The History of Suzuki's PE175 Enduro 1978-1984
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- čas přidán 22. 10. 2020
- Produced from 1978 through 1984, Suzuki's Pure Enduro 175 was the yellow entry into the hotly contested small-bore Enduro class of the late seventies and early eighties. Based off of their RM125, the PE was a solid contender pitted against Yamaha's IT175/200, Kawasaki's KDX175/200, and Honda XR185/200R.
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Still got my 82 model,had itsince I was 13 I'm now 51 ,will do it up for my son one of these days, great video
You should record it. I just bought a 1980 and 81
Old guy in a local enduro series still races his PE175. You can tell it's him without seeing him. Those old air cooled 2 strokes have a distinct sound.
I had the 1982 PE175 in high school. Bought it new in 1984 as a left over at my local Suzuki dealership. It was a great bike. Put Boyseen reeds, Answer silencer and the blue 84 PE seat cover on it. Dirt Bike magazine said the hot set up back then was to put on a 81 RM250 pipe on the PE175’s
After struggling to get the steel mesh out of the stock PE pipe, I found a used 81 RM pipe and installed it using my 175 stinger/Answer silencer. Excellent power boost.
I bought a used 1981 PE250T in 1983. I had it for several years before switching to a brand new 1986 DR200G which I still have 35 years later. The PE was an okay bike, very powerful engine was one of the good points. Terrible vibration through the handlebars and footpegs compared to anything else I've ridden. In America and many other parts of the world, 1982 was the last year where all three models could be purchased. In the UK, Australia, Canada, and here in New Zealand, the 175, 250, and 400 models were still available up until 1983.
I used to have a PE175 when I was 18 years! It was registered as a ‘85 but maybe was a ‘84 model after all. Still have the original Suzuki papers that came with the bike. Unfortunalty, my PE175 got stolen after breaking in my garage. For sure, they knew what they were looking for. I searched for it for years, checked the used bikes ads, etc but never found it back. Man, I had a blast riding that PE. Going to work with it (street legal in Belgium where I live) and do some easy trials on the way home. Great bike, great memories.
I had one about the same age too. Great bike. Why did I ever get rid of it!
The rear wheel quick change system was more significant than it's mention here. I was at the infamous Blackwater 100 during the heyday of the PE. They had a tire changing contest where contestants were timed changing the rear tire. Nobody stood a chance against PE owners.
I remember having a PE175 poster in my room in 1981 when I was 11, it just looked so good.
I used to race one of these in national enduros in the late 70s early 80s. Good bike.
Hi . I bought
bought a PE 175 N Model second hand in 1983 from bryco,s Stockport.
It had been
well tuned .ported cylinder. Boyson reeds .restricter plate removed from exhaust . It was wild to ride . Awesome. Really miss it . My mate had a stock one and the difference was huge in performance. Must get another.used to race flash cars of at the traffic lights on the back wheel .left for dust . The good old days .
Great video! I have a 1978 PE250 I restored this year. Very fun bike to ride. The old air cooled two strokes are great! Always puts a smile on my face when I go for a ride! Hope to see a pe250 video from you soon!
What memories this channel provides us old moto guys. So lucky to have your content Tony. Thanks!
I always thought that ‘79 PE175 was such a great looking bike, still do.
Me too
Me three👍
@@teamflanneloutdoors5631me 4 👍🇦🇺
I have a PE175C 1978 first model that I use in local Vinduro here in Brisbane Australia, great little bike
I still remember my neighbors IT250 I thought the blue was trick. And my uncle had a pair of PEs with the headlight cages. They were kick ass
I used to love the PE/IT/XR/KXL/ bikes in the early 80s...great time!
Me too 👍🏻
Me Too IT’s for me ! But I love them all , KDX,XR,PE.
Love the late 70s but the early to mid 80s were the shiiiitttt. Love my 93 it 250. And I've picked up a 79 yz 250 that's getting some love in the future. Maybe get to do the mid Ohio vintage days next yr.
@@lukewalters4716 no such thing as a '93 IT anything..last year of the IT was 1986
@@sevendyseven4090 sorry that was a fat finger move on my part. It's an 83. And your correct they only made in 85 and 86 was it 200. Killed everything else. If it's a consolation prize I did have a 93 yz 250. Just hard assing.
I was an apprentice motorcycle mechanic starting in 1984 so these things were very common back then. Things were changing very rapidly in the 80,s with disc brakes and monoshock suspensions coming on line but in its day this was still a great little bike and id be happy to have one now.
Wish I had one
I bought the PE 175N Brand new in 79 and the PE175Ta few years later
I raced them and trail road them hard in Australia out of Melbourne
I went on to road register the RM400N as an enduro bike that was unrivalled
My last PE was the PE400T A real beast
3 of my mates and I all bought new PE175N's in Mildura in 1979. They were amazing and like nothing we had owned. We even raced motocross on them a couple of times. Brilliant bikes and I'm hoping to buy a clean PE175C that I have just located this month.
I had an '82 PE, the Full Floater was unreal. I was able to climb to the top of our local "Impossible Hill' every time, downshifting all the way up. My buddy on his ProLink XR 500 did not ever climb it with the Honda. He was so PO'd, he threatened to return it to the dealer and demand it be made right! RIP Jimmy. The Full Floater just hooked up and let you steer for the best line, no muss, no fuss. Unfortunately the aluminium shock was of poor quality, no internal hard coating, and it was toast after 2 years. Maybe I should have bought a good after market shock, in hind sight. I did cut open the exhaust pipe and removed the mesh liner for a slight power increase. I moved on to an '85 Husqvarna 400 WRX and sold the PE. I did see it out in the bush a couple years later, pretty well at the end of it's useful life. There is still an RM expansion chamber hanging from my shop's roof trusses, unused, with the stinger removed. Dirt Bike mag published an enduro hop-up story claiming the pipe was a bolt up power increase. Nope, just a waste of money.
Had an 82. Remember changing up gears going up hill. Great suspension, would go over 4 inchh logs and not even feel it
Super video and thanks for the memories! I used to own an '83 IT175 and I remember the PEs going back to about 1980 or so when I first saw them. Seemed like they were a low cost alternative and the ones I saw sure seemed to run great. Looking at the PE175 that I remember, it reminded me of the 1978 or so RMs in that the frame and suspension looked pretty similar. Before the PEs came out, the closest thing before that were the older TM series. Those were very early to mid 70s with maybe 6" of suspension travel. The PEs I remember seeing had maybe 10" or 11" of travel. Again, they looked like a very capable bike. Never got to ride on though but I did have an RM100 ('75) and RM125 ('79) once up on a time. I do remember the PEs being pretty quiet. Much quieter than my IT175 that sounded much like a YZ125.
I'm totally going to buy a PE175 82 and put the 81 sprocket on one day. Would also like to see a series on the TS series. Great video!
Great vid. My first bike was an 82 PE175. Lotta great memories on that thing.
Always had a mad softspot for the suzuki pe's, thanks for the video
You bet
Gosh! I remember in 78 I got a dirt bike magazine and this bike was in it. Oh I wanted one so bad.. cool video ! Thanks for showing it .
I knew of two riders in my senior year of high school that had 1982 PE175Zs.
They liked the bikes very much and I actually had a chance to ride one of their bikes for a few minutes back when I was riding my 1983 YZ125K in the summer of 1984.
I did not ride the PE for more than maybe three minutes and I rode it at a slow pace, so I did not get a good impression of it.
Something I did not see coming:
My short ride on his PE175Z was OK, but the few minutes he spent on my YZ125K made such on impression on him that both he and his PE riding buddy actually ended up selling their PE175Zs and bought new 1985 CR125Rs when they hit the dealer showrooms not long afterwards.
The next time I talked to one of them was about a year after we swapped bikes and he told me before they rode my YZ125K, they assumed a 125 MXer would have such a weak low-end and such a narrow powerband that they'd never be able to ride one anywhere but a motocross track while keeping their speed up and be no good for anywhere else.
They never dreamed you'd be able to trail ride one or simply play ride on one, and they said riding my YZ125K impressed with how quick-revving and quick-accelerating and fun-to-ride a small-bore dirt bike could be.
Unexpected because I was simply obliging his request to try my YZ, but a true story.
I never owned any Suzuki PE, but I did own and enjoy a couple bikes discussed in this video:
1981 Yamaha IT175H
1982 Yamaha IT175J
1985 Yamaha IT200N
The 1981 model was OK, but the 1982 IT175J was mucho improved, to the point that I'd still like to own one today.
It was light weight, had good suspension, the ergonomics of the seat, tank, handlebars, foot pegs, and bodywork felt great to me, and the engine had an incredible spread of power and torque from idle up to max revs and was able to produce useful torque everywhere.
I was very impressed.
The IT200N was, believe it or not, my second choice out of these three.
While the 195cc engine certainly made even more low-end torque, the power seemed a bit more slow-revving and a little tamed on the top-end, and the ergonomics were a little less great with a wider fuel tank and a low dip in the seat.
I did appreciate the 43mm forks.
It was a great bike, but comparing these three, the 1982 IT175J is my favorite.
If the IT200N power characteristics had been as lively as the IT175J, I'd probably call it a tie.
They had powerful engines for 175cc. Had a 81 KDX 175 that was a great off roader.
Excellent video really great work I owned an RM370- in 1977 an a 1979 PE- 250 both where really great machines I don't know why I ever got rid of them.
I'm 57yrs.love woods weapons.
As a young man ,everything was big bore.
Huh a little funny.
Now ,I purchased a 82 IT175.
Fun times, and waiting on your Ir review, i couldn't find it
I have not done that one yet but I will be doing it in the future
Loving the channel. My dad had an 82/83 it175 when I was a kid. Thought it was the coolest thing on the planet. Id love to see something like this on the it175. Id love to get one now.
I plan on doing a similar review of the IT175/200 in the near future
Wow, Your Channel Just Popped Up On My CZcams Grid & I'm Really Glad It Did. I Love Remembering The Old Dirt Bikes From The '70's & '80's. I Had Several Bikes Through The Years But I Guess The One I Miss The Most Was My '74 Yamaha DT-360. I Subscribed So I'll Check Out What Else You Have, Thanks.
Thank you!
My dad had an 82 PE 175 that he had throughout my whole childhood. He still talks about how amazing that bike was. I never got to ride it because by the time I was big enough to ride it, it had fallen into disrepair.
Thanks Tony. I enjoy all of your videos. Love the PE's.
Thanks 👍
2thumbs up for this in-depth video. The author knows every inch of the PE & hav me salivatate for such a bike. I never had a PE back in the early 80s but always liked the sight of this yellow bike. I only rode dual purpose DTs & TS for trails & occasional dirt track mx.
Great stuff Tony, just shared on the FB PE forum
Thanks 🙏🏻
Great job love all the old off-road bikes as well 💯
Thanks 👍
Nailed it bud, great video!!
Glad you liked it
Great information...very good video. Keep up
Thanks a lot
Great Video Tony’. I own 2 (83) (84) and so different than the Kdx 175 and IT 175 .
Cool, thanks!
back in the day i put a stroker crank in my PE 175 which made it a great trail bike with the added torque. they also had a batch of bad ignition parts that left me stranded several times
Would have been a bonus to hear of the riders Suzuki had on their off-road team. Pretty sure that's where Mr.KDX Jeff Fredette started out. Regardless, enjoyed that one👍 have always like the looks of 78-79 PE'S.
Amazing video .... I have an 83' very nice bikes. I say the cadillac of 175's ..". yellow fever " ...
Love the rm80 had one when I was younger..
Look for the 1978 test of the 175 in DirtBike magazine (probably Sept.), they gave detailed info about the ridiculous baffle, and said remove it - problem solved! They called it the best 175 of that year. The '78 RM125 had a great engine for all around use anyway, it didn't need much help, those in the
know at the time had alot of factory parts to choose from for mix & match... Between the 125 & 175 engine, suspension and gearing, you could custom tune a dependable bike for any type riding. Thanks for this vid, this was a great era of development.
I had to 78 p175 C and I love that bike Man. Bike was fun
Super nice review I wont also know more about the smaller 4 strokes 200-350 (400) ccm (KLX,SP;DR,XR,TT ) from this decade!
I'd completely forgotten how some drum brakes barely worked when wet!
Jim "Hollywood" Holly in the house🙌
That t-shirt with the bike in the pickup..hhmm gonna get one.
thank you!
Cool history, ride on!
I had a show on public access called the Motorcycle Vault back in Florida in 2001 . Our roll in was a vault opening up and then the action started. We were kind of on the cusp of the stunt craze. It was a lot of fun, I mainly did it to get my son out of the house and away from video games but alas now he is just a 34 yr. old commie gamer. Anyway I really like this channel and the commentator has a good flow to his show.
Thank you for the very informative video. A couple of years ago, I picked up an old RS175 that needed some TLC. After some brake shoes, top end, and a clutch, as well as some cleaning, paint, and a few odds and ends, its a neat little bike to run around on. It even hauls my 200+ pound ass like its got power to spare. It still needs parts here and there, but the RS was based on the PE, and some parts interchange.
Any comments or info on the RS 175? There is not much out there on it. In fact, i had to pick up a PE175 owners manual as the RS175 was unobtanium.
Mr. Tony Blazer, could you do video on vintage 78, to 85 pipe & silencer companies? I am restoring a 1980 kawasaki kdx250 . Thank you for all your hard work!!!!
how about the mazda b2000 bro? I had a couple. Just found your channel and I love it. I had a ts185 when I was a kid 71 I believe, and I rode it and loved it for years. Now I'm older and I just bought a pe175 just to bang around on. Two stroke on the road is a hell of a thing. Peace.
Today it is back to EURO - KTM with TPI is the game changer for sure. I had some of the older IT's/XR's it was a different time as well (today it is just not the same). Seems like something is missing. Even bought a new KDX220 I don't think I rode it maybe total of 10 hours sold it and went back to motocross bikes. Kinda wish I had that KDX220R today I really gave that one away.
The KDX 200 blew them all away
Do we realize that these old "hashed over test reads" from that era were so much more precise and technical than the magazine tests today, (and especially on line tests)?
one of my top fav bikes as could breat 250s on it.
I got my 1983 pe175 about 2 years ago when I was 11 it was a complete pile when I bought it but it’s pretty close to almost restored besides the plastics I’ve definitely made it my own with my own bash plate I made and thinking of a 250 engine swap can someone tells me I f it goes in with out any trouble, thanks. it’s just an absolute amazing bike and I love it
My first bike was a 175 pe, I was 19 then , many years ago
Could you do a review of the Sachs late 70's to early 80's enduro and mx bikes?
i'm gonna do a restoration of a 79' sachs hercules 250cc in the future that my uncle had!!
greeting from greece and stay safe :)
Ah, here we go ! As promised, thanks T, ENDURO BIKES !
You bet!
I had the 1976 RM 125 it was the best handling bike I've ever had I have a 1976 YZ 125 they handled like shit but that why is he was a little bit faster top end than the RM the arm handles like a dream I still wish I had one happy riding
I love these videos. I watch them all and listen to your pod cast. Just wonder if you will do a xr400 history. Im one of those weirdos who hopped up my 96 with a big bore , cam, and suspension. I would love to see your take on the bike
I also have a 98 cr250 lol not best cr but I love it, I was a mechanic so its nice to get white nuckel dirt biking
Yes I am working on vid covering the XR350/400s
Can you do a video on the ts250?
Could you do a review of the 1984 kx 125 that was my first bike? It Had a ton of low end torque for a 125. thanks so much
Are u still doing a piece on the Banshee?
Yes
thinking of one of these for vintage enduro ... under 100kg weight and a peppy motor and decent handling as well as fuel capacity .. what could go wrong? ;)
When I was 17 around 1994 I bought a 1980 PE250 for $400 that I had saved up, looped it out and broke off that rear tail light remember being really bummed out about that
Such an excellent video. Would you happen to have any information available on the history of the RS175? I recently bought 1980 and 1982 RS175 and I’m looking for any info available that could help me in the restoration efforts.
I may have a brochure or two and maybe an add but this is about it.
@@TheMotocrossVault thanks. I believe I have those as well. Do you know if the RS engine followed similar improvements to the PE engine? On the Wikipedia page I found that RS was detuned and used smaller carburetor than PE. I was wondering if that’s true and/or if there’s any reliable source of information about the RS.
I can't make out what is said on the T-shirt mini truck with the 79'ish YZ on the bed. It does not look like "YamaHauler" to me, but it is funky font.
That is a neat shirt. Are you selling them?
It says “ BlazeHauler” in a Yamahauler style font. Yes ther are for sale in my teespring store. The link is in my video description.
What year did they go from a metal tank to a plastic tank out of curiosity?
What’s the seat height on the 79 PE
FYI you must use specific 2T oil for engines with a powervalve exhaust. Yamalube for one. I don't have experience with the oil the presenter recommends. Modern general-use 2T oils burn too clean, the exhaust valve dries out and gets sticky....lol, in high school everyone had an SR5
I had a XR200R 81 model (used of course back in the late 80's FUN bike - but after riding it getting on my 1982 IT175 made the Yamaha feel like a race horse. Wish Honda would build a 200cc Enduro with lights and all for woods.
I loved the old XR200R. Not a thoroughbred but a super fun machine
@@TheMotocrossVault It was a fun bike to ride trail riding for sure. I want a KTM 250 XC-W Enduro they got the best bikes bar none now.
In the 80's the fast GNCC bikes were not made by Japan ..but were Maico , Ossa Phantom , Penton Jack Pine ..Penton/KTM , SWM , KTM, and the Husqvarna ..there were no Japanese endurance dirt bikes that could come close to these European kid killers I just mentioned above !!! ..and still are very faster than fast ..I did 90 on the back wheel one day on a 250 ossa phantom with only pinning the throttle in 5th and the front end would. Lift. Up till you topped out of .speed . and then my friend who owned it said that i can't ride it no more ....the old two stroke 360 KTM's where the same way ....then came the 400 radial head werks factory team Maico ..that another friend owned giving to him to ride by the Maico factory . as Brad my friend was the factory team rider for Maico and thevusa rep for Maico ....and if you didn't have one and no one did at the time .you did not win when brad showed up ....as brag late to the gates ..would say " sorry I'm late again guys ..so who' turn is it to win today , oh yea its my turn .... And. Braaap always started on the outside and always first ibto the first turn ..
Yes Tony what was overall reliability of these bikes? Saw a few back then. And always though they were solid and realiable..because I know the rm's kinda fell apart in those years..great video
All Suzuki’s fall apart quicker than most, nothing lasted like XR’s and IT’s.
@@deborahchesser7375 copy that had a '82 IT 250..BULLET PROOF..XR'S WERE EVERYWERE all sizes were industructable..as kids my friends and I beat the hell outta them
The quality of bolts and materials was pretty poor on these bikes and they tended to fall apart if you did not stay on top of the maintenance. I don’t believe there is any major issues with the motors but lots of other things tended to break
@@TheMotocrossVault thank you
I owned one, I thought it was really anemic. Otherwise it was typical Suzuki, very reliable.
I live on a bike path which use to be railroad tracks back when i was an baby. I remember my father having one of these to bomb around on.. He said he couldnt kill this bike.
How about a video on Yamaha IT Models?
I will be doing the IT in the future
The Yamaha offering's are great but that GASGAS is only $200 more, although GASGAS only has a MX offering u have to go KTM/Husqy or Yamaha for 2 stroke trail bike. or Beta or Maico
hm, you said the '79 xr185 and its 15.02 hp was pretty close to the output of the stock '78 pe175, but I thought that bike made 24hp at the flywheel, 17-ish at the wheel. That is a BIG difference in power compared to a 15 flywheel hp bike. Did I misunderstand?
In 1978 PE clocked 17.82 on the dyno and one year later the XR was clocked a making 15.02 on the same equipment. These are both numbers taken at the rear wheel. I do mention 24 horsepower in regards to the KDX175 but that was a manufacturer provided number taken on a different dyno so it is hard to say how comparable the two figures are.
What was the RS 175? Moto x?
I have a 1977 PE 250 They didnt make the 175 in 77? No mention of the 1977 PE ?? Hello Hello
At least in the US, they only offered the PE 250 in 1977. The PE175 was introduced for the 1978 model year.
I had an 82. Best fun with my clothes on!
Wat replaced the pe line??
The RMX250 in 1989
Those same years Suzuki had DR200 and I believe 125. Those are the ones that should be compared to Honda XRs not the two strokes.
Too bad they didn’t have these when I was a kid
They had Husky’s in the mid 60’s 👍🇺🇸 mostly British before that
@@deborahchesser7375 I was lucky to have my CT70
Isuzu pup👍👍
👍
You forgot the gt pe175
I’ve never heard of that model. Was it in the USA?
Where are those one videos that had that soft washed out song in it and it was a instrumental and was better you should upload it
Are you talking about the ones that did that were basically slideshows of the models? Oh CZcams actually docked me saying they did not add content so I took them down. I may add intros and re-upload them though
@@TheMotocrossVault yeah it was them they just made your mind relax if you watched it with headphones cause it was nice seeing bikes and the music was relaxing it was a very good combo
I still drive a ranger lol
We had these when I worked for a Honda Suzuki dealer ....after riding the first one no one was impressed ...they made a 250 also but with the same results...our parts man bought a PE250 and challenged me to a race on your outback track and trail we used to give your tuned bike the rpm test ..i hopped on a 650 triumph tiger of about a 1972 model i a literally dusted the pe250 down the railroad bed ..in the woods ..on a motocross track ..and the short track in a friends back yard ..on the way back ..i hit .a 120 on the railroad bed as the rails and ties were gone long ago .. to the pe's 70 plus top end ..Mikey our parts man did not have a clue or a preyer The IT yamahas kicked ass ..and that was it from Japan .for GNCC ....none of the PE were competitive at all ..they were just play bikes like the Honda XRs. ..this guy is saying they were competitive ..he has never raced one or been in a GNCC ..
Pe dies in 85, RMX replaces it, then 4 strokes take away from the fun of all bikes, and we loose out. 85 had a front disk..
I had a PE250 and that thing constantly fouled the plug. Left me stranded many times.
Restored a 1982 PE 175, had very low hours, I went a little overboard on restoring. Here is a video of the bike, I sold it to Kaplan Cycles in Tolland CT about 3 years ago, I wish I didn't sell it...oh well..czcams.com/video/6EjpzYz6u4I/video.html
if your into vintage 2 strokes check out kaplan america on you tube
Does anybody here remember Herluf Johnson?
Stay on the PE 175, don’t care about other bikes
Fun fact: PE stood for polish express
This guy us telling you exactly opposite ..of what the PE SUZUKI really was ..and it was never a winner ..just a play bike .and that Honda xr200r he shown you ..WAS WORSE ..the engine was old school SL 125 technology as they went backwards as the one the year before ..had a four valve head of the RFVC design with two carbs. Two into one exhaust header ..and twice as fast ..and a friend smoked my ass on the very rare RFVC XR200R TWIN CARB in the beer can derby ..of 135 miles . of river bottoms in two laps . .as I was riding an XR500R RFVC ..twin carbs ....as those hot Honda xr200r would top out at 85 mph across the river bottoms with a 6 speed
3 minutes in and barely anything on the PE. 🙄🤦
I put time codes in the video so you can skip the intro and go to the main review or learn about a certain year.
Gaaaau