Messages

1

For Sale / Re: DT1 250 after market exhaust

« on: January 06, 2019, 02:32:10 pm »

Looks like a Bassani. Had one on a Suzuki TS250 that I dismantled and on a TS185. Shape of the header, and perforated sheet metal heat shields identify it. Popular in the 70's and regarded as a good performing pipe. This one may have had a repair on the end, as all the Bassani's that I have seen had a straight outer surface to the tail section with an internal/ no stinger.

2

Suzuki / Re: Suzuki TM125 Front End/Forks Needed

« on: July 16, 2018, 11:24:01 pm »

It all comes down to what you want to do with the bike. If you have the standard front end and don't want to spend a lot of extra time, effort and money, do the basics and re chrome the tubes, replace the seals and rebuild the standard forks. You will  have a bike that handles like a standard TM, with all of the performance and short comings of the original suspension. If you start to chase performance and put PD valves into the standard TM125 forks, you are better off , in my opinion, to spend the money on purchasing, rebuilding and fitting the bigger and better TM250 forks. The RM 125 A/B forks and clamps will not be pre 75 legal, as mentioned and look obviously different to the original TM forks and clamps, but they will give you the performance up grade and can be fitted to the TM125 frame, without major modifications. They are just another option, to use if you cannot find TM250 bridges and forks, want a suspension upgrade, but don't intend to race the bike. Another thing to keep in mind with these modifications, is that the original TM125 front wheel hub and brake plate cannot be fitted into the TM250/ RM forks, so you will have to upgrade to a TM250/ RM front hub, brake plate and brake cable as well.       

3

Suzuki / Re: Suzuki TM125 Front End/Forks Needed

« on: July 15, 2018, 04:27:54 pm »

Unless you are doing an original catalogue perfect restoration of the TM125, I would not bother with the effort of rebuilding the original forks. They are essentially the same fork that appeared on the RM100 later in the mid seventies and will bottom continuously with any serious riding. I use TM250 forks on my TM125, and the improvement in handling is enormous. TM 250 forks still do occasionally come up on ebay, but another useful conversion is using Rm125A/B triple trees and forks. The RM forks only differ from the TM forks on one side, with the brake side having a hole machined in the bottom of the fork, for the axle, rather than the clamped up arrangement for the TM. A TM 125 head stem tube will need to be pressed into the lower triple tree to allow the TM 250 or RM triple tree to fit the 125 frame. Alternatively you will have to machine up a spacer. You can also use Rm125 forks in the TM250 triple clamps or machine out the TM125 triple clamps to take TM250 forks/ RM forks (same casting different hole size.) 25 years of racing/ riding and building TM Suzukis has taught me that any of these modifications are definitely worth the effort.   

4

Suzuki / Re: TS400 stator fit TM400???

« on: June 11, 2018, 04:19:02 pm »

A common misconception is that the TS 400 and TM 400 cranks were different. They were both mutton leg cranks. ( Ie: Not full circle). I have a 72 TS400 J  and have built and ridden TS & TM suzukis for many years. In fact I have a factory Manual that is for the TS/ TM 400. It has an exploded view of the 400 engine at the back, with dashed lines around the components that are different between TS & TM. There are dashed lines around the Carby, the flywheel & Ignition and the decompressor valve in the head, as well as first gear gears which are different TS and TM. Rest of the engine is identical. TS flywheel should go straight onto a TM Crank.   

5

General Discussion / Re: Broadford Bike Bonanza 2018

« on: April 04, 2018, 12:36:41 pm »

As a South Australian that went over for the first time this year I just thought I would post my thoughts on the Bonanza. Spent Saturday shuttle busing around to the various areas. The size of the place is mind blowing. Spent my time at the road race track with my mouth open in awe. The machinery that was wheeled out and circulating on the track was unbelievable. If you have never seen the engineering masterpieces that are the Irving Vincents, do yourself a favour and have a look at them some time. They circulated the track like everything else was standing still! Speedway area was brilliant - great Vincent demonstrations and brilliant array of speedway, long track, flat track machines and riders. The swap meet puzzled me- bit of a non event, with 10 or so traders and not much passing foot traffic. There were some beautifully turned out MX and Vinduro machines, but they seemed to be scattered everywhere. There didn't seem to be much activity on the large MX track - only a few pre 90 and 85 bikes and a lot of the bikes seemed to be riding down to the enduro circuit by the speedway to do their riding or up to the top vinduro circuit. After a big part of Saturday at the speedway, I spent all of Sunday at the Road Racing. Thoroughly enjoyed the event and would come again, but am just wondering if I missed something, as the Road race and speedway/ long track, seemed to be the main focus of the event, with everything else just acting as gap fillers. What do others think? Maybe there is something that I missed or I am being a bit critical? Just thinking that if I had hauled MX bikes over to ride, may have been a bit disappointed.     

6

CZ / 1972 CZ 250 MX FOR SALE

« on: March 19, 2018, 09:41:22 am »

Scammels auctions in Adelaide South Australia has a 1972 250 CZ Motocross bike for sale. Looks barn fresh with original old number boards still attached. Good condition and original with some spares. Listing names it as a "trail bike"- so they are obviously not real aware of what they have got.  Listed in the great collectors auction. It is one of 690 lots, mostly garaganalia, signs, oil bottles etc. Only a bit of other motorcycle stuff. There is not a lot of interest in VMX stuff in Adelaide and other VMX bikes from the 70's and 80's that have been in previous Scammels auctions, have only made moderate money. You can watch the auction and bid online. Auction is on Saturday 24th March. CZ's are not my thing, but would be a good opportunity for someone. All lots are listed online with photos.   

7

Wanted / Re: TM 125 suzuki front forks

« on: March 10, 2018, 08:46:33 am »

After 25 years of building & racing TM Suzukis, I think I can give you some advice in regards to the front fork situation on your TM125. If you want a fork that is a straight replacement for the the original TM forks, you can use 76 RM100A forks which are externally identical and internally have some minor upgrades. The original 100/125 forks however bottom out continuously, so a good upgrade is to the TM250 forks ( which are now becoming like rocking horse poo to find), but you will have to go to the TM 250 fork bridges or get your 125 bridges machined out to fit the larger diameter 250 forks. You will also need to use a 125 stem tube in the lower bridge (press in, press out) or machine up a spacer to allow for the different frame head stock heights. 76 RM 125A and 77125B Fork bridges will fit, with the sames modifications as for per the TM250 forks. 76125A forks are almost the same externally as the TM250, with the lower left leg being one piece around the axle unlike the normal TM clamp system that is normally used. Right fork leg externally is identical to TM250. Internally there are differences which improve the fork action. You can also use a RM125m/s set up (fork bridges, forks etc), but again very hard to find. If you are looking for cheap and easy to source you could go down the TS route - 185, 125 but early TS 125 forks are all steel and look ugly as sin on a TM. The performance is as bad as the original TM125 forks. keep in mind, for some of these changes you need matching hub, axle and brake cable ( ie: TM125 front wheel will not go into TM250 forks) and brake cables differ in design details as well. You really need to work out what you want to achieve and spend, for the effort that you will put in.         

8

For Sale / Re: PE400 basket parts

« on: October 11, 2017, 05:26:25 pm »

Hi: I am interested in the PE400 stuff. Will send a PM for pictures and details.