'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Questions and comments about converting to beefier forks..
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Gotanubike
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

$140 Cad

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Last edited by Gotanubike on 03:15 pm Apr 26 2015, edited 1 time in total.
1990 KDX200
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Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by newbbewb »

nice cassette player :shock:

seems like a great deal for $140, I didn't know suzuki did red plastic
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89 kx125/kdx200E engine
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Gotanubike
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

They didn't buddy said "previous owner" plastidipped all the plastics and the tank :busted:

Oh and it's a Sony Cd/casette/FM stereo WITH an analog EQ fyi
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by newbbewb »

is that factory suzuki top clamp?

I say put a seat on it. trials style unicycle.
93 kdx200-Highly modified
89 kx125/kdx200E engine
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Gotanubike
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

newbbewb wrote:is that factory suzuki top clamp?
I almost want to say..no :blink: Good eye because a google image search of rm125 V triple clamps look nothing like that on the top one...hmm

And no handlebar mounts. Yikes
newbbewb wrote:I say put a seat on it. trials style unicycle.
:snooty:
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by osobad »

noticed top clamp too. I am a big fan of these forks and every set that I have bought has had one piece top clamp( bar mounts are part of the clamp)
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

Not 100% what this is all about, looks like an aftermarket upper clamp made by "Applied Racing". Fits and everything, but I will need to buy some handlebar clamps. The holes for the bar clamps looks like they were either threaded at one point and are completely stripped, or I am just seeing leftover marks from a threaded bolt that was secured on the underside by a nut...

Edit: Ok so finding some bar mounts should be no problem

Image

Pic below you can see

Image

Image
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Sullyfam »

They don't look threaded to me. I think you are right in that they are transfer marks from the bolt.


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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by newbbewb »

I know for a fact that the protaper adapters for 7/8 or 1 /18 will fit in there. sullyfam is right, those aren't threads, but witness marks.

http://www.powersportsplace.com/parts/t ... fgod3aAAXA

applied racing makes nice stuff. lucky you
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89 kx125/kdx200E engine
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

Already ordered some. Not those, though. They are 1 1/8" fatty clamps :wink: I have S/E ProTaper's

Will update on stem swap and knurling of the KDX stem I believe will be needed to press fit properly into the RM lower clamp. New stem bearings on the way too

Is there a proper way of pressing out the old the stem? From top out the bottom, I think? Can't seem to find anything online
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Actionman »

I have those applied clamps on my kx250 and no threads. Also check those forks (you'll need to disassemble them) to see if the bottoming cup at the base is installed correctly. If it was (and it's easy to not install it correctly) then the damping rod cartridge hammers it every time the forks compress. I had a set that happened to. It's dangerous as hell if u don't catch it.
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

Actionman wrote:I have those applied clamps on my kx250 and no threads. Also check those forks (you'll need to disassemble them) to see if the bottoming cup at the base is installed correctly. If it was (and it's easy to not install it correctly) then the damping rod cartridge hammers it every time the forks compress. I had a set that happened to. It's dangerous as hell if u don't catch it.
Ah man I really didn't want to have to take these apart, the seals are in good shape. I think these forks were redone by a suspension group called "SLR suspension" that's what the stickers say on the outer tubes
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Sullyfam »

Unless you know when the suspension work was done, it's probably best to take them apart now and change the oil anyways. I realize it's added work, but cheaper and easier to do now in all respects.


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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

Good point. Just looking for a 96-00 rm125 manual now so I can find the proper weight oil I will need. If 10w I can substitute ATF. I not, I will be ordering the specific weight oil from Royal distributing in Toronto and all is going to end up costing me too much...
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by osobad »

5 wt oil or 0w-20w mobil 1. They are twin chamber forks even though they are also conventional same procedure as usd showa tc forks. The 0w -20 mobil 1 is very slick I have used it and like it alot 10wt is too heavy for the inner chamber might get away with it in the outer chamber
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Actionman »

Those forks are easy as pie to disassemble. I literally could dis/reassemble them in three minutes. You'll see what I mean as soon as you take the first one apart.
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

Here is the KDX and RM lower clamp and stem side by side. KDX stem visibly longer. About 7mm longer at 273mm and RM stem around 266mm.

Image

The hole depth for the stem is around 7mm deeper on the RM clamp. So the KDX stem will need to be pressed up a little further inside the clamp?

The diameter of the stems at the bottom are nearly identical, but KDX looks a little smaller probabaly needing the knurling before pressing into the RM clamp

Image
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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Re: '97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by 6 Riders »

I do believe that the KDX stem will go farther into the lower clamp than the RM stem does. But, a little machining might be necessary on the top of the RM clamp to allow the bearing to sit down far enough. What is the length of the KDX stem that sticks out above the triple clamp?
newbbewb wrote:^what he said.
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by Gotanubike »

The other thing was the tapered steel cups that the bearings are seated in/on. The All-Balls bearing kit includes the tapered bearing + seal for top and bottom but not the cups? Have to wait until the kit arrives
6riders wrote:What is the length of the KDX stem that sticks out above the triple clamp?
Like this?

(Numbers are likely not 100% accurate)
Image
1990 KDX200
Bike Profile -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 61#p136315
Suspension Overhaul(Shock+89-92 conventional forks) -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=15255
96'-98' RM125 Showa 49mm fork swap -> http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 04&t=16994
KDXrider world map! -> https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=186158
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'97 RM125 forks picked up today...what am I in for?

Post by 6 Riders »

Gotanubike wrote:The other thing was the tapered steel cups that the bearings are seated in/on. The All-Balls bearing kit includes the tapered bearing + seal for top and bottom but not the cups? Have to wait until the kit arrives
My kit has everything needed to replace the bearings.
6riders wrote:What is the length of the KDX stem that sticks out above the triple clamp?
Like this?

(Numbers are likely not 100% accurate)
Image
Yes like that. Looks to me and someone else was posting about what they had to do for this swap. The upper part of the clamp, where the bearing sits, needs to be milled down a bit as well as the inner part of the bottom of the tree, where the stem seats, in order to get the length needed for the KDX neck.

OK, I just measured the KDX stem sitting in a 95 RM clamp and get 24.6cm, I think that is 246mm. So I could be wrong.
newbbewb wrote:^what he said.
masterblaster wrote:Man 6 riders you rock.
*side note...I'm drunk, so try to read what I'm trying to say, instead of what I actually type
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