Post by: motoxr377 on July 10, 2012, 03:54:32 AM
Got another project on the way, this one's a doozie. It's a 1979 RM125, in terrible shape. I got it for a case of beer, and have been buying parts for it ever since. This bike's a clean canvas, so I might as well go all out. I'm building it in preparation for an assault on Unadilla MX Rewind 2013.
I'll post pictures as they roll in, but don't have much to show yet. Aside from new bearings, bushings, gaskets, and seals, here's the skinny on what I'll be making here.
DG Head - purchased
55.5mm Wiseco Kit - purchased
Pro-X Rod Kit - purchased
Vintage Iron Retro Rocket Pipe - being constructed
Custom Carbon Silencer - needs mocking up
Boyesen Reeds - on order
Pro Form Racing Footpegs - purchased
New brakes, cables, kill switch, throttle, levers/perches, kickstarter - purchased
Renthal Vintage Hi 7/8" bars - purchased
Cylinder, DG Head, Piston Kit, and Reed Block are off to Eric Gorr right now to be bored, honed, milled, and ported for a Mid-to-Top powerband. The magnesium clutch and ignition covers are off to PTI industries for a Dow 7 treatment. Later in the build I'll focus on the suspension, sending the forks off to Race Tech and have custom Shocks built to match. Stay tuned.
Post by: TMKIWI on July 10, 2012, 10:29:11 AM
Post by: SachsGS on July 12, 2012, 05:02:51 AM
Post by: twosmoke595 on July 12, 2012, 04:48:16 PM
Some piggy back Ohlins would be trick.
only kind of shocks that need to be on a vintage bike are the fox floaters. but then again they're impossible to find, but if you can find them, fox shocks are the way to go. But if you cant then ohlins should be pretty good too
Post by: motoxr377 on July 12, 2012, 05:27:04 PM
Sweet. Look forward to seeing the progress.
Thanks. I am trying to gauge interest, if nobody cares I don't think I'll put in much effort posting.
Some piggy back Ohlins would be trick.
I feel the same way. Race Tech's with remote resevoirs are a good deal and fully custom per application. I can get them anodized gold as well
only kind of shocks that need to be on a vintage bike are the fox floaters. but then again they're impossible to find, but if you can find them, fox shocks are the way to go. But if you cant then ohlins should be pretty good too
I plan on this bike being legal for SEVMX series (just moved to Georgia). I don't fall under the more stringent AHRMA rules (except when I go to Unadilla), so I'm making the suspension as modern as possible, within reason.
Here are some photos.
I am replacing all factory hardware (especially dreaded phillips head bolts) with Flanged 8mm or Allen heads. The fuel tank cleaned up well, but far from show quality. I'm riding it though, so it's all good.
The DG Head and Cylinder, cleaned up before getting shipped to Eric Gorr.
Here's a shot of the Clutch cover mid-blast, before getting shipped to PTI.
Enjoy, more to follow! I just got a VM34 from Sudco with their baseline jetting, pretty exciting stuff.
Post by: TMKIWI on July 12, 2012, 10:38:19 PM
I replaced all the engine bolts on my 84' and it looks good.
Post by: riffraff on July 13, 2012, 04:46:06 AM
Post by: SachsGS on July 13, 2012, 03:11:45 PM
Post by: citabjockey on July 13, 2012, 09:15:12 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on July 13, 2012, 10:36:59 PM
DC Plastics do complete Allen head engine bolt kits for a reasonable price.
I replaced all the engine bolts on my 84' and it looks good.
Already in my possession! Nice piece of kit.
That DG head is beautiful, I always liked the gold anodize
Thanks man. It's pretty rough, so I might need to polish it and re-anodize it again.
Did that model of RM have a combination of piston port/case reed induction? I always wondered what Suzuki's reasoning was behind that setup.
My '78 of the day had a 2 petal reed in the floor of the intake port leading direct to the crank case. It made a good spread of power. I think the 79 has the same setup despite being a new motor (the original poster can confirm). I believe the theory was to have a unblocked intake port for when the timing is a perfect rpms and have the reed valve so the crank can suck before the piston opens the port. Seemed like a good idea to me but I guess very large reed cages arranged for pretty much the same result.
Yep, two-petal trap-door reed block in the crankcase on the base of the cylinder.
Post by: motoxr377 on August 01, 2012, 04:22:33 AM
Post by: SachsGS on August 01, 2012, 03:30:01 PM
Post by: Coop on August 01, 2012, 08:12:03 PM
Post by: MXLord327 on August 02, 2012, 02:42:51 PM
Post by: Coop on August 19, 2012, 08:54:19 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on August 20, 2012, 03:01:58 AM
I found this magazine cover the other day... Premature Burial?
Here's some shots of the painted, ported, bored, and honed cylinder.
The chamber was polished up a ton from before, with only slight pitting remaining. It looked pretty bad before this.
Eric had specs on hand for this bike. From the looks of it he didn't touch the transfers if any, but the exhaust port has been heavily modified in both height and width. The intake and exhaust runners have also been honed and the ports are much smoother at the bridges. Good work, excellent price.
Post by: cnrcpla on August 21, 2012, 02:05:27 AM
Post by: citabjockey on September 05, 2012, 05:33:52 AM
I found this magazine cover the other day... Premature Burial?
Post by: _X_ on September 07, 2012, 01:27:17 AM
Post by: motoxr377 on October 09, 2012, 04:08:57 AM
Post by: motoxr377 on October 28, 2012, 01:36:17 AM
Cylinder is ready to go, bottom end is not. Ring end gap is set. Painted, Ported, Bored and Honed (with exhaust bridge relief!) Cylinder is now mated up to the refinished DG Sunburst Head. I chose to paint it, and it came out great. If anyone is interested, it is VHT Metalflake Gold Engine Enamel, and is available at AutoZone.
5 coats later:
Also, I found a picture of the bike when I brought it home for a case of BL (note: now parted with '01 RM125)
Stay tuned!
Post by: TMKIWI on October 28, 2012, 08:15:53 AM
Post by: Super Trucker on October 28, 2012, 04:46:30 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on February 01, 2013, 11:00:46 PM
Post by: evo550 on February 01, 2013, 11:57:12 PM
What shocks are fox "floaters" ? Never heard of them.Some piggy back Ohlins would be trick.
only kind of shocks that need to be on a vintage bike are the fox floaters. but then again they're impossible to find, but if you can find them, fox shocks are the way to go. But if you cant then ohlins should be pretty good too
Post by: 2T Institute on February 02, 2013, 02:56:43 AM
Update!
Cylinder is ready to go, bottom end is not. Ring end gap is set. Painted, Ported, Bored and Honed (with exhaust bridge relief!) Cylinder is now mated up to the refinished DG Sunburst Head. I chose to paint it, and it came out great. If anyone is interested, it is VHT Metalflake Gold Engine Enamel, and is available at AutoZone.
5 coats later:
Also, I found a picture of the bike when I brought it home for a case of BL (note: now parted with '01 RM125)
Stay tuned!
That head is great way to loose a few HP
Post by: motoxr377 on February 02, 2013, 12:42:45 PM
That head is great way to loose a few HP
Elaborate. Eric set the squish, it has higher compression, other than that it is identical to a stocker.
Post by: _X_ on February 02, 2013, 01:17:24 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on February 02, 2013, 01:36:50 PM
motorxr, whats it really matter? its a vintage racer and i'm sure it will draw alot of attention at the track. not only that, the majority of vintage racers are slow.HA!
Thanks racer x. That's what I'm going for. The bike's for Unadilla MX Rewind, after that I'm not too sure what I'll do with it.
Engine's complete, just waiting to be ridden. 55.5mm bore, Boyesen reeds with matched intake, ported by EG, head mods by EG. The kickstarter is a superseded part.
I just need to blast and coat the frame black, send out the front boingers and get rear ones built. Also, I'm waiting on swingarm bearings, a pipe, rubber pieces, seat foam,etc.
The bike's getting a 520 conversion, made easy by the 1980 model. I just picked up some Pro-form pegs as my feet are huge and the stockers are not. They fit perfectly. Compared to stock:
Stay tuned!
Post by: SachsGS on February 03, 2013, 01:03:11 AM
Post by: riffraff on February 03, 2013, 02:41:47 AM
Post by: TMKIWI on February 03, 2013, 04:28:40 AM
I just picked up some Pro-form pegs as my feet are huge and the stockers are not. They fit perfectly. Compared to stock:
Pegs look good.
I cut up a pair of yzf pegs and made them fit.
Way better then stock.
Post by: 2T Institute on February 03, 2013, 09:48:26 AM
That head is great way to loose a few HP
Elaborate. Eric set the squish, it has higher compression, other than that it is identical to a stocker.
Simple fact is those bling bling heads hold heat for far longer than the standard head. Performance drop off with one of Don and Gary's best sellers is realy sad. There is a famous Cycle World test that I'll see if I can find the link to where all the back in the day aftermarket heads were tested. As in the usual Cylce World style , a CHT and a dyno is employed so it isn't a objective test.
Post by: evo550 on February 03, 2013, 11:03:49 AM
If it's fox airshox your talking about, they're dime a dozen, even rebuild kits are avaliable.Some piggy back Ohlins would be trick.
only kind of shocks that need to be on a vintage bike are the fox floaters. but then again they're impossible to find, but if you can find them, fox shocks are the way to go. But if you cant then ohlins should be pretty good too
Post by: SachsGS on February 03, 2013, 03:12:19 PM
www.ridefox.com
Post by: motoxr377 on February 04, 2013, 02:19:53 AM
That head is great way to loose a few HP
Elaborate. Eric set the squish, it has higher compression, other than that it is identical to a stocker.
Simple fact is those bling bling heads hold heat for far longer than the standard head. Performance drop off with one of Don and Gary's best sellers is realy sad. There is a famous Cycle World test that I'll see if I can find the link to where all the back in the day aftermarket heads were tested. As in the usual Cylce World style , a CHT and a dyno is employed so it isn't a objective test.
Bummer! Oh well... Looks cool!
Post by: 2T Institute on February 05, 2013, 01:09:41 PM
The command top dollar especialy the Elsinore heads, seen $300 odd paid for them. Many won't contemplate that they have a bit of bling not performance. I found the tests to.
A interesting aside a contact in the US knew both Don and Gary well, they found literaly miles of the heat sink extrusion at a scrapyard they thought it looked like a good head and it annodised well. Just shear luck to happen upon the material.
Post by: motoxr377 on February 06, 2013, 02:52:01 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on May 06, 2013, 12:41:22 AM
I've got everything in for this bike to be done, save for a pipe, front fender, carb, and rebuilt forks. Here's how she's looking so far, as I started to bolt her together this weekend.
Engine in the frame
Triple clamps in with new tapered bearings, CDI on. Note how I have split this project's time roughly Dutch-style with the CR500 I'm building. Note the jig in the CRF.
As it sits now. New filter in a freshly-cleaned airbox (It looked like some Afghan took a dump in there), and new airboot. New fuel pet**** and fuel cap. New Renthal Vintage Hi bars with a replica JT number plate. I mounted the coil and such, but do have to take the tank off again for the throttle cable and to wire up the kill switch.
I'll keep them coming in short order now that I have some time to. Unfortunately, this one might just get sold off to fund the 500...
Post by: TMKIWI on May 06, 2013, 07:42:33 AM
Unfortunately, this one might just get sold off to fund the 500...
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo........................................................
Don't do it.
Looks good btw.
Post by: evo550 on May 06, 2013, 11:16:08 AM
That's how they sold millions of them
A interesting aside a contact in the US knew both Don and Gary well, they found literaly miles of the heat sink extrusion at a scrapyard they thought it looked like a good head and it annodised well. Just shear luck to happen upon the material.
Now THAT'S a product evaluation.....
Nice job on the Rm motoxr.
Post by: Lolerbabop on May 06, 2013, 11:47:54 AM
Post by: motoxr377 on May 12, 2013, 01:40:48 AM
Here's where I left it today. I need to address the brakes, swingarm, forks, and shocks still. The last purchase of real value are the tires.
Post by: citabjockey on May 12, 2013, 04:10:52 AM
Still seem to me that dirt bikes should have jugs with cooling fins. Just looks right!
Post by: venturamegamart on June 06, 2013, 11:00:06 AM
Post by: motoxr377 on July 21, 2013, 01:47:17 AM
The forks are still at Noleen J6, and the bike is just waiting on them to be rebuilt, the only new aesthetic are the grips/throttle.
She didn't start without trouble. Turning on the fuel caused it to immediately pour from the vent lines, so I pulled it to check the floats.
Carb Parts Warehouse put them in upside-down!!
After fixing it, the VM34 let it start no problem.
Post by: _X_ on July 21, 2013, 08:45:25 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on July 21, 2013, 11:13:43 PM
good to hear motoxr, shell be a looker.
Thanks boss
Post by: motoxr377 on November 12, 2013, 08:15:47 PM
More photos to follow, probably going to sell it to fund the 500 because I'm pretty tapped at the moment.
It is so surprisingly fun. There is no bottom end push, at midrange it quickly builds into an impressive top end rush.
Post by: _X_ on November 12, 2013, 10:36:35 PM
Post by: TMKIWI on November 13, 2013, 07:37:37 AM
You shouldn't be riding in those shoes either.
Post by: motoxr377 on November 23, 2013, 12:49:44 AM
The bike is for sale, $2500. It's in Hope Mills, North Carolina. 607-229-0275, Call or text on evenings.
Post by: _X_ on November 23, 2013, 02:29:38 PM
Post by: motoxr377 on November 24, 2013, 12:26:50 AM
your wife has great taste in shoes. i cant believe its for sale motoxr. all that hard work, must be hard to let go even though its going to the other project.
You're not making this any easier!
She's thrifty. Maybe bought a pair of shoes once in the five years we've been married. One of us has to be!
Post by: _X_ on November 24, 2013, 01:38:15 AM
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