and developments on an almost weekly basis.

Ha hah- yes the British accent and also we could share a proper English cup of tea!

Thanks for the info on FMF etc- we had a really strong presence of DG parts and modded bikes here from about 1977 onwards. I recall, as well as some really fast DG supported riders who had the trick bikes back then. DG made quite a big impact here I think.

The other companies- FMF- etc - you mention never seemed to make it over here. I guess it was not so easy for franchises and business deals to be made back then but I do remember the DG importer here and the parts they offered- albeit at a cost. The DG- UK importers son, I recall back then actually had a proper white Mugen - same as the Johnny O' one.

So cool- these parts and companies and modded bikes, like yours!

You got any more beautiful ones? Proper bike that is- IMO!

a22 wrote:

Ha hah- yes the British accent and also we could share a proper English cup of tea!

Thanks for the info on FMF etc- we had a really strong presence of DG parts and modded bikes here from about 1977 onwards. I recall, as well as some really fast DG supported riders who had the trick bikes back then. DG made quite a big impact here I think.

The other companies- FMF- etc - you mention never seemed to make it over here. I guess it was not so easy for franchises and business deals to be made back then but I do remember the DG importer here and the parts they offered- albeit at a cost. The DG- UK importers son, I recall back then actually had a proper white Mugen - same as the Johnny O' one.

So cool- these parts and companies and modded bikes, like yours!

You got any more beautiful ones? Proper bike that is- IMO!

I do. Since you're familiar with DG , I did build a very trick DG/RM100. A lot of DG parts(head,pipe etc), Works shocks, RM125 front end ,and other cool pieces. Actually thinking about cutting it loose, we don't really have a 100 class where I'm at. This bike has never been raced and only ridden 4or 5 times around my farm. It did ,however,won best in show a couple years back at HighPoints Vet National/ DC Homecoming

Your bikes are stunning! Is the RM100 a 1980 model?

I recall a few YZ100's here from 1979-81 having DG mods/ gold heads but there were less RM's with the DG parts.

I had a YZ100F 1979 and also later a 1981 YZ100H, I did sort of okay on them and once or twice even beat faster riders on the DG bikes but didn't really have what it took! I recall the RM handled better but the YZ may have been abit quicker. Such happy memories racing in this era.

Absolutely lovely bikes man! Well done. If you sell that RM100 someone will love it I am sure.

Yep its a 1980 T. And you're correct, the YZ's were a bit better 100, but I was able to get the Zook for a couple hundred bucks. Of course it was in about 3 cardboard boxes and a few milkcrates ,but it came out very well, and actually runs really strong and handles great.

OldPro277 wrote:

Yep its a 1980 T. And you're correct, the YZ's were a bit better 100, but I was able to get the Zook for a couple hundred bucks. Of course it was in about 3 cardboard boxes and a few milkcrates ,but it came out very well, and actually runs really strong and handles great.

Ever want to sell I’ll take it ! Seriously ! My childhood dream bike 😍

Freedom Mx wrote:

Ever want to sell I’ll take it ! Seriously ! My childhood dream bike 😍

Actually ,right after Christmas, I was planning to post it for sale on Mark's Vintage site and a couple of Marketplace sites that cater to us Vintage Moto guys. If you are truly interested,you can email me direct at mspisak_37@hotmail.com . I promised my wife that I would sell 5-6 bikes before spring ,lol. Sold an 81 KX250 and a 74 Yamaha 360 the first day I listed them a couple of weeks ago, so there's 3 or 4 more I need to cut loose. My problem is after I spend all the time and money on one , it becomes part of the"family" lol. I don't mind losing money on them, I just get emotionally attached,lmao . So anyway,let me know if you have interest.

OldPro277 wrote:

Yep its a 1980 T. And you're correct, the YZ's were a bit better 100, but I was able to get the Zook for a couple hundred bucks. Of course it was in about 3 cardboard boxes and a few milkcrates ,but it came out very well, and actually runs really strong and handles great.

Freedom Mx wrote:

Ever want to sell I’ll take it ! Seriously ! My childhood dream bike 😍

OldPro277 wrote:

Actually ,right after Christmas, I was planning to post it for sale on Mark's Vintage site and a couple of Marketplace sites that cater to us Vintage Moto guys. If you are truly interested,you can email me direct at mspisak_37@hotmail.com . I promised my wife that I would sell 5-6 bikes before spring ,lol. Sold an 81 KX250 and a 74 Yamaha 360 the first day I listed them a couple of weeks ago, so there's 3 or 4 more I need to cut loose. My problem is after I spend all the time and money on one , it becomes part of the"family" lol. I don't mind losing money on them, I just get emotionally attached,lmao . So anyway,let me know if you have interest.

I’ll take it ! Thanks for the email ! It will complete my RM fleet ! For now 🤣

OldPro277, Thanks for compliment. The Jersey and pants where ones I wore when I was 18/19 back in 1984 and raced a LOP 78 RM125! I actually dieted for months to wear my old JT jersey,Cycle Am pants again at that race for nostalgia! I also wore my old Alpinestars leather boots and Scott face mask open helmet too! LOL