1981 Suzuki RM125-X Classic Motocross Review
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- čas přidán 28. 04. 2020
- This is my look back at Suzuki's iconic 1981 RM125-X. This is the first Suzuki 125 to feature liquid cooling and the first model to employ the ground-breaking Full Floater single-shock suspension system.
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I'll never forget the '81 because my dad bought me a 1980 RM125 and like three months later this awesome '81 machine came out. I was so pissed lol
You poor kid. That must have been rough..
I had a 1980 RM125, then my brother ended up getting the 1981 RM125. His was so much better than mine I found every excuse I could to ride his. Bottom end on his was almost non-existent, but it was better than the ‘80 in every other way. I love that era of bikes.
You poor kid. Everything changed on that bike in 81' I Always said imagine being the kid that got the last 80' right before the single shock liquid cooled 81' came out.
Had a 83 rm125 in 84 as a 14 year old, first mx bike, loved it! Water pump seal always failed making the clutch fail. Full floating suspension was awesome but a mantance nightmare with all the bushings and heims. I miss it.😞
The RM 125 was so good and set the standard and in deep sand was so much better than the rest.
I had the same bike. One of the best 125’s I’ve ever owned. My 84 kx was bad ass too
In 81 I thought I was a good rider because I was doing well. Not until years later did I realize it wasn't me. It was my bike choice. My 81 RM was so much better than the other 81s it was almost like cheating
One of my all time favorite race bikes. Incredible package stock, break it in and go racing...
Floaters RULE!!!
Yes love so many Suzuki dirtbikes!
I raced an 82 RM125 and it was awesome!!
The 1981-83 RM125 is a LEFEND!!
my first 2stroke was this bike. my uncle gave it too me when it needed a top end... he ported and polished the ports and the bike had no low end and was all top end only, it was like a light switch when the power band hit. I loved that bike
such was this bikes dominance here in nz virtually no vintage moto bikes from 81-83 in the 125 are left around but the rm125.
Great summary! I have one minor difference in opinion to offer. I owned a 1982 RM250 back then and it had an air filer box that was conceptually the same as the ‘81 RM125. I appreciated its quick and easy air filter servicing. Remove both filter box side covers and there were the filters, behind hinged screens. They were quick to open for easy filter servicing. The flat filters were super easy to clean and cheap to replace. This was a major leap forward from my 1980 YZ465 cone-shaped filter which soiled itself quickly and then I thought was a hassle to service. The big YZ was also way ahead of its time, but that’s another story. I agree with a previous poster that mentioned that the full floater needed frequent servicing or the heims and other components would quickly wear out. Again, my ‘82 250 had conceptually the same system, and I remember thinking that the problem was that the seals were inadequate. I guess it is all about perspective, as most trophy trucks and long travel kits these days feature heim joints, also called uniballs, with no seals! It is accepted that they will need frequent replacing. That Suzuki gave us any seals at all for their heims was a great effort.
Had the same bike as you and totally agree with everything you say! My RM250Z is still to this day my all time favourite bike. Absolute rocket ship and feather light!
If you ride in the dirt you should expect to strip down and do maintenance on your bike, period. Do that and the RM would reward you with no excuses on the track. Got an RM250Z in bits as a project, along with 1982 YZ and KX250's, great times to have experienced 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
In 1981 you were either on one or wish you were on one. This bike dominated in 1981. Awesome video!!
Thank you!
My all time favorite bike👍 I felt like I had a true works bike after my 1980! Akira Watanabe and Mark Barnett were my absolute Suzuki factory hero’s!
I loved these bikes, I owned 1979, 1980, 1981 & 1982 RM125’s. The 1979 and the 1981 bikes were the absolute best of the bunch; the 1980, the most disappointing (given the advances by everyone else that year). Things changed so fast during that period.
I agree the 81 RM 125 was the best. Stock bike was fast and reliable. Had a 82 and 84 as well. 82 just didn’t have the same feel as the 81. 82 transmission just didn’t shift smoothly in my opinion. 84 was nice, but still not the power and reliability of the 81 RM 125
@@chadwimberly5572 agreed! I had an ‘82 also and it just wasn’t quite the same as the previous bike. Went to Yamaha for 1983, and really loved that bike too for some reason, no one else did😂😂😂😂. Prolly because I finally started winning races on it.
RIP Marty Smith and his wife Nancy.
Such a tragedy. RIP
Loved that bike! It truly was a game changer 🔥👍🍻
This was my first motorcycle. You did a great job of covering the bike. I recall using 7.5 weight fork oil and playing with the oil level for weeks to tune the suspension. I also drilled the air box to let it breath better and also swapped in boysen reeds as they were two stage and woke up the bottom end a bit. Thank you for the great video.
Great review (as always). I’ve owned two of these ‘X’ models over the years, and still love the way they work. Actually, I have nine bikes in the garage now, and this is still my favorite way to nail a berm. Considering setting up for AHRMA, not sure it could be beaten...
My dad had the 81 rm125x and also an IT 175. I love looking at mum's old photos of the.
My friend “Top Cover” still has a 1981 RM in his motocross collection.
I still think the 1978 RM 125 was the best looking and sounding mx bike ever made, just beautiful.
My 14 year old son races one in post vintage Mx
Great channel- Im building an 82 RM250Z, the first watecooled Suzuki 250. would love a review on it.
That was a phenomenal bike
My second bike, after and Honda’s XL70. I was 13. I couldn’t even touch the ground. I idolized it - it was awesome!
Memories! My buddy's dad bought him a brand new 125x when we were in 10th grade and we spend many hours riding. I have a 78 YZ125E and Jeff his new 125X. I remember that Full Floater as being amazing, I would just stare at it in action as he would jump up and down on it, just amazing how the Shock 'floated'. I carried that amazement years later when I bought a brand new CBR954RR and that rear suspension was totally encased in the Swingarm. Jeff and me ended up blowing up his RM and I my YZ, my main Bearing went south and his top end went south. I never fixed my YZ but Jeff's dad payed to get his bike back up and running after a new Cylinder and Piston. I then bought a 1980 RM250 which was a beast to me when in HS. Thanks for this video!
I agree, I hope Suzuki stays in off-road/Mx. I’ve owned four of them to also include the ‘85 RM250 which was the last of the original FullFloater design. Bought it with less then 15 hours on it for 900.00 in early ‘87. The bike did not have a scratch on it and looked brand new. The guy I bought it off of called a few days latter after I purchased it and offered me 1200.00 to buy it back. I said no👍. It was an awesome bike for the 16 year old version of myself. Maybe I’m looking back with a sense of nostalgia, but that Floater rear felt better than my late model shock on my Husky. Ok maybe not, but I’d love to run both bikes back to back to see which has better rear suspension. BTW, the ‘84 and ‘85 had a single sided air-box design. Thanks again Tony, you are making quarantining bearable👏🏻
Thank you I'm glad you enjoy them
I'd love to find an 81' RM 125 and restore it
Incredible bike for 81. Still good enough for 82. But Suzuki blew it in 83 trotting out this bike again.
👍 Tony with the mid night save!
I had an 83 rm250 and that full floater rear end was fantastic for climbing really gnarly steep trails. I never raced it on a track just beat on it on trails. The cylinder sleeve must have been made of some soft steel. We rebuilt it almost every month. My neighbor who would rebuild it promised me it was not designed to run wide open for minutes at a time just corner to corner.😂
My 79 was my favorite then 81 came 👊 and it was next level 💪 Great memories of my years on Zooks .. Appreciate ya TB ✌️😉
very nice vid mate, i had an 83 and it a absolute joy the rear suspension was so good i remember it saving me many times and on the track after 10min you were at the front just because that rear system was easy to use. kx and cr would beat you out for speed and power but that rear system came into play always at end of moto's and i always loved picking off the cocky honda boys at in the last few laps. i remember riding a cr in 83 and being dumbstruck with its power but its rear suspension may have well been dual shock soo pain full.
cheers, mate.
Does it wheelie
I love your channel. We had a 1981 RM 125 -a break through bike. So glad you did a review. My second fav bike we had...my fav was the 1986 RM 80...look forward to your next installment
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching
I really enjoy your channel & this one brings back good memories of my start as a mx racer , at 16 l was on a year old 77 RM125B , then bought a new 79RM125N , wore it out & bought a new 82RM125Z , somewhere in their l sold my 77 to a friend who had a PE 175 & he put his torquey 175 motor in the RM & had himself a nice woods bike , that 82 RM125 fit me so good l bought a mint used one in 83 off some guy who got spooked learning to ride it so l had 2 of them to wear out , after my 82`s l changed brand but right now in my garage sits a good condition 1978 Suzuki RM250C waiting to be restored , my Tony D replica . Thanks Tony
Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻
Such a great bike
I had the 81 YZ 125. LOVED AND MISS THAT BIKE
ive got one im restoring.. bored out to a 175.. eyewaterer..lol.. great clip!! im a subscriber! cheers!
Most informative motocross channel on the internet. keep up the great work!
Thanks 👍
Loved this episode.....was always a Yamaha fan....had 2 YZ80's and always thought of Suzuki as the enemy.
Then as i turned 16 i traded the YZ for an 81' Suzuki PE175X and then it was Suzuki all the way for the last 40 years.
Had a RM125T, I restored an RM125C 10 years ago which i still have sitting in my lounge room....never been started after the resto.
Then years ago i picked up an 85 RM125F in bits.....engine destroyed....so began the retrofit of a PE175 engine into that frame.
It was the first introduction to a full floater......always knew they were good, but always thought yeah...so are other suspensions.
My first ride was......Holy cow!! The Floater really is fantastic. I had an 05 WR450F at the same time and the floater being 20 years older...still
felt better than a modern bike.
I would love to see that RM125C
Another great video Tony. A+ Job with all the historical photos, schematics and commentary. Love your channel!
Thank you 👍🏻
I love Suzuki.
I wanted this bike so bad but ended up with the 80. Great video!
Thanks! 👍
Excellently done! I very much enjoyed. Thank you 🙏🏼 😎
Glad you enjoyed it!
I had one, fantastic bike!!!!!!! Loved it!
They really were great machines
Love the Suzuki history Tony! Thanks.👍 -Ohio
Glad you enjoyed it
I loved this video Tony, really my time of mx . I worked at a Suzuki/Honda mx dealer in the uk back then and love the Zook . I remember getting my first brand new bike in 84 , an RM125E. It was a great bike ran it for a couple of seasons. Wish I still had it now.
Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed it
Fantastic Tony!! ThankU
Glad you enjoyed it
Love the 81 rm awesome thing
Great bike. My next door neighbor had the 82 model.. terrible airbox.
When he sold it some yokel came for a test ride and refused to wear a helmet. Between our properties we had a massive jump. The yokel hit it flat out and went over the bars and ripped his ear off !! He went away in an ambulance and his family loaded up the RM.. You crash it, you bought it ! LOL !!
My friend got one of these in late 1980 and we thought it was so trick, but my old 1979 YZ125 would eat it alive in a drag race to the first turn. The suspension on the RM was good though- really good for the era.
I loved mine!!!! Thanks
1978 C is best air cooled Rm125 and 1981 is best drum braked one .
Probably it was best of all time
Great discussion.
I spent endless hours staring at the RM lineup in motorcycle mags.!!
Back in the day, I had new a 1978 RM125c & a new 1982 RM125z. The 1978 had a better motor and handled better than the 1982.
Very interesting and well done. I always wondered why they dropped the original Full Floater.
Thank you
From what l remember an American guy sent Suzuki his design of the Full Floater.
They sent it back to him saying "not interested ". Not long after this his rear suspension started to appear on Suzuki mx ,enduro & road bikes
.He sued & was paid $13 for every motorcycle produced with a floater rear end . Millions
Hi Tony! Just to let you know the 1983 KTM 125 also used a "Power Reed" system. Cheers!
Thanks for the info. I have never researched that model so that is good to know.
Great as always wasn't a great fan of rm myself other people love them but I watched this all interesting as always
Thanks for watching
Exellant video cheers
Thank you
I had the 81 CR 125 was not happy with the handling,took awhile to get used to. Possibly the front fork rake?
I had a 81 yz 125..and I lost to rms every week!..
Bob Hannah disagrees
Imagine if Suzie got the mono shock the early 70s🤔👍
Are these like the new rm that you have to do the motor after certain hours of riding?
I still own my 1979 rm125 since 1980 and my 1981 rm125 since 1982.
You should do a video on the Hodaka, they are a pretty cool bike
I might do one in the future
My brother had one and it was awesome. On the flip side, My mate had the YZ125 H. What a piece of junk that was! One lap and I couldn't wait to give it back. So top heavy and flighty that you could barely feel where your wheels were. Incredible how much difference there was. Humongous shock up high and the rads on forks was terrible.
There is still patents on the full floater shock position as I modified a Giant Reign mountain bike and modified the shock to have a linkage at the bottom and with the original top linkage it worked so much better but Giant where not interested.
You can buy full floaters for cars
Imagine the poor kid who bought the 1980' model right before the 81'came out..
I have one RM250 1981, missing the piston, cyl and head. hard to find these parts for it.
I think the 79-80 top end works
I wish I had built a 81 RM instead of my 83 KX125 for vintage racing.
Someone might trade you
@@jamessharp9790 Its possible James. But I put so much time and money into this bike it will be lowered into the grave with me. The biggest and only complaint is have is the disc brake hate from the ahrma and won't let me race my 83 KX against other 83 bikes
64maxpower I hear you . And it’s actually a good friend of mine who set out main structure of post vintage classes. Truthfully, Any disc prior to 85 was not as good as a DLS drum . I also take exception with Historic- I think All 1978s should be in Historic, Except the Maicos and Cr250R Honda- because the countershaft was moved back and the long travel worked without throwing chains and or robbing power from spring loaded tensioners etc.
That said , Ahrma rules still make the most sense compared to other organizations. In our club the “ GP2” goes up to 1981 , period so that puts linkage water cooled bikes against air cooled non linkage bikes. Also , one club in the NW puts all 77 models in with the 78-81 models . So , imagine saying that a 1977 Bultaco Pursang 250 is a quantum leap over the 1976! Or that and Rm370B is a next generation over an A model , 77 Maico Aw over a 76 etc 😒 it’s ridiculous. Personally, I’d include all the pre 84 front disc bikes into Ultima class.
And you’ll never guess who was asked about 12 years ago to write a loose class structure for the first generation front disc bikes? Then I looked up and it became pre modern 🤷🏻♂️
Can you do A video on the history of the YZ80/85??
I’m restoring an 84, my first race bike when I was a kid!!!!
I’m actually working on the research for that right now
I’m confused I don’t see anything online about the 1997 cr250 having single rad? Did I hear him wrong or something?
Josey H11D the 1997-1999 Honda CR250 and 1998-1999 CR125 each employed a large single radiator instead of 2 small ones.
pls,pls,pls do the 82 RM lineup?thank you
OK will do
This story is bought to you by the Suzuaki lovers network. 1982 comes along and Suzie is put out to pasture, DeCoster Hondas Baby..😂😂👍🕺🕺🕺
This probably isnt the best video topic to INQUIRE ABOUT subject matter but i think you should do a whole video on 2 stroke POWER VALVES....as far as the big 5 different approaches/history of the implementation and development of these modern components...like first u can quickly explain the 4 diffrent types and what they promised/offered ( HONDA- ATAC-HPP-RC VALVE.... YAMAHA YPVS.......SUZUKI AETC.....KAWASAKI KIPS...ETC ETC....). Then maybe show diagrams and cross sections about the general function of them....how each company evolved their particular type....and your individual and experiential exploits of what type u think delivers the best performance and anything else you can think of..i know alot of newbies to 2 strokes are extremely devoid of any k owledge that these technologies offer and i think the younger generations can appreciate an informative tutorial about the history and functions of such technologies and possibly there shortcomings as emissions and developmental techniques couldnt be adapted to make 2 strokes epa friendly and viable in the current national sense of the word and how 4 strokes have negated 2 strokes in that regard....even though power valves werent geared towards emsissions and were more geared toward performance and even w auto lube direct injection sysyems still cant pass federal EPA expectations in the legal realm so maybe you can share your thoughts on what type of system could eliminate the harmful effects of burning oil and still maintaining the 2 stroke ethos and becoming adapted to be a mainstream contender again and not just nostalgic smaller events such as vintage racing and 2 stroke only events that are always overshadowed by the main events with 4 stroke technology becoming the mainstay in the sport.....Can 2 strokes still evolve in this landscape of modern ingenuity and progress???????
that is an interesting suggestion. Let me think on that one.
No mention of the cdi units on many of them that went berserk and would over advance ignition timing destroying the piston? DNF IN every desert race I entered.
The previous owner of my 81 RM250 drilled holes on each air box cover.
Loved my Rm250X it was fantastic
James Sharp I raced a team harescramble with my best friend years ago on his dad’s 97 RMX. The rear wheel bearings went out on my WR 360, hence why we rode the RMX. I loved it. Both bikes were weak on top, they peaked out pretty quick, but both had almost 4 stroke torque. The RMX didn’t hit as hard as my Husky, but the smoothness made it so easy to ride over wet rocks n roots.
Chad Kimmel I race a 77 390 Husqvarna in post vintage Mx , Crazy broad power delivery
James Sharp that’s badass! I just got a piston Saturday for my 81 KTM GS 390. I ordered a pipe off of eBay for a 400 hoping I can get it to fit. The KTM GS 390 was a one year bike to my knowledge, so getting parts is a bitch. My ultimate goal is to race vintage harescrambles with it.
Chad Kimmel last 400 was 79 but that’s actually 352 as you know. You’ll probably have to modify headpipe some
Have you ever been to barbers vintage festival outside of Birmingham Alabama
I have not
Can you do 1982 KX125?
I may if I have enough good high-quality pics.
Please get Gastons name right - at 3.10 - Renyay???? - It's Rahier
I I know his name I was just not certain of how it is actually pronounced
Better to look good than to feel good...Elsinore Rules...ride red !!
Dam tony you really hit a cord here..with me..in ealy 1983 i gotta a new 1981 yz 125..my friend a 1981 rm125. While my bike was faster his was better..the mono-X I. had felt like a bag of "Marshmallows"his floater soaked up everything keeping him going straight and fast..our forks were even though my steering was sluggish 'though dirt bike magazine called they yz a hawk in the corners' AUGUST 1981 ISSUE..IT WAS WAY MORE STABLE THAN THE RM..the rm a world class in '81..in '82 they got the motor rite..the honda125 in 1981 was a total dog ..the kaw125 was laughfable. in fact at my local. Track they sold bumper stickers saying" i would rather eat worms than ride a green bike ' yes in fact if your were not on a yellow bike in those days u were in the back of the pack period..but fact is those rms were poorly put together and rattled apart and blew up after a few years of riding while the yzs and crs we're bullet proof..go to a vintage race today you seelots of yzs even quite a few crs ..even though the crs sold alot less a were far inferior..great review once again tony..I luv dirt bikea
Thanks
my sons 1999 YZ 80 had more power and the same front fork tube size as, say, Bob Hannah's winning bikes from c1980. It weighed less and so did the brat. thus at age 12 I got a great picture of him getting an honest 100 feet at Hollister's Elevator Shaft! 12 years old. 5 other kids were doing it too.