Travis Pastrana RM125 - Factory Outdoor Spec

Inspired by Lee McCollum. As close to the real thing as you’ll ever see.

The Story Behind the Build

The restoration of the 2000 Travis Pastrana RM125 has finally been completed, despite a few hiccups along the way, including a paint colour error and a missing part. The final piece was bolted on at VMXdN Foxhill, where this stunning machine took pride of place in the DocWob awning and drew serious attention from hardcore motocross fans.

The RM125 stands as a tribute to the two-stroke machines that defined an era of motocross racing. Pastrana was just 16 years old when he rode this bike to clinch the AMA Outdoor Nationals title, coming from a huge points deficit to take the crown. We built this as close to that original factory outdoor spec as possible, many of the parts on this bike never saw production in any form.

The build was personal too. My good mate Lee McCollum, who was Travis’s mechanic at the time, helped inspire the direction and detail of the build. Plenty of stories came flooding back.

But this is more than just nostalgia, it’s a lesson in how factory race bikes were really put together. If you’re planning your own resto, this breakdown shows how the small things add up to make something truly next level.

1 5

Build Spec: Inside the Factory Outdoor RM125

This was built to match 2000 AMA Outdoor spec, not AMA legal, but exactly how it would have been set up for Pastrana.

Engine

  • Factory crank with unique weight
  • Full works transmission
  • XM1 factory-ported cylinder with rounded transfer ports for faster gas flow
  • Factory head with adjustable squish clearance
  • Rare sandcast 39.5 mm Mikuni carb (TPS + power jet)
  • Machined choke boss for closer fit to reed block
  • Full Hinson clutch with magnesium cases (clutch + ignition)
  • Build note: never file worn clutch basket fingers - always replace
  • Hand-made cone pipe by Jeff at Bill’s Pipes, matched to 45° end bore silencer
  • Recored + seam-welded radiators by Red Bull F1 radiator tech David Gladill
  • Oversized cores + 1.8 bar factory radiator cap for cooling under race conditions

Chassis

  • Frame initially painted wrong yellow, stripped and repainted in correct colour
  • Welded-on lugs for factory outdoor skid plate
  • Coil mount area stripped during powder coat prep for proper earth (avoids stator sparking)
  • Threads cleaned using spiral flute tap on a power drill - factory practice
  • Titanium bolts with steel nuts to avoid seizing (never Ti on Ti)
  • Era-correct red pop-out washers and blue top hats for visual details
  • Carbon fibre engine mounts tightened in correct order: swingarm bolt → M10s → M8s

Suspension & Brakes

  • 49 mm Showa factory forks (some years used 51 mm)
  • Brand new works rear shock: 18 mm gold Ti-nitride shaft, billet clevis, 4.9 spring
  • Factory cast linkage with RG3 dog legs
  • Front: magnesium caliper, 280 mm floating disc, Nissin straight-push master
  • Rear: 240 mm factory disc, 3.3 mm thick (thinner than 250 disc)
  • Note: magnesium calipers need extra cleaning and protection against corrosion

Wheels

  • Rear hub in magnesium
  • 3.15 outdoor spec rim
  • Ceramic bearings for maximum spin
  • Tyres to be switched to Dunlops (Travis’ 2000 setup)

Controls & Tank

  • Oversized bar mounts, rider-height specific
  • Factory titanium cast + welded pegs with circlip groove pin design
  • 40-grit style clear grip tape
  • One Industries gum-coloured half-waffle grips
  • Smaller ’96–98-style radiator panels, Travis’ preference

DocWob Parts in Play

  • Titanium Bolt Kits – Chassis, Engine & Full Kits
  • Axle Blocks – Factory Replica
  • Red & Blue Dress Kits – washers + top hats
  • Low-Profile Tank & Flush Cap
  • Cast Magnesium Engine Covers

Get behind the scenes with frame prep, engine builds, and rare factory parts you’ve never seen before.

Pastrana's RM125 - Part One

Pastrana's RM125 - Part Two

Pastrana's RM125 - Part Three

Pastrana's RM125 - Part Four

Final Thoughts

This RM125 isn’t just a show bike, it’s a piece of motocross history, reborn. From the correct cone pipe and magnesium brakes to the Travis Pastrana preferred controls, every inch of this build honours the legacy of Travis Pastrana and the golden era of factory two-strokes.

Whether you’re restoring your own RM or just here for the stories, we hope this build gives you a proper look at what makes a true works bike tick.

RM125 Parts