Classic Steel #123 on the 1983 Suzuki RM500 is up for your moto reading pleasure

Nice Tony! I've ridden both the '81 RM465 and an '84 RM500 and amazing how different those 2 bikes felt. The '81 was much more hard hitting and seemed to be a bit more agile in the handling dept. Could of been setup related too. Good bikes though.

So here's my RM500 story. Was racing a night race in Santa Clara in '86. Had my '83 CR480 and Rick Ryan came over and asked if he could borrow it to race the Open Pro class. I politely declined. Didn't want a Pro hammering my stocker without an A-kit (ha)! So, he walks over to the next guy in the pits. A Vet with a stock '84 RM500. He said yes. Of course, Ryan went out and decimated the class and that bike came back hotter than it's ever gotten. It was cool to see.

Always enjoy these!

Nice write up. I think that was one of the prettiest bikes of the era.

I would love to turn some laps on 81-83 RMs with the Full Floater. I never did ride a 465-500. I had an '81 RM125 and an '82 Rm250. The 125 was my favorite bike of all time. In '83 I had a CR480 and a CR125.

I owned the Suzuki Rm465 and set it up so it handled better and tuned the engine with a boost bottle. I rode my friends Cr480 and the Honda didn't handle at all and the power was squirely. With the Full floater rear end it was easily the best open class bike of the time.

They look better dirty! My RM500 in '83.

Got beat by a lotta guys on these..Sweet bike

Tony,

Great read as always.

Really appreciate these !

WOW I DIND EVEN NO SUSZUKI MAKED A BIG BOAR 500! WHAT DOSE THE FULL FLORTER MEAN THAT ON THE SWING ARM??? I WONDER IF THE FASTIST RIDER FORM TEXAS KNE HOWERTIN EVER RACE THIS BIKE

Ask uncle Horse if he ever ride one.

Too bad Suzuki didn't work it out with the guy they stole the design from. It was that good.

Thank you for the read. I love my 2001 RM500 Franken Bike. Wish they never killed production of these.