70's RM & TM's

TerryB
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TerryB
Edited Date/Time 6/8/2015 8:15pm
Any members own these, restoring them, racing them? I have a real soft-spot for the '77 and older steel tank models, and want to build one for myself, as soon as I free up some time and extra money.

Post pics of your bikes, I'd love to see them.
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croom mx
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croom mx 4/16/2009 5:23am
4/16/2009 5:23am
I remember some nice RM370 with Simons Fork , Aluminium swingarm, Fox shock, back then we just stood and stared!
RufRedBaron
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RufRedBaron 4/16/2009 8:19am
4/16/2009 8:19am
I am currently working on a 1976 RM250A and a 1976 RM100A. I'm going to race the 250 and probably sell the 100.

I'll post pictures when they are finished.
motogeezer
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motogeezer 4/16/2009 1:58pm
4/16/2009 1:58pm
I wish I still had '77 250.




OW38B
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OW38B 4/16/2009 6:14pm
4/16/2009 6:14pm
I have a 1974 Suzuki TM400 that I race every now and then.

The Shop

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motogeezer
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motogeezer 4/16/2009 6:56pm
4/16/2009 6:56pm
OW38B wrote:
I have a 1974 Suzuki TM400 that I race every now and then.
Your balls are way too big.

You should see a doctor.

Or a psychiatrist...

Wink

jimmie
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jimmie 4/16/2009 9:30pm
4/16/2009 9:30pm
I owned a 74 TM 125 in 1974, then restored one in 1989. That is a gorgeous motorcycle!
And owned a 78 and 78 and a half, RM 250 when they were new. Then restored a 78 RM 250 1n 1988.
Yeah reliving my childhood I guess. Sold them both in 1994.
xnationalwrench 4/17/2009 6:17am
4/17/2009 6:17am
I raced a '73 TM400 in both MX and TT, after the frame was tweaked, I bought a Husky Ti frame from Hallman and Rich Thorwalson helped mount the engine in it and built 1 of his swingarms to it. It was fun and caused a stir when I would show up at the races with it. I wonder if my brother still has it?
PN27416
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PN27416 4/17/2009 7:16am
4/17/2009 7:16am
Am doing a 78 RM 400 with a 77 steel tank. Like you I think its looks more trick the the 78 plastic tank. Going with a replica DeCoster works bike look.
CamP
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CamP 4/17/2009 8:40am
4/17/2009 8:40am
I had a '74 TM 100. It was a cool bike but it was slower than my modified '73 XR75 until we installed an FMF pipe.
RufRedBaron
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RufRedBaron 4/17/2009 11:08am
4/17/2009 11:08am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:26pm
The 1974 TM125 was the bike that got me interested in Motocross. My cousin had one which he modified into one of the trickest TM125's I ever saw (at least in Ohio). I think he bought everything in the T&M Catalog - laid-down shock kit, T&M aluminum swingarm, Boge shocks, head, I think a ported cylinder, air forks, pipe, etc. It was so cool - then the 1975 1/2 RM125 came out and the TM was yesterdays news! I wish I had some pictures of it to post. Heck, I wish I had the bike!
TerryB
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TerryB 4/17/2009 2:14pm
4/17/2009 2:14pm
Thanks guys! I'd love to see some of the projects. Some beauties I found while surfing:http://vintagefactory.com/1977_motox_fox_suzuki_rm125.htmhttp://www.pelicanguanomotorsports.com/1975suzukiRM125.html

I had a 370 like this, for a Summer. An injured friend loaned it to me. I was just getting off 80's and had gotten my first 125 at the time. I think he was trying to get me injured too! I remember the bike being so insanely fast, I didn't ride it very much. It scared me.

http://www.vintageworksbikes.com/1976SuzukiRM370.html
jib-tmb
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jib-tmb 4/17/2009 2:50pm
4/17/2009 2:50pm
xnationalwrench wrote:
I raced a '73 TM400 in both MX and TT, after the frame was tweaked, I bought a Husky Ti frame from Hallman and Rich Thorwalson...
I raced a '73 TM400 in both MX and TT, after the frame was tweaked, I bought a Husky Ti frame from Hallman and Rich Thorwalson helped mount the engine in it and built 1 of his swingarms to it. It was fun and caused a stir when I would show up at the races with it. I wonder if my brother still has it?
Were those TM 400's really as hard to ride as they claimed? I never tried one but I used to read about them a little back then.
newmann
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newmann 4/17/2009 3:14pm
4/17/2009 3:14pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:26pm
I believe it was the 72 TM400 that got them branded as the widowmaker. Hear they handled as if someone left the swingarm bolt out! The 74-75 models seem to get some decent reviews from the people I've talked to . My buddy has a nice one in his home office. Sweet 74 model, pristinely restored. The Fox bike on the Vintage Factory site is close to what I'm building. Mine will be a faithful reproduction of Pat Richters 77 RM125 watercooled Fox bike. Got most of the pieces and some of the work is already done. Just need to finish the damn thing.

GIwasB4
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GIwasB4 4/17/2009 3:53pm
4/17/2009 3:53pm
TerryB wrote:
Thanks guys! I'd love to see some of the projects. Some beauties I found while surfing:[url=http://vintagefactory.com/1977_motox_fox_suzuki_rm125.htm]http://vintagefactory.com/1977_motox_fox_suzuki_rm125.htm[/url][url=http://www.pelicanguanomotorsports.com/1975suzukiRM125.html]http://www.pelicanguanomotorsports.com/1975suzukiRM125.html[/url] I had a 370 like this, for a Summer. An...
Thanks guys! I'd love to see some of the projects. Some beauties I found while surfing:http://vintagefactory.com/1977_motox_fox_suzuki_rm125.htmhttp://www.pelicanguanomotorsports.com/1975suzukiRM125.html

I had a 370 like this, for a Summer. An injured friend loaned it to me. I was just getting off 80's and had gotten my first 125 at the time. I think he was trying to get me injured too! I remember the bike being so insanely fast, I didn't ride it very much. It scared me.

http://www.vintageworksbikes.com/1976SuzukiRM370.html
Hey Terry B!
The inventory on the site never ceases to amaze me, freaking awesome.
OW38B
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OW38B 4/17/2009 8:22pm
4/17/2009 8:22pm
OW38B wrote:
I have a 1974 Suzuki TM400 that I race every now and then.
motogeezer wrote:
Your balls are way too big.

You should see a doctor.

Or a psychiatrist...

Wink

You're not the first one to tell me that. Dizzy
croom mx
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croom mx 4/19/2009 12:35pm
4/19/2009 12:35pm
jib-tmb wrote:
Were those TM 400's really as hard to ride as they claimed? I never tried one but I used to read about them a little back...
Were those TM 400's really as hard to ride as they claimed? I never tried one but I used to read about them a little back then.
The reason they were so hard to ride is the powerband came on like an ON , OFF switch and the bike was really squirly. It was really a piece of crap. Some people said TM stood for Throw Me. Like throw me into the ground!
project racer 4/20/2009 9:59am
4/20/2009 9:59am
If you put the TS400 external flywheel ignition on a TM 400, it becomes a fairly docile machine in the engine department.
croom mx
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croom mx 4/20/2009 10:37am
4/20/2009 10:37am
project racer wrote:
If you put the TS400 external flywheel ignition on a TM 400, it becomes a fairly docile machine in the engine department.
Hi Project racer did you race at St Pete from 1977-82. I raced there during that time.

Pit Row

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captmoto
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captmoto 4/22/2009 11:39am
4/22/2009 11:39am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:31pm
New guy here, I am working on a 79 RM250. Parts are scarcer than YZ parts of that era and the chain guard and tensioner are a PITA. I had one back in the day but don't remember all tha details from then. Anyway reliving my youth a little. By the way, today is the 37th anniversary of getting my first ever bike, a 72 Suzuki TS125. I have one of those too, runs but is rough. Here some pics of my 79 RM.
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket.
It has Sun Rims, the rear is a 17" and stainless spokes. There was a YZ air filter in it with no cage. It ran like shit but I figured on a new top end. I put a cage and proper filter on it and it came to life. It runs strong!! I am building a racer so I may or may not strip it and make it like new. Regarding powder coating, I did it on a 73 Elsinore and it looked beautiful but when you PC, the coating flexes so if you develop a frame crack you may not see it until it's way cracked.
Gozar
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Gozar 4/22/2009 10:37pm
4/22/2009 10:37pm
I've got a 1976 RM100 ( N I think) sitting down in the garage right now that a buddy wants to help me start restoring. My brother bought it in 1977 and when he moved to florida he gave it to me in pieces to put back together. Actually got to ride it a few times then moved and it got put in the shed and hasn't been started or messed with in probably 20 years. I'll post pics of it when it gets warm enough for me to unearth it and pull it out into the driveway.
TerryB
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TerryB 4/23/2009 2:04pm
4/23/2009 2:04pm
'76 would be an A model, 'zar. '79 were N's. Double check your serial number, it will make a resto much easier. Looking forward to seeing your project.http://www.vintage-suzuki.com/rmnumbers.htm
Gozar
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Gozar 4/24/2009 5:12am
4/24/2009 5:12am
Thanks for the info Terry, I'll double check the number later today when im in the garage
Gozar
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Gozar 4/24/2009 11:12am
4/24/2009 11:12am
Thanks OW
PRS395
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PRS395 6/8/2009 8:48pm
6/8/2009 8:48pm


My brothers TM 400 that is Mint!

As Super Hunky said back in the day, "The Scariest Motorcycle Ever Built!"

Go find the old article.
gregscycles
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gregscycles 5/10/2015 7:23pm
5/10/2015 7:23pm
PRS395 wrote:
[img]http://www.vitalmx.com/images/community_photos/13873/tn111536430_1232904904.jpeg?1232904905[/img] My brothers TM 400 that is Mint! As Super Hunky said back in the day, [i]"[b]The Scariest Motorcycle Ever Built!"[/b][/i] Go find the old article.


My brothers TM 400 that is Mint!

As Super Hunky said back in the day, "The Scariest Motorcycle Ever Built!"

Go find the old article.
I have had a lot of suzuki tms in the past . 100s 125s and a couple 400s the last 400 i had was a like new 10 hrs on it 1975. Tm 400 it really was good to ride straight up wheelstands on , it had a fairly good top end, but it didnt seem as brutal as advertised. I was born in 63. And i bought this sweet tm in 1979. It looked and ran like new, as you know it was purchased new with no warranty and the original owner blew a hole through the bottom end . So it sat in his garage until i came along now beings i was. 15-16 years old and was always buying and selling dirt bikes i happenened to have a motor from a 74 tm 400. Laying around and picked that thing up for like 100.00. Bucks put that motor in it and was riding the next day. Like I said i was alittle bit big for my age. And had rode things like mx 360s and sc500. Of my brothers . But it didnt seem like a widow maker or anything. I i rode the hell out of it. Now at my age now, maybe that would be a different story . The most current things i have owned 1994. Yz250 it was fun, and a 1974. Ec birt suzuki tm100.
yzweldon
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yzweldon 5/11/2015 3:46pm
5/11/2015 3:46pm






My 77 125 b that I just finished restoring. I upgraded it with 80 model suspension and wheels front and back. It is still on standard bore and the pipe didn't have one single ding in it, clutch basket looked brand new as well.
JPT
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JPT 5/12/2015 3:02am
5/12/2015 3:02am
jib-tmb wrote:
Were those TM 400's really as hard to ride as they claimed? I never tried one but I used to read about them a little back...
Were those TM 400's really as hard to ride as they claimed? I never tried one but I used to read about them a little back then.
croom mx wrote:
The reason they were so hard to ride is the powerband came on like an ON , OFF switch and the bike was really squirly. It...
The reason they were so hard to ride is the powerband came on like an ON , OFF switch and the bike was really squirly. It was really a piece of crap. Some people said TM stood for Throw Me. Like throw me into the ground!
I never rode one but I rode on the track with them. I remember seeing them crow hop side to side under braking and get seriously sideways under acceleration. I learned to give them a wide berth.
EL Sammo
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EL Sammo 5/12/2015 3:41am
5/12/2015 3:41am
I just updated a thread in here of a 76 RM370 my dad is restoring, very nice bikes.
OW38B
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OW38B 5/12/2015 10:58am
5/12/2015 10:58am
My 1977 RM250 when I bought it:




As she sits today:






Still looking for some correct type lower fork leg protectors.

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