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My Yamaha RD 125 restoration: Getting it back on track after 15 years

8th November 2024, 09:28 by Deepankar Sadekar

I had already ordered all the engine parts back in 2010 and the main things that we needed was a tank and the exhaust mufflers.

BHPian SnS_12 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

The RD 125 was my second bike and the first that I ever bought with my own money but never ever got to finish the rebuild process that we had started over 15 years back. But, I guess everything happens when is supposed too and finally this bike will be on the road again after decades of being neglected.

I had already ordered all the engine parts back in 2010 and the main things that we needed was a tank and the exhaust mufflers. The original tank we did try saving it but the beautiful Titanium paint shade we had done on it never lasted long and it bubbled up eventually thanks to the rust on the base metal. I have been on the lookout for a good quality tank for long but it seems getting hold of the coffin design tank found on the RD 125 DX is not easy. However, my friend in Paris found one eventually, which has a lovely red paint on it which believe it or not is the actual factory colour of this bike and I considered it as a sign and have decided to paint the bike red now. Only challenge left is to get the tank to India from Paris…

On the exhaust the mufflers had rusted very badly so there was no chance of using them so either we had to make one or get a used set. So, I got back to shopping at Ebay and found a decent complete set with mounting brackets in the US and after a long time ordered it directly to my place in India. Paid customs and shipping cost but was worth it.

Now, since the bike rebuild was halted for so many years a lot of parts was lying either with me or at my friends place. The engine mostly was at my friend’s place with everything else including the frame at my place. So, in this split storage we were unable to locate some critical engine components like the clutch bell and primary gear, carbs etc. My friend was sure I had taken them with me as he could not locate them with other parts. I couldn’t recollect either that I had stored them at my place as I knew the tank side panels mudguards etc are with me along with some other parts but never recollected seeing these parts. We thought we had lost these parts and this rebuild would never be completed only for my good luck to be on my side once again as the parts were always under my own bed and I have been sleeping over them for over a decade now.

This build will be done simultaneously to my RZ 350 rebuild and we plan to first get the engine done up before moving on to the cosmetic parts.

Some pictures for now…

The bare chassis parked in one corner of the garage next to the Ducati 848 EVO. Don’t miss the original mudguard with the period correct front number plate. White on black back in the good old days with an old Bombay registration number.