1987 RM125....I”m a sucker for old Suzuki”s..

sandman768
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2/13/2019 6:19am Edited Date/Time 4/29/2020 8:06am
I looked at 3 bikes this past weekend for my next project....and came home with this...




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sandman768
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2/13/2019 6:42am
Bike had been for sale for weeks if not months locally, I had ignored it initially as the sellers photos were poor & ........it’s an 87 RM125...... nothing special....The seller had it listed as an 86 model....not a very good bike, I could tell it was an 87 based off the shock reservoir & shroud graphics, but that is all I could make out in the crappy original sale photos. Bike was listed as “no compression” so I knew it would be a project, but I got the bike for next to nothing..and It had some positive attributes for a project....no damaged cases or frame, pretty much original with low hrs...foot pegs, kick starter, rear brake & shift pedal and shock linkage all still tight....rare for a Suzuki....Seller did not even bother to wash the bike! Got it home & gave it a wash & looked it over better....
sandman768
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2/13/2019 6:45am
Original handlebars, bent but an indication of the hrs on the bike...the bars have a stopper on the front brake side for the master cylinder to rest on
sandman768
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2/13/2019 6:48am
Original clutch lever & perch assy. And tight.... I think original grips also...
ATKpilot99
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2/13/2019 6:53am
Didn't the 87 have a rear disc ?

The Shop

sandman768
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2/13/2019 6:53am
It will need a full engine rebuild...no coolant in the radiators....the P.O. Had the radiator overflow tube connected to the cylinder Powervalve vent! Genius!

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sandman768
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2/13/2019 6:55am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Didn't the 87 have a rear disc ?
250 yes... 125 not until 88.....

sandman768
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2/13/2019 7:03am
Wheel bearings are tight, chain buffer & rear guide still a lot of life left in them...even has the original lower chain roller! And what is this? An air filter....Shocking!

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sandman768
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2/13/2019 7:09am
Now the bad....piston melted on exhaust side...no coolant...detonation....all the likely culprits... and of course the piston/cylinder on last overbore! But rod feels tight and Powervalves in good working condition...


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sandman768
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2/13/2019 7:12am
clutch cover cable holder broke

sandman768
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2/13/2019 7:20am
Crank bearings are a little loose, so full top & bottom rebuild required. Looks like it shares some parts with the 86 & 88 models....I”m going to take my time with this bike and attempt to graph the 88 RM250 tank/seat/ shrouds onto the bike as in the 88 Donny Schmidt GP bike...
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sandman768
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2/13/2019 7:22am
Rt side radiator...

sandman768
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2/13/2019 7:28am
I have the swing arm and linkage soaking in pb blaster before I attempt to disassemble....Suzuki swingarms are notorious for cracking at the bearing area during a frozen bolt removal...I”m guessing this bike was never greased...hope I”m wrong...
ATKpilot99
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2/13/2019 7:37am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Didn't the 87 have a rear disc ?
sandman768 wrote:
250 yes... 125 not until 88..... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/02/13/325128/s1200_F784A58A_EE8F_44DB_9833_138E80A2CD71.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/02/13/325129/s1200_97AE51C3_EA91_4786_A6E1_AC47D21318AA.jpg[/img]
250 yes... 125 not until 88.....

Ah ok. Cool bike and project. I like that era of the rm.
bonseff
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2/13/2019 7:39am
Nice get! Have fun on the build.
2/13/2019 8:56am
I have noticed that places like power seal are starting to offer hard plating for steel bores. It's a little more expensive but not way more then an aluminium bore. Maybe something to look into if the bore isn't too out of spec.
sandman768
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2/13/2019 9:21am
I have noticed that places like power seal are starting to offer hard plating for steel bores. It's a little more expensive but not way more...
I have noticed that places like power seal are starting to offer hard plating for steel bores. It's a little more expensive but not way more then an aluminium bore. Maybe something to look into if the bore isn't too out of spec.
You are correct... My 88 RM 250 already had a sleeve installed when I tore it down, I sent it to Powersealusa & had them plate it as it was still on the standard bore....Options: 1. buy from eBay & get a junk cylinder, which I already have. 2. Buy new NOS from CMSL ...pricy &:shipping will add even more$ 3. Send my cylinder to Ken O’Conner racing and have the sleeve installed correctly..4. Be patient & wait for a usable cylinder to come up for sale.
I will b patient & teardown the rest of the engine & chassis...and see what other surprises exist...
2/13/2019 4:41pm
Do they just use the nikisal on it? I have a couple of steel lined cylinders for my two stroke street bikes. I think maybe worth having done not to hijack your thread just i haven't known anyone who has done it yet. Might have this done on my 1986 Suzuki RG250 since they are still stock bore.
sandman768
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2/13/2019 5:52pm
Do they just use the nikisal on it? I have a couple of steel lined cylinders for my two stroke street bikes. I think maybe worth...
Do they just use the nikisal on it? I have a couple of steel lined cylinders for my two stroke street bikes. I think maybe worth having done not to hijack your thread just i haven't known anyone who has done it yet. Might have this done on my 1986 Suzuki RG250 since they are still stock bore.
Contact Powersealusa...in Pa. they have a good web site, that mentions preserving old rare cylinders with their plating process. Send them an email, they respond. My brother has an RG500, we rebuilt it 2 years ago...4 rm125 pistons!
TooOld4WFO
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2/13/2019 5:56pm
Well done thread. Just the right amount of levity and great images.
8686
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2/13/2019 8:44pm
Sweet.
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quiknic
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2/13/2019 9:11pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Didn't the 87 have a rear disc ?
Nope, 88 was the first RM-125 with rear disc.

quiknic
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2/13/2019 9:12pm
8686 wrote:
Sweet. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/02/13/325306/s1200_50F0655D_87F3_4DE4_99CC_C826F45C4A37.jpg[/img]
Sweet.
Sweet combo, I am looking to build an 88-90 RM-80 to go with our 125 & 250’s
quiknic
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2/13/2019 9:31pm
sandman768 wrote:
Crank bearings are a little loose, so full top & bottom rebuild required. Looks like it shares some parts with the 86 & 88 models....I”m going...
Crank bearings are a little loose, so full top & bottom rebuild required. Looks like it shares some parts with the 86 & 88 models....I”m going to take my time with this bike and attempt to graph the 88 RM250 tank/seat/ shrouds onto the bike as in the 88 Donny Schmidt GP bike...
We have both the 88 RM-125 and 250, both are in pieces as we had the frames powder coated and we wanted to do the 88 250 swap to the 125 to make a Donny Schmit Replica

However we have found that it would require a ton of modifications to the frame, radiators, mounts etc. it actually looks like it will be easier to start with the 250 frame and parts as the 125 engine fits in the frame/swingarm setup and it should only require modifications to the motor mounts and the pipe and silencer mounts. We have been looking for another 250 for this task but the project has been on hold for many months now. Good luck with yours as it will be sweet to have it accomplished!
2/13/2019 9:47pm
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off works design.
sandman768
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2/14/2019 5:42am
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off...
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off works design.
Correct On all points....it actually looks like a pre proto 89 RM125 frame & engine...
sandman768
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2/14/2019 5:44am
TooOld4WFO wrote:
Well done thread. Just the right amount of levity and great images.
I finally got a new IPad....
sandman768
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2/14/2019 6:08am
quiknic wrote:
We have both the 88 RM-125 and 250, both are in pieces as we had the frames powder coated and we wanted to do the 88...
We have both the 88 RM-125 and 250, both are in pieces as we had the frames powder coated and we wanted to do the 88 250 swap to the 125 to make a Donny Schmit Replica

However we have found that it would require a ton of modifications to the frame, radiators, mounts etc. it actually looks like it will be easier to start with the 250 frame and parts as the 125 engine fits in the frame/swingarm setup and it should only require modifications to the motor mounts and the pipe and silencer mounts. We have been looking for another 250 for this task but the project has been on hold for many months now. Good luck with yours as it will be sweet to have it accomplished!
I have an 88 RM 250 gas tank on the way...I figured I would need the tank, shrouds & seat at minimum...we”ll see, I can always just bring it back to stock. I had been wanting to do some custom work on a project....I have a mig welder! ..I enjoy the journey of learning about particular models...lots of useless information... like the 87 shares a lot of bottom end parts with the 86 but has a different head/cylinder &=Powervalve setup. The 87 shares a lot of top end end parts with the 88 but for 88 the clutch was beefed up with additional plates & appears the clutch cover & water pump changed. Thanks for posting the photo of Schmidt’s bike!
quiknic
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2/14/2019 1:49pm
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off...
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off works design.
I am aware, just haven’t been able to get a hold of Lee McCollum to see if he can get me the factory parts needed... Looks like a 250 that I can get me hands on will have to do for my project
sandman768
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2/14/2019 4:01pm
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off...
It's not a 88 rm 250 tank on that bike it's a works aluminium one with 88 shrouds. The frame could even be a one off works design.
quiknic wrote:
I am aware, just haven’t been able to get a hold of Lee McCollum to see if he can get me the factory parts needed... Looks...
I am aware, just haven’t been able to get a hold of Lee McCollum to see if he can get me the factory parts needed... Looks like a 250 that I can get me hands on will have to do for my project
I bought a shock off lee for my 81 RM250 build....good dude...I think he has a weakness for old Suzuki”s also....

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