DT125R FORUM

Hi guys,

I've finally got another DT after my last baby got stolen. Still sad, but time to move on.

I picked this up for 650 last weekend

Doesn't look much like a DT hey? It has an SR125 tank and headlight, I have no idea where the seat came from. No plastics at all.
It's all very tatty and seems to have some issues which I'll hopefully be getting your help on soon!

Anyway, what do you think of the bike? 650 was probably a little much considering it dies when you try to give it too much power... I'm thinking overfueling as it's also leaking petrol out the carb seemingly 27/4, but I really wanted a faster 125. I can't ride my big bikes until I'm 24 (UK licensising is such a pain) and the CBF 125 I bought for an interrim run around just didn't make me smile.

It's got the athena 170 kit on it, seller said the fuel pump was "plugged" as a result. Hopefully I'll be able to fit another as I'd like to get the back into a nice neat state... we'll see what he means by plugged when I take the pump cover off I guess.

first job is fixing the cutting out though, I'll put a post up in the technical section about this... probably tomorrow. Would appreciate your expertise then if you have some time.

There is a place in london (Fusion motorcycles) that lets you do a CBT renewal. It's cheaper than usual at £60 and you go straight onto the road, ride around a few roundabouts, do an emergency brake, a U turn thing, back to the centre and get your certificate.

We did the whole thing in an hour. Not sure how legit the center is, but the issued certificate is 100%.

Saves some time and money if you're near london next time around.

Next weekend I start a full overhaul of my 2002 DT125R.

It's had many people work on it in the past. Some have done some good jobs, many have done bad jobs.

Standing in good light from the right angle she actually looks quite pretty, although remarkably unlike a DT. So, let's start there.

As you get closer, you start to notice what this bike really is.

In this thread I'll be documenting the full project. I'll be focusing on images rather than text as I know it's far more fun to page through a rebuild photo by photo than reading me writing. I'll be relying on you guys a lot for your knowledge so hopefully this will keep you entertained enough to keep helping me.

For the sake of setting the stage I will explain the goals of the project, what I want the bike to be, along with some of the big milestones which I need to reach to get there.

I want the bike to

• be a lightweight TOY for me to enjoy.
• be roadworthy
• handle some light enduro as I want to join an enduro club just a little out of London and use this initially.
• have some quick swap wheels for road use without needing to mess around with calipers too much or change tyres.
• be clean, legit and free from all janky 5 minute solutions. I dont like rust, horns attached to radiator mounts with cable ties, wood keeping number plates attached, etc. etc. etc.

To get to that point I have a few major tasks to get past:

• Bike needs to be entirely stripped and documented - (I will forget where things go)
• Engine needs to be rebuilt - (I'd like to keep the 170 kit if possible, I'll be trying this myself, but will be the most I have ever done on a bike)
• Frame needs to be treated and power coated - (Not sure if this is feasible in a home garage without expesive sandblasters etc)

Thanks for looking, enjoy the pictures as they come weekend by weekend.

@calum if it happens again I'd be happy to help you troubleshoot, I fix webservers every day for a living.

God knows I owe you one after all the help you've given me with my DT.

DT 125 RE 2006
Registration: YJ05 BKF

Full DEP system, L plate on front only. standard wheels with road tyres. Pretty beat up looking. Red renthal bars with an odd black stain on the foam guard.

Girlfriend's YZF R125, 2009, CA09 FPE
Scorpion exhaust and scorpion sticker on the front fairing. Also some cracked and broken lower fairings under the bike and L plate on rear only.

Both stolen from hammersmith W6 last night, but could be anywhere.
Probably both already in pieces on Ebay by now, but please do keep an eye out in-case some kids are dumb enough to be riding them.

Don't worry, I won't hurt them... much.

I did this on my old KLR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJb5IPOx2l0
It takes a long time, but the results are great.

Haven't got around to doing to my DT yet, but it's on the list.

@Calum
8 seems to be recommended heat range for my particular bike, I see it's 9 on some other DTs, seems strange that they would vary.
I've just ordered one of each heat range so I can try them out. I found them for around 10 pounds each (here and here) so relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme of things.
A quick google of preignition has me kind of scared of the 9. Even with the tempting attraction of making starting easier I think I'll avoid putting the 9 in if I can.

@Burridge
I'll give the battery a check anyway as I have a multimeter, I don't have a working starter motor in the bike at the moment (It's an RE model), but I'm hoping to pick one up when one appears on Ebay so might as well get a new battery if mine is no good.

EDIT: Just realised the higher the number for the heat range the cooler the plug, I guess I have nothing to worry about with either plug then, worst case scenario it just wont start.

I watched this before I bought my DT. It's part of the reason I bought one in the end. One day my bike will look as good as that