Suzuki RM80B Barn Find Resto

[alexbrown64]

Hi, Alex here.  My first post on this forum.
I thought i would kick it off with my RM80 story.  I used to race against the RM80B when i was a kid growing up in the sands of WA.  The sound of the mighty "B" was like angels singing in my ears.  They were to be feared and respected.  Anyway, i had a YZ80B which was like coming to a gun fight with wet tissue.  I always wanted one of those B's so now that i'm an old fart i thought i would find one.  I searched a long time as they are rare and finally one popped up on good old EBay in Adelaide.  It looked dirty but was all original and was exactly what i was after.  I organized transport through Doug who can deliver bikes in his antique truck all around Australia for a good price, the caveat being that you have to wait ages.  He advertizes on Gumtree.  Anyway, today the bike arrived and the owner had even given it a good spruce up.  I washed off 2 months of dust and took the photos this morning.  All i have done is put the aftermarket front number plate on as that was the only part missing.  Still looking for an original.  The bike is still on its original tires, chain, sprockets, grips and even has all the warning stickers on the tank as well as a perfect original seat cover.  It is a one owner bike.  The owner says it was last started something like 12 years ago.  Maybe someone can offer advice on how best to tackle getting her running.  I was thinking of putting some 2T oil down the plug hole and slowly working it in, replacing the engine oil, replace plug, airfilter and then check spark, add fresh fuel and see what happens.
I'll post some pics now and follow up as i go but it is going to be a long slow process..... The first one is as advertized on Ebay, the second is today when i got it and gave it a wash.

[Graeme M]

Wow, that's a pretty good find! Just goes to show what you can chase down if you keep your eyes open...

[Doc]

yes, very nice find and so very original

I still remember the day and I still have my little beasty 37 years after the fact





the PR shot from the era was much of the incentive I needed

[Iain Cameron]

Nice find looking forward to following your work . Iain

[alexbrown64]

Thanks guys.
Good pics there too Doc, the kid with the Heckles is probably in a wheelchair now.  I had the plastic Vendramini's.  Hopeless boots. 
Below is a pic from Rockingam Kwinana MCC in 1978.  Thats a 77 RM80B on the line.  My kid brother is on my YZ80E as i had a broken leg at the time.

[SUZUKI311]

Great stuff, gives me some incentive to get mine together. Mine was also a low hour find, but not as good as yours Alex, a mate picked it up for me from the sunshine coast in 2006 and brought it to Vic for me, i pulled it apart to resto, and it is (slowly, veeery slowly...) getting back together. Cant rush these things...

[GMC]

A great find, anything unmolested is usually a good find.

One thing to watch with bikes that have been sitting for years is the fragile air filter.
Often if you try to get it running the filter will fall apart and get sucked into the motor causing more grief.
Also take the carby off and remove all the fossilized petrol.
If you have spark you should be good to go unless the rings have become stuck or the crank seals have perished

[Simo63]

That looks fantastic Alex, well done, she's a little gem mate

[alexbrown64]

Thanks for the comments and advice guys.  I do have a new OEM filter to go on as i would think the original will be perished but i also have to make sure my OEM one isnt perished as it came in the pack pre-oiled.
Here's one for the RM80B nerds/gurus.... I have an original copy of the sales brochure for the RM80B below but it must be a pre-production model in the pic.  Can anyone notice what is different about it.



Cheers,
Alex

[Doc]

Alex, at a glance..
no chain tensioner
TM75 style forks
front hub
triples
sidecovers
shocks
cdi mounted in another position
steel front plate mounts
rear guard angle seems a little 'droopy'

The kid with the Heckles is infact Gaston (The Great) Rahier in Oz

[yamahaman]

i had a yz80c then i upgraded to the rm80b..i couldnt believe how much faster it was..sent me from b grade to a grade in my hunter mini bike club

[shelpi]

fantastic, brings back a lot of sweet memories, I raced YZ80b,c always wanted a RM80B still do, but in that time bought a new RM125B and went to C grade Motocross

[alexbrown64]

Hi Doc, you picked up more stuff than me.  Notice the gear lever and clutch lever.  That bike was never ridden. Gaston Rahier!  I remember him coming to Australia.  Good rider, poor choice of boots.   Shelpi, the RM125B was said to be the "closest thing you will ever get to a works bike".  A big step up from a YZ80 and i remember them being a good bike.  Yamahaman, the B did a lot to help a rider get faster back in the day.  My younger brother had a GT80 for a while until  he got my YZ80B.  You could go around the track faster on a bicycle than the GT.  I remember a kid came down the track on a postie bike.  You wouldn't see that these days.  And most of us used to use Alcoa yellow plastic pants when it rained in winter.  I even remember a kid had Alcoa mono-goggles.  There was no expense spared back then. 

[shelpi]

yep heckles are a poor choice, still got my pair and the scar's to prove it, loved my RM125B and still have one to this day also the 250 and 370 now just need the 80 and 100 for the royal flush 
p.s still have my heckle chest gaurd and Gaston Raheir is and was my Hero

[alexbrown64]

All i have done so far is put an after market front number plate on temporarily.  I know its next to impossible to find an original.  Anyone have any experience with bringing up the plastics on yellow rm's?  My only options are sand and apply that plastic restore stuff or get the whole lot painted when i take the tank in to get done.
On another note, there was a bit of cardboard sticky taped to the inside of the upper fork legs.  I took it off and opened it up and inside was one of those black and silver VIN stickers.  Bike was manufactured 11/76 and has a vin that matches the frame.  Its in fragile condition but i bet there are not many of those around.