ALIVE After 15 Years! $100 Suzuki Rm 125 Dirt Bike First Ride 

Thanks for giving me a couple minutes of my teenage life back- best sound of any engine ever

Man I remember walking into the Suzook dealer back in 79’ and seeing all of these bikes sitting so tall and bright yellow and blue. The smell of fresh rubber and classic music echoing from the parts counter into the showroom. ZZ Top, sniff n the tears, the knack, Pat Travers, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin….. fantastic memories.

8:20 saw a ghost come out of it!

On camera it sounds like a typical old 80's R M

This bike is a ‘79 and the intake manifolds were notorious for tearing causing an air leak.The chain tensioner and plastic roller above it on the swing arm are only on a ‘79.

Awesome job. The bike is a 1979 N model. The bike is a collectors item. I had one when I was 13 years old. Brings back a ton of memories👍🏼

@8:16 do.u see the crazy puzzle thing float across from the kick start over to the right

That's what I got my '79 RM 125 for years ago. Glad I kept it - and my other vintage bikes! You will love that bike!

That my 1st bike at 13yrs old, got it for free, man it fouled plugs like crazy. Had to learn how to ride in the powerband with a bike like that ( no powervalves yet) Mine was free, Hide it in my fathers barn in the summer till I finished the chassis restoration. Then I asked him to help me with engine, needless to say he didnt want me to have a bike. Learned alot, alot of good memories. love the video. Probably could rebuild that bike in my sleep lol.

As you stood there I felt those mosquitoes 🦟

Clutch doesn't sound great and still needs some fine tuning but it's alive good job Joe ! If I were you, I'd spend a little bit of time polishing this thing it's worth some money in the vintage circuit. Few cans of vht and some wet sanding of the plastics will make you a couple grand more than you could've gotten.

Youre getting there, it doesn't sound too far off, definitely need that filter on so its stock specification, then you have a base line to jet from. Slide, needle and jets may be worn/ovalled, have a look at those reeds will ya? Vintco $20 and well made, cnc machined apparently, not stamped out.

On the plus side of things, it's running! It's alive and ready for some fine tuning. Thanks again for your time and effort. Keep on it, you'll have it figured out soon.

I had a 1980 Suzuki PE 250 in 1980, I was 20 years old, bought it brand new for $1,100. rode it for 2 years with no problems, ran great, and then I traded it in for a 1982 Suzuki RM465Z, or what I called the beast. What a machine, great suspension, after I sent the rear shock to White Bros and had a fork kit put on the front, and power galore. I had the RM465 for 8 years and never had one problem with it, best bike I ever owned. Started 3rd kick when it was cold, and 1st kick when it was warm. Your 125 seems to be running pretty good, the old RM bikes had very little power on the low end, it was all at 3/4 throttle to full throttle, so that bike is running good at higher rpm's. I would try it with the air cleaner on, never rode one without it, and see what that does. Then maybe mess with the jetting a little, or change the needle setting. Make one change on something then check it, and see what it does. The top end power and the color of the spark plug is a good sign it should run good. I bet if you mess with it a little you will get it running pretty good. Remember though, an older RM is all top end power, they are way down on power at low rpm's, which is the way they were made, they are race bikes.

It is really hard to kill that vintage of RM125. I had one and was riding across bottom lands and buried it in a creek. Drug it out, gave it a couple of days to dry out, changed the gas, and it fired right up. Of course that was after sticking a truck and tractor trying to get it out. Ah, the memories.....

at 8:16 did anyone else notice that weird thing floating across the screen?

LET IT WARM UP

Hey joe I really like your videos and they help me out alot when Im working on a new atv or dirtbike. I really enjoy the dirtbike rebuild videos. Thanks for the vids keep up the good work.

Here we go just gets it started and let's wrap it out start screaming it

So good you got it going after 15 yrs nice old Suzuki RM so cool love you're videos fella can't wait to see you test ride it 👍

"Yeah it's not better " hahaha sweet bike I'm sure you will get it running mint. Love the content keep it up Joe.

Before you start messing with the carb i'd be inclined to check the ignition timing using a DTI. Case marks are notoriously inaccurate.

Great video. It's a 79 as people have said below. I had a 78 RM125C as a 14 year old, it was a fantastic bike. I'd suspect it needs jetting and a really good service, as these things had 28 to 30hp from the factory - seems well down on power and not revving out to the max. Rear factory shocks were always a problem, the seals went quickly and they leaked tons back in the day.

Man I love the sound of sn old Suzuki starting up, my uncle has a Rm80 from 1982 that he used to ride in the dunes down in Cali, but I started the bike up this year and it sounded crisp 🤙🏽 just needed an oil change and she was ripping like 60 mph 💯

Watched the three Vids while in lockdown in Melbourne Victoria Australia what a great way to spend the time I can remember the days when They first come out even though I was a Yamaha Guy in the early days these were a hot bike. Well Done Cheers

you are correct about the choke if you turn it on and it runs worse it usually means its too rich try the air fuel screw the needle is for middle range rpm the screw is for lower end rpm

For 100 bucks this deserves to be restored 🤟🏻🔥🤟🏻

I WORK SO HARD ON THESE OLD BIKES AND I HAVE SO MUCH FUN WHEN THEY WORK VINTAGE BOY!

Having no filter won't help, it will bog without it, then check you pilot jet setting, it's not far off. Does sound a little "ringy" to me, might be worth replacing the small end bearing.

Thanks for the video, bring back some great memories when I was 14 years old I got a 1979 RM 125 it looked just like this one, that was 39 years ago, I had an RM80 briefly before this one,

Deal of the century! I raced one in 79 B class Minnesota, awesome bike!

Bro your to good I’ve been watching your shows since the first episode man you doing grate thangs man 🎉

really missing my 82 rm now,almost wish i hadnt seen this

Would love to see you keep building this one and add to the collection

Good job on the fix👍 enjoying the vids from Liverpool UK

Love the trial and error and figuring out the issues!

Well I really enjoyed the video get the filter finish it videos are really good thanks for sharing from start to finish I will continue watching

god i love that sound brings me back to late 80 early 90s thanks for the trip down now im jealous lane lol

Brought back the best memories.thanks 👍

Love your videos,brings back alot of memories,my first bike was a Honda CR80 then a RM 125,then I had a suzuki GT 185,my last was a yamaha RD 350 with powerband,I'm from Belfast Northern Ireland,I havnt rid a bike in yrs....

Great progress!!!

I had a 79 RM 125 for a while, had the same problem with the electrical coil timing. I also had it bored to ~180cc since a piece of spark plug had apparently broken off and scratched the entire cylinder. It was a blast to ride, lots of bottom end power.

Thank you for saving this 2 strokes life they sound so much better than then the 4 strokes & much more fun good job.😊

Had a pe 250 79 model man it was a fun bike .I. Got a manual for it helped me out a lot on the bike thanks for sharing owsom video

Fantastic RM sound, will have to get one!

My friend had one if these in the early 80s. We rode it everywhere. Good memories. Nicely done.

I watched one of these climb over fallen trees 4 to 5 feet high . what an amazing trail bike .

To start it you should tip it to one side almost flat for few seconds then start it. That help when has sat for few days or more

Woot woot been waiting for a life time

what a score!! wouldn't take much to make it mint!! good job!

That bike has a lot of original plastics and seat for RM 125N model!😊

You should try to adjust your ground plate. It sounds like its holding spark at higher revs. Good luck! Awesome bike, i had an 80cc years ago.

Love anything Suzuki when it comes to dirt bikes even as much that they get bashed by others last RM was a 98 250 great bike!

Your the man I said it be4 and I'll say it again . You came a long way My Brother . I'd say you a pro bike mechanic by now.

It’s amazing how that back room looks brand new compared to the whole bikePerfect restoration bike

That’s awesome Joe

Excellent hob getting this going again, you are becoming a really good bike mechanic, Please cover that skin up on test rides, just in case! Going down even in good gear hurts, but hurts less!

That brought back some good memories, i had a 1980 RM125 in the early 90's :)

fuck yeah, never clicked on a video faster. I've been waiting for this one...

It's important to put the air vacume hose on the gas cap and aiming the open end forward just under the bars between clamps ( I had the 1980 version ) from 78/ 82 The Susuki RM (Ruled the Wotld)

I'm not going to lie I like giving it the beans but those are too many beans for that old bike

I would love to see you restore this bike this is a true survivor

I THINK THAT YOU ARE DOING FANTASTIC WORK AND I LOVE YOUR PERFORMANCE

Sure sounds good to me. Are used to race that bike back in the early 80s. I have them at home and Parts I have to restore good to know about the stater.

Cool bike, man! Can't wait to see you race the 1996 rm with it

Ahh man as soon as i heard that thing fire up it took me back to my schoolboy moto x days. I had a brand new one of these in 1979 & did really well on it throughout the season. God i wish i still had it. Definitely a 1979 RM125 N.

Sounds rich to me. Great video. Keep it vintage.

First, dig your videos and taste in bikes for not being from that era. Glad to see you engaging the kick start rachet first before kicking. It's easy to just start whaling away when engines dont kick over, ie Suz 500 twins. Been there and done that, but having had an engineer father I know better; "don't use a screwdriver for a chisel, never use vice grips/channel locks on a bolt/nut when you have the proper size wrench available." Keep up the great work Bro!

i had one in a 250 man it was the bad's think i every had between my legs . when you seen a hill you didn't have to i think i can make it just hang on you will get to the top . i used mine for porker runs man i love those days . i love the sound of a 2 stroke !!!!

my first dirt bike was a suzuk 125 79 lay down shock in the rear, then 1980 hit and they went to full florter sup

Good mechanical resolution to the hiccups. Once the bike gets a new chain and sprocket also the cover to the engine side and new lining cover to the ripped seat. A nice pressure wash and lubrication with a good coat of silicone spray. You are quite savvy in trouble shooting to get any bike back up and running.

Yeah boi !!! Very nice job!

Was that a ghost at 8:18 😂

I love the fast forward stuff that’s just great I’m starting my day off with a laugh and a smile thank you and love watching your channel I look forward to every video thank you

Great deal. Love to see old dirtbikes that run good. Used to have 1977 Suzuki RM 125, super light, easy to maintain, handled great.

Hi another great video on a old suzuki I watch all your videos and always leave a like 👍 But today something strange Happened in your startup of the suzuki 125 after you swapped round the stator a funny triangle shaped image moved across the screen from your carburettor to the right of the screen it looked like some sort of glitch keep up the great videos 👍

The best rebuilder your a legend bro keep it up bro 😅

Man that takes me back to my youth ,the sound of angrys bees chasing me.as i roll the curves on a twisty mountain secodary road on my Suzuki 125.yeah somethings off but sure youll dile it in.have fun but keep ur head on.snooky pa.

That’s awesome I just bought a kd80 to use as a pit bike

Think you need to go up on the main jet, it's not letting enough gas through in the high rev range. The idle jet is spot on.

Man i love your videos

This would a great bike restore and to bring those plastic back wet sand them until the faded plastic is gone of the top layer then work ur way up in grit til smooth then clear coat them

Had a 78 125 c,I raced that thing for 3 years,put one topend in it,as a prevention. Bullet proof bike,fast,turned on a dime,jumped great,I put s&w stroker shocks on it,and a Simon's air fork kit on it,boyeson fiber reeds,ported and polished the cylinder, cut the pipe open,removed all the baffling in the pipe,and I pulled many many holeshots, and won many races on it.wish I still had one!!!I would race it in the open class too,and still pull hole shots on that 125!!!

Get an air filter on it before you start rejetting it. Classic little bike should clean up nice.

Check your fuel/oil mixture ratio. I did a real quick google search and saw both a 20:1 and a 30:1 recommendation for that bike. I know my 88 LTZ250R runs at a 20:1 ratio. That might help fix some of the issue.

Be amazing to find a nice old classic smoker over here. Good luck mate

Needs a stator timing......that how you adjust timing on those.

$100 for a 79 RM 125 is a steal. Nice!

You need to fab up a leakdown tester for working on these 2 strokes. It takes the air leak variable out of the mix of possible problems

put this as a 78 250 roger decoster works bike and there is my favorite machime ever built had one growing up and it would destroy anything got next to it throw rocks so hard it would leave huge bruizes these are animals love em

Another fantastic video $100👍amazing ,great detective work and yes restore the babe 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍀🙏

Waiting for next video! Awesome!

A new air filter and an I would also suggest some 3 ounces of marvel mystery oil with premium fuel with synthetic oil for the engine

There is a uap in this video,did you see it??and a loose drive chain.and a dirty carb.

I’m shocked it ran that good! I rode one in Utah in 1984

You freaking genius!

Awesome looking bike, i might be buying an 86 rm125

My mom had/has one of these bad boys. I always wanted to restore and drive it. Maybe one day

move the needle clip up not down .the bog is from to much gas , try the top position i had a 1979 rm80 that only ran good in that position

Discovered you lately and am enjoying you great work !! Turns out that I have exactly the same bike, also with frame number removed as well as ignition problems ( intermittent ). Had to check on line what year it is, 78 or 79, but I do now for sure that mine is a 79 because the wheels have a mfr date, bein, one is from 11/78 and the other 12/78. I have never heard you mentioning these dates so I was just wondering if you were aware of them. Grtz from Sweden.