Suzuki DR125 Scrambler – BikeBound

Husky-inspired DR125 from BCKustoms… 

The Suzuki DR125 was a dual-sport “trailie” as soon as fashionable amongst learners in Europe, particularly the UK. These 125cc enduros had been seen most frequently within the period between the “legally questionable” two-stroke learner bikes of the early Eighties (Yamaha RD250LC, and so forth.) and the vary of small-displacement race replicas and bare roadsters obtainable at the moment.

The air-cooled, four-stroke single-cylinder engine is similar one which resides within the Suzuki GN125 — a confirmed mill that dates again to the Eighties, with spares aplenty. The 12-hp output isn’t too spectacular on paper, although the DR doesn’t require a lot motivational pressure to get the job performed:

“The DR is so mild that you just’ll really feel spritely sufficient nipping round city or throughout a discipline.” –MCN

Just lately, we heard from considered one of our favourite builders, former WSBK workforce coordinator and MotoGP journalist Yann Le Douche of BCKustoms. Yann’s consumer, Mathieu, a restaurant proprietor, was in search of a small-displacement, vintage-inspired machine for Sunday rides and commuting to work on fairly days. He was enthralled with considered one of Yann’s earlier initiatives, a Yamaha XS500 styled after Steve McQueen’s believed Husqvarna 400 Cross, as seen in Bruce Brown’s iconic movie On Any Sunday.

Yann himself says he finds himself returning repeatedly to those two “benefactors of the motorcycling world” — Steve McQueen and Bruce Brown — as factors of inspiration. Within the 60s and 70s, they helped helped to carry the enjoyment of bikes to a broader viewers, and their affect stays formative for the two-wheeled tradition of at the moment.

“There’s one factor that each biker should know and that have to be a part of his curriculum. Seeing Bruce Brown’s movie On Any Sunday is and can at all times be a reference… I believe, the early 70s is an simple ‘zero’ level of our mainstream bike tradition as we all know it at the moment.”

So Yann and Mathieu selected a Husky-inspired DT125, a sensible and versatile runabout that might pay tribute to McQueen and On Any Sunday. Sadly, it turned out that the donor — a ’99 DT125 — had been the sufferer of an unscrupulous mechanic, who’d really useful and carried out a very pointless top-end rebuild…solely to botch the job.

In the end, Yann opted to select up a brand new engine from 50 Manufacturing facility as a substitute of making an attempt to restore the earlier mechanic’s injury. The following problem was to discover a tank that might have extra of a traditional form than the grime bike-style unit of the unique DR. Because it turned out, a leftover tank from a GN125 did the job completely — painted within the iconic Husky crimson and chrome colours, in fact — and Yann did up a chunky black saddle and 70s-style fenders to finish the look.

Yann says the bike rides virtually precisely like the unique — simply because the proprietor requested — and this little “Suzusky” beachcomber definitely makes us want that the present development of retro bikes from main producers would discover its means into dual-sport and enduro bikes. However then once more, we’ve got builders like Yann to hold such visions to actuality!

Beneath, we speak to the always-insightful Yann for extra particulars and ideas on not simply this construct, however the period that impressed it. Take pleasure in!

Suzuki DR125 Scrambler: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

Yann, nonetheless 51 years for the reason that final publication and founding father of BCKustoms in 2010 as a enjoyable workshop at first and have become an expert in 2019. With near 60 initiatives over the 13 years, I at all times return to my roots and my time, which can be stated time and time once more that “it was higher earlier than.”

All through my profession in motorcycling, there are occasions that stand out and never solely people who depart trophies on the cabinets. In a biker’s life, there are issues to do and see. Aside from vacationer landscapes, main occasions, museums, there may be one factor that each biker should know and that have to be a part of his curriculum. Seeing Bruce Brown’s movie On Any Sunday is and can at all times be a reference.

Like a motorbike journey, earlier than defining a vacation spot, it’s good to know its start line, its bases, its gear. And, I believe, the early 70s is an simple “zero” level of our mainstream bike tradition as we all know it at the moment. Exit the confidential years the place it solely a restricted public, the start of the 70s marked the entry of the bike into our day by day panorama. And this movie is without doubt one of the vectors of this popularization.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the bike?

This bike is a Suzuki DR125 of 1999, so in its SE model — a machine identified for its reliability and flexibility, and these are factors of the client’s specs. Its beneficiant dimension and up to date manufacturing make it a machine of alternative since many components can be found for a restoration.

• Why was this bike constructed?

Bruce Brown has already impressed in me a number of constructions, Husky or Elsinore impressed.

Mathieu got here to the workshop earlier this 12 months with a venture: to journey a 125cc bike after his seasonal work as a restaurant proprietor. The plan was first to attract a design resembling a brand new mannequin similar to we may discover on the market, however with a classic look. The specs due to this fact excluded all liquid-cooled machines.

As well as, in trying on the potential machines in the marketplace, their dimension till the tip of the 80s made them mini bikes with their “junior” dimensions. From 1988 and the arrival of the DTR, KDX, and others, the small displacement bikes grew right into a extra beneficiant dimension, avoiding the disdain of a biker salute to those small engines from those that’d already forgotten the place they got here from.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

Mathieu additionally talked about considered one of my earlier initiatives on a Yamaha XS500 base, which carried the colours of the long-lasting Husqvarna Cross pricey to Steve McQueen and Bruce Brown.

As well as, France has arrived at this dreaded second of technical management identified to our German neighbors and their octopus DEKRA — extra anxious to fill its crates than to actually enhance the security of motorbike customers. In current months, clients are shifting away from journal covers with lowered, shortened machines, flat saddles, and different points which have develop into very talked-about in recent times, as this new state of affairs makes authorized appendices much more necessary. However Mathieu, needed a machine that appeared straight out of dealership, so large flip indicators and beneficiant mirrors have their place.

• What customized work was performed to the bike?

Even when the bike was solely from 1999, there was important restoration wanted — most notably the wheels, suspension, and the entire electrics. From the purely mechanical standpoint, the historical past of the machine had revealed that an unscrupulous mechanic had taken benefit of the ignorance of the earlier proprietor to cost him for a change of pistons, as for a two-lap journey while you arrive round 20,000 km… At the very least the job, definitely ineffective, may have been properly performed. Not even.

Because the bike confirmed a slight oil leak from the bottom gasket, the client requested me to think about changing the complete engine. The truth is, a simplified historical past: The bike was given a brand new engine to run in. Tips on how to get nearer to a brand new machine?

The road of the DR tank doesn’t lend itself to the classic aesthetics of the interval, so I checked out tanks from the identical period of manufacturing that may be appropriate. Just lately leftover from the development of two initiatives based mostly on the Suzuki GN125, I had an previous tank to check and ensure as a substitute. The gorgeous fenders look very 70s, graced within the crimson and chrome paint pricey to the Swedish builder, and the principle form was in place.

It remained to make a classic enduro-type saddle — a spot and a half, arriving as shut as doable to the tank. The facet covers had been performed with mesh in a Teflon / aluminum sandwich materials to cowl the disappearance of the unique facet plates and the relocation of the lighthouse — a signature of the workshop — to make it look extra like a racing bike used on the highway than a avenue bike.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

I didn’t really give it some thought; the burden was on the consumer to do it when the time got here. The five hundred XS had already taken the nickname “HuXSy,” and a DR650SE constructed alongside the identical strains had appropriated that of “Suzusky.” I may have referred to as this new realization “Husqzuki” or comparable, however with out a lot curiosity. The references to Steve McQueen and the movie On Any Sunday are many, as with a number of of my builds, however so many initiatives consequence from these benefactors of the motorcycling world…

• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to journey this bike?

I began operating within the new engine throughout my end-of-construction checks. This 125 gives rather more house on board than its GN cousin. Their engine in widespread has the advantage of offering the mandatory energy for the use that Mathieu desires to make of it. From Sunday rides to commuting to his office on lovely days.

The sensations when you’re behind the bars are very near these of the unique machine, for the reason that chassis stays fully authentic. So not an excessive amount of a shock on this facet, and it was additionally a request to stay that means. So validated.

• Was there something performed throughout this construct that you’re significantly happy with?

With all due respect, I had the pleasure to form two insignificant however necessary items for my part for consideration to element. In a rubber plate, I reduce the entrance flap and the rear mild bracket that serves as a registration bracket. It’s not a lot, however for me, it’s that type of element that ensures the ending of a venture.

Builder Thanks

Particular because of my sponsors:
@daytona73 / leather-based firm
@ironandresin leather-based firm
@moskomoto / Robust gear-Exhausting journey, Bikes baggage
@motul_france / Motorbike oil and lubricants
@heidenauer_reifen / German high quality tyres
@makadamkulture / Bike & Breizh occasion September Twenty third-Twenty fourth 2023
@noline.france / cleansing wipes
@delkevicuk / Motorbike exhausts
@supersproxusa / Motorbike sprockets
@bellhelmets / #bellpowersports

Particular because of my technical companions:

Because of @50.manufacturing facility for many OEM Suzuki components and equipment, together with the brand new engine.
NC Design Workshop for upholstery (@nc_design_workshop)
Cap Enseignes for all stickers

Comply with the Builder

Web site: www.bckustoms.com
Instagram: @bckustoms
Fb: fb.com/breizhcoastkustoms/

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