Jeff restored this 1980 Suzuki RM80X after his one was stolen back in 1987 when he was 12. He just had to have another one even in his 40s!.. Photos: Heather Ware.
Back in 1987 my Suzuki RM80X got nicked and it broke my heart. With the usual living expenses as a family, there was no hope of me getting another bike until I was older and working. I always wanted another RM80X, and now at age 46, I’ve finally got one!
Jeff fully restored this Suzuki RM80X from scratch after his one got stolen back in 1987. The project consumed two years of his life!
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As you can see in the images, my yellow terror polished up very nicely indeed considering it was a complete wreck. Sure, it is no show winner, but it is just how I wanted it, right down to the crossbar pad and black handlebars. This resto was more about building what I had and want than what Suzuki put on showroom floors.
I did want some originality though and that was no easy task. The XT model came out with a range of graphics, depending on country, and here in Australia we had a few varieties thrown in.
The plastics and tank look fantastic. The tank was $600 painted and the plastics $500 both AUD, so by far the most expensive part of the resto.
So, what people got didn’t necessarily reflect exactly what is in the era sales brochures, manuals or magazine ads. To solve it, I stuck to images of racers on the bikes in old Aussie magazines. I then got the decal sets made locally… Aside from the 80 on the sidecovers, which are a slightly lighter blue, from the USA.
I had to source a lot of parts for this bike – a head, barrel, conrod kit and mains, gears, selector shafts, clutch, full bearing and seal sets, and exhaust pipe and muffler, fuel tank, seat, plastics, wiring and cables and tyres and chain and sprockets…
I can’t remember it all but each part was hard to find. I ended up settling on a pod airfilter, and an aftermarket kickstarter, but I am on the lookout for an airbox and an original kickstarter.
Just look at it. Every kid wanted an RM80X. They were the Tamiya Hornet of the minibike world!
It was a fun job, I am super happy with the end result. So how did it feel to ride the bike? It was absolutely bloody awesome and gave me the exact feel and light-headed buzz I very, very clearly remember the first time I rode my RM80X way back when I was 11 or 12.
“The way the power kicked in and then the sound as I chased gears. I’ve never forgotten that moment and it set me up for a lifetime of motorcycling…”
The way the power kicked in and then the sound as I chased gears. I’ve never forgotten that moment and it set me up for a lifetime of motorcycling. The difference now was, well, of course the little ripper bogged down with my weight on it, but it still got on the pipe and I got it through the gearbox a few times before we quickly packed it up.
The mighty trench diggin’ back flippin’ yellow devil goes on display now as a shelf queen…
We could not go to the track due to COVID-19 so we sneaked in into the local bush in our family transporter! I ripped up and down the trail you see in the shots, and no sooner had I put it away that a National Parks & Wildlife Ranger drove past! Phew! Just like the old days as a kid getting chased! YeeHaa I love it!
Proud as punch with his ring dingin’ wheel-standin’ trench diggin’ wild yellow terror!
The mighty trench diggin’ back flippin’ yellow devil goes on display now as a shelf queen for a while, but I will ride it again on our local minicross track once my son’s racing season kicks off again. It’s going to give the other parents a laugh when I show up to sweep ride for the junior riders on my RM80!
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The Author
September 28, 2022
great story Jeff! I too lusted after these when I was a kid..but alas I never got to ride one. But it doesn’t matter as I am a lifelong motorcyclist and lover of all bikes now in my 50’s…I ride most days on a 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 or a ’94 Yamaha XJ900S Diversion + other bits and pieces in the shed
October 11, 2022
Thanks Andrew! I am sitting besides the RM80X as I type, I have it right next to my desk permanently! Keeps me motivated. Those Diversion’s are great (Called the Seca here). I don’t see many around these days. Silky smooth motor. I worked as a mechanic at a Yamaha dealership when they came on the market. Jeff.
June 11, 2023
Excellant story and an amazing resto. I to had RM 80 X back in 1980. I am now 55 and i have just purchssed one to restore. A great little demon of a bike in its day and still is today. I am about to undertake a full resto back to factory. I will list pics as I do the work.
Lets restore each and every RM 80 X we can get our hands on.