suzuki RM250 1977 or 1978??

narrowfarm
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narrowfarm
Edited Date/Time 12/10/2015 6:35pm
Hello we are trying to determine the year of this Suzuki RM250..Aluminum tank ,metal swing arm. I saw somewhere that 1977 first half year was the RM250B model and the second half year was the RM250C and the 1978 RM 250C2 had the plastic tank and aluminum swing arm...... Is that correct???

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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 12/9/2015 5:14am
12/9/2015 5:14am
RM 250 C was a 78 model with aluminum tank . The C2 came out mid 78 with upgraded suspension , plastic tank etc.
mxrose3
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mxrose3 12/9/2015 6:30am
12/9/2015 6:30am
The 77' had a 56.1 inch wheelbase. 78' had a 57.1 inch wheelbase.
The 77' had a slightly different shaped exhaust pipe - yours looks like a 78' to me.
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Hasletjoe
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Hasletjoe 12/9/2015 6:53am
12/9/2015 6:53am
This looks to be a 77 B model. The 76 or A model did not have the shock reservoirs. I believe the 78 C model had the round/oval AL swing arm. The 78 C2 went to plastic tank and extruded swing arm.

Well, based off an old memory of course.....
narrowfarm
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narrowfarm 12/9/2015 7:19am
12/9/2015 7:19am
I will try to get better pictures and serial numbers. One person on another site was very sure that it was the year 1977 that had 2 models, The 1977 RM250B and half way through 1977 Suzuki made some changes to the forks, engine ports tuning and exhaust pipe so Suzuki called it a RM250C model. Than in 1978 they called the RM250 " C2 "model., with the plastic tank and aluminum swing arm.
We are interested in racing in the Vintage class and just would like to know the proper class. Thanks

The Shop

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wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/9/2015 7:36am
12/9/2015 7:36am Edited Date/Time 12/9/2015 7:37am
If you can provide the vin or engine # I can tell you exactly, I have the Suzuki modle identification book
OldPro277
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OldPro277 12/9/2015 9:28am
12/9/2015 9:28am
It was 1978 with the C model and mid year switch to the C2. Ive had both, and the C2 was a MUCH improved bike . Not just the plastic tank and alloy arm, but the motor changes(porting) and pipe were enormous improvements in power. But as far as racing vintage ,the 77,78, and 78.5 would all be grouped into AHRMA's Grandprix class. I agree with hasletjoe ,it looks like the 78 C . But as wolfy suggests ,the vin will tell you the real story(at least for the frame). Go to Vintage Suzuki's site, they have a Suzuki vin-decoder page.
philG
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philG 12/9/2015 9:42am
12/9/2015 9:42am Edited Date/Time 12/9/2015 9:44am
Looks like 1 '77 to me.. steel tank for 77, plastic for 78.

Seeing as your profile pic is a 77 Rm125, i would have though that was a big enough clue.
OldPro277
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OldPro277 12/9/2015 9:50am
12/9/2015 9:50am
Phil , early 78's had the alloy tank, mid year they switched to the plastic tank and other changes and designated it a "78.5" C2
narrowfarm
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narrowfarm 12/9/2015 11:41am
12/9/2015 11:41am
My bike is a 1977 RM125 B !!! It's the RM250C as I stated in the "Start New Topic" that seems to be the issue with some people on what year it is. I am not near the bike now, maybe tomorrow I can get the serial number to see what year it is.
mxrose3
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mxrose3 12/9/2015 11:56am
12/9/2015 11:56am
It will make a difference if it is a 78 model. The AHRMA classes are split at 77/78.

From AHRMA's website:

Historic 250: Certain 126-250cc motorcycles built up to and including the 1977 model year as the first-generation of long-travel machines.

Grand Prix 250: Certain post-1977 motorcycles 126-250cc.


I vaguely remember a rule being floated around AHRMA allowing the original 78 C model into the Historic class though... not sure if it passed or not.
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narrowfarm
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narrowfarm 12/9/2015 12:06pm
12/9/2015 12:06pm
Yes that's my intention to find out for vintage racing.
My good friend and I have always been racing ,me in the 125cc class and my friend in the 250cc class. We usually bang bars in the past as in our district as they have run both classes together but score differently. We are both excited to that again, this time with vintage bikes!!!
We both have a lot of work to get our bikes ready for this spring!!!
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/9/2015 12:17pm
12/9/2015 12:17pm
The proper engine vin can be very helpful, I asked a seller on the bay to provide an engine number for a supposed 82z bottom end he was selling, expecting he was trying to sell an 83 as soon as I called him out the engine was no longer for sale
narrowfarm
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narrowfarm 12/9/2015 1:02pm
12/9/2015 1:02pm
I find a lot of people, on craigslist don't really know what year bikes they own, even they say they completely rebuilt the bike. I saw a guy who had a 1978 RM125c2 and advertised it as a 1980????? No parts will fit, two different monsters. My question was how did he rebuild it????
I bought mine and I knew it was a 1977 RM125B, was so excited as he advertised it as a 1979 RM125....He didn't know what he had... Love the aluminum tanks!!! ,,,
even though it was in very rough shape at the time of purchase.
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/9/2015 1:52pm
12/9/2015 1:52pm








wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/9/2015 1:54pm
12/9/2015 1:54pm



How cool the early 70 bikes looked


OldPro277
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OldPro277 12/9/2015 3:31pm
12/9/2015 3:31pm
mxrose3 wrote:
It will make a difference if it is a 78 model. The AHRMA classes are split at 77/78. From AHRMA's website: Historic 250: Certain 126-250cc motorcycles...
It will make a difference if it is a 78 model. The AHRMA classes are split at 77/78.

From AHRMA's website:

Historic 250: Certain 126-250cc motorcycles built up to and including the 1977 model year as the first-generation of long-travel machines.

Grand Prix 250: Certain post-1977 motorcycles 126-250cc.


I vaguely remember a rule being floated around AHRMA allowing the original 78 C model into the Historic class though... not sure if it passed or not.
mxrose You are right-I stand corrected on the 77-78 separation . But looking at his pic ,Im pretty sure he has a 78 C. The forks extending further below the axle and conical front hub would point to that its a 78. However,as we all know,during the last 37+ years parts can be intermixed, so using wolfy's vin guide would be the real answer. My opinion is unless you are hell bent on doing the Historic class,pass on that one and find a C2. HUGE improvement.
jason (ma)
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jason (ma) 12/9/2015 3:33pm
12/9/2015 3:33pm
If your looking at riding with ACR I suggest looking at pre 78 and evo open for classes. I race a 76 rm250 with a 77 engine. Proform pipe works well on them.
Bigfoot
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Bigfoot 12/9/2015 3:50pm
12/9/2015 3:50pm
The "A" model had a swingarm made of welded chromoly tubing. The "B" had this box-section chromoly swingarm that kinda sorta mimicked the look of the works bikes aluminum swingarms.



Pit Row

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narrowfarm
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narrowfarm 12/9/2015 3:59pm
12/9/2015 3:59pm
I can get both bikes in the picture from the owner for $100 as my friend wants the RM250. I plan on taking the 1983 YZ125. The YZ is locked up. The RM250 turns over and has the original silencer, couple of small dents in the tank but has no knee wear marks on the tank so I wonder how much it was really ridden.. The motor though should be taken apart, resealed ,new bearings, new top end and the crank has to be inspected.
jimmie
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jimmie 12/9/2015 4:25pm
12/9/2015 4:25pm
I owned both, 1978 and 1978 1/2.

Just confirming what others have pointed out, that is an early 1978.

Nice info wolfy0067Wink
AHRMA361 12/9/2015 4:52pm
12/9/2015 4:52pm
narrowfarm wrote:
I can get both bikes in the picture from the owner for $100 as my friend wants the RM250. I plan on taking the 1983 YZ125...
I can get both bikes in the picture from the owner for $100 as my friend wants the RM250. I plan on taking the 1983 YZ125. The YZ is locked up. The RM250 turns over and has the original silencer, couple of small dents in the tank but has no knee wear marks on the tank so I wonder how much it was really ridden.. The motor though should be taken apart, resealed ,new bearings, new top end and the crank has to be inspected.
That's a steal. Better go NOW and get them!
Bigfoot
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Bigfoot 12/9/2015 5:04pm
12/9/2015 5:04pm
narrowfarm wrote:
I can get both bikes in the picture from the owner for $100 as my friend wants the RM250. I plan on taking the 1983 YZ125...
I can get both bikes in the picture from the owner for $100 as my friend wants the RM250. I plan on taking the 1983 YZ125. The YZ is locked up. The RM250 turns over and has the original silencer, couple of small dents in the tank but has no knee wear marks on the tank so I wonder how much it was really ridden.. The motor though should be taken apart, resealed ,new bearings, new top end and the crank has to be inspected.
AHRMA361 wrote:
That's a steal. Better go NOW and get them!
Damn, those are even the stock grips! Ya wanna double your money? Whistling
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/10/2015 7:14am
12/10/2015 7:14am
These simple mod will work on these bikes



narrowfarm
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narrowfarm 12/10/2015 9:11am
12/10/2015 9:11am
Thanks Wolfy! Would you have any mods info for the 1977 Suzuki RM125B ?? thanks!
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/10/2015 10:17am
12/10/2015 10:17am
This mod will work for this RM125B model also, good thing if you don't like you can just change it back. if you have the proper porting tools you can do more, like lowering and widening the intake port, the right exhaust port is pretty restrictive and can be reworked, meaning the right port looking front the exhaust flange, left is sitting on the bike, the right side ex port just needs matched. The 1980 RM cylinder Suzuki had the exhaust really good all that was needed was to lower and widen the intake.

philG
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philG 12/10/2015 11:31am
12/10/2015 11:31am
well every day is a school day.. i never saw a 78 with a steel tank here in the UK, but , i was racing Schoolboy back then , i might never have seen one anyway.

loads of good info here , i was deffo a Suzuki guy back in the day
OW38B
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OW38B 12/10/2015 12:24pm
12/10/2015 12:24pm Edited Date/Time 12/10/2015 12:28pm
For sure that is a 1978 RM250C. (If stock and has not been modded or upgraded)

Easy to tell the difference between a 77B and a 78C is the front forks and front wheel hub. the 78C has a ribbed lower fork leg and a conical front wheel hub.

The 77B has no ribbing on the lower fork leg and a full width front hub.

My 77B:




Also it will have a manufacture date of sometime in late 1977, but it is a 1978 RM250C model.
slotsquid
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slotsquid 12/10/2015 6:35pm
12/10/2015 6:35pm
'78 "C" model had solid mount handlebar, "C-2" had rubber mounted handlebar.
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