Questions for RM experts.

Vic · Nov 22, 2001

I picked up my ' 02 RM 125 yesterday and I'm really liking it, but I have a couple of questions.

Spark plug- The stock plug is an NGK R6918B-8 . Since I refuse to pay thirty bucks for a spark plug that won't clean, gap or change itself, I'm wondering if a BR8ES is an acceptable alternative. Particularly, is it the same heat range?

Power valve spring preload adjuster- The only thing I can find about it in the manual is that it's supposed to be turned in one turn. How far in is it acceptable to turn it? I assume that increasing the preload on the spring will either delay the opening of the power valve or limit how far the valve will open. Which assumption is correct? I want to experiment with it, but I don't want to damage anything by tightening it too much. I already tried turning it in one half turn, which really smoothed out the power. I like the reduced hit for woods riding. Am I limiting the top end by doing this? Can I safely turn it in even further?

Thanks in advance for any help.:cool:

Jman271 · Nov 22, 2001

Go w/a NGK Honda plug it think it is BR9EG or EGV, or even EGVX, @ .24 gap. As far as the power valve preload goes, don't turn it in any farther than 1/2 turn pasr stock, you may bind up the spring. You can turn it out a little for the pv to have less resistance on it when it starts to open, or turn it in to have more. Play w/ it an go w/ what feels the best. Good luck-

holeshot · Nov 22, 2001

.

Vic:

What did you think about the suspension and overall power?

Vic · Nov 23, 2001

Re: .

Originally posted by holeshot
Vic:

What did you think about the suspension and overall power?

Don't have much time on it yet, but here are some first impressions. I have not touched the clickers, so keep that in mind. Both ends are a little stiff on small stuff, but I'm sure that will change when I have more time on it. Suspension is balanced and spring rates seem right for me (170lbs). Damping is well controlled. No surprises on any of the terrain I've encountered, so far. Very good on jump landings. The bike is very neutral and light feeling in the air. It doesn't turn as well as I expected it to, but I'm guessing that will get better as the forks break in. Kepp in mind, Ive been riding a TT-R 125 for the last two years and that bike turns:D . Got it to headshake the slightest bit once entering a turn hard on the front brake.
As for power, the thing rips! There was a guy at a local riding spot who was watching me ride for a while. When I stopped to talk to him, he was surprised to see the ' 125 ' decals on the fender. He thought it was a 250. His kids are serious racers, so he knows the difference. The bike even sounds 250ish. The power is a little soft at the very bottom, but then it comes on strong and pulls past the point where any normal person would shift. It's jetted way rich on the pilot, so I think there's more power to be had at the bottom. It's super easy to ride. I haven't ridden the other 125s, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I'm very happy with the power. I haven't encountered any situations where I thought lower gearing would be neccesary.

The Dunlop 739 tires suck in the sand. I suspect they'd be better if there was some moisture in the ground. We're having a drought, here.
The bars are too wide and a little too low, for my tastes. I'm 5' 10" .
The shifting is a little notchy, but that usually improves with time.
The clutch is fine, so far.
Both brakes require more lever pressure than I'm used to, but are plenty strong.
Throttle cable adjustment is maxed out to get it where I like it.
Surprisingly, the chain adjustment hasn't changed at all, yet.
I think a $5000 dollar bike should be delivered with the spokes tight. :mad:
The grips are hard.

The only thing I really don't like about the bike that can't be easily remedied is the seat height. You don't notice it much while riding, but you sure do when you stop. Especially if you have to stop on the side of a hill . I know it could me made lower and it should be.

Did I miss anything?

holeshot · Nov 23, 2001

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Very detailed report Vic. :cool:

My first and only RM125 was a '75 model (the first year with the shocks moved far ahead). I suspect they've changed a bit since then.:confused:

I'm coming off a 426 (keeping it) so I'm sure my perpective on turning will be a little different. Reports have the RM125 with soft (compared to the other 125 mxr's) but excellent suspension - at my age, I want soft. They also kept the six speed tranny (unlike Yamaha and Honda). I'd have to agree that the RM is one of the tallest bikes out there, but at least it doesn't have an " ironing board" seat.

I want to try a 125 two stroker for a year or so -27 years has been long enough. I'm sure great MX starts will be a thing of the past, though. :)

AMinkman · Nov 23, 2001

My son has an 01 RM125 and I have a 99 WR400 and I can tell you that the RM turns extremely well compared to the WR. Holeshot, I'll be at VMC Track
in Victorville today with the RM to try it out. You are welcome to try it there.

Vic · Nov 23, 2001

holeshot- I have a ' 78 RM 125 that I haven't ridden since ' 81, I think. The only relatively recent 125s I've ridden were a ' 96 YZ and a '91 YZ.
I can tell you this, the new RM is NOTHING like the 125s from the seventies. No more having to rev the snot out of it to make any power. To me, the bike feels like a mini 250 . It actually feels like it has a wider usable power band than my ' 98 YZ or KX 250s had.

motometal · Nov 24, 2001

Holeshot:
I was in the same boat, hadn't had a 125 for years, so I bought a new one. I'm the perfect size for one at 150 pounds. I had fun on it and rode it for a full season, but then it was back to a 250 (two stroke, the real deal...).

I'm not saying you won't be happy on a 125, but just suggesting that the grass isn't always greener. If we could afoard it, many of us would probably have one of each bike, eh?

Vic · Nov 24, 2001

Originally posted by motometal
If we could afoard it, many of us would probably have one of each bike, eh?

And a full time mechanic. :-)

holeshot · Nov 24, 2001

Originally posted by AMinkman
I'll be at VMC Track
in Victorville today with the RM to try it out. You are welcome to try it there.

Thanks for the offer Aminkman, but I missed your message and went to Comp. Park Friday morning.

Motometal:

A 250 two stroke is too hard hitting for me, if I went that route, it would be a YZ250F. I came very close to buying that RM today......:eek:

MN KDXer · Nov 24, 2001

Vic,
If you're looking for a lower seat height on the 01 and 02 RM125, you can order the Ceet foam for a 01 RM250. The seat height will be reduced by about 3/4 inch. The Ceet foam holds up a bit better than stocker RM foam. I'm surprised that at your height you consider the bike too high, although a TT125.... HTH did you ride THAT thing??!!!!

We've replaced RM plugs with the $1.25 Champ RN3C with good results.

Other mods to consider for woods riding- On his 01, my son ran a 7oz Steahly FWW and loved it. Boyesen Power reeds provided a modest boost to mid range. A 51T rear sprocket helps with the 1st to 2nd transition, but will chop some off the top. With the 51T, expect about 57 mph topped out.

BTW, $5000? Who pays that much for one?

HoleShot-

You want some GOOD power? Get the 02 RM250!!!! YEE-Haw BAY-BEEE!!! I have one, and the power is incredible!!!

Vic · Nov 25, 2001

Originally posted by MN KDXer
$5000? Who pays that much for one?

Okay, so I rounded to the nearest thousand. Actually, I think every bike should be delivered with the spokes tight.

Originally posted by MN KDXer
TT125.... HTH did you ride THAT thing??!!!!

Very well, thank you.:)

I was thinking of trying the SDG seat for the ' 01 125.

Here are some more impressions.

The seat is too high, flat and slippery.

The suspension is softening up, the turning is improving and the headshake (annoying, not frightening) is increasing. Still on stock settings. The suspension seems remakably versatile.

We got a little rain and the tires were better, but wouldn't be my first choice. Good enough 'til they wear out.

Clutch pull is a little heavier than I'm used to (spoiled by the TT-R, again :-) )

Clutch drags at times for no apparent reason.

I can now see how slightly lower gearing could be beneficial in certain woods and supercross situations.

The graphics are thinner than Calista Flockhart.

The pilot jet is richer than Bill Gates.

Stock jetting is:
Main- 460 Mine came with a 450.They must have run out of 460s the day
mine was built.
Needle-6BGY27-77 Third Clip position. Haven't checked mine, yet.
Pilot- 32.5
Air screw- 1.5 turns out

I'm running Yamalube 2R and pump premium (5 oz./gallon). Sixty degrees F temp., virtually sea level.

Main seems okay, but I haven't spent much time there, yet.

Haven't touched the needle, but will probably end up dropping it one notch.

I'm down to a 27.5 pilot, but at 2.5 turns out on the air screw, it's still a tad rich. 25, here I come.

I'm going to switch to Mobil 1 MX2T, so I'm not gonna mess with the jetting anymore 'til I do.

The chain adjustment still hasn't changed! Maybe they ran out of junk chains the day mine was built and had to put a good one on :) .

More to come.

Vic · Nov 25, 2001

Originally posted by MN KDXer

We've replaced RM plugs with the $1.25 Champ RN3C with good results.

Was that in a 250 or a 125? Have you tried theRN2C in a 125?

holeshot · Nov 25, 2001

.

Vic:

The Cycle News test states this about clearing up a bog (02 RM125) that they had at the bottom - "After playing around with the air screw for a while, we eventually raised the needle clip one position, which solved all of our problems right away". They tested their 125's during the heat of summer, though.

The lowest price I've seen for the '02 RM125 so far is 3999.00 or about 5000.00 OTD. OTD means tax, registration (red/green sticky) and other assorted fees. The salesman seemed eager to take 4900.00 OTD yesterday, but I didn't bite. There should be room for more negotiation. :D

Vic · Nov 25, 2001

I paid 4871.94 OTD. Don't forget about the pressure washer. :D

motometal · Nov 25, 2001

regarding clutch drag, many of the suzukis I have owned or ridden were plagued with this, you may never get away from it. starts in gear aren't always practical.

I believe the RN2C would be the plug for the 125.

On the chain, I had a 2000KX125 with a great stock chain, it lasted almost a full season! Sounds like you got a good one, too. The one on my Honda was a tighten-it-each-ride model:mad:

simon1 · Nov 25, 2001

my 00 rm 125 is still on the original plug. so i am gonna pay the extra and get the expensive one. also i have had no problems with the clutch and am starting to wonder why suzuki gets so much stick.

dheard4992 · Nov 25, 2001

rm 4 sale

ive got one to many bikes in the garage and am desperate to sell a low hour 99 rm250 with lots of extras. $2700 or offer

MN KDXer · Nov 25, 2001

Vic,

We ran RN3C's in the 99 RM125, the 01 RM125, and the 01 RM250. I see where the std plug on the 02 is a NGK something-8, which would be a RN3C equivelent. I have no experience with the 02 125, at least not yet. We might get one, but haven't decided on which bike for the kid to ride next year. (TM has made him an offer, and GasGas is probably making an offer this week.)

Yes, the stock tires are sorta flim-flam. It seems everyone dislikes those tires, but yet they keep on coming that way.

Let me know if/when the SDG seats are available. I've been bugging those SDG guys since last February for a seat, and they always have the same 1/2 axle story about "two months from now". I heard some reports that the SDG seats were kinda cheezy.

Funny stort about TT125R and XR100: This past summer, a couple of MN AA enduro riders rode their girlfriends' TT125 and XR100 in an enduro. They finished in the upper 1/2 of the A class scores. Luckily, I did beat them, but not by a lot. :scream: BTW, after the race, the XR100's owner said her bike would NOT be running another enduro.

Vic · Nov 26, 2001

Originally posted by MN KDXer
I see where the std plug on the 02 is a NGK something-8, which would be a RN3C equivelent.

The standard plug on the ' 01 is the same as the one on the ' 02. I'm not convinced that the " 8 " on the special plug represents exactly the same thing as it does on the regular NGK plugs. It makes more sense to me that the correct plug would be a NGK BR9** or Champion RN2C as this is the plug used in the other Japanese 125s. I hope someone can give me a definitive answer, on this.

a454elk · Nov 26, 2001

The plug I run on the 01 Rm250 is the BR8ES and I think the heat range for the 125 is the "9".

MN KDXer · Nov 26, 2001

I'm not a plug conversion expert, but I think I recall that the RN2C is a tad colder than a B9 and the N3 is a tad colder than an B8. They aren't a straight accross equivelent.

For what empirical results are worth, the kid ran heck out his bike all summer with the RN3C plugs (430/420 mains and 25/27.5 P jets; 36:1 Injex on 91 100% non-enthanol pump gas) with good plug color.

The 01 RM250 might benefit from a colder plug, though, as it seems to enjoy pinging whenever the jetting isn't spot on.

AMinkman · Nov 26, 2001

Can Rich or Eric explain these plugs, what's so special? I was told that the ignition was too hot to run a standard NGK and that the tip would burn off.
Is that bogus info? My sons kx85 also called for a special plug and we went to a standard B9*** and it was fine.

MN KDXer · Nov 26, 2001

The "scoop" on these plugs was that, under sustained high rpms, there exists a chance that the ground tang can break off. (vibrations reaching critical frequency?) FWIW, the neighbor kid's 00 CR125 suffered a broken ground tang with an NGK plug; the loose tang beat the snot out of the piston crown and head before exiting the engine.

If you look closely at the two plugs, there is a definite difference in total length of the ground strap. Whether this is an NGK only event, or if Champ plugs are also so affected, I do not know.

kbob · Nov 27, 2001

2002 suzuki rm 125

The original plug is in between a b8es and a b9es I had a 99 which also had the special plug. I ran a br8es You should use a resistor plug in all newer bikes because the regular b8es sparkplugs interferes with the ignition.The majoraty of these bikes are jetted a little rich so the switch should not affect anything but if yours is running lean you should richen up the bike before switching.The performance gain by the special plug cannot be felt unless the bike is jetted perfectly. The seat can be switched for a 2001suzuki rm 250 seat retails for around $190.00 for complete seat.This seat is lower and feels preety well.The clutch can be made a little easier with a cr clutch perch and lever.The clutch will feel easier and wont chew away at the basket as bad.The spokes will set after a while and should not need to be tightened as much.

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