1985 RM125

[BAHNZY]

Looks like it's time for another project. Picked this one up on flea-bay a couple of months back.
By the photos on the add she looked reasonable but it wasn't quiet the case when she was stripped. Rather than the Ohlin's /WP 84 RM125 that I did last year, this one will be a rider/survivor much like the way she left the factory with 25 years of "easy" riding. Won’t be doing the spokes and plastics nor plating & polishing everything, just  fix/repair and clean where needed.


Was told that all parts were available. Seller said that it had done a bottom end (which it had) just forgot to say that the bottom end failure was a result of no air filter element being fitted. The only reason the mains and the piston hadn't failed was because the big end seized about 10 nano-seconds before the top end was about to let go.


It didn’t hit me straight away, but as I was loading the bike onto the trailer I realised that the swing arm and associated hardware was from an 83 or earlier bike.  Although the answer to my questions relating to the suspension said that the bike still had dampening, there was obviously a lack of understanding as to what dampening is because the rear shock was so flogged it can’t be repaired.


In a strange twist of fate, all the plastics including the seat were in good condition. A few hours with the wet & dry and plastic polish will see them looking like new. Throw a sticker kit over them and she'll be tip toppity.


As it is an 85 model, it has a disc brake fitted. Whilst the bike is a follow on from the 84 model it is Pre85 legal as long as the front end is swapped out for an 84 version. I will leave the disc unit on the bike as it won’t be raced.


Seller said that it was on the 1st oversize and that the barrel was in good condition. Only problem is that he was a little careless with storing the barrel and managed to break one of the piston ring retaining posts from the bottom of the barrel.


No idea what the muffler is from, but the worst bit is they modified the frame to fit the muffler rather than modifying the muffler to fit the frame. When he handed me the expansion chamber I quickly realised that it wasn’t good. I quick inspection showed a gazillion welds and plates to cover holes and cracks.


So we have a start. I’ll post some photo’s of the other discretions from previous owners like;
- The cases that have been hit with the angle grinder to release a seized swing arm pivot bolt.
- The rear suspension rocker that is totally stuffed as the thru bolt had worn through the bearings then into the alloy casting.
- The flat slide carburettor that has been swapped out for a round slide unit.
- Bad cracks in and around the foot peg attachment area.
- The shock reservoir mounts that are simply missing.

[suzuki43]

Nice work Rod,I cant wait to see you restore this poor paddock bashed beast.

[whitey 43]

Good luck with this one...I will b watching with interest.

[frostype400]

I like that when you have a seller that says the bottom end has been done and it has.

I have bought a bike with the top end off and was assured the bottom end had been done and it hadn't, but I bought a kx80 for my brother locally and you know how every seller says it has had a new top end it had and I was very happy.

Plastics look good hasn't been in the sun to long at all you should be able to make it look near new again good luck.

[monaro308]

Let the fun begin Rod
I like ANY project andwill be watching for the updates
cheers...Mario

[Mike52]

You know BAHNZY I think I,ve bought a Husqvarna version of that bike and I believe that the same guys worked on it.
This struck me when you got to the muffler bit.
Mike

[BAHNZY]

And some more pics and sad stories to accompany them;


Apparently this is how you remove a seized swing arm pivot bolt. Grab an angle grinder and cut a nice clean groove across the case then gently prize open. This along with another issue shown below has the cases heading straight for the scrap bin.


The roller bearing was long gone and the bearing collar had chewed through everything and destroyed the rocker unit. Again another piece heading for the scrap bin.


Have no idea what is going on here. The bolt is seized in that position and I will have to cut it of the case to be able to split the cases.


This is what someone thought was a good idea for a new muffler mount. Not hard to fix but a pain in the arse job that will take time to fabricate a new bracket and weld it to the frame.


One the main problems with these early RM125’s is the small tang that extends down into the crankcase to stop the ring from popping out and catching on the upstroke. I had another barrel provided by C Taylor Esq. that had the same issue and was going to sleeve the barrel and bring it back to standard. By the time I’d bought a sleeve, had it fitted then modified to return it to the same spec as the OEM barrel it was going to cost around $450. Ouch.


Lower mount for the shock canister is missing altogether. Didn’t take a pic of the cracks in the frame around the foot peg mounts but it’s getting close to calling the frame scrap and swapping it out for the 84 frame that I have. Just means that the number sequence won’t match it as an 85.


Picture tells a thousand stories. Can just picture the clowns working out how to fix this is a workshop one night with a six pack of something thinking it would be a good idea. AT least it doesn’t leak so there is one positive to come out of it.


So there is light at the end of the tunnel. Dropped around to see Mario (Monaro308) last weekend and arranged a bit of a barter system on a PE175 basket case. I think I got the better end of the deal (thanks Mario ) as the bits that he had were the parts that I desperately needed and the PE was rather sad. If I hadn’t got these parts I was going to ditch the project.


I have a spare swing arm and shocker that are the original parts from my 84 125. They’ll need some work but as the bike will be a sometime race, practice day, HBBB, Classic Dirt bike it needn’t be 100% perfect.

[BAHNZY]

Plastics look good hasn't been in the sun to long at all you should be able to make it look near new again good luck.

Michael,
Plastics are real good, aside from the left side panel, which i have a good spare.
Some work on these will see them come up like new.
The last 84 125 i bought from Ballarat was advertised as having a new top end, which it did have. The bore was fresh and the piston was spanking new except...... The bottom end had let go and the piston smacked the head a million times and was destroyed.
Rod

[BAHNZY]

Shiny spokes aside, i'll be happy if it comes up looking like this one.

[Hoony]

this project sounds exy Bahnsy 

[BAHNZY]

Hoony,
I hoping that i can finish the bike, put in the corner with some growth hormones and steriods and magically in a year or so it might grow into a 500 and i'll get the bike that i so desperatly want but cant afford.

[monaro308]

I think there is about 2 or 3 of us on here with the 84-85 RM125 so if i put the parts on Ebay,i'm sure it would have been you bidding on it Rod.
I'd rather it be of use to you and get another VMX bike back to life than make money on it,just like frosty wouldn't accept money for his PE175 floater muffler (i haven't forgotten Frosty )..what goes around comes around!
Rod,if your swingarm and rocker needs bearings read my RM175 project on the 2nd page.

Keep those pics coming!

[Mike52]

And some more pics and sad stories to accompany them;


This is what someone thought was a good idea for a new muffler mount. Not hard to fix but a pain in the arse job that will take time to fabricate a new bracket and weld it to the frame.


Picture tells a thousand stories. Can just picture the clowns working out how to fix this is a workshop one night with a six pack of something thinking it would be a good idea. AT least it doesn’t leak so there is one positive to come out of it.

Yep definately the same guys.

[Boyracer]

At what point do you say 'its farked'? Good luck with it, good old RMs are cool but that one looks like 12 months worth.

[BAHNZY]

this project sounds exy Bahnsy 

YEP, This is the list of parts on order thus far.....
Chain Guide - 61348-14510
Lock Washer - 09167-17002
RH Crank Seal - 09289-28007
LH Crank Seal - 09283-18004
Crank O Ring - 09280-20004
Crank Lock Washer - 09166-12007
Intake Manifold    - 13111-14510
Disc Brake Cover - 59231-14500
CDI Protector - 32941-14300
CDI Holder - 32942-14111
Front Number Plate - 94911-00B10-25Y
Tank Holder - 44560-14500
Shock Flap (Protector) -    63112-14500
Rear Guard Protector - 63331-14500
Chain Guide - 61273-14500
Oil Seal - 64845-14100
Shock Canister Buffer - 62423-14500
Canister Grommet - 62423-14510
Canister Cushion - 62331-14502
Canister Holder - 09462-00082-XC0
Cable Holder (Guide) - 58621-14520
Water Pump Seal - 09168-06025
Water Pump Seal - 17470-02F00
Complete Gasket kit
Piston & Ring Kit
Con-Rod Kit
Full engine bearing kit
Full engine seal kit
Clutch Fibre set
Spark Plug and Cap
Throttle Cable & Clutch Cable
Grips & Lever Sets
Kill Switch
Button bend bars
All Bars Swing arm rebuild kit
All Balls Tapered Head Stem Conversion
Front & Rear Sprocket & Chain
Front & Rear Wheel Bearings
Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Linings
Front & Rear Tyres, Tubes & Rim Locks
Fork Seals & Oil
Rear Shock Seal Head
Twin-Air Air Filter

And it does not include the powdercoating and plating costs. And this is just to bring it back to life!