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7/14/2018
Location
Granger, IN, USA
I’m searching for a 1990-1999 125 or 250 for so one evo racing. My regular ride is a 2022 YZ125. I’m a 38 year old vet intermediate, wrench and rebuild about everything myself, and do suspension as well.
With that said, what do you guys think about a 1993 RM250? I’ve read the vintage steel that Blaze wrote, along with other info I found on the bike. This particular one looks very clean and caught my attention. Is there any reason to stay away from this at all costs? Or do I go for it at just around $2k.
Was a solid cornering machine. Needed to be short shifted to keep in meat of power. Horrible, horrible suspension.
My opinion if you're doing vet class... 1992 KX 250 stable-womt beat you up
I bought a 1993 RM250 brand new off showroom floor in 1995 (they weren't rated highly by mags/tests that year). Mine had a purple/Black seat cover.I was 35 and had given up racing in in 1997- injuries and life happened. Got the bike and made a little practice track in my yard and found it turned pretty well as long as I stayed over the front end, but kinda wanted to come up out of the groove if I got lazy or out of position. I had a short downhill with a ski jump ramp I built, and it was pretty stable there. Eventually took it out for some trail riding in the local OHV area and found it was "twitchy" like over-reacting to any handlebar movement like looking to my side or behind me for riders. basically, wherever my helmet turned, the handlebars automatically followed if that makes sense? Maybe my T-Rex arms there? Assumed frame geometry was more designed for SX at that point.
later took it to a local track for a practice day and scared myself jumping it since it seemed the front end always wanted to point straight up until I tapped the rear brake trying to level it some... but it completely nose-dived when I tried that. My bad from inexperience? The disk brakes were the worst thing for me- no progressive feel whatsoever- on/off like a light switch, but I was comparing to drum brake feel memories from my past. I found power delivery was fine at 190 lbs after retiring as 125 Intermediate 20 years before. Suspension was a little mushy even though I wasn't attempting big air jumps and crude on washboard type stuff. I had front & rear suspension re-worked a bit and it felt better. Then got sucked into VMX a few years later and sold it in like new condition for $1500.00 in 2005.
Prior to that had a used 1993 KX250, and it seemed more mellow overall and a little easier to ride (more forgiving?) on my infrequent rides at the time.
Just my $.02..
I would suggest to relive one of the bikes you once so fondly rode at the time.
Or find that bike you wanted but never had.
But in your case you were a mere embryo in 1984/85...So my opinion is completely null and void.
As for me at that time, I stepped off my 1987 RM250 on to a 1994 CR500. Both excellent rides.
Good luck on your racing. 👍🏼
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