A brieif selection of classic RM Suzuki dirt bikes. In this clip we will be taking a look at a 1977 RM 370, a 1978 RM250, a 1980 RM125 and a 1983 RM 500.
I had a 83 RM 80 & 125, both were exciting, well suspended, and quite reliable. The So Cal area where I grew up offered many trails, tracks, dunes, and desert riding to ride on,,brrrrapp!!
Wish I had one of these beasts to race back in the early 70s instead of my old TMs..I might have won a lot more races..When these old RMs came out in the mid 70s you could tell they evolved from the TMs..but believe me the RMs where everything the old TMs only wished they could be.
I was such a tiny kid when I was 8 but my older brother put me in front of him of his 73 TM 250! He knew I was hooked after that! MOTOCROSS RULES Finished as a pro at 21 on a YZ 250!
thnx chris @ thumbs 51: always been a huge rm fan - the twin shock alloy tanked models. my favorite , the 370 was a fantastic mxer;. the best mix of motor, handling, durability and damn affordable 'works' ride.
What made MX racing so fun was the 2 strokes, when they went to the 'NASCAR' engine 4 strokes cost sky-rocketed and them horrid aluminum frames are TOP-heavy tanks. *KTM/Husky* is where it is at today in 2 strokes.
78 was the aluminum swing are debut. The 250 hit was brutal. The 1976 had a pint sized silencer, the ‘77 and ‘78 had a longer silencer. The 370 was much easier to ride. Early 76 250 frames had the RN brake stay hanger welded in place, just behind the right foot peg. The stock brake stay was attached to the swing arm. Floating the backing plate using that hanger vastly improved rear braking.
76 rm A with the 78 C2 swing arm different pipe and shocks, I still have and vintage race my 76 A in Australia, that I bough it new in Berkeley Cal. in 76
JOSE BELISMELIS That was my first new bike after my 250 Elsinore , I think I paid 1200 bucks . I was living in some backwoods town in Texas and the old people would call it a play pretty.
Have Paul check the intake manifold. They were horrendous for splitting and causing an air leak. Also check the float bowl doesn't touch the engine case. If the bowl hits them the fuel foams and leans out. Those bikes were horrific for stator failure. If your 79/80 rm is a dog or doesn't run its the stator.
Guessing Suzuki is going to pull out of the USA eventually they are really almost not making any bikes. RM's were my favorite but seems like they will most likely go out of the bike business (hoping they don't) but sure seems that way.
I had a 72 rm250. Before suspensions changed. The rear was stiff, a real kicker, 3or 4 inches of travel. I always find Suzuki’s tall, stiff, and awkward, and so was that one. I didn’t ride it much, as I got a Honda Elsinore cr250 first year it came out.
I had a 83 RM 80 & 125, both were exciting, well suspended, and quite reliable. The So Cal area where I grew up offered many trails, tracks, dunes, and desert riding to ride on,,brrrrapp!!
Wish I had one of these beasts to race back in the early 70s instead of my old TMs..I might have won a lot more races..When these old RMs came out in the mid 70s you could tell they evolved from the TMs..but believe me the RMs where everything the old TMs only wished they could be.
I was such a tiny kid when I was 8 but my older brother put me in front of him of his 73 TM 250! He knew I was hooked after that! MOTOCROSS RULES Finished as a pro at 21 on a YZ 250!
thnx chris @ thumbs 51: always been a huge rm fan - the twin shock alloy tanked models. my favorite , the 370 was a fantastic mxer;. the best mix of motor, handling, durability and damn affordable 'works' ride.
I raced the first RM 125 to hit my town. What a GREAT BIKE! 😎
1975 ?
What made MX racing so fun was the 2 strokes, when they went to the 'NASCAR' engine 4 strokes cost sky-rocketed and them horrid aluminum frames are TOP-heavy tanks. *KTM/Husky* is where it is at today in 2 strokes.
78 RM 400 was a nice upgrade from the 370. Aluminum swingarm, great motor.
I much prefer the bold simplicity of the fonts and graphics of the first RMs. SUZUKI in black on a yellow tank, that meant business.
Thanks, Chris. I used to drool over the RMs at the local Suzuki dealer in the late 70's.
I remember years ago seeing new RM's in the dealership they made all sorts of bikes. *KTM* seems to be where it is now.
78 was the aluminum swing are debut. The 250 hit was brutal. The 1976 had a pint sized silencer, the ‘77 and ‘78 had a longer silencer. The 370 was much easier to ride. Early 76 250 frames had the RN brake stay hanger welded in place, just behind the right foot peg. The stock brake stay was attached to the swing arm. Floating the backing plate using that hanger vastly improved rear braking.
Always think of Rodger Decoster when I see the old Suzuki
76 rm A with the 78 C2 swing arm different pipe and shocks, I still have and vintage race my 76 A in Australia, that I bough it new in Berkeley Cal. in 76
JOSE BELISMELIS That was my first new bike after my 250 Elsinore , I think I paid 1200 bucks . I was living in some backwoods town in Texas and the old people would call it a play pretty.
beautiful channel sir! subscribed
I had one of them 78 RM250’s C and it didn’t have an alloy swing arm from factory.
My first bike was the RM250, 77B, $800, clean, plastic tank.
MY 78 HAD THE PLASTIC TANK,STEEL SWING ARM
I wonder why the 500 shock is upside Down. Typically floater shocks were shafts up. I know the owner knows his bike. I was wondering his set up
Have Paul check the intake manifold. They were horrendous for splitting and causing an air leak. Also check the float bowl doesn't touch the engine case. If the bowl hits them the fuel foams and leans out. Those bikes were horrific for stator failure. If your 79/80 rm is a dog or doesn't run its the stator.
I restored a 77...it had a 92 rm 80 ignition...went with a 34 mm carb and it does touch back of the case...don't know how adjust it [ 77 RM 125 ]
My mate has a pretty much mint RM250X, ported by a local tuner. It flies. These later engines started to copy Yamaha style induction.
Covid 19 sounds like an eastern block motorcycle ahahaha 👍👊✊💨
Great vid as usual
Do you know if Pro Carbon custom makes silencers? Or if that was adapted from a modern machine? I need one for my kx!
When motocross smelt so good the best of two stroke motocross ahead of its time a capsule
The first 250 looks like a 76 RM250A or 77 RM250B , but not a 78 RM250C
Swingarm is 78C2. RM250C2 used a plastic tank so the bike may be a 78C with a C2 swingarm.
Guessing Suzuki is going to pull out of the USA eventually they are really almost not making any bikes. RM's were my favorite but seems like they will most likely go out of the bike business (hoping they don't) but sure seems that way.
I had a 72 rm250. Before suspensions changed. The rear was stiff, a real kicker, 3or 4 inches of travel. I always find Suzuki’s tall, stiff, and awkward, and so was that one. I didn’t ride it much, as I got a Honda Elsinore cr250 first year it came out.
I have a 78 rm125 but mine has a plastic gas tank and it is stock
The only thing 1978 on that 250 is the swingarm. I think it's actually a 76 model. 78 tanks were plastic.
yeah 1977 was the last of tin tanks
1978 STEEL Tank 1978 AND a half PLASTIC.
It has 77 forks, so I would say it’s a 77.
78 forks are longer below the axle for more travel.
That looks like a piston ported inlet to me . Just saying
The best looking gas tank aluminium