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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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I've been looking for a 1982 RM250 for a while now and I finally found a low hour, unrestored bike about five miles from home. I picked it up yesterday from the second owner that has owned it since '86. The seller said the original owner trail rode it a couple of times and he put another 25-30 hours of trail riding on it over the years. The bike is 100% original and complete with the exception of one number plate bolt and a set of Renthal bars that installed last night. The original dryrotted Bridgestone tires have never even been off the rims, which are perfect. The tank, seat and exhaust are also in excellent condtion. Nice bonuses where the first owners bill of sale and the owners manual. Unfortunately the bike spent some tiime exposed to UV light so the fenders, shrouds and number plates are bleached out. Free beer for anyone with a line on any NOS plastics. With new plastic, a set of tires and fresh fluids, I think she'll be ready for a little vintage racing in the Evolution class.
Here are a couple of pics after a few hours of scrubbing last night.
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Posts: 1087
Joined: 12/17/2008
Location:
Cairo, Georgia
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That's awesome. I had an 83 which was almost identical.
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Posts: 1229
Joined: 8/26/2006
Location:
Tampa, FL
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Edited Date/Time: 5/17/2009 1:50 PM
The '82 250 engine was legendary.
http://www.vintage-suzuki.com
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Posts: 1482
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
Cutler Bay, FL
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Hello Project racer did you race with Billy Wood or the rest of the Gang, I use to ride with Steve Martin , Karl Jordan, Kenny Keylon. Who are you?
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Posts: 1482
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
Cutler Bay, FL
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Edited Date/Time: 5/17/2009 1:51 PM
If you put Modern Forks 50 mm on that bike you could beat many modern bikes No shit! I forgot about the disk brakes that is needed also boys and girls.
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Posts: 1857
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
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Lightswitch power, all or none. My brand new 90 YZ250 could not outrun my old 82 RM250 in a drag race. Front forks should be 43mm's which are pretty beefy. Ditto on the vintage suzuki site. Good find!
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Posts: 1229
Joined: 8/26/2006
Location:
Tampa, FL
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Edited Date/Time: 5/17/2009 2:28 PM
Croom, my name is Doug Parker. I know KC Wood, and used to see that whole District 8 crowd pretty often from '78 until '84. I used to ride just down the road from Sunshine MX and see Steve Martin, Monte McCoy , and others from the area there, although I did not know them personally.
Sorry to hijack the thread Camp.
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Posts: 1087
Joined: 12/17/2008
Location:
Cairo, Georgia
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The 82 used a single leading shoe front brake and 38mm forks. These were the only weak points on the bike. My 83 model was upgraded to 43mm forks, a dual leading shoe front brake, aluminum struts on the Full Floater rear suspension and bold new graphics along with a new cylinder head that reduced compression and smoothed the power out. The hot ticket in 83 was to install the high compression 1982 head (about $40) and advance the timing. This gave you the unreal hp of the 82 model with better forks and front brakes.
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Posts: 928
Joined: 5/02/2008
Location:
HERMITAGE, PA
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Hey cam,try dc plastics. they make alot of retro plastics for the vintage scooters. i got some plastic off of them for my 1979 cr 125 i restored awhile back. the stuff is real sweet. hope this helps you out. that rm looks bad ass!!!!! i ride,therefore i am....
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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Thanks drummer dude. I'm looking forward to seeing the bike with some fresh plastic and rubber.
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Posts: 3217
Joined: 11/28/2007
Location:
Carmichael, CA
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Yellow spray paint.....heard beer and thought I'd chime in... 
Great catch.
And Mr. Newmann; those 2 YZ 250s I got in '90.....you're right, the motors weren't the fastest....lol.
My friend loaned me his '82 back then and they were as advertised; the best 250 motor of that and later eras.
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Posts: 67
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
, Ohio
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DC Plastic SUCKS.
You can still get OEM fenders, radiator shrouds, and front number plate from Suzuki, or use the new MAIER plastic. They have improved and now put a nice gel-coat over the finish.
Also I notice the bike is missing the plastic roost guard that goes between the suspension struts. If you try to get one for that bike it will show as discontinuted, but you can order the one from the RM465 OEM.
Nice find though, very nice looking bike. Will be a great restore with minimal effort.
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Posts: 1857
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
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DC Plastics has a dull textured finish to it. Tony Boswell at the vintage-suzuki website has the shiny stuff for the Zooks.
About the 90 YZ250. It wouldn't out drag the old RM. but it had some serious low end and midrange power. Sure wish I would have kept that one.
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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Edited Date/Time: 5/17/2009 7:20 PM
It's good to know that you can still get the OEM fenders, shrouds and number plate. I noticed that they show up as available on an on-line Suzuki microfiche but I wasn't sure if it really is available at Suzuki. I have the original rubber/plastic shock guard assembly but it was soaking in a bucket of soap when I took the pics. Thankfully, it turned out very nice once the chainlube/grunge was removed .
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Posts: 1617
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
Bixby, Ok
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Man, that thing is awesome. My dad bought one of those brand new in '82. I remember him getting ready to ride it for the first time, I watched him break it in. I have always had a hard on for '82 RMs because that bike is what got him (and me) back into racing.
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Posts: 1
Joined: 5/18/2009
Location:
Auckland, NZL
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Hey camP
iI have a few NOS parts for the Z including a genuine RH side panel if you are after one.
Send me a pm
Cheers Craig
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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Thanks Craig. PM on the way.
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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Update, all the plastic is still available with the exception of the right number plate, which has been discontinued, and the rear fender which is on back order. Hopefully the back orders will be filled before the fender gets discontinued.
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Posts: 500
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
Aurora/Estes Park, CO
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Edited Date/Time: 5/22/2009 10:32 PM
I got the fenders radiator shrouds and one side number plate new from Suzuki about a year ago and almost all bearings and seals with no back orders. I did put some 43mm forks and double leading front brake from the 83 and that really helps the front end, the full floater is still as good as anything on the new bikes.If you really want it to rip try to find a twin air or roost factory single sided airbox I put a add on the forums at vintage suzuki and had several people email me that had them. I also got a set of maier plastic so i dont trash the OEM stuff when I race it. That bike has works bike power and is scary fast and it revs to the moon. PM me with your email and I will send some pics of mine.
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Posts: 500
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
Aurora/Estes Park, CO
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Edited Date/Time: 5/22/2009 10:44 PM
A cool story on how fast the 82 was, I was at a race in wyoming and it was a long 5th gear start and I had the only RM250z in my class. I was on the line and thought I was in second gear but was really in netural and so when the gate dropped I went no where so in a panic it kicked it into gear and everyone was 4-5 bikes lengths ahead before I got moving and when I hit third I was able to start to motor by the pack and by the time I was in 5th and to the long sweeping corner I had a several bike lead. To this day some of my buddies and I still talk about it because they could not believe how fast that bike was and I still have it in my garage.
I sold the bike once and kicked myself but then I got the chance to buy it back from the guy and jumped on it , the bike is that good.
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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Good stuff lostboy. PM sent.
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Posts: 363
Joined: 2/01/2009
Location:
travad, SWE
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How much did you pay for it, I thinking to buy one for 550 usd that works and look good,
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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If you can buy an '82 RM250 that runs and looks good for $550, you should buy it.
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Posts: 6626
Joined: 8/21/2006
Location:
Weatherford, TX
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sweet Cam...you gonna vintage race? Vitaldrive "yahoo"
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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Posts: 2067
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location:
, TX
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My friendly parts man received my plastic order yesterday. The last piece, a right number plate, should be on it's way here soon. The side plate decals are also on the way but I'm having a hard time locating correct tank decals. Seems like someone makes all but the 82 RM250 tank decals. Now it's on to removing these 28 year old Bridgestones and replacing them with some fresh rubber. What a difference a little fresh NOS plastic makes.
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Posts: 1087
Joined: 12/17/2008
Location:
Cairo, Georgia
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Posts: 240
Joined: 2/18/2008
Location:
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Edited Date/Time: 5/27/2009 3:59 PM
MXM makes reproduction decals for it. They've got the tank, sidepanel, and swingarm decals. http://mxm.co.uk/
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Posts: 928
Joined: 5/02/2008
Location:
HERMITAGE, PA
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lookin real sweet cam. keep posting the updated photos. i ride,therefore i am....
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Posts: 67
Joined: 4/01/2008
Location:
, Ohio
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While you have the wheels off you should check/grease all the bearings.
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CamP wrote: I've been looking for a 1982 RM250 for a while now and I finally found a low hour, unrestored bike about five miles from home. I picked it up yesterday from the second owner that has owned it since '86. The seller said the original owner trail rode it a couple of times and he put another 25-30 hours of trail riding on it over the years. The bike is 100% original and complete with the exception of one number plate bolt and a set of Renthal bars that installed last night. The original dryrotted Bridgestone tires have never even been off the rims, which are perfect. The tank, seat and exhaust are also in excellent condtion. Nice bonuses where the first owners bill of sale and the owners manual. Unfortunately the bike spent some tiime exposed to UV light so the fenders, shrouds and number plates are bleached out. Free beer for anyone with a line on any NOS plastics. With new plastic, a set of tires and fresh fluids, I think she'll be ready for a little vintage racing in the Evolution class.
Here are a couple of pics after a few hours of scrubbing last night.