Spagina
PR Elite
So I wasnt planning on buying a 125 yet, but sometimes if i find a real good deal ill buy one, tear it to the frame and detail and fix any issues, then sell it for some more money. I found a "2002" rm 125 the other day for 800 - i got there, looked it over and could tell it had not been maintained very well, some kid had it, but it didnt have many hours on it. The footpegs, shifter, brake pedal, kicker, etc were all super tight and fresh. The chain and sprockets were stock, as was the front tire. I get the bike for $500... figure, no matter what i should be able to make some money off this....
I get home, and notice that it has Cr style front brake routing, and what i thought to be twin chamber forks - checked the vin, and yep its a 2004. Great, thats a better bike!
Here's the kicker - he said he bought it off his friend blown up and put a new top end in it (he showed me old piston, hole right through the top, no side scratches so i figured cylinder was good)... he also said he bought a new head. Well he thought the bike was a 2002, so im sure the head is for a 2002 on a 2004 cylinder... Did they change it enough that year that i need a new one?? It is in great shape, and i'm going to make sure its not warped before i put the bike back together.
So i tear the bike down to the frame to check everything out, and I check the numbers on the top of the piston - ITS FOR A 1999!!!! The bore of a 2004 is 53.95... the piston was 53.94!! Almost zero room for expansion... so as soon as i see this i check the cylinder... looks GREAT until i see that the chroming started to chip next to the power valve... GREAT. so now i dont know what to do, get it re chromed, bore and chrome, etc. I want to sell the bike after restoring but i do NOT sell junk. I frame the bikes i buy and make sure i would race it before i sell it... i believe in karma.
I get home, and notice that it has Cr style front brake routing, and what i thought to be twin chamber forks - checked the vin, and yep its a 2004. Great, thats a better bike!
Here's the kicker - he said he bought it off his friend blown up and put a new top end in it (he showed me old piston, hole right through the top, no side scratches so i figured cylinder was good)... he also said he bought a new head. Well he thought the bike was a 2002, so im sure the head is for a 2002 on a 2004 cylinder... Did they change it enough that year that i need a new one?? It is in great shape, and i'm going to make sure its not warped before i put the bike back together.
So i tear the bike down to the frame to check everything out, and I check the numbers on the top of the piston - ITS FOR A 1999!!!! The bore of a 2004 is 53.95... the piston was 53.94!! Almost zero room for expansion... so as soon as i see this i check the cylinder... looks GREAT until i see that the chroming started to chip next to the power valve... GREAT. so now i dont know what to do, get it re chromed, bore and chrome, etc. I want to sell the bike after restoring but i do NOT sell junk. I frame the bikes i buy and make sure i would race it before i sell it... i believe in karma.