The Greatest Rear Suspension was Stolen!

G-man
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G-man
Edited Date/Time 6/18/2026 10:45am

Moto History for the youngsters... Smile  
I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. 

Through the years owned FOUR Full Floaters --Two 125's, 250 and 465 and those bikes were pure Magic! Woohoo  

When Suzuki ruled the Motocross World, through a design they stole....

https://apnews.com/article/dacd15281393eb661aafeeb012de808e



 

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ShawdowGlen
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ShawdowGlen 3/24/2021 9:40am
3/24/2021 9:40am
Read about that in MXA a couple months back.

Interesting history.

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Piston Slap
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Piston Slap 3/24/2021 9:53am
3/24/2021 9:53am Edited Date/Time 3/25/2021 4:20pm
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inthebadboycorner 3/24/2021 10:56am
3/24/2021 10:56am
Yes, so did I, and a couple of years ago, and a couple of years before that, and a couple of years before that, and.......... ground hog day!
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G-man
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G-man 3/24/2021 11:11am
3/24/2021 11:11am Edited Date/Time 3/24/2021 10:29pm
Well in my defense it's obvious a LOT of the younger generation of riders did not realize Suzuki DOMINATED the Motocross World at one time.
Just saying.......so if it seems like I am boring you, you can go back and engage the Rutledge Wood thread. Laughing
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mxrose3
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mxrose3 3/24/2021 11:49am
3/24/2021 11:49am
What I want to know is did Kawasaki partially steal the idea as well? The uni-trak was being developed in 1979 also, and was similar except for the bottom mount point was on the frame instead of the swingarm.
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G-man
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G-man 3/24/2021 11:59am
3/24/2021 11:59am Edited Date/Time 3/24/2021 12:13pm
mxrose3 wrote:
What I want to know is did Kawasaki partially steal the idea as well? The uni-trak was being developed in 1979 also, and was similar except...
What I want to know is did Kawasaki partially steal the idea as well? The uni-trak was being developed in 1979 also, and was similar except for the bottom mount point was on the frame instead of the swingarm.
No they did not.

The key to Suzuki’s early eighties motocross success was the design of their innovative rear suspension system. Coined “Full Floater” for its unique dual-linkage design that allowed the shock to “float” independently at both the top and bottom, this system dominated motocross suspension from 1981 until its retirement in 1986.

That is why it worked so good, it was Plush as a pillow on acceleration bumps but could also handle the BIG HITS.
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LoudLove
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LoudLove 3/24/2021 12:00pm
3/24/2021 12:00pm
Recall as if were yesterday standing trackside at a National outside of Atlanta declaring “that bike ain’t got no rear suspension!” as The Jammer flew by on his Uni-Trak marvel..
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mxrose3
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mxrose3 3/24/2021 12:14pm
3/24/2021 12:14pm
mxrose3 wrote:
What I want to know is did Kawasaki partially steal the idea as well? The uni-trak was being developed in 1979 also, and was similar except...
What I want to know is did Kawasaki partially steal the idea as well? The uni-trak was being developed in 1979 also, and was similar except for the bottom mount point was on the frame instead of the swingarm.
G-man wrote:
No they did not. The key to Suzuki’s early eighties motocross success was the design of their innovative rear suspension system. Coined “Full Floater” for its...
No they did not.

The key to Suzuki’s early eighties motocross success was the design of their innovative rear suspension system. Coined “Full Floater” for its unique dual-linkage design that allowed the shock to “float” independently at both the top and bottom, this system dominated motocross suspension from 1981 until its retirement in 1986.

That is why it worked so good, it was Plush as a pillow on acceleration bumps but could also handle the BIG HITS.
Sorry to correct you G-man - The full floater did not have any moving parts on the bottom. The bottom of the shock was mounted directly to the front of the swingarm. Where the uni-trak had the bottom of the shock mounted directly to the frame. I've seen and worked on both up close, so I know the difference. The Suzuki compressed the shock from both the top and the bottom, whereas the Kawi only compressed the shock from the bell crank at the top of the shock. So there was really only one major difference in the two designs.
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G-man
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G-man 3/24/2021 12:28pm
3/24/2021 12:28pm
mxrose3 wrote:
Sorry to correct you G-man - The full floater did not have any moving parts on the bottom. The bottom of the shock was mounted directly...
Sorry to correct you G-man - The full floater did not have any moving parts on the bottom. The bottom of the shock was mounted directly to the front of the swingarm. Where the uni-trak had the bottom of the shock mounted directly to the frame. I've seen and worked on both up close, so I know the difference. The Suzuki compressed the shock from both the top and the bottom, whereas the Kawi only compressed the shock from the bell crank at the top of the shock. So there was really only one major difference in the two designs.
Yes I wasn't sure memory is foggyUnsure
So I looked it up and corrected my reply.

Thanks Cool
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Rabbit Run 41 3/24/2021 12:30pm
3/24/2021 12:30pm
I would agree that the full floater was great. I rode an 83 RM250 in San Diego for years. I did put an Ohlins shock on the bike as well. I did read in one of the magazines that one of the reasons it worked so well is that Suzuki paired it with a heavier than normal flywheel. It improved the action do to the engine characteristics according to the article.
Just what I remembered.
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mxrose3
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mxrose3 3/24/2021 12:50pm
3/24/2021 12:50pm
mxrose3 wrote:
Sorry to correct you G-man - The full floater did not have any moving parts on the bottom. The bottom of the shock was mounted directly...
Sorry to correct you G-man - The full floater did not have any moving parts on the bottom. The bottom of the shock was mounted directly to the front of the swingarm. Where the uni-trak had the bottom of the shock mounted directly to the frame. I've seen and worked on both up close, so I know the difference. The Suzuki compressed the shock from both the top and the bottom, whereas the Kawi only compressed the shock from the bell crank at the top of the shock. So there was really only one major difference in the two designs.
G-man wrote:
Yes I wasn't sure memory is foggyUnsure
So I looked it up and corrected my reply.

Thanks Cool
All Good G-man... thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Smile
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Holigan
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Holigan 3/24/2021 12:52pm
3/24/2021 12:52pm
G-man wrote:
Moto History for the youngsters... :) I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. Through the years...

Moto History for the youngsters... Smile  
I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. 

Through the years owned FOUR Full Floaters --Two 125's, 250 and 465 and those bikes were pure Magic! Woohoo  

When Suzuki ruled the Motocross World, through a design they stole....

https://apnews.com/article/dacd15281393eb661aafeeb012de808e



 

Do you know if Don was ever able to collect any money from Suzuki? It stated that they were considering appealing and I never heard the rest of the story.
mxrose3
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mxrose3 3/24/2021 1:24pm
3/24/2021 1:24pm
It is interesting that in 1983, Suzuki released a different version of the full floater on its RM80. This version was on an enduro bike that wasn't release in the US also. Notice how the struts on the swingarm are aimed forward instead of straight up and down. This may have been an initial attempt to still use the design without getting in trouble with the law.

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Motoxdoc
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Motoxdoc 3/24/2021 2:10pm
3/24/2021 2:10pm
I had an 82 RM250-Z. One of my favorite bikes! Don't know why they went away from the full floater....production expense I suppose. It seemed that squeezing the shock from both sides was an ingenious idea.
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G-man
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G-man 3/24/2021 2:14pm
3/24/2021 2:14pm
G-man wrote:
Moto History for the youngsters... :) I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. Through the years...

Moto History for the youngsters... Smile  
I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. 

Through the years owned FOUR Full Floaters --Two 125's, 250 and 465 and those bikes were pure Magic! Woohoo  

When Suzuki ruled the Motocross World, through a design they stole....

https://apnews.com/article/dacd15281393eb661aafeeb012de808e



 

Holigan wrote:
Do you know if Don was ever able to collect any money from Suzuki? It stated that they were considering appealing and I never heard the...
Do you know if Don was ever able to collect any money from Suzuki? It stated that they were considering appealing and I never heard the rest of the story.
From Don

" I got enough compensation to live a life of leisure if I was smart. Keyword “if ”. I was blackballed by the motorcycle industry so I went to Dakar. I invested in a smart shock concept I had. The patent office had to create a new category number. I developed the new smart shocks for Citroen Rally Raid car. The Bilsteins they were using were basically the same as used today in MX. Bilsteins 138 kph on the N Africa test loop. My Gen 1 smart shocks 185 kph. Hence the Citroen Dakar domination and later Mitsubishi VW Mini etc. I have learned that unless one has the millions to fight to protect patent rights the temptation is too great for corporations to steal and run. I’m standing down until a NorCal ranch sells after getting a permit for a rock quarry then it’s game on with Full Floater 2.0 on a RM first. I filed for the abandoned Full Floater trademark. Hopefully Suzuki will do it right next time.. I’m still a Suzuki fan.. Suzuki’s outside law-firm screwed Suzuki to make their millions at Suzuki’s demise."

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G-man
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G-man 3/24/2021 2:20pm
3/24/2021 2:20pm Edited Date/Time 3/24/2021 2:43pm
Rabbit Run 41 wrote:
I would agree that the full floater was great. I rode an 83 RM250 in San Diego for years. I did put an Ohlins shock on...
I would agree that the full floater was great. I rode an 83 RM250 in San Diego for years. I did put an Ohlins shock on the bike as well. I did read in one of the magazines that one of the reasons it worked so well is that Suzuki paired it with a heavier than normal flywheel. It improved the action do to the engine characteristics according to the article.
Just what I remembered.
I don't recall anything about the fly wheel helping the suspension.
My 125 screemed like a banshee--I wish I still had that bike. RIP...Sad

The reason I bought the 125 as I already had the 465 was Cole brothers Suzuki in Burbank was blowing them out I think it was like $800 dollars!

But damn I didn't even know they made Ohilins shocks for those bikes.
Didn't know you could make it even better, what was that like?

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sandman768
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sandman768 3/24/2021 3:03pm
3/24/2021 3:03pm
Great story and shame on Suzuki for not doing the right thing....
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FWYT
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FWYT 3/24/2021 3:08pm
3/24/2021 3:08pm
G-man wrote:
From Don " I got enough compensation to live a life of leisure if I was smart. Keyword “if ”. I was blackballed by the motorcycle...
From Don

" I got enough compensation to live a life of leisure if I was smart. Keyword “if ”. I was blackballed by the motorcycle industry so I went to Dakar. I invested in a smart shock concept I had. The patent office had to create a new category number. I developed the new smart shocks for Citroen Rally Raid car. The Bilsteins they were using were basically the same as used today in MX. Bilsteins 138 kph on the N Africa test loop. My Gen 1 smart shocks 185 kph. Hence the Citroen Dakar domination and later Mitsubishi VW Mini etc. I have learned that unless one has the millions to fight to protect patent rights the temptation is too great for corporations to steal and run. I’m standing down until a NorCal ranch sells after getting a permit for a rock quarry then it’s game on with Full Floater 2.0 on a RM first. I filed for the abandoned Full Floater trademark. Hopefully Suzuki will do it right next time.. I’m still a Suzuki fan.. Suzuki’s outside law-firm screwed Suzuki to make their millions at Suzuki’s demise."

Man, what a drag. I hate seeing intellectual property rights get trampled on and stolen, whether it is artists, inventors or whatever. But it is a story often heard. Shameful.
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chrisg19
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chrisg19 3/24/2021 6:19pm
3/24/2021 6:19pm
I love having grown up in that era of MX. I would wait on my copy of MXA each month to see who was trying what next. Such a great time to be part of the sport, when every year brought a new innovation to the production bikes.
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pelted
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pelted 3/24/2021 6:54pm
3/24/2021 6:54pm
I had an 83 RM 250. Fantastic rear, mediocre forks, and terrible brakes. If you could just wheelie over obstacles there wasn't much the thing couldn't handle.
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Rabbit Run 41 3/24/2021 8:58pm
3/24/2021 8:58pm
Rabbit Run 41 wrote:
I would agree that the full floater was great. I rode an 83 RM250 in San Diego for years. I did put an Ohlins shock on...
I would agree that the full floater was great. I rode an 83 RM250 in San Diego for years. I did put an Ohlins shock on the bike as well. I did read in one of the magazines that one of the reasons it worked so well is that Suzuki paired it with a heavier than normal flywheel. It improved the action do to the engine characteristics according to the article.
Just what I remembered.
G-man wrote:
I don't recall anything about the fly wheel helping the suspension. My 125 screemed like a banshee--I wish I still had that bike. RIP...:( The reason...
I don't recall anything about the fly wheel helping the suspension.
My 125 screemed like a banshee--I wish I still had that bike. RIP...Sad

The reason I bought the 125 as I already had the 465 was Cole brothers Suzuki in Burbank was blowing them out I think it was like $800 dollars!

But damn I didn't even know they made Ohilins shocks for those bikes.
Didn't know you could make it even better, what was that like?
Here again, I was in my twenties and my memories are hazy. I think I blew the OEM shock up and what the hell, let’s buy an Ohlins! I was riding mostly Ocotillo, Palm Ave and Carlsbad. I remember it being more stable and less kick (even on the full floater) This is one of only a few pics I have from back then. Sand Dam at Superstition Mtn.
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Rabbit Run 41 3/24/2021 9:02pm
3/24/2021 9:02pm
pelted wrote:
I had an 83 RM 250. Fantastic rear, mediocre forks, and terrible brakes. If you could just wheelie over obstacles there wasn't much the thing couldn't...
I had an 83 RM 250. Fantastic rear, mediocre forks, and terrible brakes. If you could just wheelie over obstacles there wasn't much the thing couldn't handle.
Yes! The brakes sucked! I would rough the pads with sand paper and de-glaze the drums. Double pivot whatever...
cz2crf2wc
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cz2crf2wc 3/24/2021 9:07pm
3/24/2021 9:07pm
Best thing is that he's young enough now to enjoy the money now.
Steve125
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Steve125 3/25/2021 4:14am
3/25/2021 4:14am
I race a couple 82 Floaters now and then. Every bit as good as my '21 450 rear suspension. In fact, the only thing that feels dated on the bike are the brakes (no brakes) and the rake of the forks seems really kicked out compared to the new bikes.
BTW: Don is a big Pontiac Engine builder now. He gets some big HP numbers out of those engines.
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racerxx276
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racerxx276 3/25/2021 5:42am
3/25/2021 5:42am
I loved the full floater. The problem was that the forks could never keep up with how good the rear was...
and 3rd gear blew up every race...
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Piston Slap
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Piston Slap 3/25/2021 4:21pm
3/25/2021 4:21pm Edited Date/Time 3/25/2021 4:26pm
G-man wrote:
Moto History for the youngsters... :) I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. Through the years...

Moto History for the youngsters... Smile  
I knew of this many moons ago as Don lived in Pasadena next to where I grew up--Eagle Rock. 

Through the years owned FOUR Full Floaters --Two 125's, 250 and 465 and those bikes were pure Magic! Woohoo  

When Suzuki ruled the Motocross World, through a design they stole....

https://apnews.com/article/dacd15281393eb661aafeeb012de808e



 

G-man,

Here is a link to Court Documents in re: Full floater.

i thought it was interesting to read

BTW 104,000 USD judgement on infringement, 20,000 compensatory and 100,000 in Punitive damages.

$224,000, a good payday back then. . .

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/868/1226/17438/
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Tonynz
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Tonynz 3/25/2021 6:12pm
3/25/2021 6:12pm
Bought the book on Kindle a couple of hours ago. About a 1/3 of the way through it.
I hade a 1981, PE 175 Z, and 1985 RM 125 F, both with Full Floater
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G-man
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G-man 6/17/2026 11:25pm
6/17/2026 11:25pm

A bump down memory lane, when Suzuki's Full Floater ruled the Motocross world. 😎

Motorcycle Full Floater Suspension Systems - Blue Strada Tours https://share.google/a7yBpagVjGhHRzvif

 

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