New TM125 Plastics
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 …
1974 125 Motocross Shootout
THERE’S NO doubt about it. The Japanese have been the most instrumental power in bringing the world of small-bore off-road racing to its present level in the United States. Even way back when Yamaha Trailmaster 80s and Honda S90s were bouncing their semi-modified selves around the boonies, things were beginning to take shape. The adage that there is strength in numbers held true once again when, due to the enormous number of these trail bikes showing up at a given race, it wasn’t rare to see both an 80cc class and one for the 90s.
Then along came the Hodakas. First a four-speed 90 and then a five-speed 100. It wasn’t long before the bigger Japanese manufacturers bored their bikes out to 100 and added another gear in the transmission. As these little screamers buzzed their over-stressed guts out week-end after weekend, the European distributors took notice of the tremendous market that was being created. The European machinery was better. It was not much more reliable than the Oriental stuff, but was faster and handled better. Continue reading
1974 Suzuki TM250
A very nice 1974 Suzuki TM250 became available which is an active racer that has been well maintained and even has had a few bonus bits. The good thing about active race bikes is you know they can hit the track ok and most riders really look after their race bikes and fix any defects as they occur, a few scratches are normal and at least then I am happy to add a few more as well.
It is described as:
- There is a dent in the tank on the left side with some paint flaking off,
- Tank is rust free inside,
- Frame has been repainted, has a few race scratches and rub marks,
- Motor is bore to 1st over,
- New side panels,
- Renthal bars,
- New Renthal grips,
- Motion pro throttle,
- Akront rims,
- Good tyres,
- Works gripper seat,
- Works Shocks,
- New front fork tubes with cartridge emulators,
- Circle F pipe (just repacked)
- Just add fuel and race.
- ……
Well, that meant I had to buy it and I am currently arranging transport to Perth and for the tank to be repaired and repainted over the next month or so.
1974 Suzuki TM250
1974 Suzuki TM250
1975 MX 125cc Shootout
See how the 1975 Honda CR125 compares to the other 1975 models in a test shootout, the Honda is pretty much the same as the 1974 bike with a bit of red colour added, the 1975 Kawasaki KX125 looks like the 1974 model, both these bikes still have the 4 inch rear suspension travel BUT the the radical new Suzuki RM125 comes along in 75 with long travel suspension!!! The Yamaha YZ125C introduced mono-shock suspension and a lot of horsepower into the 125 class.
This is a test that really highlights the pre 75 class with the new breed of mx bikes and a new era then follows. I rode my first real mx season on a 1975 RM125S and it was coool – big sand woops no longer held any fear, full throttle and just hit em hard!!! The RM125 tested here is the US version RM125M, the faster RM125S came to Australia.
SHOOTOUT……… As if you didn’t already know, motocross is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. It’s not hard to see why. Few sports combine action, color, speed, and finesse the way motocross does. And few sports equal motocross in ability to captivate young people, both as spectators and participants. Motocross is real for them. They don’t have to be content to just watch, they can actually do it themselves.
The favorite bikes of teenage riders are the 125s. In fact, most 125 motocross races are dominated by high school and junior high school students. And if any “seasoned veteran” of motorcycling still thinks 125s are nothing more than noisy toys and their riders dumb little kids, he should truck his 250 or 360 down to the local motocross practice track and get his doors blown off by 13-year-old Stevie Squid on his 125 Homazukasaki. As a further humiliation, he may very well learn that Stevie isn’t even one of the 125 hotshoes -he usually finishes somewhere in the middle of the pack. Continue reading
1974 Suzuki TM400
TM400
The Suzuki TM400 big bore bikes managed to scare everyone who rode them in the early 70′s with their brutal power and when I came across this 1974 TM400 it had already been 90% restored so I bought it to add to the collection.
It only needs some minor work required to finish such as respray the tank, add new decals and replate some of the fittings.
I dont intend racing it as I have the YZ250B/360B bikes for that although if you were to use it to ride the track rather than race hard it would probably be some fun.
This can be finished over the next few months at leisure.
TM400 Engine
Suzuki TM RM 250 Models
See the development of the Suzuki TM and RM 250 Models from 1967 over the years. Continue reading
The Way It Was
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