OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: crustydog on June 02, 2012, 09:18:29 am

Title: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 02, 2012, 09:18:29 am
G'day all new to the site and looking for any advice on restoring an old RM 125, whats the best place to get a full set of new plastics? is there a good cheap supplier or should i just trawl ebay? also any problems with these models that i should look out for? any info would be great.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: Nobby25 on June 02, 2012, 10:19:58 am
Try these Crusty, Dc for a rider, VS for show, vmx for both types in Aus
http://www.dcvmx.com/
http://www.vintage-suzuki.com/
http://www.vmxunlimited.com/
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 02, 2012, 01:45:17 pm
cheers Noddy, would seem that is an 80 model 125T frame with an 83 125D motor?????.will get out and take some pics when the rain stops.have previously restored an 74 RL 250 trials bike so am glad there is alot more out there for RM models.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: JohnnyO on June 02, 2012, 04:27:15 pm
An 80 model is an air cooled twinshock bike, would be hard to fit watercooled motor and radiator.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: PCMAX on June 02, 2012, 06:25:13 pm
Lots of good OEM parts here for early model RM's;
www.bikebandit.com
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 03, 2012, 07:23:43 pm
(http://i47.tinypic.com/if9vt1.jpg)
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: Davey Crocket on June 03, 2012, 08:11:11 pm
There aint nothing T about that bike.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: JohnnyO on June 03, 2012, 08:17:25 pm
That's '82 or '83.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 03, 2012, 08:41:31 pm
frame number starts with RM125 - $#%$#%$#  thought the 81 onwards started with J. anyhoo will keep the photos coming as the project rolls on.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: Cabmkr on June 03, 2012, 11:04:29 pm
Crusty,
    It looks to me and 82/83 motor (reed cage) with an 81 frame (steel struts). It looks about the same condition as mine,  beat to hell but all there!

Cheers, Chris
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: Nobby25 on June 04, 2012, 08:38:04 am
Hey Crusty, I have just started on a 75 RL any tips?
The places I got most of my oem RM parts were
http://www.partshark.com/custompage.asp?pg=suzukiparts
http://anchakandsons.com/news.html
both great service and reasonable postage
Look forward to watching it come together
cheers Nob
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: suzuki59 on June 04, 2012, 09:41:05 am
Thats a 1982 RM 125Z mate.Lots of parts are still available from Suzuki.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 04, 2012, 07:13:56 pm
cheers fellas.Nobby patience is the key with the old RL's. took me about 4 years to get it to about 90% complete.rang nearly every wrecker in oz to get parts, got told to bin it and that i was flogging a dead horse. ::)second and third gears where all smashed.parked it up for about 2 years then found a rolling frame and bottom end in a lady's shed and finally got the motor running. TS engines are near identical apart from gear ratio's obviously,bottom ends look identicaldont know what other parts are similar/same. was gunna shoe horn a TS 400  ;D ;D in there just need to make up new mount plates.frames tend to crack near left hand side near the swingarm pivot point.all the best with it.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 16, 2012, 05:42:41 pm
any ideas on how to pretty up the swing-arm?? it seems to be made from extruded alum'(correct me if im wrong) which doesn't shine up real easy.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 17, 2012, 12:06:44 pm
following other threads on the subject it seems the swingarms have an anodized finish, does the oven cleaner trick work or should i just sand it off
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: suzuki27 on June 17, 2012, 07:51:19 pm
Depends how shiny you want it. I took to mine with fine wet & dry and a kitchen scourer with Jif. Came up pretty good. You can buff it on a soft wheel with Al polish etc.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 26, 2012, 07:32:39 pm
seems like a c#@ of a job getting into all those nooks and crannies with the wet and dry.anyone rate powdercoating the swingarm for a nearly stock looking finish?
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: oldfart on June 26, 2012, 07:46:31 pm
Take it into your local anodiser ask for them to strip it   ( Making sure you have removed the beraings and degrease it ) ...... take it away and polish it back up .... Then asked for it to be flash coated.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: crustydog on June 26, 2012, 07:48:55 pm
cheers. im out in the sticks so finding an anodiser might be a task.will look into it though.
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: PCMAX on June 26, 2012, 07:59:22 pm
Crustydog,
Try this place for lots of OEM vintage Suzuki parts.
http://www.andersonvintageparts.com

Bike Bandit were also a good source of OEM stuff when I was building my '81 RM 125
www.bikebandit.com
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: oldfart on June 26, 2012, 08:25:33 pm
Phosphoric acid @ 20% dilluted in water heated at 87degrees c dunked for approx  3 minutes  it the trick ........plan B    Citric acid 
Title: Re: restoring 81 - 83 rm 125
Post by: Chris PE on March 21, 2013, 12:54:56 am
Sand  it down  with  400  grit  and  paint  it  with  VHT  high  temperature  engine  enamel  spray  can  [ univ.  aluminum  colour].  Two  coats  will  do  then  bake  it  in  an  oven  at  100 C.  FOR  1  HOUR. Finish  off  with  2  coats  of  clear  coat  enamel. IT  BEATS  spending  fortune  on  powder  coating. REPCO  OR  CHEAPAUTO  STORE  sell  it.Good  luck,  CHRIS  PE.