RM125C

[BAHNZY]

Some time back i asked for help with getting bits to resurrect an RM125C, an absolute shitbox that i stupidly bought of e-bay (pics looked good, bike didn't ). Not wanting to let the project beat me i pushed forward in finishing the project. Out of the blue i get a message from Mark Birkett advising that if i can get a CR250 roller to him then i can have (as payment) an RM125C roller. No problems, just one slight hitch, the CR is in Korrumburra and Mark is 1/2 way betwen Cooma and Mt Kosciusko.
This had to be an excuse for a road trip. Tough decision by the way

Any way cut to the chase, i get the CR roller and get to Marks place to deliver the bike and Mark rolls out the RM roller, complete with No-Dive fitted. I told Mark that the roller was worth more than the trip to Canberra and offered whatever he felt was reasonable. Mark said that he only wanted the CR roller and the trade was all that we wanted out of the deal, that was some 12 or more months ago. Fast forward to last weekend and the bike gets it's first ride at the DMCC Vintage weekend.

The bike was an absolute treat to ride and the No-Dive was certainly different, but good in a weird way. I am not sure if a 125 is meant to have a 6'2" 110 kg rider on board but the old girl made me feel like a pro. The fact that you can ring its neck and get some incredible corner speed made you feel you were going faster than you actually are. Only problems was that when i got on the 400 i tried to do the same thing, and that ain't real smart. :'(

Heres, the pics of the bike. Many thanks to Mark for getting the project back on track and Anthony at Powerhouse Motorcycles in Pakenham for helping me piece the old girl back together.

[TM BILL]

Looking good Bahnsy the 125C is a cool bike , Those guys at Powerhouse motorcycles are top Blokes 
They helped out a young kiwi Bloke Brad Groombridge ( who i occansioally spanner for ) last season in your Aussie MX champs and are very vintage friendly  say hi from me & BG next time your in the shop for me cheers Bill.

[Doc]

good story and looks good Bahnsey! I kinda strayed a little with my 125C and it's now an A/B hybrid conforming with pre'78 regs.
Kind of amazing our persistance in resurrecting these old bikes, sometimes from nothing more than a gutted rusty frame. Each bike completed holds it's own story and history. 1 day someone may even find the story of my bitsa's interesting but if one never records this history then it will never be known once we pass Zorros RM250 started as a $200 wreck also that possibly had him questioning his sanity but when you want something bad enough you'll go to great lengths to get it, even if it is above and beyond what others consider normal human mentality. To see this bike now it's a far cry from a wreck and closer to showroom condition and to hear it's story was very interesting. You've given my an idea, I should sit and write down the known history of each bike cause in the future as stated, someone may well actually be interested enough to want to know and appreciate these details nice job Bahnsey, makes me sort of wish mine was still a C but then I can always take it back to std if I want.   

[BAHNZY]

Doc,
Where you end up is not so important, more so how you got there.
When i started the project, i did not want to do the Bling.Bling resto. I wanted a bike that looked like it was bought new back in the late seventies, was a one owner bike that had been ridded a dozen times a year. Original but "A Used Look" was the theme. Whilst everything is, rebuilt, reconditioned or new, i kept to the original them, hence the look that you see in the pics.

[jimson]

Bahnsy used abused and loved thats what its all about sometimes I think some of these bikes look like they've got to much makeup on. that must mean yours is a natural beauty mate  .jimson

[yzhilly]

Nice work Bahnsy , I liked the feet up yahoo over the Finish line tabletop ,but i must have missed the No dive school ?.

[Wombat]

When i started the project, i did not want to do the Bling.Bling resto. I wanted a bike that looked like it was bought new back in the late seventies, was a one owner bike that had been ridded a dozen times a year. Original but "A Used Look" was the theme. Whilst everything is, rebuilt, reconditioned or new, i kept to the original them, hence the look that you see in the pics.

I'm with you on this one Bahnsy; it's a race bike and that's what's important.
My new Maico presently looks like a Garage Queen; but it's a full gloss resto and even has that 'new car smell'.
Over time it will get the stone chips on the forks and the tank paint will wear from the knee grip position - and that's OK.
For me it's all about function; I'll clean it and maintain it but after one season it will look like it's spent a year on the track and not in the lounge room.

But each to their own... and well done on the 125 C.