1976 Suzuki RM

1976 SUZUKI RM125 – FACTORY WORKS SPEC PRACTICE BIKE
TISCO Racing / Roy Thacker Collection – Frame-Off Restoration – Museum Quality
You are looking at a very significant piece of motocross history.
This is a 1976 Suzuki RM125 factory works–spec practice and development machine originating from the legendary TISCO Racing / Roy Thacker Collection out of Texas A collection of 93 predominantly historically important motocross motorcycles, many of which you've seen featured on our channel. This bike stands light-years beyond a stock 1976 RM125.
Anyone familiar with the model will immediately recognize it as something special. We have a bone-stock '76 RM125 in our shop, and when the two are placed side by side, the differences are dramatic.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Previous Owner Reported That This was Danny Laporte's Factory Practice and Development Bikes.
The 1976 RM125 is one of the most important 125cc motocross motorcycles ever produced.

It was:
The first year of the reed-valve RM125

The first year of the 6-speed gearbox

The platform that won the 1976 FIM 125cc World Championship for Suzuki

Suzuki poured enormous factory resources into the RM125 program during this era, and true factory practice and development bikes were never production motorcycles — meaning no VIN or serial numbers were stamped on the frame or engine, which is correct and historically accurate for works machines of this period.
FACTORY-LEVEL MODIFICATIONS (WHAT SETS THIS BIKE APART)
This RM125 features extensive factory-style engineering and fabrication that simply did not exist on production bikes:

Custom, longer, beefier, hand Built swingarm (factory geometry)

With New Progressive rear shocks approx. 2 inches longer than stock, yielding nearly 12 inches of rear travel

Upgraded front forks from a newer Suzuki 125, providing nearly 12 inches of front travel

Dramatically improved handling, stability, and suspension performance over stock

Six-speed, reed-valve engine that revs exceptionally high – smooth, fast, and responsive

Engine character more akin to a road-race motor than a production motocrosser

This bike absolutely hauls, and rides nothing like a standard '76 RM125.
RESTORATION DETAILS
This motorcycle received a full frame-off, comprehensive restoration — not a cosmetic bolt-on refresh. Restoration highlights include:

Complete frame-off teardown

Frame professionally sandblasted and refinished

Engine fully rebuilt with new piston and rings

New carburetor

New reed assembly

Original magnesium engine covers restored and polished

Engine mounts polished

New chain and sprockets

Original 1976 exhaust system restored and in exceptional condition (rare to find)

New seat foam and cover

New plastics and number plates (including rare wrap-around shock number plates)

Professionally refinished fuel tank with original factory warning decals

New petcock, fuel lines, and filter

Rebuilt forks with new seals, springs, and rubbers

Wheels restored with new bearings

New Michelin Cross Competition tires front and rear (still showing hairy nibs)

New controls, levers, perches, grips, and kill switch

Renthal handlebars and crossbar pad

Suzuki thumb protectors

All new hardware throughout

The level of finish exceeds factory production quality and is absolutely museum-grade.
CONDITION
This bike is:

Showroom new

Mechanically & Cosmetically excellent

Fully sorted and ready to ride, race vintage events, or display

The restoration represents well over 100 hours of professional labor @ $150PH = $15,000 in shop labor alone, Plus thousands of dollars in rare hard to find parts. Replicating this build today would far exceed the cost of this bike and require months of sourcing rare components.
COLLECTOR NOTES

From the Roy Thacker / TISCO Racing Collection

Factory works–spec RM125 practice/development machine

Correct for the era

No VIN or serial numbers, as expected for a true works bike

One of the trickest, most authentic 1976 RM125s we've ever had

Whether you want to:

Compete in AHRMA or vintage nationals

Display it in a museum or private collection

Own one of the most developed 125s of the 1970s

You will not find a finer example available today.
BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
We offer white-glove, roll-on/roll-off shipping and are available before, during, and after the sale. If you want the best — this is it.
Thanks for watching, and God Bless America.

We will not charge out-of-state buyers sales tax.
Out of state residents will pay sales tax with their DMV. We are not a registering dealership. You will receive only the documents required to register your vehicle in your state. In our listings, title status is always listed directly below the main description. In some cases we will sell motorcycles without title or registration. In these cases we guarantee all motorcycles sold are free and clear. We will always provide a route to obtaining title. Generally in these cases, the motorcycle will be sold at a discount to accommodate expenses involved. Documents are mailed via USPS priority mail with a tracking number. Please allow up to 14 days after payment in full for your documents to be processed and mailed. Keys will be shipped with the motorcycle.
SHIPPING: SEND US YOUR ZIP FOR A SHIPPING QUOTE!
WE WILL MAKE ALL ARRANGEMENTS! We have the best shipping contacts in the nation who will provide the FASTEST transport times, have a perfect track record, and are always insured and ENCLOSED! All motorcycles are shipped WHOLE (roll-on, roll-off). We do not offer a pallet or crate service. International shipping specialist contacts are available! They will assist in ground freight, customs clearance, and ocean freight to your country. International buyers will be required to work directly with our third party shipping contacts. We strongly recommend you insure your motorcycle at the time of purchase.
PICKUP: We require a 24 hour notice prior to pick-up. Please call us during office hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm EST. We will provide ramps, a dock for loading, and assistance to load for free.