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.

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👍🏼

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

8:20 saw a ghost come out of it!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

As you stood there I felt those mosquitoes 🦟

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 💯

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

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.....

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.

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

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.

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.

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 👍

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Woot woot been waiting for a life time

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

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

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

Did you check the cap on the tank to make sure it’s venting correctly?

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

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.

I’m going with 1979 based on the tank graphic and the seat lettering?

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

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

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

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

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

The ignition timing may still be a little off. Looks like a 79. Good luck getting it going again.

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

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,

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!

LET IT WARM UP

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

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.

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

Try rotating the stater into the direction the flywheel turns. I had an 85 RM 80 ran the same way, I opened it up and the screws holding the stater had backed off and it went out of time. This was a thing on these Suzukis. Try it out go both ways from where it is currently.

Love the trial and error and figuring out the issues!

lower the throttle needle one clip! my 03 sounded the same untill i did that! its running to rich or just a wrong sparkplug or timing

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.

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

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.

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!

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....

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

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.

this bike hasn’t ran like this since the Reagan-Bush era. Nice Work, again, Dude. thanks for keeping them alive & relevant. she’s an old girl, but she’s strutting nicely in these modern times.

Great progress!!!

What with the swing arm on this machine it looks absolutely mint for a bike thats been standing that long pal

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

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)

You make working on these things look like a cake walk and I'm learning. I'm gonna find me a non runner and try to get it running. And try to rebuild one also . If I have any questions I will ask you if that's ok

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

Have you checked the timing? Stator adjustment?

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

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

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!!!

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!

Man i love your videos

Was that a ghost at 8:18 😂

You need to rebuild the top and bottom end because 125 2 stokes meant to do wheelies in power band and it just isn’t getting to the power band

Did anyone else see the little blurred triangle float across the screen

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!

Great job. Try the stator turnen as far clockwise in the slit as possible. At the moment she fires a tat too late. When comes the 96 up?👍

the needle dosen´t have effect on full throttle, cause there the needle/main jet ist complete open and bike seems to run well at full throttle. in my opinion the bike run to rich whenn throttle up at the beginning, so i would try to hang the needle down to make it more lean at the beginning of throttleing.

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 👍

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

Brought back the best memories.thanks 👍

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

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

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

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

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

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

I remember buying an old 1986 CR125 back in the day and it had this problem, but never ended up knowing what it was cause I sold it like that. It had good top end and now low very similar to this. Would love to know after 15+ years why that happened. It always bugged me!

Waiting for next video! Awesome!

That was like 'too much air'. For example Suzuki PV50 did not run fine at all if the rubber tube adapter of air intake box was missing. It was really critical of amount of the air.

Hey Joe,in the tire pile behind the RM,do you have some Dico trail hawk tires?

Nice! Not running too bad .. can't wait to see it with air filter and playing with jets.

Yeah boi !!! Very nice job!