83' Rm 125 what can you tell me?

GPfan
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Compton, CA US
Edited Date/Time 11/29/2015 2:28pm
Purchased one and wanted to get your thoughts on the 83 RM 125. Was it a popular bike back in 83? Did you like it or was it a down grade from the 81 and 82 versions?

Few questions:

1. Whats wrong with the shock? I push down on the seat and it springs right back as if there was no dampening at all. The shock was rebuilt with a new seal only four rides ago. Is a valve within the shock body clogged up? Bladder ruptured? I checked the pressure of the Nitrogen and it was over 100psi. Shock doesn't look to be leaking oil. Anyone have any ideas?

2. Any fix on the forks? The rear suspension is awesome but the front forks are soft and mushy.

3. Would the 83' motor fit in the 85' chassis? I have a 85' RM 125 and the motor is a worthless piece of &^%$ but the chassis is awesome. The 83' has a worthless chassis but a killer motor.

One thing I hate about this bike is the damn seat. Seems to be a huge space between the seat and gas tank that makes riding uncomfortable because I seem to get my legs and crotch caught up in that space.

Thanks for the help.



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Wandell
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4/6/2010 8:48pm
The 1981 RM125 was the winner of every magazine's 125 shootout and is considered one of the best 125's ever made. In 1982 it recieved bold new graphics but still managed to win all the 125 shootout comparisons because the competition was not able to catch up. In 1983, Suzuki once again gave the RM125 bold new graphics but by this time the competition was finally able to catch up and surpass Suzuki's 3 year old design. The bike was not as popular in 83 because of this, plus, who would want to pay full retail for a 3 year old bike? I had the 82 version, and would love to have any of the 81-83 versions.
captmoto
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4/6/2010 9:32pm Edited Date/Time 4/6/2010 9:37pm
Vintage-suzuki.com has a safety seat available. Racetech can due wonders with your suspension. Fullfloater.com has some good resto info.
MXVet261
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4/7/2010 12:35pm
1. Your shock is blown and has no dampening. I would question the rebuild if it truly was just done.

2. Forks you can make them work ok by installing stiffer springs and Race Tech emulators in the forks. Mine went from soft and almost unridable to pretty decent. However keep in mind these are still 38mm forks so you are going to have a lot of flex.

3. I am not 100% positive but I think it might fit. Really though if you are ok riding the '85 and don't care about the legality of having a front disc brake, then I would just send the '85 motor out to Eric Gorr or someone for motor work.

Lastly, yes you can get a safety seat conversion for the '83 as already stated.
Bill163
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4/7/2010 5:52pm
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators.

I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it has 43 mm forks and a double leading front brake that's a great upgrade you can have the whole bike for $ 275.00

I also rebuild floater shocks and do other work engines,wheels etc...

Also I own www.cyclestopracing.com

You can send me a PM I don't live too far from you.

The Shop

MaxPower
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4/11/2010 11:28am
install the forks and front wheel from Bills 84 RM125. Best thing you could do for that bike. Im thinking the shock will fit also
rmgsxr
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4/14/2010 3:05pm
One thing you need to check is to see if the shock body has swollen or buldged out. You can put a new seal in one and it will go away real quick.
Wandell
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4/17/2010 9:12pm
Yeah, it's an 81-83. I say it's an 83 because the struts on the Full Floater appear to be aluminum. But someone could have added aftermarket aluminum struts to an 81 or 82, as it was a very common mod. Is someone would paint the frame blue like the works bikes they could have modded a lot of stuff.
Nutty C
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4/21/2010 11:03am
Every year the bike got more refined. The 81 had a different intake system on the barrel than the later engines. Kind of a case read and piston port intake if my memory serves me correct and we are going back some 30 years.
Wandell
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4/21/2010 1:32pm
Nutty C wrote:
Every year the bike got more refined. The 81 had a different intake system on the barrel than the later engines. Kind of a case read...
Every year the bike got more refined. The 81 had a different intake system on the barrel than the later engines. Kind of a case read and piston port intake if my memory serves me correct and we are going back some 30 years.
You are right. Forgot about that.
Bermshot
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4/26/2010 7:13pm
GPfan here,

Pulled the shock apart and the piston seal and oring where broken into pieces and floating in the oil. Seal head must be worn too because the shaft had some side to side play.
Previous owner must have changed the oil and charged the nitrogen.

My big problem is the shock body is WORN! It's a 40mm bore and it measured 40.6mm. OMG!

I plan to machine my own shock body from 7075 aluminum unless someone has one to sell in perfect condition. I'm tired of battling these Evo shock bodies. Every shock I bought for my previous bikes seems to be trash. Need to buy three off ebay to find one good one.

Works performance has brand new shocks, $700 dollars. Sounds pricey but by the time you buy the seal, piston assembly, bladder, rebuild, you have already spent 400 dollars. I just don't have the money to spend.




Bermshot
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4/26/2010 7:14pm
Bill163 wrote:
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators. I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it...
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators.

I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it has 43 mm forks and a double leading front brake that's a great upgrade you can have the whole bike for $ 275.00

I also rebuild floater shocks and do other work engines,wheels etc...

Also I own www.cyclestopracing.com

You can send me a PM I don't live too far from you.
Hey Bill,

Is the 84 RM 125 shock the same as the 1983?
Bermshot
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4/26/2010 7:16pm
rmgsxr wrote:
One thing you need to check is to see if the shock body has swollen or buldged out. You can put a new seal in one...
One thing you need to check is to see if the shock body has swollen or buldged out. You can put a new seal in one and it will go away real quick.
Thanks.

The body is swollen and junk.
1
ThePipe
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Hell WI pop 1, WI US
4/27/2010 5:51am
Bill163 wrote:
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators. I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it...
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators.

I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it has 43 mm forks and a double leading front brake that's a great upgrade you can have the whole bike for $ 275.00

I also rebuild floater shocks and do other work engines,wheels etc...

Also I own www.cyclestopracing.com

You can send me a PM I don't live too far from you.
Bermshot wrote:
Hey Bill,

Is the 84 RM 125 shock the same as the 1983?
Darn close
All 81-86s interchange
ThePipe
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4/27/2010 5:57am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 10:25pm
ThePipe wrote:
I restored an 83 RM125 and have a Shootout here against the YZ125K

http://www.onthepiperacing.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=5418
Bermshot wrote:
YZ125 wins hands down in my book...I think the YZ is faster but the Suzuki looks so much better
Mosher
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4/30/2010 5:23am
Bill163 wrote:
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators. I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it...
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators.

I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it has 43 mm forks and a double leading front brake that's a great upgrade you can have the whole bike for $ 275.00

I also rebuild floater shocks and do other work engines,wheels etc...

Also I own www.cyclestopracing.com

You can send me a PM I don't live too far from you.
Bermshot wrote:
Hey Bill,

Is the 84 RM 125 shock the same as the 1983?
I'm currently running an 1985 shock on my 81...it only needed some slight modification up top.
Bermshot
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US
5/1/2010 8:02pm
Bill163 wrote:
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators. I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it...
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators.

I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it has 43 mm forks and a double leading front brake that's a great upgrade you can have the whole bike for $ 275.00

I also rebuild floater shocks and do other work engines,wheels etc...

Also I own www.cyclestopracing.com

You can send me a PM I don't live too far from you.
Bermshot wrote:
Hey Bill,

Is the 84 RM 125 shock the same as the 1983?
Mosher wrote:
I'm currently running an 1985 shock on my 81...it only needed some slight modification up top.
Thanks for the info Mosher.
mb60
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GRAPEVINE, TX US
7/8/2015 10:02am
Bill163 wrote:
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators. I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it...
81 to 85 125 floaters are famous for blowing out shock seals also lower stators.

I have a 84 RM 125 that's complete and runs it has 43 mm forks and a double leading front brake that's a great upgrade you can have the whole bike for $ 275.00

I also rebuild floater shocks and do other work engines,wheels etc...

Also I own www.cyclestopracing.com

You can send me a PM I don't live too far from you.
Bermshot wrote:
Hey Bill,

Is the 84 RM 125 shock the same as the 1983?
ThePipe wrote:
Darn close
All 81-86s interchange
I know this is a old post but does anybody know if a 1986 RM 125 shock will work on the 1983 ?
Supranatural
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Old Bridge, NJ US
11/29/2015 2:28pm
I bought one when was in college...great rear suspension, okay forks, motor was slower than all my friends bikes, especially the CR125. They had a special that year when they realized everyone had a better 125, they were selling them for $1349 which was $400 less than all the other 125 bikes around. Modest sound like much but in 1983 that was a 25% discount that I eventually had to use towards porting and pipe to keep up with the other guys at the track.

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