2006 Suzuki RM 125 by MXMag.be
The MXMAG Suzuki RM 125 MX Bike Build
In 2021, Danny Hermans, Editor of renowned motocross website magazine: mxmag.be, got in touch with us, as he had a list of AS3 Performance parts that he wanted to feature on their 2006 Suzuki RM 125 project bike. The team behind the website put down their laptops and embarked on their very first motocross bike build. While the RM 125 was reliable, they felt it lacked the power of rival mx two strokes at the time, like the KTM 125 SX - something they set out to improve in this project. To improve the bike's power and broaden its powerband, they installed an aftermarket reed valve and exhaust - classic modifications that avoid heavy engine tuning. Their goal was to show how a standard dirt bike can be significantly improved for fun and performance. They sourced a well-maintained 2006 RM 125. The bike had good compression, started easily, and showed minimal wear, making it a perfect base for the project. Below we showcase the finished article and highlight the AS3 Performance parts they used, explaining why they were chosen and how they improve the bike.
Front Brake & Clutch Levers
The OEM front brake and clutch levers were replaced with our Factory Series front brake and clutch levers, which are highly advanced and fully adjustable. They feature a flexible pivot design to help prevent breakage on impact and both levers have an adjustable reach setting to maximise the level of control you will have on the levers. The clutch assembly completely replaces the stock perch and includes a quick adjuster for on-the-fly clutch cable adjustment. It also has plastic inserts that allow the perch to rotate on impact, helping to reduce damage in the event of an impact. This can also be paired with one of our rotating bar clamps for the brake side, so you have the same functionality on both levers. The front brake lever is compatible with the OEM rubber boot as shown in the photo below and the clutch lever comes with its own specifically designed rubber dust boot, to protect key areas from dirt and debris. Our black anodised levers were chosen for this particular project, but we also offer them in yellow or blue, depending on what colour suits your build the best.
Front Brake Line
Our AS3 Performance front brake line, manufactured in partnership with Venhill Engineering, has replaced the OEM front brake line, as shown in the photo below. This is an upgrade to the braking performance - Crafted from marine-grade stainless steel, these lines eliminate hose expansion, delivering a noticeable improvement in brake feel and responsiveness across the entire system. Each front brake line is tested in house by Venhill to 1500 psi before it leaves their factory, to ensure that there are no leaks or weak points and to meet TUV and DOT safety standards. What sets AS3 brake lines apart from standard brake lines, is the inclusion of stainless steel swivel unions. These allow for slight angle adjustments of the banjo fittings, ensuring perfect alignment with the caliper and master cylinder. The yellow coloured pvc brake line cover is certainly an eye-catcher on this build.
Water Pump Cover
The OEM water pump cover has been replaced with our black anodised water pump cover. All of our water pump covers are precision CNC-machined from a solid block of 6061 billet aluminium, to make them stronger and less susceptible to damage than the standard OEM covers, which is incredibly important when riding motocross and enduro as the water pump cover is one of the most exposed parts of the engine. Available in yellow also for the 2001-2008 Suzuki RM 125, the anodising not only enhances the appearance of the cover, but will also help to preserve the finish and prevent corrosion.
Rear Brake Line
Just like the front brake, the rear brake has also received the same stainless steel braided brake line upgrade. At a glance, you would be forgiven for thinking that the line was just a coloured version of the OEM rubber hose, as some braided brake lines have a clear coating allowing you to see the silver braided stainless steel finish through the coating. Our brake lines have a PVC outer layer that covers the stainless steel braiding and they also have a hard plastic rigid section in the middle of the line, which is sealed with a black heat shrink at either end, to replicate what is on the OEM hose. The bright yellow finish on the rear brake line matches the new plastics on the RM 125 perfectly and the black heat shrinks compliment the yellow and black theme of this bike and most other Suzuki motocross bikes.
Rear Brake Caliper Guard
Our black anodised rear brake caliper guard has been installed on the RM 125 as a replacement to the plastic OEM caliper guard. They offer a much higher level of protection to the rear brake caliper, as they are produced from 6061 billet aluminium. The black anodising keeps them looking similar to the OEM part, however we also do a yellow or red option. The black option was perfect for this build as the bike already has gold Excel rims and a yellow rear brake line, so the yellow caliper guard would have been too much in our opinion. This is the only rear brake caliper guard that we do for the Suzuki models; it fits both the RM 125 and RM 250 from 2005-2008, plus the RMZ 250 and RMZ 450 four stroke models.
Rear Brake Disc Guard
Just like many other customers, bike builders and supported riders, MXMag.be have chose to pair the rear brake caliper guard with one of our rear brake disc guards in the same anodised black colour. Again, this is a stronger upgrade from the plastic OEM rear disc guard, as it is also manufactured from 6061 billet aluminium. The disc guard is designed to deliver a high level of protection for the rear brake disc, while maintaining a lightweight design, which is why it has the two sections cut out of it, as you can see from the photo below. Each guard is equipped with a durable, heavy-duty plastic shield on the underside, to effectively block stones and debris from causing damage to the disc. This disc guard is available in the same anodised colour options as the caliper guard (black, yellow and red) and will fit exactly the same models.
Rear Axle Blocks
Our axle blocks are another popular product and feature on many of the bike builds that we have been involved in. On the RM 125, the OEM rear axle blocks have been replaced with a set of our black anodised axle blocks. These are another billet CNC machined part that have precise tolerances for an exact fit within the swingarm and around the rear wheel spindle. Dual-sided laser-etched alignment scales on the top and bottom of each block ensure accurate chain adjustment and wheel positioning. The black axle blocks complete the look of the rear wheel, matching the brake and caliper guards on the right side and the black rear sprocket on the left side. These axle blocks fit the 2002-2008 RM 125 and RM 250 models and we have them available in yellow or red also, depending on your preference.
Front & Rear Brake Reservoir Covers
To add the finishing touches to the upgrades on the braking system, the bike has our billet aluminium front and rear brake reservoir covers installed on both Nissin master cylinders. Billet aluminium reservoir covers are one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to improve the look of any bike. They are stronger than the cast aluminium OEM parts, incredibly easy to install and are a big visual upgrade, compared to the stock covers. These specific covers will fit the RM 125 and 250, plus the RMZ 250 and 450. We stock them for all Suzuki motocross models, from late 1980's right up to the present day's bikes and most can be found in a choice of yellow, black, red and blue - enough of a selection to fit in with any graphics or colour scheme. For more information on our billet aluminium reservoir covers, read our product spotlight feature on our AS3 media page.
Steering Stem Nut
As you can see from the photo below, the bike has been fitted with a set of black Ride Engineering triple clamps and black Neken handlebars. To complete the look they have also added one of our black steering stem nuts. This is another one of our products that is CNC machined from 6061 billet aluminium and then anodised to enhance the appearance over the OEM part. The stem nut will fit the Suzuki RM 125 and 250 models from 2004-2008 and is available in a various colour options.
More Upgrades For The Suzuki RM 125
As well as the AS3 Performance parts featured above, the bike also has various other aftermarket parts installed, including a HGS exhaust system, Haan wheels with Excel rims and Moto-Master front and rear brake discs and brake pads. Wheels and exhausts are not something that we currently supply at AS3 Performance, but we do carry a wide range of brake discs and brake pads for many motocross and enduro bikes. Taking a look at the photo below, you will also notice that the bike has a Boyesen clutch cover and some aftermarket silicone hoses, which are also products that we supply for a range or Suzuki RM 125 models.
Custom Graphics
Like most bike builds and project bikes, the 2006 RM 125 was finished off with a set of custom made graphics. These graphics feature all of the brands that featured in this project, with our AS3 Performance logos featuring on both sides of the front mud guard and in the centre of the rear mud guard. The graphics maintained the same yellow and black theme that we have mentioned throughout this feature, with slight hints of blue, which featured heavily on some of the older evo RM models. The bike also has a set of red number boards, to give it a modern 'factory' style look.
Suzuki RM 125 and RM 250 Motocross Bike Builds
If you enjoyed this feature and would like to see more of the Suzuki RM two stroke projects that we have been involved in, we have a Brian Deegan X MotoXXX Ghost ride inspired 1997 Suzuki RM 125 bike build by one of our customers over in the USA and an all black 2000 Suzuki RM 250 featuring various red and yellow AS3 Performance parts. If you are looking to rebuild and, or, restore an RM 125 or RM 250 and are looking for specific parts that you can't find on our website, feel free to send us an email or drop us a message on social media and we will be more than happy to help you out. For now we will leave you with some more images of the photoshoot done for the feature in MXMag.be of the 2006 Suzuki RM 125.
