This week's Classic Steel is a look back at the 96 RM250

tblazier
Profile picture for user tblazier
Posts
8813
Joined
7/20/2011
Location
Leesburg, VA, USA
tblazier
Edited Date/Time 4/27/2018 6:56am
The 1996 Suzuki RM250


4
1
|
pitbike502
Profile picture for user pitbike502
Posts
4509
Joined
12/26/2007
Location
Syracuse, NY, USA
pitbike502 6/27/2012 10:34am
6/27/2012 10:34am
best thing about those bikes is that they could use the front numbe plate / fork guards on the xr 20 and 400 line to really clean them babies up Tongue
Sunhouse
Profile picture for user Sunhouse
Posts
3669
Joined
3/2/2009
Location
NO
Sunhouse 6/27/2012 11:07am
6/27/2012 11:07am
I remember Albee on PulpMX a couple of years ago said the stock bike made approx 38-39hp, so the works bike had a terrible starting point, thus they were damn slow. The last 250 I can remember that was below 40hp in recent times must have been the 2000 KTM250
By comparison a stock 98 KX250 made about 45hp
Madmax31
Profile picture for user Madmax31
Posts
2143
Joined
1/7/2009
Location
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Fantasy
174th
Madmax31 6/27/2012 11:20am
6/27/2012 11:20am Edited Date/Time 6/27/2012 11:21am
I won a $hitload of races on one of those. I'll post some pics when I find them. One of my all time favs.
3
Wolfman
Profile picture for user Wolfman
Posts
2675
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Bixby, OK, USA
Wolfman 6/28/2012 6:06am
6/28/2012 6:06am Edited Date/Time 6/28/2012 6:06am
Bikes were garbage! My kickstarter broke off the 3rd time I tried to start it!

The Shop

See All »
slowvet
Profile picture for user slowvet
Posts
1905
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
San Marcos, CA, USA
slowvet 6/28/2012 6:11am
6/28/2012 6:11am
I liked mine except when I fouled plugs at 18 dollars a pop.
pete24
Profile picture for user pete24
Posts
2733
Joined
10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA, USA
pete24 6/28/2012 6:25am
6/28/2012 6:25am
thats the model i fixed more transmissions on than all other bikes combined, a "d" rider could bust the tranny , what a roach
disbanded
Profile picture for user disbanded
Posts
6927
Joined
8/26/2007
Location
Evergreen, CO, USA
disbanded 6/28/2012 6:28am
6/28/2012 6:28am
Forget the 96. We need a write up on the 1992.

3
tblazier
Profile picture for user tblazier
Posts
8813
Joined
7/20/2011
Location
Leesburg, VA, USA
tblazier 6/28/2012 9:28am
6/28/2012 9:28am Edited Date/Time 6/28/2012 9:28am
I must have been very lucky that year because I had a new 125 and 250 and never had any issues. My experience with Suzuki''s in general has been pretty poor however. My 2006 RC replica RM250 felt beat in no time and my 07 RMZ50 was constantly breaking. Luck of the draw there i guess.





I needed a new top end on this POS after 3 months. I had it a year and could not take it any more. It was such a funbike but I just did not trust it.
1
beamer
Profile picture for user beamer
Posts
866
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Squaw River, CA
beamer 6/28/2012 9:35am
6/28/2012 9:35am
A friend of mine had that bike brand new, I would have to say it was one of his favorites based on the coolness factor at the time. The conventional forks, ect. He was retired from the national circut about three years prior up here in Canada and was still a very competitive racer locally. It held up very well and he won alot of races on it.
1
ocscottie
Profile picture for user ocscottie
Posts
69092
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Redding, CA, USA
ocscottie 6/28/2012 9:37am
6/28/2012 9:37am
disbanded wrote:
Forget the 96. We need a write up on the 1992. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2012/06/28/1992rm125_287307.jpg[/img]
Forget the 96. We need a write up on the 1992.

My best bro Nealer was riding those from 90-92 and i was doing a lot of work on his bikes then, he went through so many of them and i got so sick of having to peel off all those lame ass stickers, finally we would just replace the plastics every time he got a new bike. (+ he rode for Tuff and a lot of times we just put on the blue Tuff plastics)

I still to this day could prob split the cases blind folded.
1
rmpilot
Profile picture for user rmpilot
Posts
776
Joined
4/8/2010
Location
Tomah, WI, USA
rmpilot 6/28/2012 3:03pm
6/28/2012 3:03pm
slowvet wrote:
I liked mine except when I fouled plugs at 18 dollars a pop.
my 96 rm 125 was like that too except 20 was the cheapest an ngk plug went for and up to 40. I bought a champion for 3 bucks lol.
MR. X
Profile picture for user MR. X
Posts
6913
Joined
6/24/2010
Location
North Tonawanda, NY, USA
MR. X 6/28/2012 3:05pm
6/28/2012 3:05pm
Sunhouse wrote:
I remember Albee on PulpMX a couple of years ago said the stock bike made approx 38-39hp, so the works bike had a terrible starting point...
I remember Albee on PulpMX a couple of years ago said the stock bike made approx 38-39hp, so the works bike had a terrible starting point, thus they were damn slow. The last 250 I can remember that was below 40hp in recent times must have been the 2000 KTM250
By comparison a stock 98 KX250 made about 45hp
I remember Albee saying the tracks were to rough also , Was it the bike or another excuse.
leeroy
Profile picture for user leeroy
Posts
150
Joined
6/14/2007
Location
corona, CA, USA
leeroy 6/28/2012 4:49pm
6/28/2012 4:49pm


ok, i will pile on too.
2
rmpilot
Profile picture for user rmpilot
Posts
776
Joined
4/8/2010
Location
Tomah, WI, USA
rmpilot 6/28/2012 5:02pm
6/28/2012 5:02pm
and whats up with these bikes? you can fit numbers on them.
1
Electro
Profile picture for user Electro
Posts
298
Joined
9/17/2011
Location
Beloit, WI, USA
Electro 6/29/2012 10:17pm
6/29/2012 10:17pm
tblazier wrote:
I must have been very lucky that year because I had a new 125 and 250 and never had any issues. My experience with Suzuki''s in...
I must have been very lucky that year because I had a new 125 and 250 and never had any issues. My experience with Suzuki''s in general has been pretty poor however. My 2006 RC replica RM250 felt beat in no time and my 07 RMZ50 was constantly breaking. Luck of the draw there i guess.





I needed a new top end on this POS after 3 months. I had it a year and could not take it any more. It was such a funbike but I just did not trust it.
All Suzuki would have to do is make their bikes as reliable as Yamaha and they would outsell them. Cause they can be great to ride, specially most recent ones.
Brian Lynn_Cameron 4/25/2018 1:20am
4/25/2018 1:20am Edited Date/Time 4/25/2018 1:21am
Just purchased my 96 RM250, anybody got any good settings and upgrades and the like for this 96 model RM250, can't wait to tear into this fine machine. Going to blueprint the engine cases and cylinder surface's for a good seal for a good pressure test. New beings seals gaskets to start with. Any pipe, power valve, carb, compression, head, rake, trail, tires, suspension, frame modification or suggestions. All inquiries will be taking good or bad ... Thanks ... Brian
mxrudi
Profile picture for user mxrudi
Posts
176
Joined
2/5/2010
Location
SI
mxrudi 4/25/2018 3:31am
4/25/2018 3:31am
Electro wrote:
All Suzuki would have to do is make their bikes as reliable as Yamaha and they would outsell them. Cause they can be great to ride...
All Suzuki would have to do is make their bikes as reliable as Yamaha and they would outsell them. Cause they can be great to ride, specially most recent ones.
The new ones seems to be pretty reliable. 2 weeks ago Top Jimmy posted on instagram he got 100 hours on original piston (2017 450).
queen of spodes 4/25/2018 4:57am
4/25/2018 4:57am
Brian Lynn_Cameron wrote:
Just purchased my 96 RM250, anybody got any good settings and upgrades and the like for this 96 model RM250, can't wait to tear into this...
Just purchased my 96 RM250, anybody got any good settings and upgrades and the like for this 96 model RM250, can't wait to tear into this fine machine. Going to blueprint the engine cases and cylinder surface's for a good seal for a good pressure test. New beings seals gaskets to start with. Any pipe, power valve, carb, compression, head, rake, trail, tires, suspension, frame modification or suggestions. All inquiries will be taking good or bad ... Thanks ... Brian
Post that in bike builds.

Pit Row

See All »
mikec265
Profile picture for user mikec265
Posts
1668
Joined
10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA, USA
mikec265 4/25/2018 7:05am
4/25/2018 7:05am
Didn't the cheaper BR8ES work on those bikes?
I know it did on most 2 strokes. Still run them in my bikes.
1
Bruneval
Profile picture for user Bruneval
Posts
575
Joined
6/7/2016
Location
Bristol, GB
Bruneval 4/25/2018 7:27am
4/25/2018 7:27am
I know my way around Suzuki two strokes pretty well, and find some of their problems from back then infuriating. They handle amazing, and some things are really well engineered and have superb build quality - the cases for example.

My main frustration is the quality of the gear cogs, which is a pretty well known problem and Suzuki must have been aware and chose to do nothing about it in the 1990s into the 2000s. I have about half a dozen RM125 transmissions in my workshop and they have all done the same thing. The quality of the metal which the transmissions are made from is terrible, and the finish on the engagement dogs is slack, meaning it's only a matter of time before they start to round off and slip out of gear, usually the 2nd drive gear causing the idler to jump out. The other thing that I have found to wear prematurely is the locator pins inside the shift star. I will post some pictures when I get a chance. It's such a shame that these very cheap items have scared a lot of people off them as who wants a bike that has a vague shift lever and runs the risk of jumping out of gear on the face of a jump?!

They appear to have sorted this issue in the current day, but their lack of action 'back in the day' with a known issue has caused them considerable reputational damage which has hurt sales in my opinion.Many of my friends won't touch them for this reason.
1
husky125
Profile picture for user husky125
Posts
266
Joined
5/26/2009
Location
Paris, OH, USA
husky125 4/25/2018 8:25am
4/25/2018 8:25am
I've had good luck with my '97. It was slow but with a pipe/silencer, rad valve it came alive. It handles great and is fun to ride.

3
1
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2198
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
mx_563 4/25/2018 11:50am
4/25/2018 11:50am
husky125 wrote:
I've had good luck with my '97. It was slow but with a pipe/silencer, rad valve it came alive. It handles great and is fun to...
I've had good luck with my '97. It was slow but with a pipe/silencer, rad valve it came alive. It handles great and is fun to ride.

I've never been to Paris Ohio, but that ^^^^ doesn't look like Ohio :-)

I bought a 1997 RM250 brand new in 1997 and despite all the complaints in the magazines and whatnot, I liked the bike a lot. Ended up replacing it with a 2004 RM250 which was also a great bike. But that 97 was a great bike. Biggest issue I ended up having with it was a broken flywheel. The magnets or something came loose inside of it. Unfortunately I figured this out after having replaced the stator and the CDI box ($$$).
Still have fond memories of the bike.
1
Lightning78
Profile picture for user Lightning78
Posts
6353
Joined
12/12/2007
Location
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Lightning78 4/25/2018 12:25pm
4/25/2018 12:25pm
mikec265 wrote:
Didn't the cheaper BR8ES work on those bikes?
I know it did on most 2 strokes. Still run them in my bikes.
I think you mean BR8EG
husky125
Profile picture for user husky125
Posts
266
Joined
5/26/2009
Location
Paris, OH, USA
husky125 4/25/2018 1:22pm
4/25/2018 1:22pm
husky125 wrote:
I've had good luck with my '97. It was slow but with a pipe/silencer, rad valve it came alive. It handles great and is fun to...
I've had good luck with my '97. It was slow but with a pipe/silencer, rad valve it came alive. It handles great and is fun to ride.

mx_563 wrote:
I've never been to Paris Ohio, but that ^^^^ doesn't look like Ohio :-) I bought a 1997 RM250 brand new in 1997 and despite all...
I've never been to Paris Ohio, but that ^^^^ doesn't look like Ohio :-)

I bought a 1997 RM250 brand new in 1997 and despite all the complaints in the magazines and whatnot, I liked the bike a lot. Ended up replacing it with a 2004 RM250 which was also a great bike. But that 97 was a great bike. Biggest issue I ended up having with it was a broken flywheel. The magnets or something came loose inside of it. Unfortunately I figured this out after having replaced the stator and the CDI box ($$$).
Still have fond memories of the bike.
Haha correct, this was at Florida Track&Trail.
7eleven
Profile picture for user 7eleven
Posts
655
Joined
8/20/2012
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
7eleven 4/25/2018 1:29pm
4/25/2018 1:29pm
pete24 wrote:
thats the model i fixed more transmissions on than all other bikes combined, a "d" rider could bust the tranny , what a roach
Lost both trans on 125/250 that year.
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2901
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA, USA
loftyair 4/25/2018 2:05pm
4/25/2018 2:05pm
I purposely looked for the 96-98, for the fork. IMO, best working fork, after a valving, that any amateur can get, still! Motor is weak though...but bike handles like a dream. So fun, especially going faster than those new-fangled '18 farters. I made all these 10k spenders pissed! Haha
1
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2198
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
mx_563 4/25/2018 2:19pm
4/25/2018 2:19pm
husky125 wrote:
Haha correct, this was at Florida Track&Trail.
That's a sweet RM by the way. Care to share any other pics?
JAFO92
Profile picture for user JAFO92
Posts
5662
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX, USA
JAFO92 4/25/2018 6:06pm
4/25/2018 6:06pm
I had a '97 and loved it, never gave me any problems.

1
MX558
Profile picture for user MX558
Posts
1980
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
MX558 4/25/2018 7:24pm
4/25/2018 7:24pm
Bruneval wrote:
I know my way around Suzuki two strokes pretty well, and find some of their problems from back then infuriating. They handle amazing, and some things...
I know my way around Suzuki two strokes pretty well, and find some of their problems from back then infuriating. They handle amazing, and some things are really well engineered and have superb build quality - the cases for example.

My main frustration is the quality of the gear cogs, which is a pretty well known problem and Suzuki must have been aware and chose to do nothing about it in the 1990s into the 2000s. I have about half a dozen RM125 transmissions in my workshop and they have all done the same thing. The quality of the metal which the transmissions are made from is terrible, and the finish on the engagement dogs is slack, meaning it's only a matter of time before they start to round off and slip out of gear, usually the 2nd drive gear causing the idler to jump out. The other thing that I have found to wear prematurely is the locator pins inside the shift star. I will post some pictures when I get a chance. It's such a shame that these very cheap items have scared a lot of people off them as who wants a bike that has a vague shift lever and runs the risk of jumping out of gear on the face of a jump?!

They appear to have sorted this issue in the current day, but their lack of action 'back in the day' with a known issue has caused them considerable reputational damage which has hurt sales in my opinion.Many of my friends won't touch them for this reason.
The tranny problems have kept me off them . I'm not a fan of false neutrals , one reason I ride yammies
Brian Lynn_Cameron 4/25/2018 8:44pm
4/25/2018 8:44pm
Bruneval wrote:
I know my way around Suzuki two strokes pretty well, and find some of their problems from back then infuriating. They handle amazing, and some things...
I know my way around Suzuki two strokes pretty well, and find some of their problems from back then infuriating. They handle amazing, and some things are really well engineered and have superb build quality - the cases for example.

My main frustration is the quality of the gear cogs, which is a pretty well known problem and Suzuki must have been aware and chose to do nothing about it in the 1990s into the 2000s. I have about half a dozen RM125 transmissions in my workshop and they have all done the same thing. The quality of the metal which the transmissions are made from is terrible, and the finish on the engagement dogs is slack, meaning it's only a matter of time before they start to round off and slip out of gear, usually the 2nd drive gear causing the idler to jump out. The other thing that I have found to wear prematurely is the locator pins inside the shift star. I will post some pictures when I get a chance. It's such a shame that these very cheap items have scared a lot of people off them as who wants a bike that has a vague shift lever and runs the risk of jumping out of gear on the face of a jump?!

They appear to have sorted this issue in the current day, but their lack of action 'back in the day' with a known issue has caused them considerable reputational damage which has hurt sales in my opinion.Many of my friends won't touch them for this reason.
I plan on making the bike so light that it'll feel like a 125 when I'm done. I'm a big fan of conventional forks just cause I'm old school. Back to making it light. The gears and shafts and possibly the shifting forks are going to be out sourced to a jobber to cnc out of titanium. I'll have to get the pins in the locater star made up into titanium also it looks like. I rode it and it feels like someone has worked on the ports or something cause it flat rips. Found a pipe for it also from a buddy.
1

Post a reply to: This week's Classic Steel is a look back at the 96 RM250