'88 RM250 - almost ready to assemble!!

justpinit
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British Columbia CA
9/15/2008 10:12am Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 7:40pm
Hey there!! After almost 3 yrs of collecting parts, I am ready to finally start re-assembling a 1988 Suzuki RM250. The plan is to race it in a few local Vet MX events.

What I'm looking for is a few pics of ads or restored bikes that I can look at before I start buying the decals and nit-picky stuff for this resto. Thanks!!

Here is the freshly painted frame (PJ1 Suz blue), cylinder is getting re-bored this week!!

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croom mx
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miami, FL US
9/16/2008 10:47am
I use to race these. Is it that hard to find parts?
justpinit
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9/16/2008 9:51pm
rallendude wrote:
Need more photos.

The BikePIcs stuff was not really what I was after. I was hoping 'Pipe would have a 4 page layout scanned with a detailed "Bold New Graphics" diagram!!!

Here is the pile of parts I started with.

The Shop

bd
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9/16/2008 10:01pm
justpinit
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9/17/2008 8:47am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 8:29pm
bd wrote:
[img]http://www.njmotocross.com/ward_coen_1988_001.jpg[/img]
Perfect!! Thanks!!

I was looking for a good view of the shroud decals & I see now that the F's in the Full Floater are yellow. The yellow fork boots......anyone remember if those were original???

Some moron painted the DG pipe with a sort of tar-like stuff that is about 1/4" thick where it ran away on him........better start sanding & scrubbin' now!!
andymoto
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Carmichael, CA US
9/17/2008 1:27pm
Had one of these new. They DID have yellow fork boots stock.

justpinit
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9/17/2008 7:28pm
Thanks guys....everything I needed to know in less than 4 days!!

Final question: Was the '88 RM250 the POS of the year, or a great bike, or ???? Doesn't matter, but just wonderin'. I quit racing in '86 and was stuck in Ft. McMurray Alberta working in the oil sands when that bike came out.
justpinit
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9/17/2008 7:35pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 8:29pm
croom mx wrote:
I use to race these. Is it that hard to find parts?
The '88 seems to be a "stand alone" model, especially the engine, swingarm, and shock linkage. Some of the '87 stuff will work, and some the '89 stuff will work, but some things are '88 only. I've been ebayin' & swap meetin`it back together and have under $600 invested so far.
andymoto
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9/19/2008 12:26pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 8:30pm
justpinit wrote:
Thanks guys....everything I needed to know in less than 4 days!! Final question: Was the '88 RM250 the POS of the year, or a great bike...
Thanks guys....everything I needed to know in less than 4 days!!

Final question: Was the '88 RM250 the POS of the year, or a great bike, or ???? Doesn't matter, but just wonderin'. I quit racing in '86 and was stuck in Ft. McMurray Alberta working in the oil sands when that bike came out.
My avatar shows me racin' the '88 250 back then. The only time I raced it; initially bought to sponsor a kid down the street. Had my own '88 KX 125/250s.

From what I remember the motor was fast stock, but it handled odd; like the front wanted to go one way; rear another...like on a hinge. Didn't seem predicatable.

Tranny went out within a month. Suzook repaired on their dime. Might wanna watch that area.

All I remember; hope it helps.



zippy895
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Daytona Beach, FL US
9/21/2008 1:11pm
one ring piston and second gear was soft.i would rering it after what.....2 races
bike loved to load up....a crank case volume thing.
other than that,it was a nice ride.
Hovis
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GB
9/26/2008 3:01pm
justpinit wrote:
Hey there!! After almost 3 yrs of collecting parts, I am ready to finally start re-assembling a 1988 Suzuki RM250. The plan is to race it...
Hey there!! After almost 3 yrs of collecting parts, I am ready to finally start re-assembling a 1988 Suzuki RM250. The plan is to race it in a few local Vet MX events.

What I'm looking for is a few pics of ads or restored bikes that I can look at before I start buying the decals and nit-picky stuff for this resto. Thanks!!

Here is the freshly painted frame (PJ1 Suz blue), cylinder is getting re-bored this week!!

Hi there.. Please let me know if you need any bits.
justpinit
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British Columbia CA
9/26/2008 9:19pm
Sounds great Hovis!!

Need a chain guide and the swingarm chain rub block. A complete set of new linkage bearings would be nice.

PM me with any parts you have for this bike!!
Dropbear
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Adelaide AU
9/28/2008 4:21am
Looks like a great project. My friend had one back in the day, I liked it so much better than my jackhammer '89 CR250.
Hovis
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10/2/2008 1:28pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 8:40pm
justpinit wrote:
Sounds great Hovis!! Need a chain guide and the swingarm chain rub block. A complete set of new linkage bearings would be nice. PM me with...
Sounds great Hovis!!

Need a chain guide and the swingarm chain rub block. A complete set of new linkage bearings would be nice.

PM me with any parts you have for this bike!!
Hi there. The Swingarm and Linkage bearings/sleeves/shims are available from All Balls (look on EBay) and the Buffer is still available, if you dealer can get it , UFO Plastics.
I've got 5 complete 88's with enough spares to build another 2 i guess. Been buying them up over the last year. Also got perfect copies made of the Rad stickers and Swinarm "Full Floater" stickers.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-Swing-arm-Bearing-Kit-RM250-1987-1988_W0QQ…
SuziFan
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Los Angeles, CA US
10/13/2009 11:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:44am
JUSTPINIT-


I'm joining in pretty late on this post of yours. How is it going? Have you finished?

I have a 88 RM250. It was my last race bike and it's in near stock condition. If you have any questions

about appearance of this awesome bike, that was known as "The bike that Hannah built.", I would love to help out.

I am in the middle of rebuilding my engine right now. I had a piston skirt shear off and dropped into

the crank, jamming it. So, I had to split the case, which I do not like doing, kinda scares me putting it back

correctly. Especially since it has been a year since I split it. I finally found a brand new cylinder jug to

put back on.

But I really need, and maybe someone on here can help me out with this, I REALLY need a Suzuki Factory

Shop service manual. The Clymer is a Friggin Joke!!!!!

Post some photos of where your bike is at.

FYI- This bike was BADASS!! I had a friend whom was a Pro barrow my stock bike back in 88, because his

bike was in shop and he wanted to take a run up into our surrounding hills. He came back with a huge smile on

his face and called his friends Suzuki dealer to order two of them.

You chose a very good bike to rebuild.

Share some photos.
mosslander
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10/15/2009 1:58pm
Definitley one of the most beautyful Suzkis ever made especially the Chesterfield worksbike in the GP series that year.
SuziFan
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10/16/2009 8:12pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:48am
Sorry no color.


88 RM250J


mosslander
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10/17/2009 1:49pm
SuziFan wrote:
Sorry no color.
Sorry no color.


88 RM250J


It's look's like a works bike that year and the ones Alex Puzar and Rodney Smith ride
Look's even better, White with the Chesterfield cigarett logo on.
croom mx
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miami, FL US
10/18/2009 2:29pm Edited Date/Time 10/18/2009 2:31pm
I think these have 43 mm forks is this true? I wish I had that bike in 1982, I would have won alot of races!
SuziFan
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10/19/2009 6:23pm Edited Date/Time 10/20/2009 8:37pm
That's the way the 88 looked out of the box.

I'm dyin to put mine back together. Just can't find a good schematic on the transmission and case.
SuziFan
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10/20/2009 8:36pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 6:32pm
Okay guys, I came across some awesome photos that a guy took at the 86 and 88 Unadilla USGPs.

He posted a bunch of images of different riders from those years on one thread on the forums of Motonews.com. Great stuff!!!!!!

Here's the link.

http://www.motonews.com/...4&id=103933&Itemid=4


Below is Bob Hannah shredding on the bike he built with DeCoster, the 88 RM250J

Enjoy.



Hannah 88 RM250 Unidilla #2


Hannah 88 RM250 Unidilla #1


SuziFan
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10/20/2009 9:18pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:51am
Also this.......


Photobucket

berniepiet
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Atlanta, GA US
2/4/2010 5:41pm
Did you ever finish the 88 RM 250? How do you like it? I have one sitting in the back of my garage awaiting restoration.
89'cr dude
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2/7/2010 3:08pm
come on, post some pictures Woohoo late 80's two strokes just look awesome!
bryan 35
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GB
5/13/2011 1:40pm
rallendude wrote:
Need more photos.

Do anyone know of a rear silencer for suzuki RM 250 j1988? Let me no thanks for your time.
jtracing6
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Dundalk IE
5/13/2011 2:18pm Edited Date/Time 5/13/2011 2:19pm
Have you tried www.cmsnl.com ? They have parts lists nd diagrams of all model. I have a CR250 1996 but no manual. To rebuild the bottom end the exploded diagram helps a lot.
Good luck and post some photos.
lumpy790
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York, SC US
5/14/2011 1:26pm
I had an 88 and it is one of my favorite bikes off all time. 1st time I rode it I thought.....dam its slow and going to need a lot of work.....raced it that weekend and had CR500's on both sides of me......and it pulled them up the hill and into the 1st turn. Deceiving power.....very electric with no hit but fast.
bryan 35
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GB
5/14/2011 2:10pm
lumpy790 wrote:
I had an 88 and it is one of my favorite bikes off all time. 1st time I rode it I thought.....dam its slow and going...
I had an 88 and it is one of my favorite bikes off all time. 1st time I rode it I thought.....dam its slow and going to need a lot of work.....raced it that weekend and had CR500's on both sides of me......and it pulled them up the hill and into the 1st turn. Deceiving power.....very electric with no hit but fast.
Thanks for the replys and i will upload some photos soon thanks for your time.

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