Is it possible to make an RM85 competable in 2024?

With all the aches and pain that go with it.

I have a 2007 RM125. It’s certainly slower than the newer offerings. Don’t care. It’s just soooo much damn fun to ride! 

And isn't that why we ride in the first place? 👍

Yeah, really is the correct answer. Brand loyalty to outdated 2-strokes puzzles me. I would get a modern one. But guess what? It's not my money! Ride what makes you happy

Well, we ran an RM or first year on 85s. It certainly made my son work harder, so possibly made him a better rider. We went from the lRlM to a TC85, which was like night and day. Different price point though. Worth it to me. 

What a life! 😊

My 1st bike!

WE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO SUSZUKI RM85 AND THE BIGGEST CHANGE FORM MY GREAT UNCLE HORSE GIVED ME A VFORCE AND MAKED THE IGNITON TIMING ADVANCED THE AIRPLANE GAS THAT COMES LEDED WE TRYED MCBEAN AVIATION SERVICES

The PWK works well on the RM, it won’t be hard to find one and if well jetted you’ll notice a definite improvement in throttle response. Exactly what you want for SX. Funnily enough we used to get better top end power out of offset boring the standard PE carb, but that was for MX.

You may be doing it the hard way on the old RM at national level SX though, but if that’s what you want to do, go for it and enjoy being the underdog!
Good suspension and rider ability are bigger factors than outright power in 85cc SX anyway.

@CPR not exactly what I want to do but it is what my son wants. He pretty much bleeds yellow, next project after sx will be a rm125 I think. Also though he’s not a national level rider he just wants to give supercross ago. 

Fair enough, good on him. Depending on how much money you want to spend, the PWK, V-force reeds, cylinder head machined, FMF Fatty n silencer, along with appropriate gearing and suspension, and he’ll have a fun sharp machine.
Suspension setup and time on a SX track being the most important factors though.

Would definitely be cheaper and easier to just get an Austrian bike if you want to be competitive. You could get a husky with yellow plastics. 
 

if you’re set on keeping the RM and want more top end power, you could start by ditching the shorty silencer and putting the stock one back on. Next would be gearing. Having one less tooth on the rear will give you a bit more top speed without compromising too much on acceleration. 

Man I wish I still had my 1991 RM80.. If anyone has one for sale on the east coast please let me know. 

When I saw Competable in the title I assumed RC himself created this thread.

Lol yea thats not a real word. 
 

Anyways man I wish suzuki and the others never gave up on their mini bikes. Its nuts that of the japanese bikes only kawi and yamaha have 85cc bikes. Kawi still makes their 65 too but that thing is a joke. At a minimum it needs inverted forks, updated body work, and a power valve. You gotta respect that yamaha didnt have a 65 so they went out and made one only a couple years ago. They understand the importance of instilling brand loyalty at a young age. I had a kx85 and then cr85 so I always loved kawis and hondas. Most ppl start out on pw50s so it was very smart for yamaha to have a 65 to offer so when they out grow the pw they can stay with yamaha and not be forced to go to another brand which they could end up liking more.

You would think honda would appreciate this too with their crf50 where almost as many kids start out, but unlike yamaha with honda you can keep moving up all the way to a car and even a truck or hell an airplane. Brand loyalty to them should be the most important cuz they have the most vehicles to offer, that brand loyalty from that crf50 could lead to sales of accords or ridgelines down the road… Oh well what do I know?

BOOTY DROP in the house

Maybe try an RM100. My daughter has one and that thing rips. Unless you're talking about  an 85cc limit, then pardon the interruption. 

I almost responded,,, "It depends on how you preperate it..."

Now that is cool !!! I don't think I've heard about this back in the day. A little before my time. Love to hear more.

A RM85 is fine with a few Mods unless you are trying to Win the mini Os or Lorettas and I don't think that's the case by what I've read, which is good.  Sounds like you will be on a 125/150 to a 250 soon. Village Idiot gave you some very good advice that is not excessive or costly. Save your funds for that and just keep riding. Play ride as much as moto which a RM85 is perfect.

RM100 is a rebadged KX100, Completely different bike/platform.

This guy rode one not too long ago and seems to have done alright. 
Ride the bike, have fun, enjoy what you have and the memories that you’ll make along the way.