Old topic rehashed RA125 pre '75

[Doc]

An old topic I know but I'm still on the hunt for the ever elusive picture of a 1974 RA125. I have searched and searched but still never seen  a decent pic of one..or any pic of a '74 actually  anyways whilst grazing the wide open spaces of zee internet I stumbled upon a few pics I d not discovered before. Thought others may like to see some early factory stuff but I am not 100 percent certain of dates and models and names so bear with me on that.



The '71 TS125MX was the forerunner to the production TM125 and in my opinion Suzuki went backwards from this moment in time thru to about 1975 with the release of the RM125M/S.



This is the real deal. A 1972 RA125. The factory radial fin head is very bling for the era and somethng never seen on a production model. (the '82 RM80Z head was the closest they ever went) This is the sort of style I loosly built my TM/RM125S along..very loosly indeed now I get to see more detail..



3 differing versions of the RA72. Note in the lower picture the engine greatly resembles a kitted TS125 motor. My guess is it's the factory test bed for the TS125MX





The RH66 of 1966. Rider in unknown to me. Motor looks awfully complex..or awfully primitive depending on your perspective



1970 RH70 250cc...sweetest of all the RH250's in my eyes.



1970 RA70 125cc (Kazuo Kubio possibly)





lastly, if anyone see's one of these in the pics above kicking around the wreckers or the dump shop please let me know..worthless but it's just something I'd like regardless

there are more pics if you click on the link, I've tried not to touch the mainstream stuff the lieks of Mr Terry Good's collection or MXWorksbikes, Suzuki only, vintage Suzuki and so on but there are some of the same pics as shown on their sites but from different sources

http://cid-86267c09a3452a71.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Suzuki%20Factory%20Racers

[Maico31]

That #2 RA125 looks like a 125 motor in a RH250 frame. Check the angle of the airboot going up to the airbox. Some of those 125's look a lot like an RM125A motor without the case reed.

[Doc]

quite possible Maico. My guess is they were willing to throw caution to the wind and try literally anything as this next pic shows..



lastly check the finning on the cases. I've never seen this before and I'm unsure of the capaity or rider..maybe Kazua Kubio??

[Maico31]

That's a wild looking thing, is it a 125 twin? Those early RA125's must be extremely rare, never seen one outside Japan.

[jimson]

Doc was the TS125 MX a real model ? In one of your photos the one with number 5 on it thats what Toms TS185 will look like maybe I wish  jimson

[VMX247]

Doc, I swear while I have blood in me veins and when I win more than $500,000 in lotto.
I'll send ya to Japan too find out all the answers for SUZUKI'S if your heart/family so desires 

[Doc]

the twin I assume is a T250 or T305. God dang death trap if you ask me, I can't get over how spindly it all looks, especially the front end!

as for the RA125's yup, I've seen Gastons '75 but other than that I've not seen another in the flesh

Jimson ,yes, the TS125MX was the real deal for Japan only I believe. The other bike pictured with the number 5 I 'think' was late 60's early '70's california suzuki test rider Willie Harden (alias Bob Roberts) It is also the genuine article but more like what we saw..if we saw any at all that is

  VMX247 thank you! I'll need to start brushing up on my Japanese, I don't think 'good morning' in Japanese is going to get me very far but that's all I know..or all I cared to remember I guess

[KB171]

Nice collection there Doc, the RH66 sure would've prompted a bit stand up riding, SFA in the way of a seat 

[Doc]

I agree KB, the 66 looks all wrong to me, the forks look too raked out and too high ,footrest position seems all wrong and the rider looks really out of sorts on it and more like he should be on the black stuff, it appears a slow handling thing at best. Thank goodness mr Pettersson happened along is all I can say

[pokey]

  Just about  step over your granny to get  your hands on one or two of those babies.

Interesting to see some of the design influences that didnt make it to the  main stream bikes till many years later like the clutch set up. Why Suzuki chose to stay with the pushrod system on the  trail bikes for so long is beyond me.

 Just crossed my mind that many manufacturers had 175 and 200 cc MX varients but to my knowledge suzuki never went that path till the  PE175. I would  be a dribbling mess if a 185 prototype was ever unearthed