96 - 98 Suzuki RM Conventional Forks

Lightning78
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Lightning78
Edited Date/Time 11/20/2019 11:34am
I was checking out a 96 RM 250 and glanced at the conventional Forks and it sort of got me thinking a little bit about the fact that they used those for a couple of years and ended up going back partially because McGrath wanted the more rigid upside down set up and public sentiment kind of went that way too.

I can understand that for Supercross but for the common man riding Motocross realistically looking back anybody with experience on them how were they? Would they be good on a bike of today? Would anyone consider if they could buy a set to put them on a newer 2 stroke or 4 stroke bike that you strictly ride Motocross with on today's tracks?

I know they were reported to be good back when they came out but does anybody here have any input or thoughts and or experience with them?
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Lightning78
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Lightning78 11/19/2019 4:52pm
11/19/2019 4:52pm
Since this is still the offseason I thought this would be a fun topic to discuss
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MXVet261
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MXVet261 11/19/2019 5:00pm
11/19/2019 5:00pm Edited Date/Time 11/19/2019 5:03pm
They are very good forks. I have a 98 RM125 and 98 RM250.
Funny thing is that IN 1998 I thought the RMs sucked and rode YZs. Now after all these years and having these 98 RMs, they are pretty damn good bikes!


I wouldn't want the forks on my new 450 though. Bottom line is they are 20 year old technology.
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mark_swart
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mark_swart 11/19/2019 5:03pm
11/19/2019 5:03pm
I see a lot of them in stealth mode on late 70s and early 80s bikes haha! There is a Pulp MX podcast with Paul Thede I listened to a while back, he raved about the performance but I think the underhang caused problems?
loftyair
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loftyair 11/19/2019 5:08pm
11/19/2019 5:08pm
They are great forks, but, like mentioned, outdated. The new stuff is just better now.

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Lightning78
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Lightning78 11/19/2019 7:24pm
11/19/2019 7:24pm
smashingpumpkins167 wrote:
I made the switch on my z50 and it was an upgrade for sure. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/11/19/385906/s1200_s1600_d_93.jpg[/img]
I made the switch on my z50 and it was an upgrade for sure.

Bro…. Theres NO WAY they were better than the USD forks that came stock on that bike… No way! 😂😂
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burn1986
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burn1986 11/19/2019 8:58pm
11/19/2019 8:58pm
Lightning78 wrote:
Bro…. Theres NO WAY they were better than the USD forks that came stock on that bike… No way! 😂😂
Yeah, that had to be a joke Smile
smashingpumpkins167 11/19/2019 10:19pm
11/19/2019 10:19pm
Lightning78 wrote:
Bro…. Theres NO WAY they were better than the USD forks that came stock on that bike… No way! 😂😂
Haha the bike seems pretty raked out after the race. I might have beant something when I was hitting all those huge jumps.


Dirty Points 11/19/2019 10:29pm
11/19/2019 10:29pm Edited Date/Time 11/19/2019 10:30pm
MXVet261 wrote:
They are very good forks. I have a 98 RM125 and 98 RM250. Funny thing is that IN 1998 I thought the RMs sucked and rode...
They are very good forks. I have a 98 RM125 and 98 RM250.
Funny thing is that IN 1998 I thought the RMs sucked and rode YZs. Now after all these years and having these 98 RMs, they are pretty damn good bikes!


I wouldn't want the forks on my new 450 though. Bottom line is they are 20 year old technology.
The forks on the new 450s, short of the KTM are all 20 year old technology. It is the 20 year old tech (very similar to what's in those RM forks) that won out over newer single-function and air designs.
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FWYT
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FWYT 11/19/2019 11:55pm
11/19/2019 11:55pm Edited Date/Time 11/20/2019 12:02am
Lightning78 wrote:
Since this is still the offseason I thought this would be a fun topic to discuss
I just picked up a set of '98s in anticipation of my next bike build! SmileSmileSmile

There's a few guys here that have done some swaps with them and I'm sure Pete (I think) will pop in to show
off a primo set he has stashed.

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Falcon 11/20/2019 11:30am
11/20/2019 11:30am
I had a '94 RM125 which had the most incredible USD forks I had ever ridden with. Later, I got a '98 RM250 with the standard forks and I wasn't impressed. Actually, that was one of my least favorite bikes of all time.
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AH387
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AH387 11/20/2019 11:34am
11/20/2019 11:34am
I was super young at the time, but I really liked them on the 96 RM125. From what I remember, they were better than the Hondas and Kawis fork of that era. But then I got a '97 YZ125 and that bike sort of overshadowed any good memory that I had of that RM. But it would be interesting to see what a modern version would be like. I can't imagine most of us would be flexing out the forks, like a pro in SX would. Plus, maybe they could somehow incorporate some sort of brace, like MC used before he totally switched to the inverted forks. Cool thought, glad you brought this topic up.
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Johnny Depp 11/20/2019 11:37am
11/20/2019 11:37am Edited Date/Time 11/20/2019 11:39am
They totally suck. Anybody know where I can get some?

The DRZ 400's still use them IIRC?

Seriously, legendary as one of the best ever still to this day as far as plushness and stability. In today's world of RuttoCross they are unfortunately dealt a difficult challenge with the low hanging sliders.

The 50 mm provides for a larger air spring than today's 48mm's that everyone uses but factory. There is a reason that most KTM riders who have enough pull ride with 52's. It is not flex. A larger air spring is a more progressive spring, the same reason everyone went away from air forks, the air spring was too small and produced harshness.

The WP Magnum 50mm Extreme's were equally superior in plushness, and decades later I'm still waiting for something that is as comfortable and compliant.
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MXVet261
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MXVet261 11/20/2019 1:02pm
11/20/2019 1:02pm
Dirty Points wrote:
The forks on the new 450s, short of the KTM are all 20 year old technology. It is the 20 year old tech (very similar to...
The forks on the new 450s, short of the KTM are all 20 year old technology. It is the 20 year old tech (very similar to what's in those RM forks) that won out over newer single-function and air designs.
Ha yeah good point!
Dirty Points 11/20/2019 1:13pm
11/20/2019 1:13pm Edited Date/Time 11/20/2019 1:17pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
They totally suck. Anybody know where I can get some? The DRZ 400's still use them IIRC? Seriously, legendary as one of the best ever still...
They totally suck. Anybody know where I can get some?

The DRZ 400's still use them IIRC?

Seriously, legendary as one of the best ever still to this day as far as plushness and stability. In today's world of RuttoCross they are unfortunately dealt a difficult challenge with the low hanging sliders.

The 50 mm provides for a larger air spring than today's 48mm's that everyone uses but factory. There is a reason that most KTM riders who have enough pull ride with 52's. It is not flex. A larger air spring is a more progressive spring, the same reason everyone went away from air forks, the air spring was too small and produced harshness.

The WP Magnum 50mm Extreme's were equally superior in plushness, and decades later I'm still waiting for something that is as comfortable and compliant.
DRZ400 have similar externals, but are open bath. The '96-98 RM are twin chamber forks.
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