Vintage shock options

Have a 1980 rm250 it has noleen shocks on it right now they seem very long, can barley get my leg over it. is there many other options out there for a shorter shock? 

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vet323
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Lead, SD, USA
9/17/2025 7:44am

I might be interested in those shocks. What length are they? If they are too long, I may have something that fits.

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PN27416
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9/17/2025 8:19am
dfr136 wrote:
Have a 1980 rm250 it has noleen shocks on it right now they seem very long, can barley get my leg over it. is there many...

Have a 1980 rm250 it has noleen shocks on it right now they seem very long, can barley get my leg over it. is there many other options out there for a shorter shock? 

Contact Noleen, They may be able to shorten for less cost then replacing

1
9/17/2025 8:19am

They are the 16 1/4” length piggyback shocks. 

vet323
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9/17/2025 10:20am

Original shock length is 394mm (15.5 inches)

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MaxPower
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9/22/2025 7:52am
vet323 wrote:

Original shock length is 394mm (15.5 inches)

Im sure youre correct, i was thinking the 1979 and 80 RM250 was longer than 15.5.  . That is a tall bike to begin with.  I dont see many of them at vintage races. 

9/22/2025 8:50am

It is really tall. I’m trying to get it setup for my 65 yr old dad it’s just to tall for him to start it.  My 80 rm125 is way shorter seat height. 

Inferno
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9/22/2025 10:21am

You can try YSS, in their VMX range they have many sizes, and are multi-adjustable

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MaxPower
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10/1/2025 8:31am

If you have Noleen, why not shorten them? Or buy a fresh Noleen ser. YSS is a down grade. In my opinion.  Just order now in Sept to have your Noleen shocks ready next June

10/1/2025 10:09am
MaxPower wrote:
If you have Noleen, why not shorten them? Or buy a fresh Noleen ser. YSS is a down grade. In my opinion.  Just order now in...

If you have Noleen, why not shorten them? Or buy a fresh Noleen ser. YSS is a down grade. In my opinion.  Just order now in Sept to have your Noleen shocks ready next June

Are they pretty slow? That’s the route we were gonna go they will shorten them for not to much money. 

MaxPower
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10/1/2025 10:20am Edited Date/Time 10/1/2025 10:23am
dfr136 wrote:

Are they pretty slow? That’s the route we were gonna go they will shorten them for not to much money. 

2x ive used them. Both times times was well past delivery date. Maybe it was just me. Things happen. Both times the shocks worked amazing

And for me I would shorten them.

Watch the kick idler gear on that bike. It swaps w 77/78 steel gear in 2 seconds 

1
10/1/2025 10:37am
MaxPower wrote:
2x ive used them. Both times times was well past delivery date. Maybe it was just me. Things happen. Both times the shocks worked amazingAnd for...

2x ive used them. Both times times was well past delivery date. Maybe it was just me. Things happen. Both times the shocks worked amazing

And for me I would shorten them.

Watch the kick idler gear on that bike. It swaps w 77/78 steel gear in 2 seconds 

Thanks for the tip. Any thing else with that bike I should look out for? The brakes are terrible especially the back. It has a 81 rear hub on it going to try some new shoes and see what happens but when I rode it Saturday the rear was dangerous. 

450exc115
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Hebron, CT, USA
10/2/2025 10:13am
MaxPower wrote:
2x ive used them. Both times times was well past delivery date. Maybe it was just me. Things happen. Both times the shocks worked amazingAnd for...

2x ive used them. Both times times was well past delivery date. Maybe it was just me. Things happen. Both times the shocks worked amazing

And for me I would shorten them.

Watch the kick idler gear on that bike. It swaps w 77/78 steel gear in 2 seconds 

dfr136 wrote:
Thanks for the tip. Any thing else with that bike I should look out for? The brakes are terrible especially the back. It has a 81...

Thanks for the tip. Any thing else with that bike I should look out for? The brakes are terrible especially the back. It has a 81 rear hub on it going to try some new shoes and see what happens but when I rode it Saturday the rear was dangerous. 

I always scuff up the brake liner with a course porting tool (sand paper on a mandrel in a drill) prior to installing new pads.  If old pads get glazed you can refresh them with course sand paper.  If neither of those work you may need to arc the pads.  I tape sand paper to the liner and then spin the drum (shoes installed) or tire with light pressure on the brake.  You want to do this till you see the whole pad show scuff marks and then it's arced  to the drum.  Should have no problem locking up the rear brake after that.  I also like the EBC-G pads with grooves.

 

10/2/2025 1:23pm
450exc115 wrote:
I always scuff up the brake liner with a course porting tool (sand paper on a mandrel in a drill) prior to installing new pads.  If...

I always scuff up the brake liner with a course porting tool (sand paper on a mandrel in a drill) prior to installing new pads.  If old pads get glazed you can refresh them with course sand paper.  If neither of those work you may need to arc the pads.  I tape sand paper to the liner and then spin the drum (shoes installed) or tire with light pressure on the brake.  You want to do this till you see the whole pad show scuff marks and then it's arced  to the drum.  Should have no problem locking up the rear brake after that.  I also like the EBC-G pads with grooves.

 

Thanks I’ll do that 

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