Snatched this up on Craigslist

cte936
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4/1/2008
Location
MI US
11/12/2017 2:58pm Edited Date/Time 11/15/2017 11:23am




Got this for $200 today. I usually like the metal tank RM's, but this thing just looked too good, except for those crazy fenders! lol
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11/12/2017 4:16pm
Nice score... Here's a little tip to help you with some of that rust...

EvapoRust - Yup! I'm a believer! Left this rusty old DynoPort exhaust pipe in a shallow tray of just the chemical overnight to test it and was more than pleased at the results!! The stuff is amazing - and it's reusable so you get some really good mileage out of it. I just run it through a fine strainer when pouring it back into the container. I first bought 1gal of it off Amazon to test it ($20) but I got so hooked on it that I bought a 5gal bucket ($75) since I have so many other bikes/projects. Plus the bucket makes it way easier to soak large parts like exhausts.



MaxPower
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2646
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8/15/2006
Location
NJ US
11/12/2017 5:41pm
I wish I had known about the stuff before I ground the crap out of my rusty PSI pipe for hours
sandman768
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5955
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3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY US
11/12/2017 5:50pm
That looks like a very low hr 79....fenders are original, ugly..yes, but they grow on you.. For a 79 to still have the original fenders, rear chain guide, spring loaded front chain guide ,rear shocks, upper chain roller wheel on swingarm, kick stand & what looks to be an original rear sprocket..plastic, silencer , seat cover,.maybe tires too! Very nice score

The Shop

MaxPower
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2646
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8/15/2006
Location
NJ US
11/12/2017 9:06pm
Even though it has been forgotten about you found yourself a great bike to start off of. By the kick stand and strait floating brake arm I know that was never a racer. All race guys back in the day used milk crates for stands. And the brake arm got bent when you tossed the bike up on the crate.
I had a new 79. I'd like one again . Good Luck with it. You're in for good times
cte936
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28
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
MI US
11/13/2017 4:49am
Thanks F150moto. That stuff sounds like a life saver. Should be a fun winter project. Not sure if I'm going to use it as a racer or just a nice resto. yet.
Since73
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71
Joined
4/16/2017
Location
Pearland, TX US
11/13/2017 8:30pm
cte936 wrote:
Thanks F150moto. That stuff sounds like a life saver. Should be a fun winter project. Not sure if I'm going to use it as a racer...
Thanks F150moto. That stuff sounds like a life saver. Should be a fun winter project. Not sure if I'm going to use it as a racer or just a nice resto. yet.
Just picked up a 79 as well; 125T model. Perhaps we can communicate and share info during our builds this winter. My goal is to restore it as a racer in time for Diamond Don's in April. Jealous that yours came with tank and seat; haha. Only thing I've done so far is buy a good tank; haven't found a seat I care for yet.

BRT771
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5/23/2012
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Merrifield, MN US
11/14/2017 8:30am
Isn't the "T" a 1980? I think the 79 is a "N".
Kidkawie
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8/31/2012
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ქუთაისი GE
11/14/2017 9:27am
The chassis on the '80 I had was actually pretty decent. Turned good and soaked up alot of stuff. It was way underpowered but above that I could not get used to the bulging side panels pushing my boots.



Since73
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71
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4/16/2017
Location
Pearland, TX US
11/14/2017 12:40pm
BRT771 wrote:
Isn't the "T" a 1980? I think the 79 is a "N".
Honestly, I'm still a little confused about this. My frame nbr is RM125 107914, Engine nbr RM125 108261.

On two different Suzuki identification charts I've seen, that makes it a "T" model. So does that automatically make it a 1980? Or did it come out midway through 79' or something similar that could mean it could be either? When looking at parts diagrams, I'm able to pull up both the 1979 or 1980 models and see the multiple designators; with "T" being used for both years.

Any Suzuki gurus on here that can shed light on this?

Don't mean to hijack your thread here, 936, perhaps we can both get something from the discussion. And we can compare notes on the two bikes either way.
cte936
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28
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
MI US
11/14/2017 5:12pm
Since73 wrote:
Honestly, I'm still a little confused about this. My frame nbr is RM125 107914, Engine nbr RM125 108261. On two different Suzuki identification charts I've seen...
Honestly, I'm still a little confused about this. My frame nbr is RM125 107914, Engine nbr RM125 108261.

On two different Suzuki identification charts I've seen, that makes it a "T" model. So does that automatically make it a 1980? Or did it come out midway through 79' or something similar that could mean it could be either? When looking at parts diagrams, I'm able to pull up both the 1979 or 1980 models and see the multiple designators; with "T" being used for both years.

Any Suzuki gurus on here that can shed light on this?

Don't mean to hijack your thread here, 936, perhaps we can both get something from the discussion. And we can compare notes on the two bikes either way.
No worries, that's what we are here for. There are so many guys on here with so much info on all these old machines its great!
Yours look really clean. I have some work to do on mine, but thats the fun right? lol. look forward to seeing your progress
AHRMA361
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2465
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4/1/2008
Location
NE, OH US
Fantasy
262nd
11/15/2017 6:05am
Other than the goofy fenders on the 1979 RM's being east to spot, I seem to recall the 1979 RM125 "N" models had a brake rod for the rear and the 1980 "T" models used a rear brake cable.
sandman768
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5955
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3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY US
11/15/2017 6:49am
The 79 is n model & 80 is t model, best of my knowledge no mid year release like in 78. Easy to separate the 2, 80 had better, beefier rear chain guide, no spring loaded front chain guide & used a swingarm buffer on top of arm vs the 79"s roller wheel. I also think the 80 engine used a heavier flywheel, and maybe some mild porting differences, believe the 79 engine had slightly more "hit" to it..... And When I say "hit" take that with a grain of salt....both are excellent choices for restores or racers due to the availibility of parts still floating around, I had a 79 125 back in 82-83, bought a dg head for like 10.00 brand new! Of course it did nothing for performance, but was cool as hell!
BRT771
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53
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5/23/2012
Location
Merrifield, MN US
11/15/2017 6:55am
The 1980 frame numbers start at RM125-102503. The 79 frames start at Rm125-84328. The engine numbers are strange as the Suzuki ID book shows the 1979 engine# starting at RM125-84645 and the 1980 starting at RM125-83087 which seams backwards?
Since73
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71
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4/16/2017
Location
Pearland, TX US
11/15/2017 8:25am
Welp, I definitely have a T model (beefier chain guide, swingarm buffer, rear br. cable etc.), so I guess it's an 80' after all! Previous owner listed it as a 79 and the parts houses show parts for both N and T during both years, but that was all misleading. Thanks guys for helping clear things up. It would have become apparent once I started tearing into the resto process, but I haven't had time to touch it yet.

I want to spend all this week in the garage, but have to "prep" the house/yard for Thanksgiving guests instead....yay

Mouse153
Posts
548
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2/16/2013
Location
Virginia Beach, VA US
11/15/2017 11:23am
I restored an 80 RM125 last winter and it turned out great. You've got a much better starter bike that I had so you'll have fun. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

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