Looking for an 01/02 RM250. Question.

RandyS
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RandyS
Edited Date/Time 12/28/2013 1:39pm
I have finally caught up with life and can do something I started 3 years ago. I want to build a green sticker(California) 2 stroke so I want to get an 01 or 02 RM. 02 got the new swingarm so I'm looking for that first but I figure with all the 4 stroke parts cheap on ebay I doubt updating will cost much. My question is, what can I do to the early generation to make it as close to an 08 as possible without chucking the frame and cases. Or spending what could pay for a KTM 2T.
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usp4u
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usp4u 12/27/2013 4:34am
12/27/2013 4:34am
I seem to remember some of the 01's coming with jacked up cylinders. I cant remember if they were replacing them or if there was a retro-fit port work? Something like that...

Main change would the forks.
MxKing809
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MxKing809 12/27/2013 5:28am
12/27/2013 5:28am
They went to the modern angle linkage in 04 along with the better Showa suspension front and rear. I have an 03 that has 04 suspension for sale if you're interested.

Falcon
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Falcon 12/27/2013 7:57am
12/27/2013 7:57am
Unless I am mistaken, you need a '97 or older bike to get a green sticker. Did they change the cutoff?
JM485
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JM485 12/27/2013 8:13am
12/27/2013 8:13am
Falcon wrote:
Unless I am mistaken, you need a '97 or older bike to get a green sticker. Did they change the cutoff?
Cutoff is 2002 now. An 03 would be red sticker and an 02 is green, damn tree huggers making all the rules.

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Airwing
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Airwing 12/27/2013 9:04am
12/27/2013 9:04am
I just bought a 2000 RM250 and doing the research for that I saw that the 01 had issues with the top end. I believe it was fixed on the 02 and read about the fix you can do yourself if you're top notch with a tig torch.
Duck_da_Roost 12/27/2013 2:20pm
12/27/2013 2:20pm
Falcon wrote:
Unless I am mistaken, you need a '97 or older bike to get a green sticker. Did they change the cutoff?
JM485 wrote:
Cutoff is 2002 now. An 03 would be red sticker and an 02 is green, damn tree huggers making all the rules.
Discover the peaceful forests by taking walks or bike rides and listen to the wind blow through the trees. It's wonderful. It's why we need to preserve some of the land so our kids can experience the beauty of nature. I do not want to hear the echo of a thumper when hiking in Yosemite. Treehugger and dirt bikers and all get along.
Craig_Lambrecht 12/27/2013 3:14pm
12/27/2013 3:14pm
MxKing809 wrote:
They went to the modern angle linkage in 04 along with the better Showa suspension front and rear. I have an 03 that has 04 suspension...
They went to the modern angle linkage in 04 along with the better Showa suspension front and rear. I have an 03 that has 04 suspension for sale if you're interested.

I'm curious as to what it cost you to do the upgrade. And also how much of a difference did you notice?
I have an 01 and have been pondering doing a 250f front end but am weighing my options.
Manbearpig
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Manbearpig 12/27/2013 4:02pm
12/27/2013 4:02pm
The best things you can do for those two years would be to install a full Hinson clutch in them.
RandyS
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RandyS 12/27/2013 5:17pm
12/27/2013 5:17pm
Manbearpig wrote:
The best things you can do for those two years would be to install a full Hinson clutch in them.
Must have had the same clutch the 125 had, I raced a friends nearly new 01 125 and had to wait for the gate to drop to put it in gear.
RandyS
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RandyS 12/27/2013 5:21pm
12/27/2013 5:21pm
MxKing809 wrote:
They went to the modern angle linkage in 04 along with the better Showa suspension front and rear. I have an 03 that has 04 suspension...
They went to the modern angle linkage in 04 along with the better Showa suspension front and rear. I have an 03 that has 04 suspension for sale if you're interested.

So what years swingarm/linkage/shock will work? I assume anything up to current will work on the front.
JM485
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JM485 12/27/2013 6:41pm
12/27/2013 6:41pm
Duck_da_Roost wrote:
Discover the peaceful forests by taking walks or bike rides and listen to the wind blow through the trees. It's wonderful. It's why we need to...
Discover the peaceful forests by taking walks or bike rides and listen to the wind blow through the trees. It's wonderful. It's why we need to preserve some of the land so our kids can experience the beauty of nature. I do not want to hear the echo of a thumper when hiking in Yosemite. Treehugger and dirt bikers and all get along.
I can definitely agree with you about the noise, but with all due respect, dirtbikers and tree huggers will never, ever get along. A few years ago, our favorite riding area, Carnegie SVRA was almost closed to some pseudo environmentalists who were hellbent on shutting us down. Luckily, we were all able to work as a group and beat them in court with our numbers. Do you know what their argument was? Apparently we were hurting a creek that runs through the center of the park. The only problem with that, is the creek only runs maybe a few weeks per year. We held a hugely successful protest on park grounds, and you should have seen how shocked the news agencies were when they could not find the creek in question, even though it was pouring rain.

Please understand that this is not in any way a personal attack on you, I just felt Iike I needed to share my side of the story so you understand where I am coming from. I'm all for enjoying nature and the outdoors, but I cannot support a group of people who use such sleazy and unethical tactics to force their agenda. I grew up riding that park and it means more to me and my family than most people would ever understand, just like other riding areas mean the same for thousands of kids and adults across the country. I don't see us coexisting any time soon, but if it does happen, it will take a lot of change on their part.
NorcalVet
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NorcalVet 12/27/2013 8:47pm
12/27/2013 8:47pm
RandyS wrote:
I have finally caught up with life and can do something I started 3 years ago. I want to build a green sticker(California) 2 stroke so...
I have finally caught up with life and can do something I started 3 years ago. I want to build a green sticker(California) 2 stroke so I want to get an 01 or 02 RM. 02 got the new swingarm so I'm looking for that first but I figure with all the 4 stroke parts cheap on ebay I doubt updating will cost much. My question is, what can I do to the early generation to make it as close to an 08 as possible without chucking the frame and cases. Or spending what could pay for a KTM 2T.
.... when I became serious about picking up a 2nd play bike (rm 250)

I used this site http://www.bikefinds.com/suzuki-rm250-for-sale-in-ca

or even CL twice a day.

I had my cash in hand, wanted 04+ RM 250 because of the showa components plus less finicky jetting
(found my 05 for 2k about 45mins away)
Matt Fisher 12/27/2013 9:54pm
12/27/2013 9:54pm
You can get green stickers for 03+ bikes, they just have to come from outside the states. My friend has a 03 CRF450 with a green sticker; bike was originally from Canada and then Ohio. Today it resides in the PRC, without a commie sticker.
LilZebb
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LilZebb 12/28/2013 12:16am
12/28/2013 12:16am
Duck_da_Roost wrote:
Discover the peaceful forests by taking walks or bike rides and listen to the wind blow through the trees. It's wonderful. It's why we need to...
Discover the peaceful forests by taking walks or bike rides and listen to the wind blow through the trees. It's wonderful. It's why we need to preserve some of the land so our kids can experience the beauty of nature. I do not want to hear the echo of a thumper when hiking in Yosemite. Treehugger and dirt bikers and all get along.
JM485 wrote:
I can definitely agree with you about the noise, but with all due respect, dirtbikers and tree huggers will never, ever get along. A few years...
I can definitely agree with you about the noise, but with all due respect, dirtbikers and tree huggers will never, ever get along. A few years ago, our favorite riding area, Carnegie SVRA was almost closed to some pseudo environmentalists who were hellbent on shutting us down. Luckily, we were all able to work as a group and beat them in court with our numbers. Do you know what their argument was? Apparently we were hurting a creek that runs through the center of the park. The only problem with that, is the creek only runs maybe a few weeks per year. We held a hugely successful protest on park grounds, and you should have seen how shocked the news agencies were when they could not find the creek in question, even though it was pouring rain.

Please understand that this is not in any way a personal attack on you, I just felt Iike I needed to share my side of the story so you understand where I am coming from. I'm all for enjoying nature and the outdoors, but I cannot support a group of people who use such sleazy and unethical tactics to force their agenda. I grew up riding that park and it means more to me and my family than most people would ever understand, just like other riding areas mean the same for thousands of kids and adults across the country. I don't see us coexisting any time soon, but if it does happen, it will take a lot of change on their part.
Sorry if this is off topic from the thread..

I live near the desert, and what pisses me off is what people bring into the desert to shoot and leave a huge mess of bullet casings and glass and other objects being shot and the environment people come after us riding motorcycles. We leave a small trail, absolutely huge flipping deal but the shotgun shells, misc bullet casings, shattered plastic and glass, etc. are completely okay. No clean up involved because that is the least of their concerns, but motorcycles need to be outlawed.

If that made any sense what-so-ever.
again sorry for the off topic/ thread hijack
Digger29
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Digger29 12/28/2013 7:23am
12/28/2013 7:23am Edited Date/Time 12/28/2013 7:33am
I bought a bunch Buddy Antunez's RM 125s & 250s & both of the 01 RM250s that I bought had 2000 cylinders on them. They were awesome bikes & ripped, unlike the handful of 01RMs that I rode with the stock 01 cylinder on them. The KYB stuff is definitely not as good as the Showa stuff but Rob at RG3 had the KYB stuff on my bikes working pretty good back then. I really liked those RMs. The only major difference in the 01 & 08 is the suspension & it is noticeably better on the newer RMs. The motors are better on the newer RMs also but not worlds better. Decking the cylinder & doing a little porting & adding a PC pipe & silencer & adding a HUGE flywheel weight would make it a great engine. It would all have to do with the condition of the 01. If it was mint mint & even with the KYB stuff it would be a solid MX bike & light yrs better than those early KTMs. in my opinion.
Craig_Lambrecht 12/28/2013 1:39pm
12/28/2013 1:39pm
Manbearpig wrote:
The best things you can do for those two years would be to install a full Hinson clutch in them.
yeah man, the clutch in mine BLOWWWWS!

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