OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Suzuki => Topic started by: Graeme M on May 03, 2009, 10:43:39 am

Title: 1975 RM125s
Post by: Graeme M on May 03, 2009, 10:43:39 am
I sat on an RM125M in 1975 at my cousin's place. At the time, I had I think a TS100, and the RM was just sooo lustworthy! I have loved the look of those things ever since, and finally a couple of years ago bought one. I love it. It is fun to ride, handles just fine for an old clunker, and is a definite keeper.

I know a lot of others feel the same way.

So, let me know if you have an RM125M or S, and if possible, post up a pic as well. What have you done to yours? Do you like it?

(http://ozvmx.com/images/forum/my-rm125.jpg)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: Marc.com on May 03, 2009, 01:11:01 pm
I have one that we dropped a TS185 engine in about 25 years ago (god that makes me feel old)

Still starts second kick, one day i will give it a birthday/
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: oldyzman on May 03, 2009, 03:52:59 pm
HEY GRAHAM,
That is a nice unit! You have seen the pic of my one by now. Just wanted to compare notes on jetting. When i picked up the bike Nev said that it may be ea little lean so before i rode it i richened it up.
The spec said: MJ 280    pilot 35
IT had             MJ 190     pilot 35
I put                MJ 250      pilot 35     was OK but lacked low down power
                       MJ 240       pilot 35       same
  The needle clip has always been centre. I moved it to the top and found that the low down power got better, this is the best i have found. My next move is to maybe go to a 30 pilot and put the clip back to the midle position. By the way The altitude was approx 350M at hartley and approx 50m wrapping around the streets of Lugarno.
Any suggestions will be appreciated. What do you run?
Cheers Brett
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: PERM250 on May 03, 2009, 04:51:48 pm
me to i must say that i love my( s ) i had rm125a many years ago and p.Mc 57 had anew s. and he gave me a big hand to rebuild my s that i now have. i will be taking my s to cd 6 is any body else??
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 03, 2009, 05:40:43 pm
I have to admit I do prefer pre'75 bikes and whilst I love the snappy power of the RM125S I just could not come to grips with the bike in it's entirety. I felt I was slower on the RM than I was on the TM even though I had 10 or so extra ponies. Best thing I ever did was drop an S motor into the TM and instantly I found what I was looking for. It's not a competitive thing on the rougher tracks but on most of the tracks I'd ever ride nowdays it wouldn't be overly disadvantaged. 

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-2/957706/tm125s.jpg)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: Graeme M on May 03, 2009, 06:21:39 pm
Doc, I can't believe you prefer the TM! My TM was horrible to ride - the forks flexed and twisted and bottomed and topped, while the rear shocks were terrible (US Progressives). It was OK on the dirt track, but only just, and there it was as slow as. The RM is a way better bike, although I am suspicious that my RM is like my TM - slower than it should be.  The RM has YSS shocks and much much better forks, and it steers and handles infinitely better.

Brett, my RM is an M so it has a stock 28mm carb. I doubt my jetting will be at all useful. That said, my TM was ported and had a Circle F pipe and K+N clamp on filter (no airbox). I added a 34mm Mikuni and that worked very well, it was definitely quicker. So... maybe the jetting from that is useful to you.

I tried a starting point of:

Main jet: #290
Pilot jet: #35
Needle jet: P-2
Slide needle: 6DH4-2nd
Slide cutaway: 2.5
Air screw setting: 1.0 turn out
Float level: 9.1 mm

Which was OK but seemed a little lean. I ended up with:


Main jet: #310
Pilot jet: #35
Needle jet: P-4
Slide needle: 6DH4-3rd
Slide cutaway: 2.5
Air screw setting: 1.5 turn out
Float level: 9.1 mm

That seemed good but I was racing DT here in Canberra (altitude about 560 metres and the weather was cold). You can see I went UP on the mainjet compared to your jetting. I can't remember now and I didn't make any notes but I think I actually ended up going to a P6 needle jet and back to a 290 main or thereabouts, but that might be a complete lie!

In any case, I'd say something like a P2-P4 needle jet, stock needle, 35 pilot and about a 260-280 main would seem correct, and possibly even bigger on the main if you are dirt tracking it.

Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 03, 2009, 08:10:29 pm
Graeme it maybe something to do with the fact I weigh under 50kgs and 4 inches of travel is fine as that's all I need :D seriously I wouldn't ride this bike at Connondale as it is more an RM suited track but at somewhere like Nudgee it's at it's best. The 125 A B and C's I love but on an M or S I just don't feel as confident :-\

not for sale sorry Wasp but it wasn't a hard 1 to build ;)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: oldyzman on May 03, 2009, 09:36:19 pm
Bloody neat TM,
Hello Graham, Thanks for the info on the jetting, I think i had better refer back to your reply and check the needle jet in mine as i couldn't even get it to run very well at all with a 270 Main jet and the altitude between where i tested at approx 300 compared to canberra is only 200 difference therefore it might equate to a 5% change taking into account the temp difference also
Maybe i should stick to the YZ's
OLDYZMAN
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: dodgee on May 04, 2009, 06:19:23 am
yea i have a rm125 m and a rm125 s dont ride the m just the s . will have them both at cd6.
dodgee
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: mainline on May 04, 2009, 07:42:40 am
Is this the same as yours Doc?

(http://i4.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/46/01/b15b_1.JPG)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-TM125-CLASSIC_W0QQitemZ280340261603QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item280340261603&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 04, 2009, 08:39:19 am
yea, Dodgee has 2 absolute stunners and here's a pic of one, the picture was taken a few years back at the oz titles at Coffs but the bike these days looks similar or maybe even a little better! 8) I couldn't come to grips with it but then a young guy by the name of Adrian McIntyre hopped on and proceeded to blitz near everything of all capacities in the 'All In' race at the end of the meeting. It is bloody fast in the right hands but sadly I just don't have the skills or energy required to get the best out of an RM125S.

(http://abhzmq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pkHPOR8wJu3MFUH2mMM707-oi5aTOM5IS0N7mEFoBBe4uvz2c8paAimXsmxbSFWLQYjtueyvr4ZZedE9Nijx_RQ/Docs%20pre78%20ride.JPG)

I be building another TM hybrid similar to the bike below after CD6 but not sure which way to go with it yet. It may well be RM125S powered also ;)
 
(http://oszfaq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pYKDG6N2LDx-FwTJff1Ax6JgtuSAFzg9oo-xQ6-LSlqAag8esunYC7cQOpz6E1pDOP57zns2vaXfYu2WNCiPTzw/TSM125.JPG)

My '71 TS125R also has the S motor at present. I do love the engines but as I said, the rest of the package just doesn't do it for me even though they were probably the closest thing to a factoy bike you could buy. This could be because I'm not really an out and out racer but more a lazy social rider who prefers to ride at about 75% ;)

(http://abhzmq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pY-Sdf6ucq9VpqWMrADyA15Obqk8gpgfncuBx66PX-1zaMJCRPkTiSNSDuSi3CLVbJzdTL9jijxlZOT0WXtNbbw/sat%20june%2021th%2008%20004.jpg)

Mainline no not really except for the tank stickers. I like the plain ol' '75 TM graphics so I normally run them on all my TM/RM125's. Life started with a bare frame (usually a donated John West reject ;)) I believe it's Donny at Coff's who supplied this frame. I think it was a '73. I found a '75 swingarm, TS185 solid mount rear hub, RM100A front forks, RM125S front wheel, the S motor came from CQ and the rest came from here and there mostly from ebay and like minded friends.

Sorry for the rambling and topic deviation, I'd never ever owned a 125 until about 2007. My first ever ride on a TM125 and an RM125S was the Coff's titles 2007 but after that meet I was totally hooked on these little screamers. They are fun units in all shapes and form be it TM/TS/RM, think I have about 6 already that fit in with the pre'75/'78 era but always looking to build more ;)

Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: NSR on May 04, 2009, 06:05:32 pm
Doc
Are you bringing the vinduro bike to CD, Hope so It's awesome.
Noel
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 04, 2009, 07:17:35 pm
not sure NSR, I'd kind of like to but I have limited space so I've really got to sit and decide. The 400C is a definate and the other spot was going to be the RL250 but I maybe able to fit in another since the RL is pretty narrow ;)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 04, 2009, 08:01:10 pm
this is Dodgee's 125M resto. 1 of the best I've seen anywhere ;)

(http://osyeig.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pkZ1jLEg45kKhLp0eQREblCHW2COW5K3pLIgCTPVMl-zc5AO0XMnwsMii1leuh58cT274wJ0zAqpcDXQ1rpnHFA/100_1601.JPG)

(http://osyeig.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pitvbiXJ_m5lTRWoqP7M8f620y-qbws4z6j3rwjYr-PmC_wXuQYowo2lgi3c0K1YyNLVRQK3_zm80hIFtPLCksA/100_1599.JPG)

(http://osyeig.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p1qaOpFf6eQkfoH9vvV1hYvgJFteLu--ou0y5D_v0XmlH7oPYthmb7SYbky4Qbk-WOuNqff9Dv59U26BmMRuXoQ/100_1604.JPG)

(http://osyeig.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pFjcXvJWIrLfoGQ7_zsXmsiUKViluZ33IBY1YxaHJSCm8NMGN1KLfYB3qJe6dhZ12fOKZ3lzoFnOs_fxXzNwDvQ/100_1602.JPG)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: NSR on May 04, 2009, 08:15:39 pm
It will be worth it for the enduro loop ;)
Noel
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: JC on May 05, 2009, 08:58:55 am
Graeme,

I've always loved the look of the 75RM125S too. Probably cos I loved the last of the down-pipe RHs w LTR suspension (74-75). The RM-S's were everywhere back in the day, but I never got to ride one. Still haven't. Wish I had.

The RM125B was probably the most fun bike I ever rode - suited me to a T - but I prefer the look of the RM125S to the up-pipe RMs & RHs. Not many around tho considering how many they sold in 75. Probably my favourite Suz.
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 05, 2009, 01:28:56 pm
JC if you think the S is thin on the ground you oughta try and hunt up an original M. I'd say there's about a dozen S models for every M I've seen ;) then again, why settle for second best when the hot option was on offer.

NSR, you'd be very surprised at just how capable the RM400 is once you get off the MX tracks. Have ridden the old Peachester and Beerburrum enduro loops, from Donnybrooke to Caloundra, Laceys Creek,Dayboro, Woodford, Esk, Childers and near everywhere in between and I don't 'ever' recall the bike giving me a hard time from the rainforest to Mountain tops. My mates both had new IT465G's and the only thing they had over me at any given time was the fact they had the fuel to loan me to get back home :P oops ::) I know what you mean though, I'd kinda like to take the TMS just to see what it rides like ;)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: pmc57 on May 05, 2009, 08:49:52 pm
Hey Doc why are you posting pics of Dodgee's M, isn't he participating in the forum any more? By the way, where did he score those fork protectors on the M, those things must be like rocking horse s..t?
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: Graeme M on May 05, 2009, 08:59:39 pm
Dunno about the one's on Dodgee's bike, but you can get them from Vintage Suzuki. I'm thinking of updating my RM with the correct guards and fork protectors before CD6.
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: pmc57 on May 05, 2009, 09:11:05 pm
Graham, the one's on Dodgee's S look like originals, I didn't think Vintage Suzuki's protectors are same as the genuine artical, correct me if I'm wrong and I'll get PERM250 to get a pair for his S.
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: Graeme M on May 05, 2009, 09:31:36 pm
Hard to say, I've not seen the originals nor the copies. Does anyone know how good the Vintage Suzuki ones are?

Here's some scans...

(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/rm125-1.jpg)

(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/rm125-2.jpg)

(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/rm125-3.jpg)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: JohnnyO on May 05, 2009, 09:46:30 pm
Graeme the original suzuki ones are made of slightly translucent plastic and according to their website the Vintage Suzuki ones are fibreglass. The originals are very hard to find but occasionally turn up on ebay.
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: LWC82PE on May 05, 2009, 09:51:01 pm
These are the Vintage suzuki ones
description says
"RM TM Fiberglass Front Fork Protector Set (White)
With built in cable guides, fits TM100-400 and 1976' RM250-370 models, could fit other models if trimmed".

(http://www.vintage-suzuki.com/forkprotectorsetwhite_files/forkprotectorset.jpg)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: DR on May 06, 2009, 06:40:58 am
Pete, Dodgee has trouble posting the pics and I already have some pictures of his bikes on my computer so he asked if I could put a few up for him ;) the fork protectors on the Dodges bike are the real deal. They do turn up from time to time and the cable guide on both sides is as per factory as there is no left or right and both left and right share the same part number. Vintage Suzuki items are close enough for most but 1 can spot the replica pretty easy after you have seen an original ;)
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: dodgee on May 06, 2009, 11:10:06 am
both set of fork protectors are genuine , the ones on the m are nos from germany and the set on my s are s/h from usa.
dodgee
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: cyclegod on May 06, 2009, 02:23:44 pm
http://www.vintagemx.us/cgi-bin/largephoto.cgi?C=ndQ26tf4XrycvJkx
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: pmc57 on May 06, 2009, 06:49:26 pm
Thought so dodgee, they are as rare as hens teeth.
Nice bike though, we'll have a chat at CD6 I'm sure. Ed and I will be there from Friday ready for a big weekend, he'll have his S, C and PE175 there, I'm taking my RM250 and my new toy, a modified XL250S for the Vinduro loop.
Title: Re: 1975 RM125s
Post by: PERM250 on May 10, 2009, 03:06:24 pm
wayne your m looks great top job again. looking forward to racing you around the car park buying all the bargains at cd 6.hey those fork guards when they come on egay sell for heap .