Posts
2408
Joined
11/2/2011
Location
Chapin, SC
US
Edited Date/Time
5/17/2016 4:22pm
I've been looking for another mid 80s project, and this one popped up closeby and ended up in my garage for about half of that the guy was asking for it. No dirt bike deserves to be humiliated like this poor thing was.
I think you'll all agree it's pretty amazing. And the spray painting... they were thorough. They took off all of the plastic painted it front and back. Lucky me. It's actually stripping off okay and I think be able to save the side panels and rear fender. Tank is yellow again now after an hour of citrus strip followed by coarse steel wool.
When I dissected the engine, the oil was milky and the ring was stuck. So I'm guessing the water pump seal went out, the coolant went into the oil, and then it overheated and seized. But for as ugly as it is, the bike is actually complete and the bottom end bearings are tight. My goal is to have her running by fall and then race our winter series on it. I'll have to summon my inner Eric Kehoe to try and keep that thing on the pipe.
Did anyone have one of this model? Any tips on mods would be appreciated, from what I remember it was supposed to have been very weak on the bottom and really only pulled on the top.
Yep, you're eyes are not deceiving you. They painted the fork tubes. The. Whole. Tube.
Maybe the previous owner had very big feet? That would explain why they welded on a foot long shifter. I've already hacksawed it off, found a replacement shaft on ebay for $16. No worries...
Hey, who needs a kick starter when you can just jam a socket on there. I'm trying to picture the drug induced logic train that led to this engineering miracle.
(I hear factory Suzuki is actually going with this graphics package next year)
And screw it, if you're going to paint, take off all the plastic and paint it right down to the core. The airbox. Inside the airbox. The air filter. The carb. Oooooh yes, why not?
The saddest part here is.... I've restored worse!! Stay tuned, I'll post updates as I progress!
I think you'll all agree it's pretty amazing. And the spray painting... they were thorough. They took off all of the plastic painted it front and back. Lucky me. It's actually stripping off okay and I think be able to save the side panels and rear fender. Tank is yellow again now after an hour of citrus strip followed by coarse steel wool.
When I dissected the engine, the oil was milky and the ring was stuck. So I'm guessing the water pump seal went out, the coolant went into the oil, and then it overheated and seized. But for as ugly as it is, the bike is actually complete and the bottom end bearings are tight. My goal is to have her running by fall and then race our winter series on it. I'll have to summon my inner Eric Kehoe to try and keep that thing on the pipe.
Did anyone have one of this model? Any tips on mods would be appreciated, from what I remember it was supposed to have been very weak on the bottom and really only pulled on the top.
Yep, you're eyes are not deceiving you. They painted the fork tubes. The. Whole. Tube.
Maybe the previous owner had very big feet? That would explain why they welded on a foot long shifter. I've already hacksawed it off, found a replacement shaft on ebay for $16. No worries...
Hey, who needs a kick starter when you can just jam a socket on there. I'm trying to picture the drug induced logic train that led to this engineering miracle.
(I hear factory Suzuki is actually going with this graphics package next year)
And screw it, if you're going to paint, take off all the plastic and paint it right down to the core. The airbox. Inside the airbox. The air filter. The carb. Oooooh yes, why not?
The saddest part here is.... I've restored worse!! Stay tuned, I'll post updates as I progress!
The Shop
http://www.topgearroadtrips.com/the-top-gear-vietnam-special-bikes/
Of course with the high quality of the bike to start with, we are expecting nothing less than perfection on this one.
I'm guessing an 88 RM 250 tank/shroud setup would not fit on my 88 125. It would be a lot more comfortable!!
But I can guarantee it will be yellow and blue, with a Full Floater sticker on the swingarm. That's pretty close, right haha?
On the other hand, the kickstart might be sheer genius!? Stick a ratchet or breaker bar in there, start it, then remove. It's gotta save a good pound or two on the track! Cheaper than titanium fasteners!
Good to hear the bike is not too bad and a solid base for a rebuild.
My CR480 had also been through the dope-workshop, all painted black..
Totally agree on stupid people not being allowed to buy spray cans, they should not be allowed to buy bikes at all.
have a ktm sx50 for my son, stupid PO had welded the ignition rotor to the crankshaft when it snapped of (probably holding crank by the nut when torque the clutch side..) steel and alloy on rotor separated, bearings grilled.. but I got it cheap.
I also love in inner work in the air box , so professional !
You are a hero Mark!
But you didnt share the price with us!!!!
Pit Row
Week 1 in the books!!
What paint/color on the frame?
Any new updates?
Still waiting on graphics too. Anyway, here's where we are now!
Post a reply to: 88 RM 125 Build - A Craigslist Gem you won't want to miss this!!