1990 rm 250 good or bad?

sandman768
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sandman768
Edited Date/Time 4/25/2016 6:28pm
As title states, looking for my next project. Anyone own one? Chime in with a review, I may have a line on a pretty clean low hr bike. Thanks
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wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/8/2015 12:44pm
12/8/2015 12:44pm
I won a ton of races on the 89 to 94 RM quick handling good motor, used to get parts from the race team. 92 up the cylinder had huge transfer port, we use to swing the timing advance 3 degrees really woke them up. one of the first thing Bertoletti did was the timing and cut the silencer to I think 11 inches

I could flex the heck out of the frames, 94 frame was the best of this model run. Set up was critical for loam and deep sand tracks
pete24
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pete24 12/8/2015 12:50pm
12/8/2015 12:50pm
frame flex, you say? i always wondered why my seat would be off the gas tank tab after ridding a hard moto, on my 93, i had 91-92-93-95 loved them all im going to build a 95 lusk replica pretty soon just collecting parts now
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/8/2015 1:07pm
12/8/2015 1:07pm
If you can look how the frame down tubes got larger and they extended back to the and in front of the shock linkage instead of out by the pegs, could still flex them but they where much better, the frame just didn't have a big contact patch on the front tire if that makes sense. a good way to feel this is go down a sweeping down- hill as your turning in for a corner, you will notice you have to keep steer out at times, once in the corner all good, just some of the traits of this frame geometry.
RyanLester761
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RyanLester761 12/8/2015 5:04pm
12/8/2015 5:04pm
Funny you mention it... I just picked up a 1992 RM250 yesterday. Runs great! I plan to get the white plastics (US model) and get original style decals from Evo-Mx, eventually.








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wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/8/2015 5:18pm
12/8/2015 5:18pm
When changing the piston, look at the 94 or 95 they switched to a 2 rings from single ring you'll get better seal less blow down, each year they reduced the exhaust port. I perfected the 92 for a higher power band
sandman768
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sandman768 12/8/2015 5:48pm
12/8/2015 5:48pm
Thanks for input guys! I always felt the 88-92 RM"s were some of the greatest looking bikes of that era. Lester761: that bike looks clean, I would not think twice about buying that bike! , really hard to find good clean older bikes like that in the northeast, seems like I"m always 1 owner too late!
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/9/2015 3:13am
12/9/2015 3:13am
I Believe I still have a set of modified engine cases, one of the other tricks was to redirect the flow up into the transfer ports, 92 up cranks have stuffer to up primary comp. also, thinking I still have all but new crank stored away, would let it al go cheap for someone to use.
Slingshot92
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Slingshot92 12/9/2015 11:32am
12/9/2015 11:32am
Would prefer -91 or -92. I think -92 is the best model. Smile
pete24
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pete24 12/9/2015 11:36am
12/9/2015 11:36am
wolfy0067 wrote:
I Believe I still have a set of modified engine cases, one of the other tricks was to redirect the flow up into the transfer ports...
I Believe I still have a set of modified engine cases, one of the other tricks was to redirect the flow up into the transfer ports, 92 up cranks have stuffer to up primary comp. also, thinking I still have all but new crank stored away, would let it al go cheap for someone to use.
ive been looking for an old school Pro Circuit silencer for an rm 250 the silencer with the snap ring holding it together
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/10/2015 7:19am
12/10/2015 7:19am
If your looking to go stock appearance I have this pipe was never used

mxrose3
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mxrose3 12/10/2015 7:55am
12/10/2015 7:55am
Slingshot92 wrote:
Would prefer -91 or -92. I think -92 is the best model. Smile
I had both. I preferred the 91' model over the 92', only because I thought the suspension was better on the 91'.
It had KYB in 91'. They switched to Showa's in 92.
sandman768
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sandman768 12/14/2015 11:31am
12/14/2015 11:31am
After pounding out some good motos on my 88 rm 250 this past Sunday, I"m wondering what guys did to improve the clutch & braking on these rm"s. The clutch is an aftermarket EBC unit with stiffer springs, lever pull is too hard, I will alternate springs when I take it apart again, the main problem with clutch is, when you put it in gear the bike wants to move, like the clutch is not fully engaging. Pressure plate, inner hub, top hat bearing & basket bearing are all new, basket is nla, but was not grooved up bad at all. I have been told the stock plates are best? The brakes, all new rebuilt calipers, fluids & pads, good lever pressure front & rear, but they are just weak, maybe I"m comparing them to modern brakes?
T.Page
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T.Page 12/14/2015 2:15pm
12/14/2015 2:15pm
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.

1
sandman768
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sandman768 12/14/2015 3:04pm
12/14/2015 3:04pm
T.Page wrote:
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/14/115220/s1200_IMG_20150607_184113932.jpg[/img]
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.

Nice bike! I'm on the lookout for a clean original 89-92....
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/14/2015 4:01pm
12/14/2015 4:01pm
Toss the EBC plates they always stick and cause drag issues, also make sure the clutch nut is torqued to spec
sandman768
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sandman768 12/14/2015 4:31pm
12/14/2015 4:31pm
wolfy0067 wrote:
Toss the EBC plates they always stick and cause drag issues, also make sure the clutch nut is torqued to spec
Thanks Wolfy, I should have known, when it comes to clutches it's either Hinson or Oem. 2 piece clutch cover would be nice!
Slingshot92
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Slingshot92 12/14/2015 8:21pm
12/14/2015 8:21pm
-91 is the first year with two piece clutch cover at least in '125'.
wolfy0067
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wolfy0067 12/15/2015 3:37am
12/15/2015 3:37am
I've had good success with DP or Versha,

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RyanLester761
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RyanLester761 12/15/2015 5:34pm
12/15/2015 5:34pm Edited Date/Time 12/15/2015 5:35pm
T.Page wrote:
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/14/115220/s1200_IMG_20150607_184113932.jpg[/img]
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.

That tall seat looks so good on there! Thanks for sharing. I wasn't sure about the tall seat foam, but this pic convinced me. I'm getting that for my '92.

Beautiful bike T.Page!
sandman768
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sandman768 12/16/2015 5:46am
12/16/2015 5:46am
T.Page wrote:
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/14/115220/s1200_IMG_20150607_184113932.jpg[/img]
I like them. They handle pretty good and run great. This is mine.

Where did you get the tall seat foam & cover? That silencer looks good, close up photo? Make? Did you buy the bike like that or redo it?
T.Page
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T.Page 12/16/2015 11:29am
12/16/2015 11:29am
I got the seat foam and seat cover off eBay. May have been from vendors mentioned above as I have used both. The pipe and silencer came from Guy Cooper through a friend. The silencer is mediablasted and looks shortened. The bike was rough when I got it and was a complete resto that took me a while.
sandman768
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sandman768 12/17/2015 5:03am
12/17/2015 5:03am
T.Page wrote:
I got the seat foam and seat cover off eBay. May have been from vendors mentioned above as I have used both. The pipe and silencer...
I got the seat foam and seat cover off eBay. May have been from vendors mentioned above as I have used both. The pipe and silencer came from Guy Cooper through a friend. The silencer is mediablasted and looks shortened. The bike was rough when I got it and was a complete resto that took me a while.
My 1988 was complete but very tough when I got it also. I"m shocked at the parts you can still get from Suzuki for these bikes, I ordered all Oem plastics for my 88 & they came straight from Japan, Japanese writing all over the plastic bags they came in. Last year I read that Suzuki was going to start reproducing some parts for their more iconic older bikes, not sure if this pertains to the RM"s or road bikes. My brother & I are currently finishing up a restore of a 1986 RG 500 gamma, had to order all the Oem parts through a Canadian dealer, as bike was only imported to US for a few years due to emissions.
T.Page
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T.Page 12/18/2015 3:33pm
12/18/2015 3:33pm
Rg 500 is definitely a cool bike. Pics in a gamma thread maybe?
sandman768
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sandman768 4/20/2016 3:11pm
4/20/2016 3:11pm
Does anyone know if the 91 & 92 pipes are interchangeable? I always thought 89-92 used the same pipe but pro circuit list a different pipe for each bike. We're the stock pipes good performers with just an aftermarket silencer or shortened silencer?
quicken
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quicken 4/20/2016 5:06pm
4/20/2016 5:06pm
No go on the '91 to '92 pipe interchange.....'92 had a smaller exhaust spigot than the '89-'91

I swapped '89 and '90 pipes without much issue.....the mounting brackets were slightly different and took a little jiggering. I think '91 was the same issue....when I smashed the stocker I put a '90 pipe on it....just enough difference from the '90 pipe to need different part #s but do-able in a pinch
sandman768
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sandman768 4/20/2016 5:30pm
4/20/2016 5:30pm
quicken wrote:
No go on the '91 to '92 pipe interchange.....'92 had a smaller exhaust spigot than the '89-'91 I swapped '89 and '90 pipes without much issue.....the...
No go on the '91 to '92 pipe interchange.....'92 had a smaller exhaust spigot than the '89-'91

I swapped '89 and '90 pipes without much issue.....the mounting brackets were slightly different and took a little jiggering. I think '91 was the same issue....when I smashed the stocker I put a '90 pipe on it....just enough difference from the '90 pipe to need different part #s but do-able in a pinch
Thanks quicken!
tuggy450
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tuggy450 4/25/2016 4:32pm
4/25/2016 4:32pm
the 90 rm 250 was a pretty good machine IMO, had a friend that had one back in the day, completely stock, with just clickers was totally rideable, slighty soft but they all were. One of the better suspensions in it's day. The motor was easy to ride decent low end mid range shifted nice clutch was butter, only fault was that it was perhaps slightly down on power compared to the honda kawi yamaha of it's day, more of a lap time motor imo, holeshots?..not many from what i recall back then, but likely easier to up the power than to make a bad bike handle better, , he had an 88 also, same thing not a bad bike forks were probably better on the 88 but by then i was pretty used to the upside down forks. the zook forks always felt pretty decent out of the box to me
sandman768
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sandman768 4/25/2016 6:28pm
4/25/2016 6:28pm
tuggy450 wrote:
the 90 rm 250 was a pretty good machine IMO, had a friend that had one back in the day, completely stock, with just clickers was...
the 90 rm 250 was a pretty good machine IMO, had a friend that had one back in the day, completely stock, with just clickers was totally rideable, slighty soft but they all were. One of the better suspensions in it's day. The motor was easy to ride decent low end mid range shifted nice clutch was butter, only fault was that it was perhaps slightly down on power compared to the honda kawi yamaha of it's day, more of a lap time motor imo, holeshots?..not many from what i recall back then, but likely easier to up the power than to make a bad bike handle better, , he had an 88 also, same thing not a bad bike forks were probably better on the 88 but by then i was pretty used to the upside down forks. the zook forks always felt pretty decent out of the box to me
Thanks for chiming in tuggy450. The 90 I was trying to buy fell through, actually the bike is still for sale but the seller is such a douche I could not deal with him any longer. I have a 92 coming from Ca. From a poster here on Vital. Should have it within a few weeks. Looks to be pretty clean original bike. The bikes I have seen for sale in the northeast are hammered ghetto junk! I also just obtained a copy of mxa"s 1992 250 shootout...the Rm did not do so well, poor suspension front & rear held it back. I'm sure Factory Connection can work it out!

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