What RM125s do I have?

[James Lee]

Im no expert on these bikes so when I bought my first rm125 recently I thought I had bought an 81 model ,its a complete runner needing some TLC.On the same trip I also picked 2 81 model RM125s in parts that had new plastics and the parts I needed for the complete bike.When I picked up the 2 parts bikes I noticed many differences,the upright swing arm links were steel where the complete bike were alloy,the parts bikes have crank case induction and the complete one has piston port induction.I bought them anyway as I thought I could end up with atleast 2 nice bikes at the end.When I tried to fit an expansion chamber to the complete bike I found it wouldnt fit as with the coil which was wider.Im hoping someone can tell me what year model bikes I have here.Im %99 sure the 2 parts bikes are 81 and the seller said they defenetly are.Just a bit stumped on the complete bike.

[cyclegod]

Put up the engine and chassis numbers and/or pics that may help us identify them

[suzuki59]

Hi Mate,
Sounds like the complete bike is a 1982 or 1983.
The 1983 had yellow painted forklegs if that makes it easier along with alloy (silver full flaoter arms).The 1981 was a case reed engine the 82/83 was piston port ie the full reed was on the outside of the cylinder.

[TM BILL]

Hey CG happy new year  

RM 125 X 81 has steel full floater struts and a case reed motor like the A,B,C,N,T, design

RM125 Z 82 has i believe still steel struts but a full reed motor , like most reed valve motors

RM 125 D 83 has Alloy struts and full reed motor , also yellow fork bottoms, and an exposed lower half of front brake cable.

RM 125 E 84 more modern styling but back to case reed motor

RM 125 F 85 as above with gold rims and front disc brake

There are many other differences , i will email you some stuff from home. They are all IMHO great bikes but the 81 RM 125X is again IMHO Suzukis most dominant production model produced .

[TM BILL]

This is my 81 RM 125X , restored by Craig Suzuki 59

http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/tmbill/?action=view&current=summercross2011086.jpg

[James Lee]

Very nice bike TM Bill,that is the same as both my parts bikes,one even has the black seat cover while the complete one is blue but still has the same style plastics and it has the yellow fork legs as described so may be an 83?.I had an 83 250 and it had completely different pastics with the radiator shrouds joining to the tank so that made me think the 125 was pre 83.Ill try and get some pictures up to make it easier.

[TM BILL]

Thanks James , Suzuki 59 is a wealth of knowledge on these models 

send your email and i will send you links to related sites

[suzuki59]

Thanks Bill.
James, I used to own a 1983 it was my first VMX resto bike,and then the 1981 that now resides in the TMBill Collection.I just brought another 1983 that I am restoring at present hence I have a little bit of knowledge.They are a good bike you will love it.
I just remembered a funny story.At one time I had two nos tanks for the 1981-1983  RM 125 and after reading the VMX mag with the 1983 in it,I got in contact via vmx42 with the guy who owned the bike,to see if he wanted to buy the tank.He had claimed that he wanted one badly.But alas I think the restoration had got to him by that stage, and he declined the offer  ::)TM Bill has a nos RM 125x tank on his collection bike.Try and find one of those now......
Heres some photos mate:
1983

1982


1981

[James Lee]

Very nice bikes there Suzuki59,thanks for sharing.It looks like I have 1 x 1983 and 2 x 1981s.The new parts I have for the resto is a black seat cover and by the photos you have provided it looks like I have 82 decals,between all the bikes I have a full set of new plastics,the shrouds,rear guard and side number plates are new genuine suzuki and the front guard and number plate is DC.The 81s also came with new cables,swing and wheel bearings and a new selector shaft.One of the 81s has a saftey seat which I would like to use,does anyone know where I could have it recovered?Heres some pics of my bikes as they sit.

[suzuki59]

Hi James,
No worries.Mario at Topline is a great seat man,and has done plenty of full floater RM's.
This topic link also has other options:
http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=14380.0