Craigslist find: unique 97 RM250

Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb
Edited Date/Time 10/24/2018 7:51pm
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcy/d/rm250/6725141395.html

came across this. the upside down forks were not normal for this bike. i dont want to jump to conclusions but my first thought is an ex Mcgrath suzuki...
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SmokinJoe439 10/23/2018 10:04pm
10/23/2018 10:04pm
Not an ex factory bike just a replica at most those look like 94/95 front forks.
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Wycked31
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Wycked31 10/24/2018 4:43am
10/24/2018 4:43am
96 RM250’s came with upside down forks
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ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 10/24/2018 4:51am
10/24/2018 4:51am
Wycked31 wrote:
96 RM250’s came with upside down forks
No but the 99 and 2000 did . The usually don't misidentify the model year in that direction on Craigs but you never know.

The Shop

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chaseodc
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chaseodc 10/24/2018 4:59am
10/24/2018 4:59am
This appears to me to be a 99 with 96-98 shrouds. This was a common mod in 99 as the stock shrouds would snag the ground in corners, also they looked like crap.
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Wandell
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Wandell 10/24/2018 6:54am
10/24/2018 6:54am
Freshly sandblasted pipe!!
kNewc
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kNewc 10/24/2018 9:48am
10/24/2018 9:48am
Wandell wrote:
Freshly sandblasted pipe!!
I kind of like it.
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Neverclear
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Neverclear 10/24/2018 10:20am
10/24/2018 10:20am
chaseodc wrote:
This appears to me to be a 99 with 96-98 shrouds. This was a common mod in 99 as the stock shrouds would snag the ground...
This appears to me to be a 99 with 96-98 shrouds. This was a common mod in 99 as the stock shrouds would snag the ground in corners, also they looked like crap.
The year of the ROM250 graphics, right?
wpark89
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wpark89 10/24/2018 11:28am
10/24/2018 11:28am
I actually put 99 shrouds on my 98 250 in 99 so it matched my 99 125.

I remember a few guys putting usd forks on their 96-98s. Never understood why.

This bike looks like a 97 to me with the newer usd forks because the front brake hose looks funny and sticks out...looks like the hose from the conventional fork bikes that ran inside the number plate/fork guard.
mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 10/24/2018 11:36am
10/24/2018 11:36am
I'd love to get one of these and do an MC replica one day.
Aceofspades 10/24/2018 2:59pm
10/24/2018 2:59pm
97 rm250 was the funnest bike I’ve ever owned. Felt like a bicycle weight wise, and had a great low to mid engine. Wish I’d never sold it
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Falcon
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Falcon 10/24/2018 4:23pm
10/24/2018 4:23pm
wpark89 wrote:
I actually put 99 shrouds on my 98 250 in 99 so it matched my 99 125. I remember a few guys putting usd forks on...
I actually put 99 shrouds on my 98 250 in 99 so it matched my 99 125.

I remember a few guys putting usd forks on their 96-98s. Never understood why.

This bike looks like a 97 to me with the newer usd forks because the front brake hose looks funny and sticks out...looks like the hose from the conventional fork bikes that ran inside the number plate/fork guard.
I understand why people put USD forks on their '96-'98 RMs... I had a '94 RM125 with the best forks I'd ever used. Then I bought a '98 RM250 that handled like complete garbage, mostly because of the fork. That was one of the few bikes that I ever owned that I can actually remember hating.
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wpark89
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wpark89 10/24/2018 4:29pm
10/24/2018 4:29pm
Falcon wrote:
I understand why people put USD forks on their '96-'98 RMs... I had a '94 RM125 with the best forks I'd ever used. Then I bought...
I understand why people put USD forks on their '96-'98 RMs... I had a '94 RM125 with the best forks I'd ever used. Then I bought a '98 RM250 that handled like complete garbage, mostly because of the fork. That was one of the few bikes that I ever owned that I can actually remember hating.
That’s interesting...I had every RM from 92-99 and sure the 94 fork was really good, but I wouldn’t have swapped what was on my 98 for them.
MXVet261
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MXVet261 10/24/2018 4:32pm
10/24/2018 4:32pm
The bike in the OP CL ad is either a 96 or 97 that has 94/95 upside down forks. Those are not 99 or newer forks. In the one pic you can see the vin and almost looks like a T in there, which would make it 1996.

Here's a few pics for your enjoyment.....

My 1992 RM250 w/ 1995 forks installed.





My 1998 RM250:




My near mint super low hour 1998 RM125. I've never even ridden it, I don't think it's ever been on a track. I found it for sale like 5 miles from my house a few years ago....




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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 10/24/2018 4:33pm
10/24/2018 4:33pm
Falcon wrote:
I understand why people put USD forks on their '96-'98 RMs... I had a '94 RM125 with the best forks I'd ever used. Then I bought...
I understand why people put USD forks on their '96-'98 RMs... I had a '94 RM125 with the best forks I'd ever used. Then I bought a '98 RM250 that handled like complete garbage, mostly because of the fork. That was one of the few bikes that I ever owned that I can actually remember hating.
wpark89 wrote:
That’s interesting...I had every RM from 92-99 and sure the 94 fork was really good, but I wouldn’t have swapped what was on my 98 for...
That’s interesting...I had every RM from 92-99 and sure the 94 fork was really good, but I wouldn’t have swapped what was on my 98 for them.
Kinda like the guys that really love the Yamaha fork vs the guys that don't think it's all that great. Put two guys on identical bikes and I'd bet one guy raves about it and the other has his own opinion about certain things.
I've heard guys trash the 05 Yamaha AOSS fork, but I gotta tell you that I really like them. It might not be as great as the forks on my 14 YZ450 that I had, but they are still really good!
mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 10/24/2018 4:35pm
10/24/2018 4:35pm Edited Date/Time 10/24/2018 4:35pm
MXVet261 wrote:
The bike in the OP CL ad is either a 96 or 97 that has 94/95 upside down forks. Those are not 99 or newer forks...
The bike in the OP CL ad is either a 96 or 97 that has 94/95 upside down forks. Those are not 99 or newer forks. In the one pic you can see the vin and almost looks like a T in there, which would make it 1996.

Here's a few pics for your enjoyment.....

My 1992 RM250 w/ 1995 forks installed.





My 1998 RM250:




My near mint super low hour 1998 RM125. I've never even ridden it, I don't think it's ever been on a track. I found it for sale like 5 miles from my house a few years ago....




I don't know how you haven't ridden that 125!

Pit Row

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nascarnate326 10/24/2018 6:39pm
10/24/2018 6:39pm
MXVet261 wrote:
The bike in the OP CL ad is either a 96 or 97 that has 94/95 upside down forks. Those are not 99 or newer forks...
The bike in the OP CL ad is either a 96 or 97 that has 94/95 upside down forks. Those are not 99 or newer forks. In the one pic you can see the vin and almost looks like a T in there, which would make it 1996.

Here's a few pics for your enjoyment.....

My 1992 RM250 w/ 1995 forks installed.





My 1998 RM250:




My near mint super low hour 1998 RM125. I've never even ridden it, I don't think it's ever been on a track. I found it for sale like 5 miles from my house a few years ago....




Your last picture, are those stock graphics? I don’t remember seeing those before.
MXVet261
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MXVet261 10/24/2018 7:11pm
10/24/2018 7:11pm
nascarnate326 wrote:
Your last picture, are those stock graphics? I don’t remember seeing those before.
Yes 100% original
JAFO92
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JAFO92 10/24/2018 7:51pm
10/24/2018 7:51pm
Aceofspades wrote:
97 rm250 was the funnest bike I’ve ever owned. Felt like a bicycle weight wise, and had a great low to mid engine. Wish I’d never...
97 rm250 was the funnest bike I’ve ever owned. Felt like a bicycle weight wise, and had a great low to mid engine. Wish I’d never sold it
You and me both. I loved my '97 and raced that thing for years and zero problems. Those twin chamber forks worked great.


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