RG125F Restoration

[Josh|RD125LC]

Hey all, as you know I'm currently in the middle of restoring my RD125LC. Its going slowly but steadily, as school creates a large inconvenience. But a lad in work has a Suzuki RG125, and I was allowed a little go in work's car park (I'm 16 and can't ride on the road obviously). Any way, I jumped on it and was shocked at how large it was for a 125. So I pulled away, full throttle (eeek too used to the 50!) and it literally flew forward. I was so surprised at how quick it was. The powerband was really strong and it got to 30 in no time. After 10 mins on it, I decided I loved the bike. Anyway, I found out that the lad actually has two of them, and may be selling one. So I was instantly interested. I went to view it today, and fell in love with it. Its an M reg, RG125 Lucky Strike colours. Very nice looking, but a little tatty in some areas. I have paid a tidy sum of 300 for it and I think its not a bad price at all. It needs work, but nothing major. The only problem I have is that I now have two bikes to fix up. Ah well, just adds to the fun of biking I guess! So this is now my third bike in 8 months. Not bad at all for a 16 year old huh? lol.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[DisabledRider]

loving it

[Josh|RD125LC]

hilljd00, look out for me in August, you might see me buzzing around or sat at Cap'n Jaspers!
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Stu_666]

Not bad...

Nah, just kidding. Looks pretty good for £300 quid. Get the impression though that the front fairing is about to fall off the way your holding it

[tony532]

are you the same person who keeps going on about every 2 stroke in the 80's and early 90's being great

like the rd125 e.t.c


and you are only 16 lol


i thought you were about 35 if you are the same person



nothing wrong with the rd125 a classic bike


my mate had one in 87 and could do 12 o clock wheelies on one

[Frost]

They are very underrated bikes. Not as quick as RS125's etc but if you can find a decent condition old one for cheap your laughing!
Reliability isnt the best, but spares are easily to come by and cheap too

[Flip]

Why have you posted this in new bikers as well? I too made a comment about the hands in there.

[BikerBen]

Very nice Josh, looks good for £300!!


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My NSR --> https://members.boards.ie/instinct/Diagonal.jpg
Now proud owner of a 1999 ZXR 400

[Josh|RD125LC]

I meant to post it in General, but I did it in New Bikers for some reason. I figured it would get more attention here.

Yeah I do go on about the 80's and 90's 2 strokes, because I love the older bikes. Personally, I would rather have the RG to the RS. My dad has a history with 80's 2 strokes, so I do have a bit of knowledge about them, and a lot of other knowledge comes from research

As for the hands, they were about to take the fairing off, so before they did that I asked if I could have a quick photo of it. So doesn't seem bad for 300 eh? I am really chuffed. But still got to focus on the RD at the minute. I think my dad will be starting on the RG, with me taking over at a later date.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[tatters]

looks good for £300.

those later RG125/RG125 (wolf/fun,s) are much better looking than the old RG125 gamma,s.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[tokarev]

Nice buy mate.

[Josh|RD125LC]

Yeah I agree there, these Funs may be 10 years old, but the styling looks very modern if you ask me.

As for the bike itself, I didn't really have much chance to give it a thorough look over, so when it gets delivered to my house on Monday, I can have a proper look at it. Still, not bad at all for 300. Everythings there, didn't hear it running though, the barrell head was off, but told it runs, and I believe the guy because I know him personally and work with him.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Kickstart]

Hi

For £300 did he still have an arm left?

Looks pretty good. Top end of the engine is basically one barrel from an RGV250.

To derestrict you cut the black / white wire to the cdi unit.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Keith]

For £300 you've got a pretty good bargain, especially if its a decent mileage and not in need of a rebuild any time soon.

Its a smart machine, but I think I prefer the RD, its more old school.

Even if you decide to keep just one of the 125's, both would easily sell for profit.
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Aprilia RSV Mille R Edwards Replica - Aprilia RS250 - Suzuki GSXR600 Supersport Race Bike

[TOM M]

looks a nice buy mate, bargain at 300 notes. I want a project bike
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Now owner of a 1200 Bandit

[Barry_M2]

I'd have had that for £300 too mate, got a bargain there!

I used to have both RD125 and the RG125fun, both really good bikes. RG will totally out handle the RD, but my RD's engine felt alot stronger and not as 'tinny' as the RG's. Also had a Carbon silencer for the RG which made it sound a little better. Also, you only need to cut 1 wire to de-restrict it!

My RD was the Mk3 with the powervalve engine and bean can exhaust.

[Josh|RD125LC]

[Kickstart]

[palmer]

give it to me, you don't want it.

[Barry_M2]

[Josh|RD125LC]

Sounds good to me. Looked like you got a bargain like the one I have just got eh?! I think most of the RDZ's were imports in the UK, as they didn't fit in with restriction laws. I think they made around 21bhp with the powervalve, but the laws obviously were a lot lower than 21bhp. They are pretty damn rare bikes though. For those of you interested in 125LC's, check out RD125LC Chat Forum.
I am a member of this and its a pretty good site. Only been running one month, thats why it may seem quite dead. I have got a lot of useful info from there, but I would like to see if theres an RG125 forum, as that would be very useful. I think at the moment I'm living a 16 year olds dream I reckon. How many 16 year olds own an RD125LC and an RG125 in Lucky Strike colours? Not many I bet
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Josh|RD125LC]

Way hey. Since having the RG, been looking around for a set of replacement powervalves as the ones I have now are useless. Well one is anyway. So after much looking around, I decided I wasn't going to get a set cheap. The main problem found with the standard ones is the centre pin which holds the valve together, tends to vibrate loose after a while, causing the valve to fall into the barrel and make a right mess. I then discovered that a company called Dave Cooper made replacement valves. These are machined from solid aluminium, and come in one piece, not three like the stock ones. So the advantage of these is that theres no pin to come loose, so theres no chance of it falling and wrecking havoc. But these valves come at a hefty price. 250 quoted and P+P. But I think they are worth it because they add an extra 5bhp and proved with a dyno sheet. So that would mean my RG would be making around 30bhp! Wey hey.

But the thing I'm weyhey'ing about is that my dad came up with the crazy idea of making a set of valves himself. He is very good mechanically and very skillful man. Amazes me at times with the things he does. Great having a dad like him. Anyway. So yeah, he said that he could get the basic shape of the valves machined cheap via a contact. So I get into work today and discover the basic shape of the powervalves. (Picture 1). I also was amazed at how much lighter they are compared to the Suzuki ones. Anyway, he tells me hes going to file out the sloping bit at the bottom. . This is where I started to get a bit cautious. I didn't really like the idea at the time. Anyhoo, I let him get on with it while working. I kept coming over and having a look-see, he seemed to be doing a good job, making measurements, comparing with the old valves etc. Marking out where the valve should fully close and open. So by 12 o clock and work finished, I come over to look, and come to the conclusion he has done quite a good job. Not totally finished, but the shape is finished, just has to do the other one, and cut a bit of the top pin off.

Picture 1 is the basic shape when we first received them.
Picture 2 is the comparison.
Picture 3 + 4 is the end product.

Just need to finish them off, then try them out in the engine. But I heard that the bike doesn't really need the powervalves. Would it make any difference without them? I suppose Keith could help me here.

Sorry for the long post, just thought I would show you all how crazy my dad can be at times.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Josh|RD125LC]

Sorry for the poor quality pictures. Blame the Nokia 6230 for that.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Kickstart]

[cagiva gezzer]

So you new ones are one piece units, compared to the original three part ones?
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"