157 replies to this topic

[Smacaroni Get Help Now]

I bought my All-Balls set (same part number you listed, IIRC) off ebay.
I didn't use any washers yet, it is very stiff so it's probably not needed, but I will be adding them to keep the dust seals in place. It looks like it's going to be quite a bit of washers.

Things we noticed. The stock length chain doesn't work at all. We're waiting on new sprockets, cause the old ones are pretty well shot, I'm not going to put a new chain on worn out sprockets.

Seat height from the non-L DR-Z125 to the KX suspension is from 31 to 32.5, doesn't seem like a lot, but it is when you sit on it.

Our parts had been left out in the elements for some time, this isn't much of a problem, except for the swing arm adjusters. One came out, barely, the other broke off. We noticed this after installing the swing arm. Which is unfortunate, because it's much easier to fix this problem (busted stud) if the swing arm is off the bike. I'm going to try a lot of PB Blaster and either an easy-out or perhaps cutting a slot for a lotted screw driver, but I fear I'll need to drill and re-tap it which will be a pain.

Another thing I noted is you'll need to mix and match the parts that connect the shock to the swing arm, the KX uni-track suspension arm (big L shaped piece) won't work in the DR-Z frame. I'm not sure if that was mentioned or not.

Hang-ups I had, which hopefully you don't:
The roller bearings were not packed with foam or anything else to keep them intact during shipping/pressing. Of course, that means mine decided to come out. Fortunately, I was able re-insert them with my finger. I recommend packing the bearings with grease to keep them in place if this is the case for you.
One of my swing arm roller bearing sleeves from All Balls was wrong. I plan to contact them and find out what happened. As luck would have it, the DR-Z's sleeve from the bushing is a direct fit.
Every last fastener was either installed with super gorilla torque or good old PA mud and junk got in the threads and got them tight as a drum. This wasn't too much of a problem since we used an air impact wrench to remove them, but the ones where the gun wouldn't fit were a royal pain. If I had to do it again, I'd PB Blaster every fastener the night before doing the job.

Photos will be up once the sprockets arrive.

[dr_drz TT Gold Member]

ryanmxrdr said:

I am also using your sticky as a guide also.  I am inquiring about the alignment of the swing arm.  how many washers per side did you use on the swing arm.  Thank you very much for when you reply.
Ryan

I am sorry, but I don't remember. I don't have the bike anymore, so I can't check on it for you.

[ryanmxrdr TT Member]

dr_drz said:

I am sorry, but I don't remember. I don't have the bike anymore, so I can't check on it for you.

Thanks, your already more help just by posting this post. I'll get it figured out

[Jmacsellnu TT Newbie]

anybody have any cheap ideas to get more power on my 03 drz 125L. I really dont want to put a aftermarket exhaust because of how loud it would be were i ride. Im in the process of doing the rm85 front end conversion so my bike is apart and ready for some mods

[Jmacsellnu TT Newbie]

I have a 03 drz125 and purchased rm85 forks. Im having a hard time finding triple trees for it. I purchased kx 85 trees but didnt have a stem. Someone pressed the stock drz125 stem in the kx lower tree but when i went to put it all on there is a gap at the top of the upper tree were the stock tree must be thicker i really just need the rite triple tree.

[Smacaroni Get Help Now]

The 97+ KX and 03-06 RM 100 triple trees was a direct fit for me. I don't know if the 85 forks would fit in that tree or not.

[Cigrettman TT Newbie]

Just wandering if I could just swap the DRZ motor into the KX100 frame or if this way is the best way to do it ?

[Smacaroni Get Help Now]

Nothing is impossible with enough time and/or money.

One problem right off the bat would be the DR-Z uses a larger diameter swing arm bolt than the KX does which would need to be addressed.
Lucky for you, the DR-Z cases are narrower where the bolt runs through than the KX is.
You'd need to fabricate some motor mounts, possibly air-box or boot modification.
Then, once you've done all that, you pray the gas tank still mounts up.

Let us know how it goes.

[levic900rr TT Bronze Member]

Cigrettman said:

Just wandering if I could just swap the DRZ motor into the KX100 frame or if this way is the best way to do it ?

Its probably easier to do the classic KX Suspension onto the DRZ frame mod... I'm betting you wont see that much better handling using the complete KX bike.

[xRedRiderX TT Newbie]

I just picked up a DRZ 125 yesterday for my wife and I plan on doing the suspension conversion.  I searched the forum but is it seems everyone has done the mod to the L model not the standard small wheel.  Do I need to just get the RM forks from the smaller 80/85 to make this transition.  Thanks in advance.

[GilaMonster TT Member]

They're the same size forks just different spring rates. I've got 03' kx100 front and back on my klx125 small wheel because the small wheel swing arm is in fact shorter.

v/r

[drzwj TT Newbie]

does the drz wheel fits the rmz forks? brake pump?

[mbwhitfi TT Bronze Member]

I just test fit my KX swingarm toady but that was just to get the sapcer dimensions (swing arm to engine case x2) + right side swing arm to frame.

  I have machined the KX swing arm to fit the stock DRZ bushings.  This uses the stock DRZ inner collar spacers wich are the correct / stock width between the DRZ case and DRZ frame.  The KX swing arm is (12mm - 14mm) narrower (overall width) on the right side at the swing pivot / frame mounting bolt.  Also the inside of the KX swing arm is about 4mm -5mm wider the the DRZ engine cases on each side.  The KX has a steel linkage bracket that connects the swing arm pivot to the triangle mount at the lower frame.  If I were to motocross or seriously jump the DRZ I would fabricate the DRZ frame to incorperate the KX mount hardware and linkage (swingarm to lower mount)  to the DRZ frame.    

To avoid fabricating a wider lower frame mount (Just below rear engine caseing) I used the DRZ (lower suspension) triangle link as the KX was too wide for the DRZ frame mount (with out modifications).  I think the slight difference in lower triangle length may change the calculated spring rate.  (Shorter / less leverage = stiffer right)    

Now with the KX swing arm and rear wheel bolted up the KX lower swing arm shackle that bolts from the bottom of the KX swing arm to the middle of the DRZ lower suspension triangle is just 1/8" or so too narrow on the left side.  Right side has correct alignment but the left side need to be spaced out just slightly 1/8" or so (add a washer) on the bottom at the right side lower swing arm link mount.

[mbwhitfi TT Bronze Member]

KX 100 Swing Arm Spacer  MONEY SHOT

Chain side swing arm sapcer Swing Arm to Engine Case.

Brake side Swing Arm Spacers (2)  

Engine case to Swing Arm and Swing Arm to Frame.

All spacers are cut from thick wall PVC plastic electrical conduit.

Engine case is held steadfast to frame with swing arm bolt and inner bushing spacers.  PVC is  just to guide the swing arm ~ THe shock and linkage is the main centering device.

Edited by mbwhitfi, 29 January 2012 - 05:54 PM.

[mbwhitfi TT Bronze Member]

Dress spacer width to taste with 80 grit sand paper or emery cloth.

[mbwhitfi TT Bronze Member]

dr_drz, on 27 May 2009 - 04:28 AM, said:

I'm not sure that I have a picture better than the ones that I already showed. Here are two repeats.




The only machining was to put the DR-Z bearings in the KX100 swingarm. That was only a small amount of boring. A good machinist should be able to measure the bearings and do the boring.

You do not need to change the rear swingarm. There are numerous projects on this forum that use the original swingarm.

The KX aluminium brake pedal is also not usauble with out tons of rework/fab.   THe DRZ pedal is stamped steel and easy to weld fab into what I need.

I chopped the factory KX frame mount for the brake MC bracket off.  The KX bracket in place on the DRZ frame runs the MC too close to the exhaust bracket.  Stepping it outside teh bracket will bring it in the way of the riders boot.  I may have to look into an unconventional design maybe canting the MC at an angle rear ward to eleviate the exhaust bracket interfearance.

[sharpey821 TT Member]

Jmacsellnu, on 06 April 2010 - 03:38 PM, said:

anybody have any cheap ideas to get more power on my 03 drz 125L. I really dont want to put a aftermarket exhaust because of how loud it would be were i ride. Im in the process of doing the rm85 front end conversion so my bike is apart and ready for some mods

you can if you havnt already chop the standard exhaust down remove all the plates and weld it back up have a look at mine in my pics you can see how much shorter it is....theres spot weld marks around the can so you can see were the plates are....i chopped the end of mine around an inch in so i had a clean straight end to weld back on after shortening it wasnt much difference in noise either

[Mingledbones TT Newbie]

Nobody has posted on this thread in a while . but maybe someone will see this. I'm currently doing this conversion . I don't have a 428 sprocket for the  kx100 hub. So I'm going to use the stock sprocket. Will a 420 chain work for this conversion? Probably a stupid question but I just want to get everything right.

Edited by Mingledbones, 06 April 2013 - 12:23 PM.