RM200 hybrid

[maxbrad3r]

I was looking at possibly building myself a hybrid when I stumbled upon this bike on marketplace. It's a 2001 rm125 frame with a 2006 kdx200 motor. I picked it up for $1200 but it was pretty rough. I bought it from an 18 year old who had no clue what he had. He was trying to use it as a dunes bike to keep up with yfz quads. He did nearly no macitence from what I could tell BUT the oil was not sparkly just milky from a leaky water pump. I haven't actually ridden the bike formally yet. So far ive replaced basically everything but the frame, engine, the custom mounts, and tank. Everything else is getting replaced or will be over time. The engine was in great condition but the rear sprocket was bent the caliper broken, the rotor was gone, pads destroyed. The spokes were not all there. The swing arm was helicoiled very poorly and needed replacing. Subframe was bent and got replaced. whole chain assembly replaced. new radiators and guards. all new hoses. new levers. and eventually the plastics and graphics. I am trying to keep as much as was salvageable ( fmf gnarly I welded and expanded) because for my first stage of this build I'm trying to keep it at $2300 this will be getting the bike to a comfortable ridable state. the top and bottom end were both in great condition when I inspected them. there's much more to list but its nit picky you get the point. After this my plan is to restpring and revalve the suspension and then I'll be tearing apart the engine. Weisco crank, weisco top end, forged clutch basket, v force reeds, magura hydro clutch. During all this I'll be redoing the wiring cause as of now it's a mess. There's an amazon front headlight that's somehow been wired in ill be leaving it be tell I redo it all. This is my first post of hopefully several. I think I might've just found a gem when buying but maybe not. I'll try to update as I finish my first stage of the build and then on as I upgrade. I'm not inclined enough yet to add pictures but when I figure it out I'll update!

[KDXGarage]

Welcome aboard. You have bought yourself an adventure AND a bike. Good luck with turning it into YOUR ride, YOUR way!

Look in my signature for instructions on adding pictures.

[Chuck78]

Great suspension and chassis on the RM125's, and '01-'04 RM125 got the really good Showa stuff, while the RM250 got KYB until '05 when both had Showa suspension...
Send the original crank out for a rebuild with a Wossner or Vintco forged rod, or go with a new Vintco crank. Wossner or Vintco piston as well, it's a step or two above the Wiseco and Wossner comes in 69.00 A, 69.01 B, & 69.02mm C sizes for slight variations in plating wear and diamond-honing size, Vintco is Wossner but only A-sized (both have coated piston skirts, Wiseco does not), & Wiseco only comes in 69.00mm bore size or a 1.00mm overbore for 70.00mm, no B & C size selections.

[Chuck78]

https://wossnerpistons.com/collections/ ... 220-R-2001

[Chuck78]

https://www.vintco.com/shop/Kawasaki/KDX220/2000

[maxbrad3r]

How I bought it

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How it’s sitting now

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[KDXGarage]

Wow at the radiator cage!!

[maxbrad3r]

Wow at the radiator cage!!

Thanks! Amazon special it don’t look to shabby

[billie_morini]

maxbrad3r, any updates? I can't wait to hear it go "Brrrap!"

[maxbrad3r]

maxbrad3r, any updates? I can't wait to hear it go "Brrrap!"

Nothing great yet, but soon! I've been replacing the rear caliper and swing arm which were both cooked. Along with that ive been exploring some powder coating options. Im waiting on a new fmf gnarly since mine is cracked keeps expanding even after welding, I also got an sc2 smart carb ordered which took some time to make sure it would work in the frame. I have the Vforce reeds on the way. I still need to buy a new front rim (black with gold to match the rear). After that I need to buy new clutch plates, clutch and break levers, I messed up and bought cheap ones at the beginning, id also like to get a TRex throttle cable, and some nardo grey restyle plastics. ive been talking to Phat head about possibly getting a custom head made as well but I'm not sure yet. I have a trip planned to Moab Ut in late may/June so she will be done by then. I'm hoping my first test ride since starting the build will come in February tho! Itll be gold and grey. I am no longer following a budget I don't plan on selling this bike so I'm trying to do everything meticulously. I also don't have a time frame anymore at some point I will need to replace the frame and reweld the mounts to a new one, at which point I think I will start powedercoating. id also love to get one of the new Estart kits one day in the future.

[billie_morini]

max, thanks so much for an update that may be bigger than you think!

[maxbrad3r]

Alright well there’s been a few hang ups, honestly it’s as expected, my expansion pipe hasnt shown up, the smart carb does not fit and the front caliper is seized these are currently holding me back but all in good time!

[brademan76]

Kool hybrid! Thanks for sharing!