Finally finished my RM125

3/19/2008 6:49pm Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 11:53am
Ten months ago I started rebuilding this 1985 RM 125 I purchased on Craigslist for 200 dollars and today I finally started it. It started on the third kick and ran great without any adjustments. This is the first time I ever heard it run. I did a quick hot lap around the block and was grining ear to ear. How can someone not love 125's? Light weight, bark when you crack the throttle and the sound is sweet. 125's forever.


[img:3w022xdw]http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8601/picture023bj7.jpg[/img:3w022xdw]
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newmann
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3/19/2008 7:13pm
Very nice! Only one question.....what's next?
andymoto
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Carmichael, CA US
3/19/2008 7:19pm
Very nice bike.
Keeping it, riding it, or a masterpiece to be kept or you gonna sell?
Congrats for a job well done.
ThePipe
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Hell WI pop 1, WI US
3/20/2008 4:55am
Very Very Nice

You should be very proud.
You prolly can't sleep at night now because you are always thinking about it.
That's how I am when I finish a bike.
3/20/2008 8:19am
Wow....that brought back some GREAT memories. I had an '85 RM 125 - bought it in very late 85 or early 86. I will never forget hauling it home in the back of my '74 Datsun 260Z - the half the bike was hanging out the back with a friend holding on to it to make sure it didn't fall out.

I LOVED that bike. It was bullet proof from a reliability standpoint. It was a quick bike, but once I had the jetting cleared up, had the airbox drilled out at the four holes and added an Answer Roost Boost (the airbox and Roost Boost were MXA recommendations at the time), it ran strong.

This was at a time when I was going to school and working (thought I had the weight of the world on my shoulders...) and I would make time to ride several times a week, even going by myself at times. Life sure has changed.....

The bizarre thing is that I've always ran number 421, so as soon as I saw that picture, it made me stop and stare.

Thanks for posting that. It really has taken me back to a great time, even if for just a little while.

The Shop

WSR
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3/22/2008 4:15am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
It looks great. :D
sheilagh
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3/22/2008 2:15pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
The motor is the wrong color! Better get out the spray paint. " title="Wink"> Had some of my best finishes on one, great bike. The last year of the true Full Floater :D
andymoto
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3/22/2008 7:27pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
How I know that; I owned an '86 125 'zook was a toad compared to my '84 KX 125 I had....one of the best 125's I ever had.
Saw a super clean '80 RM 125 in the Bay Area. The guy races PV and this one was nice IMO; also had a RM400 same yr.

Whatever color motor; the thing is sure sweet... 8)
3/23/2008 6:52pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
[quote="newmann":1kboy08d]Very nice! Only one question.....what's next?[/quote:1kboy08d]

I plan to race it at three or four times this year here in California with Calvmx or SVRG. Unlike AHRMA, both clubs allow newer vintage bikes and bend the rules to accomodate entries. After the fourth race I will probably be over it and just park it in the shed for the next 20 years and start working on my 1982 KX 125.
3/23/2008 6:58pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
[quote="sheilagh":2sg5qi0n]The motor is the wrong color! Better get out the spray paint. " title="Wink"> Had some of my best finishes on one, great bike. The last year of the true Full Floater :D[/quote:2sg5qi0n]

:D I painted the motor three times! The 1985 had a really bitchin gun metal grey color and I really wish I could find the right rattle can color to match it. I tried two grey colors and both colors were nothings like the cap color. I said screw it and painted it black. I was dicking around with the paint, sanding, cleaning off the old color, driving around trying to find paint...wasted three weeks and decided f-it and just painted it black so I could finish the project.
3/23/2008 7:14pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
[quote="ThePipe":3aap6es3]Very Very Nice

You should be very proud.
You prolly can't sleep at night now because you are always thinking about it.
That's how I am when I finish a bike.[/quote:3aap6es3]



I've been thinking about it everynight! This is the first bike I tried to do it right by spliting the cases and rebuilding the motor, rebuilding the shock, powder coating the frame, lacing new SS spokes, anodizing the rims, anodizing the swingarm, cad plating all the nuts and bolts, new OEM plastics (not DC)...I put alot of effort and I'm really proud of it. Only other person I had do anywork on it was Bill Clem. He trued the rims and rebuilt the crank and shock. I heard alot of good things about Bill over the years and they are all true..he is a really great mechanic.
3/23/2008 7:26pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:26pm
[quote="andymoto":1u4h76ss]How I know that; I owned an '86 125 'zook was a toad compared to my '84 KX 125 I had....one of the best 125's I ever had.
Saw a super clean '80 RM 125 in the Bay Area. The guy races PV and this one was nice IMO; also had a RM400 same yr.

Whatever color motor; the thing is sure sweet... 8)[/quote:1u4h76ss]


I think the 85' motor may be a toad as well. I took the bike for a ride today out at Hungry Valley and the the motor was super weak compared to my 1983 yz 125. The jetting on the Suzuki was off today so that could have effected the response I was getting out of the motor.

Did the 86' have any bottom end? Maybe its just me but this 85' has nothing on the bottom end. You really need to wind it up to get it going.

What I love about the Suzuki is the slender gas tank. The Yz has a super fat gas tank and it feels like my legs are spread wide when riding it. Ergonomics are great!
MXVet261
Posts
711
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Location
Valley City, OH US
Fantasy
3973rd
3/25/2008 7:09pm
Real nice job! Looks awesome, I think you made a great choice to paint the motor black instead of having a mis-matched grey.

That bike was my first ever brand new bike. It was not really all that fast. Linear powerband, nothing special. You should probably get a pipe, silencer, and reeds if you plan to race it.

Again, great job, it certainly is a great feeling putting in all the hard work and coming out with something nice isn't it?
G-man
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Mesa, AZ US
3/26/2008 6:36am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:28pm
Great job Trick, you did good! What kind of coolaant will you run? :shock: lol
MaxPower
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NJ US
3/30/2008 10:43am
[color=#408000:2swc6a4e]Trick, it wasnt uncommon for the stators in the early 80 Suzuks to act wacky.I had a 82 and rode that bike the whole season thinking it was a dog.I had rode someone elses bike and couldnt believe it. I traced it to a bad stator. I dont know how to check it other than installing a new one and trying it, but I dont think the 85 RM125s were slower than the 83 YZ125.
You did a really nice job on it.Im happy for you, but cant say that Im not a little jealous too.Let Moto814 inside your cylinder[/color:2swc6a4e]
MXPUNK511
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88
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Location
CA US
3/30/2008 4:28pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 6:29pm
[quote="trick121":1fsy7vjd]Ten months ago I started rebuilding this 1985 RM 125 I purchased on Craigslist for 200 dollars and today I finally started it. It started on the third kick and ran great without any adjustments. This is the first time I ever heard it run. I did a quick hot lap around the block and was grining ear to ear. How can someone not love 125's? Light weight, bark when you crack the throttle and the sound is sweet. 125's forever.


[img:1fsy7vjd]http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8601/picture023bj7.jpg[/img:1fsy7vjd…]

your RM125 looks awesome! ... EXCELLENT JOB!

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