This week's Classic Steel is a look back at the 2005 Suzuki RM250

tblazier
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7/20/2011
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Leesburg, VA, USA
Edited Date/Time 8/26/2013 10:48am
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8/23/2013 7:14am
just finished mine last night,i know my garage is a mess haha, clean up is tonight. Sad
and waiting for my bar pad to come in :p

mxbigd17
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426
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9/1/2010
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Johnstown, OH, USA
8/25/2013 1:48am
I owned a 1979 RM80,
1979, 1991 & a 1995 RM125,
1996, 2003, 2005, & a 2006 RM250.

Man those were the good old days. I was Suzuki all the way. I rode those bikes hard and put-em-away wet an sometimes they threw me off. Getting hurt in the process, but I would not change anything because the memories I have from riding with friends and meeting fun people along the way was totally worth it. I miss riding, when riding wasn't "main stream".
daveoevo
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194
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5/1/2011
Location
GB
8/25/2013 2:06am
I had one from brand new when every one was buying 450s. Fantastic bike which was so much fun to ride, I just was'nt quite good enough to make the most of the super quick handling and motor.
8/25/2013 3:35am
I'm glad of this article because for the last couple of weeks I've been seriously considering getting a 250 2 stroke again. Sort of stuck between the YZ and RM at the moment (never ridden a Suzuki in my life) but constantly hear from RM owners how much they love the cornering prowess and general handling of their bikes.

Good read thanks!

The Shop

DocMarten
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7/12/2013
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USA
8/25/2013 11:27am Edited Date/Time 8/25/2013 11:57am
the RM's turn on a fucking dime

not too good in the straights without some work but the bike feels super nimble and light.

the motor is more or less a yz clone as far as the cylinder and head design go, but most of the bikes of that era were YZ clones with the exception of the CR
8/25/2013 11:39am
I had one, it was the best handling 250 2 stroke Ive ever ridden. If I ever buy another 2 stroke it'll be a 04+ RM
FlaNard
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3620
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10/13/2009
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Layton, UT, USA
8/25/2013 11:59am
I still own this bike. Amazing, amazing bike. For me it's damn near perfect.
burn1986
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4/16/2010
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bossier city, LA, USA
8/25/2013 12:10pm Edited Date/Time 8/25/2013 12:12pm
The front fender could be tilted down a little in the front.(Usually a small washer between the fender and the triple clamps on the front mounts).
loftyair
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2900
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7/3/2009
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riverside, CA, USA
8/25/2013 12:55pm
Just bought an '06, thing is sweet indeed. Heard tranny was weak, maybe cryo the gears?
mooch
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USA
Fantasy
8/25/2013 4:14pm
Had an 05 RM250 and loved it. I felt it cornered better than my 06 YZ250 but in my opinion the only downside with the RM that made it fall a half notch under the YZ was a stock clutch that was weaker than the YZ clutch.
8/25/2013 4:36pm Edited Date/Time 8/25/2013 5:04pm
mooch wrote:
Had an 05 RM250 and loved it. I felt it cornered better than my 06 YZ250 but in my opinion the only downside with the RM...
Had an 05 RM250 and loved it. I felt it cornered better than my 06 YZ250 but in my opinion the only downside with the RM that made it fall a half notch under the YZ was a stock clutch that was weaker than the YZ clutch.
You can replace the clutch basket with a hinson and that problem is solved.

The main problem with the yz250 2t is the exhaust port is so large it hooks the piston and grenades. All the time.

I have never seen another bike that has such a unanimous great rating for handling.

As previous posters mentioned the 04-08 rm250 turns on a dime.

Other perks:
Faster than a 250 4stroke
Cheap to run
Heaps of cheap after market parts available
Teaches you how to ride properly and use a clutch, none of this lazy 4 stroke technique
They are so cheap to buy
NorcalVet
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Nor-cal, CA, USA
8/25/2013 5:23pm
Another vote for the 04+ RM 250, since I picked up a 05 last year for about 2k (low hrs)
--- at about $2500; almost new bike(revalve, plastics, new oem clutch & topend, & Graphics)
--- it does have a weak clutch (Hinson/similar is the way to go)
------ but I just went w/ new oem clutch ($40 on ebay), type F tranny fluid, and a WC perch (nite & day difference/ improvement)



*** Burn 1986: The front fender could be tilted down a little in the front.(Usually a small washer between the fender and the triple clamps on the front mounts). >>>> The new mod is to add a 10+ RMZ 450 front plate & fender (drill 2 holes)




it makes my other girl jealous/ more seat time

lol
JW381
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10638
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7/21/2009
Location
Harrisburg, OR, USA
8/25/2013 5:26pm
I love my '04 CR, but I want to ride one of these ASAP.

The RC bikes in that article are pornographic.
edgo897
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Land O Lakes, FL, USA
8/25/2013 5:37pm
I thought mine turned too quick, if that's possible. I felt like it wasn't predictable. I put the motor in an 05 RMZ aluminum frame and I like it better. Of course I'm a lazy Vet rider.
8/25/2013 5:45pm
edgo897 wrote:
I thought mine turned too quick, if that's possible. I felt like it wasn't predictable. I put the motor in an 05 RMZ aluminum frame and...
I thought mine turned too quick, if that's possible. I felt like it wasn't predictable. I put the motor in an 05 RMZ aluminum frame and I like it better. Of course I'm a lazy Vet rider.
Did you keep the rmz suspension as it was before the motor change?
corsair
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Fountain Hills, AZ, USA
8/25/2013 8:30pm Edited Date/Time 8/25/2013 8:32pm
I had an 01 RM250 once, concurrently with an 01 YZ250 and an 04 CRF450. The RM handled like a dream, especially after I had RG3 do the suspension for me. It would corner like it was on rails, and was not unstable in the least at speed. All I had to do was think it, and the RM would do it.

Since then I've been through a succesion of bikes, both two stroke and four, and none could hold a candle to the RM while riding. The last few years I've settled in to my 06 plus YZ 125s and my 11 YZ250 as my primary riding machines, and frankly they all handle like oil tankers compared to the 01 RM250. The only reason I settled on the YZs as the bikes to ride into my sunset years of MX is that they are built a little better and parts are likely to be more available since the YZs are still produced.

With the refinement of the 02 plus, and especially 04 plus RM250s, I can only imagine what a dream they are to ride.
edgo897
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Land O Lakes, FL, USA
8/26/2013 2:32am Edited Date/Time 8/26/2013 2:37am
edgo897 wrote:
I thought mine turned too quick, if that's possible. I felt like it wasn't predictable. I put the motor in an 05 RMZ aluminum frame and...
I thought mine turned too quick, if that's possible. I felt like it wasn't predictable. I put the motor in an 05 RMZ aluminum frame and I like it better. Of course I'm a lazy Vet rider.
motokiwi wrote:
Did you keep the rmz suspension as it was before the motor change?
The RM suspension bolted to to the RMZ frame. I changed no adjustments. You do need RMZ triple clamps. That aluminum frame is a copy of the RM steel frame.
tblazier
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Leesburg, VA, USA
8/26/2013 7:33am


loved my '06. Thing was a Rocket
Racer92
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Central, TX, USA
8/26/2013 10:48am Edited Date/Time 8/26/2013 10:53am
2005? Im kind partial to that one. Cool







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