new member: 2001 RT 125

[windlass]

Just checking in to say hi. I'm from the Ozarks hills of Missouri but have lived in the UK for a long time. I've had my RT for about a month. Bought off ebay & recommissioned; it had been off the road for several years. New sprag clutch (of course) & stator motor. Only about 7,000 miles genuine miles and I'm totally in love with the bike: the looks, the handling, and the perfect size & weight for a woman new to riding (half a year now). Trained on a Suzuki VanVan which I keep to use on the near dirt-bike condition Devon lanes around here.

The RT had breathing problems: was stuttering a bit in low revs and felt like it wanted to cut out in a headwind if you backed off the throttle, so I took it along to Grahams in Somerset (30 minute ride away) and they've just said it's ready to pick up Monday. Tight valves & chucking oil into the air filter. So re-shimmed.

It also doesn't seem to like second or third gear at all: wants to get up to forth and then will chug along happily. Does that sound familiar to RT riders out there? I know Dave has one, which is one of the reasons I've joined the forum. I want to keep this bike now I've found it.

I've also bought a TS 150 non runner to learn mechanics on. Great headlight (!) and hope to get it on the road sometime this year.

best wishes,
Ellen

[DAVID THOMPSON]

you will love it
i found that mine was was geared to tall so i put a 52 tooth rear on it
from an SX 69mph is wide open now but it pulls nice on the roads where i live
most every thing is posted 45mph here or less only a very few over 55
and i do not usually go to that part of my area
link to sprocket mod on request
its easy to do


and get a big fuel filter on it
also no shop rags or tools under the seat in the area around the air box intake
as hard as this motor works it does not need any loss of air flow to Carb.

Dave

[windlass]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the tip about the fuel filter & keeping the seat area clear. The roads round here aren't sensible over 60mph except motorways and I'm not taking a 125 on those! So the sprocket mod sounds good; will investigate.

I already love this bike. It's lovely to look at & the finish quality is amazing compared to my Suzuki. It fits me like a glove and handles well: almost like it knows what you want it to do. It's been away at Grahams for ten days and I'm desperate to have it back. I want to learn to work on it myself and will certainly treat it to frequent oil & filter changes. I need to get a bigger bike for motorway/dual carriage work at some point, but I don't see why the RT shouldn't be my everyday bike as long as I can keep it running. It uses next to no fuel: seems to be working out near 100mpg! There aren't many RTs around, so am considering, when I have the space and money, buying a spare if a nice, low milage one comes up, as they aren't going to get easier to find.

In a few years I might investigate a Skorpion Tour or Traveller for the big roads & distance, so will be interested to look through the forum to see people's comments on these. They're just as hard to find over here. If the RT is this good, its big brothers might be just as interesting.

Thanks for your helpful reply. Nice to meet you.

Ellen

[DAVID THOMPSON]

i have a Traveller and one of the rotax powered Saxon Tour bikes
i like the Saxon Tour better than the Skorpion Traveller
the Traveller is a GAS HOG i have a VW new beetle car that is cheaper to run
dave

sent text of sprocket change in a PM

[djsbriscoe]

Hi,
I've got an RT125 and a Skorpion. The RT is great for travelling the A roads of London, filtering through traffic and generally having fun on. Unfortunately it's been off the road for 6 months while I get a couple of leaky intake valves sorted in the cylinder head. I've had the valves and seats recut (all 4 of them) and will have to have a valve stem ground. I've nearly finished sorting the correct shims out so looks like I may be back on the road in a month or so(I hope). The Skorpion is my project bike and I'm working on making it fit me (I don't like the way it throws weight onto my wrists when riding) and doing a general tidy up for the MOT. Hope to use it for long distance and touring. Just bought a H & B rack for carrying more luggage. Fitted Gilles footrests and variobars, news tyres etc. More later.