OzVMX Forum
Marque Remarks => Suzuki => Topic started by: Doc on January 29, 2008, 10:38:08 am
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Here's a few pics of my RM125S powered TM125 project. I'll try to post more pics as time goes by. Most parts are now here or on their way so hopefully it can be finished for Coff's dirt track. It's build entirely from bits and pieces with the most complete item obtained being the basic engine.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/2227130430_8c9c0ec4a6.jpg?v=0)
This is how it started. A rusty frame and left over RM125S tank.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2227130434_e9bf83f10a.jpg?v=0)
I collected 'mainly used' parts from all over the world mostly through eBay although some were also made available by generous forum members and like minded vmx friends. Bearings, seals and gaskets are being replaced as I go.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2227130444_dcef0b8605.jpg?v=0)
The engine came as you see it less the polished cover. Seems like a good motor but I'll hop in and replace rings, top end bearing, gaskets and seals then match ports and gaskets more accurately before I run it. A nos clutch kit is also awaiting fitment.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2227130442_4d95c03380.jpg?v=0)
I like to piece the bike together up to about 90% and then I pull it back down for the tidy up.The front engine mount plates I pondered buying but instead made a pair from 3mm 6061 T6 aluminium plate in about 20 minutes using a stock TM mount as my template.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/2227130440_4f94f39ff1.jpg?v=0)
I thought white guards would look nice. Again used items will simply be cleaned up and sprayed and these will do the job as good as the next. The tank was on to give me an idea of the colours but the RMS tank is in getting a coat of pearl yellow as this is typed.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2227130446_000d103948.jpg?v=0)
The forks fitted in this picture are 33mm TS185er units in reamed TM clamps. I could not find era axle under type lowers to suit so the triples have again been reamed this time out to 35mm which allows more options. The frame I'd started to rub back.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2055/2227136476_343f76bc06.jpg?v=0)
Here is the frame ready for the colour. I never undercoat frame since I have learnt it makes very little difference in application and actually looks worse when it gets chipped and scratched due to the undercoat showing. I'm a little picky with shit like this and besides, they aren't primed from the factory ;) Took about 12 hours to get the frame to this point and yes, sand blasting would have made life so much easier but I tend to do them by hand given a little spare time here and there.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2226345271_87149353c9.jpg?v=0)
Here she is painted. I didn't want it to look anything like silver frost so I lashed and spent $30 colouring it pearl platinum followed by a few coats of clear. This pic actually has the metalflake reflecting making it appear more silver than it really is. You may notice no coil mounts, I intend to move this to a much lower position tucked in beside the airfilter. The frame/swingarm are '75M model by the way.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2226346019_a213ee1986.jpg?v=0)
Coming together now this is the front end that will remain. Tried and proven '75 35mm XL250 motosport units. Front wheel is also XL250 with a nice sized stopper. Rear wheel is a solid mount TS185 with alloy rim and the rear shocks are 1995 TS185 simply because I like them, they are a little shorter but they work well enough for me. The alloy sprocket makes a big reduction in unsprung weight when compared to steel of equal size. Again ebay supplied this sprocket for about $20 landed.
she won't be a show bike but it will be a little different and it should fairly honk and suit my short arse a little better than the full blown long legged 125S..it's being built to comply with pre78 regs in case you were wondering..updates to follow..
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very nice Doc,
does that pearl platinum come in a can?
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Nice stuff DOC, do you have an inner fender? I found a used RM125M in amongst some TM bits.
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Thanks and yes and yes ;)
Vandy yes, (spray can is how I paint everything except the tank :P) the pearl platinum comes in a can. Part Plus I think it was..from supercheap but not the cheap stuff
and yes Cyclegod, I have an inner rear thanks, I picked one up in the US for $14..it was listed as TS185 but I had it sent over with quite a few bits so the postage was negligable ;) Think the only bit I really need now is a nice rolled edge white front plate and top rear guard/frame mount and front sprocket cover. All pretty readily available. It'll be another sub $500 special (not including labour, which of course is free) Add that in and I suppose around $1500 would be a more realistic figure.
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Looks good Doc 8) I'm trying to build up a TS 185 1973 from bits n pieces I have in the shed where did you get the front guard from and how much was it.I like your projects as they are more hands on then just cash flow. jimson
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cyclegod.
i am looking for a inner rear guard for a rm let me know what you want for it.
dodgee
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cyclegod.
i am looking for a inner rear guard for a rm let me know what you want for it.
dodgee
PM sent
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Ta Jimson the front guard is an old RM/TM genuine front guard. I merely painted it with flat white then buffed it lightly with a piece of steel wool to give a smooth satin finish when dry. Rear will be done the same... I gave the bottom end a quick polish and fitted the motor in the frame last night but the result looks pox for want of a better adjective. I'll be pulling it back out to splash a bit of satin black over it before refitting me thinks. I had to sand the engine anyway and the polishing was just an extension of this sanding (in other words I got carried away once I saw bright shiney alloy :P) that happens sometimes ::)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2228592291_03f6ce908f.jpg?v=0)
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Too much bling bling :D
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Hi Doc , can you give us run down please on that polishing ,of how you did it and whats involved.
It looks great .
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I bet you he tells us no power tools were invovled and all done by hand ;) good old elbow grease
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:D YSS, oldfart has it in a nutshell. A small screwdriver for those hard to reach bits, 2 sheets of 400 wet and dry to wrap around the screwdriver or fingers depending on area to be sanded, about 2 litres of H2O and a rainy day. This poor man's mill finish I find pretty easy and easy on the eyes but the mirror finish stuff and I can't do. Ya need a machine for that ;) she's all black again now but it looks better in the frame ::)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2229884413_55d255ea3d.jpg?v=0)
going to remove the top end hence I haven't bothered with that yet only to know the outside fins have flaws that will not polish out (by hand) so it'll be painted too ;)
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Here's a good one for you Chris...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150210722369&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
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:-\ mmmm..it's kinda okay but over priced for me :D just can't get into the TC's and duel range gearboxes..I've enough 125's after I complete this one (tm125,tm/rm125,ts125mx,rm125a/b) so I'll move up to a 250 for the next project ;D
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Those TCs would be a great but for the TM RMS restorer , Many parts will interchange and the cases on those TC 125 A models are great replacments for worn out RMS cases .
The forks go great in a TM 125 as do the hubs ( solid rear )
Crank is a TM or S replacment , Clutch and Primary gear will work in TM to.
If you are building a TM or RM M or S 125 dont over look the humble TC 125 A as a donor.
Shipping to much to send here as i already have about a dozen of these buggers :D but may help somone out.
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not a lot of progress this week..spare time being all but nil.
I have decided I fecked up by painting the frame the colour I did. When I slipped on the white guards and yellow tank it looked worse than a Smartie™ packet :o oops :-[ anyway the deal is now the guards and covers will be stealth black, the frame remains the same and I will learn to live with my mistake :-\ the top end will be black but with my regulation buffed edges..thank you Mr Ya ma ha 8) The rear brake hub is black and drying as I type..hopefully without the mosquito's this time >:( I have a tyre on the front..not new but it matches the not new rear perfectly ;D The tank colour is still up in the air (suggestions)..was thinking the same stealth black with yellow 75 Sunburst stickers or maybe the yummy pearl yellow with straight black sunburst zook stickers :-\ I will mix and match till I find something but silver like the frame could be claimed as an Elsinore wannabe ::) The rear wheel is loose in the pic too..I don't normally show my adjusters in the secret alternative mounting method as shown..was tooling around fitting a slightly longer actuating arm for a little better feel at the time..I do like a good feel! ;D Flat spots in the rear rim look fugly but it runs true which is unusual for me so they can remain until I break them or the opportunity to repair it arises. A little wait for some parts and plenty of work at hand means progress next week will be slow but ya get that. Please excuse the mess, it's normally much worse.
(http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/276/saturday020208qt2.th.jpg) (http://img108.imageshack.us/my.php?image=saturday020208qt2.jpg)
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Hey Doc, it gets exciting when the wheels and motor are in the bike. ;D I understand your dilemma about the tank colour??
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yeah DJ, for me once the frame was painted and the forks in the clamps I felt a whole lot better. The rest of it is pretty easy. I should lash out and buy a bucket of 'new' screw/bolts/nuts and washers though :-\ rummaging through my large and extensive but also very pitiful collection looking for the right fastener causes much anxiety and wastes mega time. ::) I think the tank maybe Pearl Platinum like the frame but it's going to be trial and error. Black would not work for me.
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Doc.
What do you think of the idea of going with deep orange tank, black guards. Black sun on the tank.?
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yes I had thought of orange Quicky. I sat an orange tank on the bike to get a rough idea but it still didn't look right. I'm inclined to go with silver tank with a wide satin black stripe down the middle like the old XL Honda's. Might be boring but I think I'll keep it just 2 colours, silver and black..I've made a big enough mess of it already ::)
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okay..I seem to have pulled myself out of the shit with my poor colour co-ordination :P
Whipped off the top end last night, light hone, new rings, gudgeon brg, pin and clips, new gaskets, cleaned up ports and gaskets yum yum, a coat of black and bolted her back together. Zee 32mm powerjet carbarooster left from the US this morning (thanks Buzzy 8)), no bloody idea what to do about the tank colour, polished alloy would be nice but woh there sunshine! not in this lifetime ya don't! :o need a sprocket cover, cdi, front plate, clutch cable, chain guide and presto..something different but not so different it can't be taken back to original easily ;)
(http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8237/tuesday050208002do8.th.jpg) (http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tuesday050208002do8.jpg)
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Hey Doc back in the 70s my tm was black with silver metaflake!!!! Always been a bit left field and by the way niether of us went any faster but the bike sure looked pretty
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Bet your tank ends up yellow. ;D ;D ;D Go on Doc, you know you gotta have Suzuki flagship colour on her somewhere.
Bikes looking good. Black engine looks great.
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Donny are you saying it's not just ya movie star good looks! :-* How else would get such a female cult following aka #13 Cheer Squad! 8) I reckon you're spot on the money..who cares how fast ya can go, you just have to look the part! hopefully not having to push it home..very uncool ;D
Quicky, I have noooo idea! ::) thinking silver with red zooki stickers ala the old SP370 style but Tony maybe the only person who knows what I'm talking about when 1 mentions an SP ;)..will know for sure by the weekend.
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Maybe an RL look a like ::) Chris have a play in paint shop
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had a play and no matter what I do it still kinda looks shitty.. ::)
anyway it appears it will either run a yellow or black tank depending on my mood..
the stealth black doesn't look too bad ( will have '75 RM gunmetal grey emblems)..can't say I've seen another the same, no-one as silly I guess ;)
(http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5262/friday080208006kz5.th.jpg) (http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=friday080208006kz5.jpg) (http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7456/friday080208008mp1.th.jpg) (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=friday080208008mp1.jpg)
I do admit, I stuffed up but that happens :-\ :-[
the ingredients are..
TM125 frame/swing 1975 - donated
TM125 triples reamed to 35mm
XL250K3 forks and front wheel - paid $20 for a roller
rear wheel TS185ER - dime a dozen
rear shock - TS185ER ditto
chain - new Izumi - $30
rear alloy sprocket - ebay $10
inner rear guard - ebay $15
rear guard - saved from dump
front guard - donated
front plate - piece of perspex from god knows where
front cable guide - fabricated
bars - used - repainted
kill switch - JR50 - ebay $4
seat RM125C
tanks - RM125S/M
clutch cable - ebay nos - $15
throttle cable - ebay nos - $12
rear brake cable - ebay nos - $15
muffler TM125 - kindly donated
motor RM125S - swapped items for this little baby
carb - ebay - $20
levers - donated from parts bike
grips yet to purchase
shipping was cheaper as I collected the parts in the US and had Buzzy (damn fine bloke!) ship them in 1 lot.
That's a cut down RM125C seat fitted btw..the RM seats do fit my TM's but others have problems..usually a slight mod (elongation) to the rear mount hole is needed or simply make new ones, this one needed new rear mounts fabricated anyway but I used the original holes and a few pieces of 20x3 flat drilled accordingly. Not the prettiest beast but it's a budget bike remember..a bit of wheeling and dealing, some generous people, add about $300..no make that $400 and there we have it..instant vmx soup :D still waiting for the carb, clutch cable and a few little odds and sods :P
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the ingredients are..
TM125 frame/swing 1975 - donated
TM125 triples reamed to 35mm
XL250K3 forks and front wheel - paid $20 for a roller
rear wheel TS185ER - dime a dozen
rear shock - TS185ER ditto
chain - new Izumi - $30
rear alloy sprocket - ebay $10
inner rear guard - ebay $15
rear guard - saved from dump
front guard - donated
front plate - piece of perspex from god knows where
front cable guide - fabricated
bars - used - repainted
kill switch - JR50 - ebay $4
seat RM125C
tanks - RM125S/M
clutch cable - ebay nos - $15
throttle cable - ebay nos - $12
rear brake cable - ebay nos - $15
muffler TM125 - kindly donated
motor RM125S - swapped items for this little baby
carb - ebay - $20
levers - donated from parts bike
grips yet to purchase
Not the prettiest beast but it's a budget bike remember..a bit of wheeling and dealing, some generous people, add about $300..no make that $400 and there we have it..instant vmx soup
Damn impressed Doc. Well done. I love ingenuity as much as the detail 'as left factory', or the 'open cheque book bling factor' resto.
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Great job Doc.....You are the poster child for the point I was trying to make with my $100 VMX project bike.... You don't have to spend a shitload of moolah to enjoy our sport. Not only have you done it on the cheap, you've done it neatly and other cheapo racers could learn a lot from you mate. All anybody needs to build a cheapo project is a lateral view of the sport, a pack rat mentality, an eye for a good deal and the ability to make things fit that shouldn't, and do it neatly!.
If you bring this little sweetie to CD5 we'll have to do a photo shoot of both your and my bikes together to push the point that anybody can build a cool vintage bike, no matter what their financial circumstances are.
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Geez Doc great stuff, I dont know which colour you should go for. I actually like both, the black looks very different, mean looking even 8)
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thanks peoples but I have to thank a few generous people also who helped along the way..Donny supplied the frame quite a while back. Wayne (dodgee) well shit..if I ain't got it he sure helps find it! Anyway the front guard and kick start from dodgee, the muffler which I hope and pray can keep it under the required limit was from Sully (Ray) motor also came from same source but there was an exchange of suzuki goods which suited the other better ;) And thanks to Buzzy in the US for looking after my crap and seeing to it that it all found it's way here safely. 3 years ago if someone had said to me, piece together a TM125 or something similar I would have said, yeah right! Where the heck would I find the parts required ???
Well the truth is most of the parts I found right here sitting on my bum sipping coffee till the wee small hours :D the internet is my biggest asset not only egay but for parts houses and contacts alike. By the way, the frame was supplied roughly the same time as Pokey started his TS185 project so it's not like this has all happened in a week of posts.. ;)
Firko, I'm hoping to have it 100% by the months end so CD-5 could be all good so long as transportation permits. It's not that I don't want to bring it..I'd like to take them all ;D but..this 1 would be the pick of the bad bunch :)
DJ..Black..mmmmm..it says something..just trying figure out what..porpoisefull if nothing else and so easy to touch up ;D
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Well done Doc.
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Hi doc,
I like the bits and pieces specials too, (most of mine are)
My 2cents worth would to go with a black and silver tank similiar to early 80's XT 250 /500yamaha's
silver on the sides black on top and bottom
http://www.audioworld.net/XT/xt500coldebleine.jpg
http://www.stefankneller.de/motorrad/fotos/xtdoppel1gross.jpg
http://i16.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/d8/35/e39d_1.JPG
http://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2007%5C10%5C03%5Cbikepics-1044396-800.jpg
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mmm..had thought of black and silver Noel but then the straight black is beginning to grow on me :)
Anyway another wet day here in Sunny QLD so it's tool time!
Todays little item we'll be making is none other than a poor man's chain guide to suit the TM125S 8)
Ebay bidding frenzies and the price of NOS made one ponder the prospect of making such a critter from the assorted bits and pieces known to most as, junk :-\
To start I found a strip of suitable 2mm aluminium plate (aluminium for the bling effect!) I was looking at 2.50mm plate but it really did seem like a bit of an overkill and so long as the chain stays on the sprockets where it belongs I can't see any issue.
A little bit bending and a saw, a little filing that's for sure, a little bit of drilling and a sand, a little bit of Bob The Builder Man..oops..sorry, been watching too many kids shows ;D
The roller is as you see in 3 pieces..that's because I attacked a polysomething plastic domestic type cutting board with a suitable holesaw to make the roller hence I need to make 3 discs bolting them together as 1.
Now for the inner bush :-\ It had to be the right size as the length I could cut to suit. Low and behold and old 14mm gudgeon pin was perfect with an 8.50mm hole already through the guts and it was as hard as it would ever need to be and more. When all else is but a distant memory this pin will no doubt still exist! ;)
I trimmed it to size allowing extra overlap at each end to fit a couple of washers that also fitted over the pin. I capped this off with a thrustwasher on each end and bolted it in through the hole on the underside I made for ease of fitting. If I didn't have this hole not only would I need to be double jointed but I'd also I'd need that 3rd arm protruding from my chest so to hold everything in place while I slipped the bolt through.
I figured I'd need to be replacing the rollers with the guide on the bike at a later date or otherwise I would have simply done the obvious and fitted the roller into the guide before fitting to the bike ;)
The other little bits were a couple of 'shaped' flanged washers/spacers for the mounting, 2x 6x40mm and 1x 8x55mm stainless bolts/nuts/washers.
Mightn't look too bling or attractive but all it has to do is work. No measuring devices were used or injured during th making of this item ;)
(http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8175/tuesday120208004bo3.th.jpg) (http://img211.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tuesday120208004bo3.jpg) __(http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5814/tuesday120208010wr3.th.jpg) (http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tuesday120208010wr3.jpg)
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Bling it up some more!!!, go with the Black paint but have a graphics place cut you a Suzuki sunburst in Gold chrome and the suzuki in silver chrome with "the Rat" in flouro yellow :o
P.S Chris I sent the inner guard yesterday
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Very tidy; I love it!
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thanks CG * Wombat.
GC, In hindsight I reckon I may have been better served painting this bloody bike pink!!..it seems to work okay on this KX125 ;) The rider is only 12yo which adds fuel to the debate on juniors in vmx mentioned in another topic.
(http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8283/kawagirl4iy1.th.jpg) (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kawagirl4iy1.jpg)
(http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9803/kawagirl1ek5.th.jpg) (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kawagirl1ek5.jpg)(http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/931/kawagirlbwge2.th.jpg) (http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kawagirlbwge2.jpg)
and here's the finished budget chain guide ready to go (I hope!) (http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5640/tuesday120208014ha0.th.jpg) (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tuesday120208014ha0.jpg)