restoring 81 - 83 rm 125

[crustydog]

G'day all new to the site and looking for any advice on restoring an old RM 125, whats the best place to get a full set of new plastics? is there a good cheap supplier or should i just trawl ebay? also any problems with these models that i should look out for? any info would be great.

[Nobby25]

Try these Crusty, Dc for a rider, VS for show, vmx for both types in Aus
http://www.dcvmx.com/
http://www.vintage-suzuki.com/
http://www.vmxunlimited.com/

[crustydog]

cheers Noddy, would seem that is an 80 model 125T frame with an 83 125D motor??.will get out and take some pics when the rain stops.have previously restored an 74 RL 250 trials bike so am glad there is alot more out there for RM models.

[JohnnyO]

An 80 model is an air cooled twinshock bike, would be hard to fit watercooled motor and radiator.

[PCMAX]

Lots of good OEM parts here for early model RM's;
www.bikebandit.com

[crustydog]

[Davey Crocket]

There aint nothing T about that bike.

[JohnnyO]

That's '82 or '83.

[crustydog]

frame number starts with RM125 - $#%$#%$#  thought the 81 onwards started with J. anyhoo will keep the photos coming as the project rolls on.

[Cabmkr]

Crusty,
    It looks to me and 82/83 motor (reed cage) with an 81 frame (steel struts). It looks about the same condition as mine,  beat to hell but all there!

Cheers, Chris

[Nobby25]

Hey Crusty, I have just started on a 75 RL any tips?
The places I got most of my oem RM parts were
http://www.partshark.com/custompage.asp?pg=suzukiparts
http://anchakandsons.com/news.html
both great service and reasonable postage
Look forward to watching it come together
cheers Nob

[suzuki59]

Thats a 1982 RM 125Z mate.Lots of parts are still available from Suzuki.

[crustydog]

cheers fellas.Nobby patience is the key with the old RL's. took me about 4 years to get it to about 90% complete.rang nearly every wrecker in oz to get parts, got told to bin it and that i was flogging a dead horse. ::)second and third gears where all smashed.parked it up for about 2 years then found a rolling frame and bottom end in a lady's shed and finally got the motor running. TS engines are near identical apart from gear ratio's obviously,bottom ends look identicaldont know what other parts are similar/same. was gunna shoe horn a TS 400  in there just need to make up new mount plates.frames tend to crack near left hand side near the swingarm pivot point.all the best with it.

[crustydog]

any ideas on how to pretty up the swing-arm?? it seems to be made from extruded alum'(correct me if im wrong) which doesn't shine up real easy.

[crustydog]

following other threads on the subject it seems the swingarms have an anodized finish, does the oven cleaner trick work or should i just sand it off