Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but paid users have great benefits. Paid member benefits:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
There is some good insight from The Man about that '97 year in his old article, scroll down to 1997:
http://www.extremesportspromotions.com/misc/decoster/decoster_pt3_01.ht…
He definitely said all of it.
The Shop
As for the poor handling...Suzuki's are notoriously razor sharp, which makes em twitchy at speed. I still firmly believe the RM's of those years were not doomed POS's that people like to complain on them for. But they did feel different than a Honda or a Yamaha, and I think that was the source of the bad rap. Plus, lets face it, in 1997, Suzuki had a bit of a stigma about em, as did the KTM's. People felt like they were at a disadvantage, and I'm sure that mentality would carry over to both brands no matter what they rectified.
To this day I still feel that the 96-00 generation had some of the best ergonomics in dirt. Still one of my favorite, if not my all time favorite seat profile. The bike just felt good, still feels good, to sit in the saddle on. I don't know who says the same thing about say, the 2000 CR250 with its 12 inch wide, flat-as-a-pancake seat.
There's not much to the design and MC went to Yamaha in 98, so why not?
Edit: Random side note, I did a little search and found that Hinson built the custom clutch pack for MC's bike and that kickstarted their venture into making aftermarket clutches. MC really hated the clutch on that RM... Nice to have Hinson clutches around though!
The year MC rode RM's was the most memorable and exciting season to me. He should have won.
I remember being at Redbud that year, and watching him, and just feeling so bummed for the way he was riding. You could just tell he was over it and didn't want to be there. I still think he finished on the podium, but he just seemed to be riding around.. But man, those RM's were gorgeous. I really wish he had more prep time before the season and came into SX ready.
Fun memories.
Pit Row
Sure enough, years later in the book MC is talking about how himself, Jimmy Button, and some other friends were partying all Summer and showing up to race when they had to. Basically meeting minimum obligations and partying the rest of the time.
Also the secret meeting with Honda... He thought he was going to get an offer to go back to the team after and it just never happened.
But comparing what MC rode with and what came standard is ridiculous. Suzuki forcing him to race with the conventional works version to make it look like a showroom bike was also a ridiculous idea that cost them dearly till it was proved they were hidering his performance.
I dont GAF what the haters say, both were rock solid and I loved how they handled.
Anything else?
Post a reply to: MC's 1997 Suzuki (the forks rumour)