I had the professsional do a full restoration on a 1974 Suzuki TM125 tank with new graphics and clear coat over top to finish off the job.  They did a great job, good enough to put in a trophy cabinet on its own as some do.

For those who need to get your old vmx tank restored, you can do well by talking to your local auto body shop. I sent this old aluminium Yamaha YZ360B tank that was once on a USA yellow model to my guy Zac in Perth (0404 253 260) and he did a great job in repairing, smoothing and finishing the tank in white, very impressed by his work and the price was more than fair.

Next step was to find some new graphics, only problem I could not locate any at all for the Euro white model YZ360B YZ250B. There was some on ebay for the yellow model in the USA but not the white model. The solution, I went to my local sign shop and gave them an original tank that had the Yamaha graphics and my newly restored white tank, hey presto, 2 hours later they rang for me to pick it up – all finished and looks great. These guys have the digital artwork on computer now and can print out as many copies as they want if  you need a set for your white tank.

Before

Graphics supplied by Total Sign Co in Perth (08 9345 3240) www.totalsignco.com.au

One thing that makes any resto look good is new plastics and polished aluminium forks. I had to put the plastics in place so it starts to look like a bike …

To help me work out how to improve this site I have created a few survey questions, plase let me know what you think by completing this very short tick box survey and feel free to write any comments.

CLICK HERE FOR POLL QUESTIONS

STEP 1: The next project started is a 1974 Suzuki TM125. After stripping down and getting parts (many more needed yet) the project begins with the frame reassembly… Beautiful frame job.

This is what they are supposed to look like in 1974

At one time or another, you’ve sat around with your friends and jabbered about the mythical “composite” motorcycle. You know the one -it’ got the peak horsepower of a breathed·on Pursang, combined with the low-end grunt of a Stiletto. It`s got the plush forks of a Maico, turns like a CZ and tracks like a cut-frame Husky. It weighs less than a good 250 and has the punch of a 400. And the best part-you don’t have to do anything to the bike. just ride it like it was a 350 Honda pseudo-scrambler.

We’ve all dreamed about that kind of a machine, but up until now, it never existed.

A quick look around at the competition mounts of the Staff of DIRT BIKE shows what has to be done to make a motorcycle “right” for competition. No one but a fool rides a Maico in stock trim. Different filters, rims and assorted bozos are a must for the serious rider. Read the rest of this entry »

Mono-Mania – THE OPEN CLASS ULTIMATE

’75 Yamaha YZ Monocross by the Staff of DIRT BIKE

Let’s skip the old format for a dirt test this time, and put the conclusion up here – first. That’s breaking a precedent, but the YZ Monocross breaks precedents too. OK, here’s the conclusion: This motorcycle is THE ultimate weapon right now!

Oh, it’s got stuff wrong with it. It’s not the traditional maintenance-free Yamaha of the past. But even if the motor fell out of the frame once every day, it is still the finest racing bike you can buy, right now.

And this is why: It’s got power.

YZs always had power. So does this one. It comes out of the hole and out of the corners like a greased, goosed grand prix race car. It is screaming from the moment you crack it open. It breaks the rear wheel loose in every gear. When you’re on it, your favorite track gets shortened by what feels like 20 percent. Everything comes up sooner than ever before. See that corner up there? It’s here. Right now. Read the rest of this entry »

The seat on my 75 CR125 racer was not suitable, the cover had a few holes and I didn’t like the high GP foam style. It looked old on a restored bike.

A search on the web found a company on ebay and also listed on the general web called Hondaclassic 31 which makes brand new vmx seats for this model, new metal base, new foam, new cover and all assembled ready to bolt on… all for only US$150 plus freight.

They delivered it in short order and although it needed a few small spacers on the rear to align the bolt holes, it then bolted straight on, very nice.

All bits are together again… only thing is to maybe replace the number plate graphics.

Finished 1975 Honda CR125 racer, runs great, ready to get dirt on it.