Great job on the video dude. Here are a few more Suzuki hacks for your viewers: -External brake resi delete on 01-03 RM's: Update to the last gen CR250 Nissin master cylinder. It accommodates the bolt pattern of the 2001-2003 external resi master cylinder on the RM and also eliminates the external resi altogether. You will need to swap over the original plunger rod however (the rod that links to the rear brake pedal. -Showa Twin Chamber suspension: For some reason, the 01-03 RM250 had the KYB open bath forks BUT the 125 always had the Showa twins. Swap your 01-03 RM250 tubes with RM125 parts. -Front brake upgrade (270mm) and line route update: For 1999-2003 RM's, you can buy 2020 RMZ fork guards in any color you'd like, a 270mm Galfer SKW rotor, a 2004 RM240 braided brake line & 04 RM250 brake line clamp & be doing stoppies in minutes as well as modernizing (deleting the old, long stock brake line & old fork guides on 99-03 RM's. This entire mod only costs as much as most expensive rotors in total. Don't forget the fresh brake fluid. -2001-2003 RM250 cylinders: 01-02 had a max overbore size of 265. Their intake ports had two bridges that were prone to failure & cracking. Hence the max overbore size. 2003 and newer can be bored to 295 (300cc). None of these cylinders were interchangeable due to powervalve changes annually. Such as the solenoid on the 01 cylinder that wasn't on the 02. The 03 was also the first year of a YZ cylinder copy, landing the 2003 RM250 "bike of the year" in 2003. -Parts: Getting hard to find trans & bottom end parts for the 03 and older. Collect them while you can! -Bonus: The 2001 RM250 & 2001-02 RM125 were the only RM's of the last body style to have "square" swingarms rather than the nicer looking tapered ones. So much more, and otherwise useless RM info in my head if not for this video here. I didn't know about the 3mm raise at the countershaft sprocket. Cool to know, thanks 😎 Props on your 06! I've still got an old 04 here at the shop. Reach out to me for absolutely any help with your build. I'd be happy to help you. -Charles // mXrevival ▼
Dude! This info is FIRE Charles, thank you for dropping this additional knowledge for everyone! This is super helpful especially for people who can't find the "newer" RM's and can only find the 01-03 models which seem to be more abundant when searching for a used RM250. I will definitely hit you up if I have any questions. I also may reach out to you about a little something else as well! Much appreciated man. Thanks! Greg
@@GregHitchko my pleasure Greg, always here for you. And everyone else 💪 I was pumped to see that, when I just generically typed in RM250 into the TH-cam search bar- your video was on the top being promoted above a lot of the big magazine channels at the moment. Always nice to be algorithmically rewarded 🤣 I dig that! We both got some beautiful growth coming soon on here. -Charles // mXrevival
@@mxrevival love being able to connect with rad people in the industry and share the stoke for moto, that's what it's about! That's awesome to know I've got that algorithm working haha, I was wondering if videos were being pushed to people or not, thanks for that heads up. But hell yeahh let's make it happen my dude, I am all about it, good stuff!!
I have a 2001 RM 250 and it’s the best dirt bike I’ve ever had, honestly couldn’t be more happy! I was raised a Yamaha kid and I’m a Suzuki man today!!
I'm 62 now but back when I was 16 I rode a mc400 maico and also had a white Penton 400. Not much riding after high school but now I'm Just started to get the bug back and after watching your suzuki rm250 video I will be starting to look for 2006 to 2008 rm250. Thanks a lot for your help and i like the tools you bring to your video that will help me with my bike as soon as i come across the right one. Thanks again buddy.
This is amazing Mike! Stoked that you are getting back into it. The Suzuki is the bike to go with, it does everything well. 2005 and up is ideal so definitely look for one of those. Let me know if you have any questions! There are a bunch more videos on my channel about the RM as well as the other Japanese models (KX, CR, YZ) along with two shootout videos. All great info to help you out. Really excited for you. Cheers! Greg 💨💨
Found my 06 after over 2 years of looking for one. After owning 6 full size 2 strokes I can say confidently the rm250 is the smoothest and best feeling bike I've rode so far
You missed an important change. 04 was the first year of the new rear suspension linkage. It transferred the leverage to the swingarm instead of the frame like 03 and before. Major improvement to the suspension and handling.
@@GregHitchko Not long ago that was a grand to 1500 bike with the work it needs The market is definitely crazy right now even here in Ireland they are overpriced.
I had a fully built 1996 rm250. My buddy bought it on accident in 2005 from a racer. The guy had a for sale sign on it with no price so my buddy knocked on the door. Long story short he put like 5500 into the bike getting it built for race season and his wife found out and was making him sell it. I guess he broke some bones at the end of the season and she got pregnant telling him no more racing! She found out he spent all this money building this bike and got pissed. When my buddy said he didn’t want to spend the 7500 he was asking his wife said what did u want to spend? He said I have 1700 on me and she said sold. My buddy felt bad but the lady insisted that if you don’t buy it I’m gonna give it away. The guy has receipts for everything I mean it was like he took a bike that was brand new then built it for racing. My buddy sold it to me soon after because it was too much for the trail riding he bought it for.
These videos just get better and better! Love the part about the difference in the years of the RM. Hope you do that for each brand. That is awesome info thanks
Much appreciated Mike! I will for sure have to do that for the rest of them, it's super cool to know the differences otherwise they pretty much look the same.
You did a awesome job with this video! I learned so much from u in like 5mins lol. I have 2002 RM250 I always knew to get a 01 and up but this video taught so much man wow thank you so much! Awesome video👊🏻
Hell yeahhh, really glad to hear that you got something out of the video man, I appreciate the feedback. Can't wait to rip mine, never ridden one before
1982 rm250 with lectron carb, no head gasket just sealer with the 82 high compression head. 1.5mm overbore wossner piston with a mild port job. nasty combination, they actually detuned the rm250 after 82 so in 83 they changed the timing and head to a lower compression head to make it more "ridable" but the 82 makes more power and the full floater is the way to go.
Have a 2001 RM 250 but had an 06 and had to sell it because of money issues... Love both bikes ! The 2006 holds the power better ! On my 2001 i'm always on the throttle to keep it going... Hard to explain you just have to ride both to understand what I mean. Nice bike buddy ! Keep the 2 stroke alive !
IDK I had a 2003 RM 250 and that thing was ridiculous kinda fast. I remember riding that thing 150 miles in one day up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Thing was super reliable to.
I think the 2002 I have is the best motocross bike I’ve ever owned. Micheal Pichon was 2001 and 2002 250 World Champion. Carmichael won 2005 Supercross as well. Despite what you think you have a great bike that is basically all there. Realistically the bike is a 15 year old dirt bike, it’s not supposed to be like new.
Rad video and info. I have an ‘07 RM250. I have ZERO complaints. I bought it in 2008, barely used for $3200. Try finding that these days. When covid hit I decided to go back through everything. Gloss black powdercoat of frame/swingarm, Lectron carb, Wiseco top end and clutch, VForce Reed system, full Pro Circuit w/Shorty, suspension rebuild/revalve for me by KFG. Tons of other smaller things. It’s my favorite bike I’ve wver ridden.
That is epic dude! So cool that you've held on to it for that long. I wish I had the patience for that back in the day. Now I have a new found appreciation for that!
I have to agree I picked up an 04 and I love it. The bike corners like nothing else out there. I found the stock pipe to be the best one for me. Only thing I added was a 10oz flywheel weight. Its a good idea to put in an aftermarket clutch basket the stock one notches very easily.
That makes me want to compare the stock pipe and the Pro Circuit one that i am going to get. The bike does have a flywheel on it but unsure of the weight. I need to take it off and weigh it!
@@GregHitchko Each year like you said they changed the porting it seems. 04 the bottom end was decent and the motor really came alive in the mid range. Engine seemed to sign off a little quick on top. The procircuit seems to have taken away the bottom end and shifted it up top. Depends where you ride. I liked the bottom end you didn't have to clutch 3rd out of corners. Also have an R304 on the rear.
RC won on an 05 RM250, not an 06 or newer. In 06 he went back to 4 stroke. Suzuki basically copied Yamahas engine in 04 and improved it, giving us the 05 RM250. The ability to adjust the power valve tension spring easily is a HUGE bonus. I run Wiseco piston, Pro C works, Factory sound, V Force3, and Apex MX head on my 05. 32:1 Lucasoil with pretty much the factory/Pro C jetting at 200 feet above sea level. Its a blast to cruise, putter or absolutely wring it out. I have run 13/50, and 13/52 for sprockets. They both work well for different applications. Im prob going to try 13/48 next.
What can I say, I get a little excited when I talk on camera and slip up on occasion haha 🤪. Interesting on the sprocket combos! I would love to try them back to back and see where they work best. I can't wait to ride mine once it's all together, so close!
I just got a 2000 rm250 for free had seized seized pistons. Sprayed them with some penetrating oil, freed them right up. Now hopefully shell start when i change the sparkplugs
The 06 is my favorite Suzuki. It's incredible. It hurts me to think that someone didn't love it and kept it outdoors. Even that little bit of blue looks great. I think that you got what you paid for. It has the potential for being one of the most BAD-ASS 2 stroke bikes of all time.
Same here excited to see the zuke nuke brought back to new again. Such. Awesome asf bikes. My dad had a 2000 that was preowned by a “semi-pro” off road racer. And the bottom blew out and the guy who rebuilt it was a former local legend racer who once finished said it was by far the fastest thing he’d ever touched. And this was like ‘15-‘16 sometime.. one of the coolest bikes ever, and I had a 1996 rm 125. Miss that old girl. Also my first true two stroke was a 94 rm 80. Nice vid. Also I want the rm 250 lol
I have a mint 06 rm250 the dude who had it before me had it in storage for about 10 years and it still has the stock piston, it’s the best running bike I’ve had
@@GregHitchko yea man I used to have an 02 cr250 for about a year and a half and I had to rebuild the top end about 4 times. I love cr250s but 2002 had to be the worst year. This RM runs so much better
Think I paid 2300 for a 05 that had been in storage and fluids drained 10 years prior ... was in mint condition, was my first two stoke ... I love it so much fun
@@GregHitchko yea the guy took great care of it ... stored it when he father got sick ... he had a hard time letting it go got choked up a bit ... the guy loved that bike plus the sentimental value attached to it with memories of his father ... can’t wait to pull her out soon now that winter is leaving ... been going to my storage unit twice a month and letting her get warm
@@05Rm250RideAlong that's so awesome when the owners have a reaction like that. Plus you know that it was actually cared for if they show that type of emotion! Spring is so close!
@@GregHitchko oh man they are badass bikes.. my cousin (basically brother because we grew up in the same house) rode for American Suzuki as an amateur until he turned pro from 00-03.. and a couple other pros from Idaho were good friends because they would always come stay with us and ride.. Danny smith rode for sobe suzuki at the time and I thought his bikes were like legendary haha looking back I wish I would of built a badass 250 and 125 and just put them away in the garage haha but no I had to be stupid and get on the four strokes 😂
@@marcspencer800 Haha man I feel you on that! I was a big fan of those SoBe Suzuki's too. Miss those days, but I was hooked on the four stroke train at the time too after riding them back to back against my 01 CR125 haha
@@GregHitchko you just can’t be competitive on a two stroke.. but I think the ama should let a 250 two stroke race a 250f.. sad part is I think the new 250f is probably better now days.. especially the Yamahas.. I never thought I would say that because I’m a Yamaha hater but I have rode the new ones and they are so good
I scored an 08 RM 250 for $2,900 a few months ago. Drove 700 miles to pick it up. Came with the original title. Already have it completely stripped down.
Hell yeahh now that is some serious commitment for driving for a used bike like I’ve never seen. But for an 08 which are “unicorns”, I’m all about it! Nice pick up brother. If you have Instagram, you’ll have to send me pics of it 👌🏼
They are 🦄 indeed; Im looking at two right now.one is 2007, 20ish hours on top end, new tires and clutch pack and second one is 2008, fresh top rebuild, 70% on tires, hard to start by kickstart. Both bikes are slightly above 2500 bucks , but given how expensive smokers are, I don't find it that damn high...
I just picked up a 2006 RM 250 for $2200 came with PC pipes, vforce, did chain, sunstar sprocket, twin-air filter and race tech gold valves. Added pro taper bars, pt grips , Dunlop tires, polisport plastic, decal mx graphics, new seat, brake pads. Runs strong and crisp as fk. I stare at it trying to find another $4.5k in value like new yz smokers. haha
Dude that is one hell of a pick up right there! Nice find and at a great price! Tons of goodies on there that are worth more than what you paid for the bike probably haha
Man that's a beautiful bike. Im still on my 98RM I got it new in 98 and over the years I've built it to my perfect woods rocket but I'm ready to move on. You got a great deal on that bike man.
@@GregHitchko thanks man I've had ol Suzie a long time. In 99 the bike was stolen and I got her back in 2000. I wanted to cry when I saw what the dopeheads did to my bike. Frame up resto and Ive did alot of topends and one bottom end (not a fan of the water pump). It works great for me👍
@@BM205 damn what a story! So sweet that you got the bike bike, my brother had his crf450 stolen in Florida while he was trying to sell it. I feel your pain, he got his bike back too but, like yours im sure, it wasnt the same. So cool you still have it though.
Bought a 93 RM 250, it’s a awesome bike, only thing I did was put a 12 tooth sprocket set up, and pro tapper bars, it lifts up all the way up to 4th gear. Bike is absolutely best reliable bike I have. Negative side suspension sucks, not to bad in the trails though
Looks like a good start to me .any year is good i have a 85 i paid 200 for and did a top end and rear suspension and berrings and fork seals .this bike flys .and i like the older rm because i have short legs and i love the wishbone suspension .my friend had a 78 and eaven that bike was awsome .with a rm 250 you cant go wrong
That's so rad Branden, thanks for sharing your RM experience! They are awesome bikes. My brother actually had a 77 RM125 growing up. It was a ripper too.
I had an 02 and it was a rocket ship. Very light-switch power delivery. However it had poor aftermarket support. My 06 was so much more rideable and had better aftermarket support. Had mine for 8yrs now. I can strip and rebuild without a manual now and know most torque ratings by memory. I've put hundreds of hard woods and enduro hours on mine although I stopped using it all through the winter a couple years ago because the conditions just trashes the bike. Warning: very lengthy braindump ahead. Getting OEM engine parts (not piston, rods, cranks) is getting difficult. So are seat bases + seat foams. You can still get OEM showa parts but I've had to contact them directly to get them. My bike came with a broken seat base and subframe. I've not found replacements. Power valves wear out/break. I had to make do with an expensive worn out one as mine cracked. If you have notchy power delivery on a late model, make sure the powervalve governor isn't worn. Parts end up square instead of being round and it isn't obvious. Upper and lower shock bearings brinnell super quickly. I've given up with them and made bronze bushings to use instead. Fork parts are almost interchangeable with rmzs of the same year (axle ends and shim-stack is different). So are braking parts. Front master is crap on RMs. Spongey. Use a crfs front master. Same piston diameter but has a better mechanism that gives it a firm feel. Getting decent pegs is difficult. Think you can only get cast stainless ones that are heavy AF or titanium raptors. You can get cast steel ones that are cheap, but they're pure chinesium. The titanium ones are amazing but are expensive and required modifying to not catch and hold the kickstart lever down. I also had to get my set made to order. Ream out the peg mounts to 11mm pins. They are likely to be egg shaped by now and will cause pegs to droop down. FMF gnarly pipes really make a difference for woods but will knock off power on the top. The fit on FMF pipes are all over the shop so don't be surprised if you have to "fettle" them to fit/not rub through coolant hoses. I used to have a bills pipe and the bike was crazy fast on the top end but not much use down low. If you grip the bike with your legs and you are in muddy conditions, the airbox will eventually wear through on the left by your boots. I've not found a way around this other than replacing it with another one. I noticed pastrana used to cover this region on his bikes with some unsightly white material. I always wondered what it was. Clutches on these bikes are shite. No other word for it. I don't believe hinson or rekluse make anything for these bikes anymore. Just NOS. You can get decent CNC, hard anodised baskets from talon or mitaka. Use these over OEM. If you find neutral near impossible to find when the engine is running or the clutch is locked up when cold starting, and you have new basket + plates, look at the hub. These are also shite OEM. Hinson used to make CNC ones. I couldn't find them last time I looked. I bought up the OEM ones I could find last year before brexit hit (OEM parts I find are typically in the EU. Fowler's, the UK OEM parts place has been disappointing for this bike over the years). You can get hydraulic clutches for these bikes. I've made do without but I have a hand problem now and I'm going to have to buy it. Rim choices (at least 18") were super limited last time I built a wheelset. Couldn't find SM pro rims anymore so Excels were the only choice. Be careful buying anything labelled for an rm250 online, especially on Alibaba and ebay. I've had plenty rmz250 parts arrive. Go to the manufacturers website and search their catalogues to get the part number. Then search that part number online. Polisport plastics are a bit of a lottery. They normally fit fine but sometimes seem prebent or the holes drilled incorrectly. And for whatever reason, the right-hand rear panel always needs modifying to clear the exhaust mounts. Try to use all-balls stuff only if you're strapped for cash or if they're the only ones that have the part. The quality of their wheel bearings and fork-seals especially have been crap whenever I've used them. Skf fork seals and any brand-name bearings are much better value. Can't fault their braking parts rebuild kits tho.
Thanks man! Shit if you can find any one of those bikes, you have found gold at this point in time. I haven't ridden them back to back yet but based on what I've researched the RM is a GREAT handling bike
Great deal on the bike. I see every roached out 2 stroke going for stupid high prices. Everyone thinks their junk is gold. I recently drove from CA to Texas to pick up an ebay score on a solid KX500. Good deals are still out there.
RIGHT?! Man is it so frustrating to see the prices of these hammered bikes. Crazy. But sounds like you caught a rad deal! I'd love to find a KX500 some day.
If your doing anything other than motocross you will be happier with a late 80's early 90's rm. The riding position plushness and seat is just better on the older bikes for trail riding.
Had a chance to take David Pingrees 2000 Suzuki full factory rm 125 for a ride probably the fastest 125 I have ridden to date, butter smooth transmission with awesome power.
@@GregHitchko lucky to have a great friend in motocross, I'm from Massachusetts and still believe that Southwick is the best track on the planet, had the fortune of meeting some of the best riders in the sport and riding some of the best bikes. Still to date the best and nicest guy ever is Travis Pastrana I bumped into him at a private track in Florida during the 2000 Daytona supercross 100% gave me his full attention and absolutely a great guy, I did ask to ride his full factory rm 125 but he was setting it up for the race, he was there in a old Suzuki race van with his girlfriend who is his wife today. Side note I missed an opportunity to get one of Greg Albee's bikes years ago also I think it was around 2500 crazy huh?
My wife Just bought me a 01 rm250 for $800 with all pro circuit aftermarket parts on it from a pawn shop been looking for a bike around here & just kid bikes around here are over a grand
@@josephelefante9617 the brakes aren't as strong as the other bikes in the class but test it out and see how they feel. Otherwise, you treat it well, and it will last you!
I still have my 01 RM250 and it still rips especially with the v force reeds and pro circuit pipe on it. I tried drag racing with a 2017 yz250 all stock and the results are....... well, let's just say I will bet 100bucks if we do it again 😎
My favorite rm’s personally are the last generation. 05-08 I have. 2005 rm125, 2006 rm250, and a 2008 rm250 that’s still in the crate. It’s my prized possession. I also have a drz400sm 2006, that’s my everyday vehicle, I keep all my bikes looking as close to factory stock as possible, so they all look the same, stock graphics and plastics., I can’t stand restyle kits! Ugh! they look so nice when they’re all parked next to each other, even the drz matches lol
If for any reason you decide to get a different exhaust pipe, silencer or seat/seat cover please please let me know. I will buy then from you. Been looking for too long for them, my stock pipe got stolen out of my garage.
Oh dang man! Yes I have the stock pipe/silencer and seat cover and I'd be willing to sell those to you for sure! Send me an email at ghitchko@gmail.com
Got a 2008 RM250 with a completely rebuilt engine with new plastics on it. it's also got the FMF fatty exhaust system with a shorty silencer. Absolutely amazing bike with lots of power, managed to get it for 2600 euros
@@GregHitchko Thanks! yeah I figured when I heard the seller got tons of calls about it even after i picked it up, thanks alot for the amazing video, it's really good to have all the info about the models in one place. Learnt even more about this bike now
@@haarukko right on! That was like me when i bought the CR250 i picked up. The seller showed me a ton of messages of other people wanting it. Glad you found the info helpful man!
I got a 2006 RM 250 One hell of a beast and corners like a 125, IF not better, this engine is in My opinion stronger then the 2002 crf 450 witch ive had One and thats the fastest stock 450 engine ever made, crazy Good bike😃
This is probably late but i've had an '03 for 20 years and use it for desert. have race tech suspension and... not saying it's the best ... but i love the bike. It is challenging to jet and tends to consume a bit of transmission oil and the power is not really smooth especially with a turbinecore muffler. But the stock bottom end lasted 14 years (over 1000 hours) and overall i just love it
i remember a RM125 was a fast son of b my old boss owned it said the motor had a power band which i dont think they put power bands in .Anyway ive heard of power bands in transmissions in vehicles and thats been in 1977 for that particular model.
The newest one you can find is going to be the best but with that being said, it's all about how well of a deal you can find as well. 2001 and up I would stay with since that is the latest body style
So if the 04 and up RM250 used the 47mm Showa TC forks, in theory if you ordered oem Honda fork seals for a 04 and up Cr250r (also using 47mm Showa TC forks.) would they be the exact same part with just the Honda label on the package? Or did the manufactures make totally different parts for their suspension?
I am pretty positive that they are the same/similar fork! I just spot checked a couple different seal companies on Rocky mountain and they both had the same part number for the CR and RM. I checked Pro X and Tusk. You should be good!
@@GregHitchko Always wanted an RM, and now that I discovered they used the same Showas that are on my CR and CRF I definitely wanna try and get one. Not an easy find in today’s used market however... At least not here in the northern Midwest.
@@awesomefish100 that is a fact for everywhere I feel, but has to be tougher in the midwest! So for your reference, I just checked and the honda showa forks fit the RM bottom clamp, but not the top. The CR fork is skinnier than the RM top triple clamp, not positive on the diameters
Just got an 01 Rm250 project. My son is 15, he won beginner class series in vintage on his 78Rm125 and I’m building up a 78 Rm250 for him now. The club has classes for up to 08 models. I want to build the 01 up to make it nasty fast . Do I need an 03 bottom end to use 03 up cylinder?
That is badass James! What a cool bike for your son to ride. My brother had a 77 RM125 too. As far as using the 03 bottom end for an 03 cylinder, it does look that way. Based on the part numbers off of Rock Mountains OEM parts website, the 01/02 crankcase and cylinder were similar while the 03 up were similar.
There are no changes made after 2006 . The 2007 and 2008 models are not even listed on the oem parts list . 2006 was the last year of any changes. 2007 and 2008 models were left over 2006 models.
Hello, I would like to know if $1100 is a good purchase for a Suzuki RM 250 2t from the year 2000. I understand very little about motorcycles but I am aware that the prices are super crazy compared to a few years ago. I await your response. Greetings from Spain!
Nothing carves a corner to this day like the 04 - 08 RM 125 and RM250. Infact some of the manufacturers in 2023 are using the same geometry as these 04 - 08 RM's.
I bought a 06 rm250 brand new in 08, for $4500, cash!! Got hurt on the farm 5 months later. Held on to it for a few years in case I'd walk again. Sold in for $2200. Wish I still had it. 🥲
Got a quick question, i have a 2002 RM250K2 that i bought for 500 bucks, i have everything for it but always wondered if it is worth the money to get going or if i should save up and buy a newer model? Also great video gives alot of great info that i had no idea about!
Thanks man, glad the info in the video was informative! Honestly, you've got the 2002, I'd run with that as it is still a phenomenal bike. In the comments on this video, Charles from @mXrevival left a GREAT comment on a list of things you can do to the 01-03 models to tweak them better. Definitely check those out!
I don’t know though if I can find the time, I might just sell it ? I have a lot of house work to get done before I can even think about doing anything “ For myself”
Awesome project you got! I picked up a 2008 last year for $1500 but it was in ABYSMAL shape. Way worse than this '06. I'm in the midst of rebuilding that one to OEM original look (jc_bikebuilds). Excited to see the progress on this one and your others!
@@GregHitchko thanks and it was ridden very little. I cleaned the carb and a new spark plug and 1 kick it fires right up. Immaculate was in storage for years . I can't believe I have found my holy grail. Thank you
Man I envy your 2 stroke finds. So excited for this build series! Just out of curiosity, are these bill of sale only bikes? In my area (Stl) 99ish 2 strokes still go for 2500-3k which is insane. If you get the title also that's icing on top
Thanks Jonathan! Still insane here too for these older two strokes, just saw a 2001 KX250 posted for 4K non-negotiable, and it was nothing special, like what??? There were a bunch with no title but all of the bikes that I found had titles, I was searching for months!
I recently found a 2008 with less than 25 hrs on it.. completely stock.. LOVE IT! My only complaint is that the forks seem super stiff.. I weigh 170lbs and there seems to be no balance between the forks and the shock. I've looked around for some "dialed in" or "recommended settings" from mxa or Transworld or dirt rider but have not had any luck with that yet. Does anyone have a link to a test 2006-2008 with some recommended settings by chance?
That is a great question! I am not sure. Have you gone ahead and set your sag for the rear? Also have you heard of Keefer Inc Testing? @kriskeefer just went over suspension adjustments in his Keefer Tested Podcast!
@@GregHitchko yes set the sag and do believe the rear spring matches my weight nicely. Will definitely check out Keefer's channel👌🏼. Another question actually, I crashed the bike quite violently (or so I've been told as I don't remember the crash at all) almost two weeks back. I'm physically now recovered to the point where I can go through the bike a bit and start repairing it. A few days back I noticed one of the stoppers on the bottom triple clamp broke off completely. Did you by chance switch your OEM clamps out for aftermarket, if so would you be interested in selling them? It seems near impossible to find parts for these older bikes these days. Maybe you have any recommendations as to where a guy stands a chance of finding something like that, it looks like you do quite a bit with bikes no longer in production. Thought it was worth asking! Keep up the good work man 👍🏼
@@canjay4033 oh damn! Hope you are okay my dude, glad you are healing up from it. That is crazy how the stop on the triple clamp would break off. You can look for clamps from a 2005-2008 Rm125, 2005-2007 RMZ450, 2007-2009 RMZ250, or 2001-2003 RM250, all of those models had the same size fork and offset. That should open up more opportunity to grab a set of clamps for you!
@@GregHitchko thanks so much! I did have some unclarity on that actually. I'll have another look 👍🏼. I'm doing good thank you, I ended up with a few bruised ribs, a concussion, bruised jaw and esophagus .. but about 85% back to normal now. Dirtbikes are awesome but you have to try and stay on them 😅
Right on dude! The engine is killer, huge improvements over the 98 model. It does lack in the handling department because the suspension is said to be pretty soft in stock form. Get it worked to your weight and ability and you will have a RIPPER of a bike!
something you didnt really touch on was the jetting. I have an 02 and ideally you want an 04 or newer as the older ones are finicky as hell to jet. I am at a 168 main with a 45 pilot and its close but still runs kinda shitty.
It is definitely a finicky subject all together haha but yes I forgot to mention that about the older ones! So many factors go into getting it right, its tough for sure.
As soon as you started it I knew you hit a lick ! You really know your stuff . Good buy ! There is something in the air in West VA . That's were I went for 3 of my KX125's from MI although 2 were in box's but complete for the most part .Question: Does the heavier fly wheels also apply to the 125's. The 99 had the lighter fly wheel. The 200O had the heavier flywheel and the 2001 2002 went back to the lighter one ? Or so it seems in my teardowns !
Thanks Mark! WV must be the hot spot for used bikes because there were a few other ones that I was also interested in, in that area as well. The heavier flywheel should apply to the 125s as well! Also helps to increase the predictability of the power. Test them out and give it a try!
Great job on the video dude. Here are a few more Suzuki hacks for your viewers:
-External brake resi delete on 01-03 RM's: Update to the last gen CR250 Nissin master cylinder. It accommodates the bolt pattern of the 2001-2003 external resi master cylinder on the RM and also eliminates the external resi altogether. You will need to swap over the original plunger rod however (the rod that links to the rear brake pedal.
-Showa Twin Chamber suspension: For some reason, the 01-03 RM250 had the KYB open bath forks BUT the 125 always had the Showa twins. Swap your 01-03 RM250 tubes with RM125 parts.
-Front brake upgrade (270mm) and line route update: For 1999-2003 RM's, you can buy 2020 RMZ fork guards in any color you'd like, a 270mm Galfer SKW rotor, a 2004 RM240 braided brake line & 04 RM250 brake line clamp & be doing stoppies in minutes as well as modernizing (deleting the old, long stock brake line & old fork guides on 99-03 RM's. This entire mod only costs as much as most expensive rotors in total. Don't forget the fresh brake fluid.
-2001-2003 RM250 cylinders: 01-02 had a max overbore size of 265. Their intake ports had two bridges that were prone to failure & cracking. Hence the max overbore size. 2003 and newer can be bored to 295 (300cc). None of these cylinders were interchangeable due to powervalve changes annually. Such as the solenoid on the 01 cylinder that wasn't on the 02. The 03 was also the first year of a YZ cylinder copy, landing the 2003 RM250 "bike of the year" in 2003.
-Parts: Getting hard to find trans & bottom end parts for the 03 and older. Collect them while you can!
-Bonus: The 2001 RM250 & 2001-02 RM125 were the only RM's of the last body style to have "square" swingarms rather than the nicer looking tapered ones.
So much more, and otherwise useless RM info in my head if not for this video here.
I didn't know about the 3mm raise at the countershaft sprocket. Cool to know, thanks 😎
Props on your 06! I've still got an old 04 here at the shop.
Reach out to me for absolutely any help with your build. I'd be happy to help you.
-Charles // mXrevival
▼
Dude! This info is FIRE Charles, thank you for dropping this additional knowledge for everyone! This is super helpful especially for people who can't find the "newer" RM's and can only find the 01-03 models which seem to be more abundant when searching for a used RM250.
I will definitely hit you up if I have any questions. I also may reach out to you about a little something else as well! Much appreciated man. Thanks!
Greg
@@GregHitchko my pleasure Greg, always here for you. And everyone else 💪
I was pumped to see that, when I just generically typed in RM250 into the TH-cam search bar- your video was on the top being promoted above a lot of the big magazine channels at the moment. Always nice to be algorithmically rewarded 🤣
I dig that! We both got some beautiful growth coming soon on here.
-Charles // mXrevival
@@mxrevival love being able to connect with rad people in the industry and share the stoke for moto, that's what it's about!
That's awesome to know I've got that algorithm working haha, I was wondering if videos were being pushed to people or not, thanks for that heads up. But hell yeahh let's make it happen my dude, I am all about it, good stuff!!
I have an 2002 model that I raced in the 2015 Finke Desert Race.
It's a mental bike.
Charles is a smart dude whenever it comes to 2 smokes
I have a 2001 RM 250 and it’s the best dirt bike I’ve ever had, honestly couldn’t be more happy!
I was raised a Yamaha kid and I’m a Suzuki man today!!
I ended up selling my 06 but damn I always say that's the one that got away. I want another one!!
I have 01 too
Very good bike
@@chaddessailliers2714 awesome 🤩
Absolutely love it!!
My 2001 RM250 is a madhouse!!!
I'm 62 now but back when I was 16 I rode a mc400 maico and also had a white Penton 400. Not much riding after high school but now I'm Just started to get the bug back and after watching your suzuki rm250 video I will be starting to look for 2006 to 2008 rm250. Thanks a lot for your help and i like the tools you bring to your video that will help me with my bike as soon as i come across the right one. Thanks again buddy.
This is amazing Mike! Stoked that you are getting back into it. The Suzuki is the bike to go with, it does everything well. 2005 and up is ideal so definitely look for one of those. Let me know if you have any questions! There are a bunch more videos on my channel about the RM as well as the other Japanese models (KX, CR, YZ) along with two shootout videos. All great info to help you out. Really excited for you. Cheers! Greg 💨💨
get it! i am 46 and just bought a new RMZ450. RM ARMY for life!!!
Found my 06 after over 2 years of looking for one. After owning 6 full size 2 strokes I can say confidently the rm250 is the smoothest and best feeling bike I've rode so far
I would have to agree 100% with that statement. Never sell that thing now that you have it!!
You missed an important change. 04 was the first year of the new rear suspension linkage. It transferred the leverage to the swingarm instead of the frame like 03 and before. Major improvement to the suspension and handling.
As a Suzuki fan boy I'm looking forward to this one. Good find at 2 grand in today's market of ridiculously overpriced 2 strokes.
Hell yeah, it's nuts how crazy is this used bike market right now. Needs work but I will take it for $2k.
@@GregHitchko Not long ago that was a grand to 1500 bike with the work it needs
The market is definitely crazy right now even here in Ireland they are overpriced.
@@tomatoknuckles I don't even want to know what they are going in in Ireland right now!
@@GregHitchko For an 06 in the condition yours is in would be about 3-3500 euro. Think covid has made people go mad haha.
@@tomatoknuckles hahaha you can say that again mate!
Nice find man,I recently finished up on my 02 RM250 build I picked the bike up for 250 bucks, the thing is a beast...
$250 bucks?!? That's crazy, nice pick up Don. Send me a pic on instagram if you have it!
I had a fully built 1996 rm250. My buddy bought it on accident in 2005 from a racer. The guy had a for sale sign on it with no price so my buddy knocked on the door. Long story short he put like 5500 into the bike getting it built for race season and his wife found out and was making him sell it. I guess he broke some bones at the end of the season and she got pregnant telling him no more racing! She found out he spent all this money building this bike and got pissed. When my buddy said he didn’t want to spend the 7500 he was asking his wife said what did u want to spend? He said I have 1700 on me and she said sold. My buddy felt bad but the lady insisted that if you don’t buy it I’m gonna give it away. The guy has receipts for everything I mean it was like he took a bike that was brand new then built it for racing. My buddy sold it to me soon after because it was too much for the trail riding he bought it for.
These videos just get better and better!
Love the part about the difference in the years of the RM. Hope you do that for each brand. That is awesome info
thanks
Much appreciated Mike! I will for sure have to do that for the rest of them, it's super cool to know the differences otherwise they pretty much look the same.
You did a awesome job with this video! I learned so much from u in like 5mins lol. I have 2002 RM250 I always knew to get a 01 and up but this video taught so much man wow thank you so much! Awesome video👊🏻
Hell yeahhh, really glad to hear that you got something out of the video man, I appreciate the feedback. Can't wait to rip mine, never ridden one before
I had a 92 RM 250 and found it crazy bike to ride also had the 96 RM 250 and loved it, amazing handling and great motor! 👍
That's so rad Sean, any experience with the new ones?
1982 rm250 with lectron carb, no head gasket just sealer with the 82 high compression head. 1.5mm overbore wossner piston with a mild port job. nasty combination, they actually detuned the rm250 after 82 so in 83 they changed the timing and head to a lower compression head to make it more "ridable" but the 82 makes more power and the full floater is the way to go.
Awesome! Super interesting info about those early 80's RMs. They seem insane!
I had a 82 RM 250 that I raced.Won 4 times,came in 2nd twice and 3rd my first Motocross race.Came in 2nd place for the season Championship.
Have a 2001 RM 250 but had an 06 and had to sell it because of money issues... Love both bikes ! The 2006 holds the power better ! On my 2001 i'm always on the throttle to keep it going... Hard to explain you just have to ride both to understand what I mean. Nice bike buddy ! Keep the 2 stroke alive !
Hell yeah!! That's cool to know the differences you felt in the power. Perhaps it was the porting changes that they made over the years?
Im so tempted to buy this very clean 05 for 3 grand by me. Supposedly engine was fairly recently rebuilt
Hell yeahh, I would pull the trigger if I were you!
I bought a new rm250 in 1999 it was a rocket ship that worked awesome
IDK I had a 2003 RM 250 and that thing was ridiculous kinda fast. I remember riding that thing 150 miles in one day up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Thing was super reliable to.
Damn! That is a ton of miles in one day. Big fan of these zooks that’s for sure!
I think the 2002 I have is the best motocross bike I’ve ever owned. Micheal Pichon was 2001 and 2002 250 World Champion. Carmichael won 2005 Supercross as well.
Despite what you think you have a great bike that is basically all there. Realistically the bike is a 15 year old dirt bike, it’s not supposed to be like new.
Very true dude! Man I’m most excited about this bike and I can’t wait to ride it. Definitely a unicorn ✊🏼💨
The look and excitement on your face when it started was priceless haha! I would feel the same way!
Hey I have a 2003 rm250 I need a new rear brake set up for it do you know if a 2002 rear brake set up would be the same as a 2003
My son has 2003 rm the rm125 what an awsome bike ! Thing rips!
That is so rad! I would love to try an RM125 sometime!
im still rocking a 98 2 stroke 250 got it for free it was in decent shape obv had to do a few things but she runs great, love that smell of a 2 stroke
Hell yeah! That's badass, especially since you got it for free too
Rad video and info. I have an ‘07 RM250. I have ZERO complaints. I bought it in 2008, barely used for $3200. Try finding that these days. When covid hit I decided to go back through everything.
Gloss black powdercoat of frame/swingarm, Lectron carb, Wiseco top end and clutch, VForce Reed system, full Pro Circuit w/Shorty, suspension rebuild/revalve for me by KFG. Tons of other smaller things. It’s my favorite bike I’ve wver ridden.
That is epic dude! So cool that you've held on to it for that long. I wish I had the patience for that back in the day. Now I have a new found appreciation for that!
I have to agree I picked up an 04 and I love it. The bike corners like nothing else out there. I found the stock pipe to be the best one for me. Only thing I added was a 10oz flywheel weight. Its a good idea to put in an aftermarket clutch basket the stock one notches very easily.
That makes me want to compare the stock pipe and the Pro Circuit one that i am going to get. The bike does have a flywheel on it but unsure of the weight. I need to take it off and weigh it!
@@GregHitchko Each year like you said they changed the porting it seems. 04 the bottom end was decent and the motor really came alive in the mid range. Engine seemed to sign off a little quick on top. The procircuit seems to have taken away the bottom end and shifted it up top. Depends where you ride. I liked the bottom end you didn't have to clutch 3rd out of corners. Also have an R304 on the rear.
@@HVAC544 do you still have the PC pipe for it? If so, I might be interested in it if it is the works pipe!
@@GregHitchko It's the platinum one. The works one looks really cool I just didn't want to have to deal with rust and up and up keep.
@@HVAC544 Yeah for sure, it can't definitely be a pain to keep up on. You have to condition it basically after every time you ride
RC won on an 05 RM250, not an 06 or newer. In 06 he went back to 4 stroke. Suzuki basically copied Yamahas engine in 04 and improved it, giving us the 05 RM250. The ability to adjust the power valve tension spring easily is a HUGE bonus.
I run Wiseco piston, Pro C works, Factory sound, V Force3, and Apex MX head on my 05. 32:1 Lucasoil with pretty much the factory/Pro C jetting at 200 feet above sea level. Its a blast to cruise, putter or absolutely wring it out. I have run 13/50, and 13/52 for sprockets. They both work well for different applications. Im prob going to try 13/48 next.
What can I say, I get a little excited when I talk on camera and slip up on occasion haha 🤪. Interesting on the sprocket combos! I would love to try them back to back and see where they work best. I can't wait to ride mine once it's all together, so close!
I just got a 2000 rm250 for free had seized seized pistons. Sprayed them with some penetrating oil, freed them right up. Now hopefully shell start when i change the sparkplugs
That thing would look awesome in my garage. Good luck with the build. Suzuki is my favorite brand as well.
I have no doubt that it would! Thanks Michael, really looking forward to this one!
If you think about it the remote reservoir is better it keeps the fluid away, keeping it cooler and less prone to brake fade
Got me a 2003 RM250....for a grand...all stock, no rust..time to.follow the build.
WHAT that's such a steal! Hell of a pick up right there.
Just picked up an 05 and it runs! My new project bike going to make it look new 😎
Yeahhh buddy! Nice pick up right there. Keep me posted on it
The 06 is my favorite Suzuki. It's incredible. It hurts me to think that someone didn't love it and kept it outdoors. Even that little bit of blue looks great. I think that you got what you paid for. It has the potential for being one of the most BAD-ASS 2 stroke bikes of all time.
I CANNOT wait for my build to be done, really looking forward to it!
Same here excited to see the zuke nuke brought back to new again. Such. Awesome asf bikes. My dad had a 2000 that was preowned by a “semi-pro” off road racer. And the bottom blew out and the guy who rebuilt it was a former local legend racer who once finished said it was by far the fastest thing he’d ever touched. And this was like ‘15-‘16 sometime.. one of the coolest bikes ever, and I had a 1996 rm 125. Miss that old girl. Also my first true two stroke was a 94 rm 80. Nice vid. Also I want the rm 250 lol
I have a mint 06 rm250 the dude who had it before me had it in storage for about 10 years and it still has the stock piston, it’s the best running bike I’ve had
WHAT that is badass, so jealous! I'd love to find a barn bike that has been in hiding like that. So cool.
@@GregHitchko yea man I used to have an 02 cr250 for about a year and a half and I had to rebuild the top end about 4 times. I love cr250s but 2002 had to be the worst year. This RM runs so much better
Think I paid 2300 for a 05 that had been in storage and fluids drained 10 years prior ... was in mint condition, was my first two stoke ... I love it so much fun
That is a solid pick up dude! Have to love those "barn" type finds. I can't wait to ride my 06
@@GregHitchko yea the guy took great care of it ... stored it when he father got sick ... he had a hard time letting it go got choked up a bit ... the guy loved that bike plus the sentimental value attached to it with memories of his father ... can’t wait to pull her out soon now that winter is leaving ... been going to my storage unit twice a month and letting her get warm
@@05Rm250RideAlong that's so awesome when the owners have a reaction like that. Plus you know that it was actually cared for if they show that type of emotion! Spring is so close!
@@GregHitchko getting ready to get her out! New tire and wheel in the rear ... fluid changes and filters will be riding this weekend
@@05Rm250RideAlong nice!! That's wicked exciting, like I always say, ride hard be safe!
03-06 was the best for sure.. 01-02 were pretty good but had shift fork issues.. I raced those bikes every year and they were the shit
I've heard about the shift fork issues in the 01-02, but still solid bikes all around. Can't wait to rip this 06 i have!
@@GregHitchko oh man they are badass bikes.. my cousin (basically brother because we grew up in the same house) rode for American Suzuki as an amateur until he turned pro from 00-03.. and a couple other pros from Idaho were good friends because they would always come stay with us and ride.. Danny smith rode for sobe suzuki at the time and I thought his bikes were like legendary haha looking back I wish I would of built a badass 250 and 125 and just put them away in the garage haha but no I had to be stupid and get on the four strokes 😂
@@marcspencer800 Haha man I feel you on that! I was a big fan of those SoBe Suzuki's too. Miss those days, but I was hooked on the four stroke train at the time too after riding them back to back against my 01 CR125 haha
@@GregHitchko you just can’t be competitive on a two stroke.. but I think the ama should let a 250 two stroke race a 250f.. sad part is I think the new 250f is probably better now days.. especially the Yamahas.. I never thought I would say that because I’m a Yamaha hater but I have rode the new ones and they are so good
I scored an 08 RM 250 for $2,900 a few months ago. Drove 700 miles to pick it up. Came with the original title. Already have it completely stripped down.
Hell yeahh now that is some serious commitment for driving for a used bike like I’ve never seen. But for an 08 which are “unicorns”, I’m all about it! Nice pick up brother. If you have Instagram, you’ll have to send me pics of it 👌🏼
They are 🦄 indeed; Im looking at two right now.one is 2007, 20ish hours on top end, new tires and clutch pack and second one is 2008, fresh top rebuild, 70% on tires, hard to start by kickstart. Both bikes are slightly above 2500 bucks , but given how expensive smokers are, I don't find it that damn high...
I just picked up a 2006 RM 250 for $2200 came with PC pipes, vforce, did chain, sunstar sprocket, twin-air filter and race tech gold valves. Added pro taper bars, pt grips , Dunlop tires, polisport plastic, decal mx graphics, new seat, brake pads. Runs strong and crisp as fk. I stare at it trying to find another $4.5k in value like new yz smokers. haha
Dude that is one hell of a pick up right there! Nice find and at a great price! Tons of goodies on there that are worth more than what you paid for the bike probably haha
another tipp. you can recognize a 2007 rm 250 by the new fork guard. 7:38 this is the old guard
Ahh yes!! True Story on that as well
Man that's a beautiful bike. Im still on my 98RM I got it new in 98 and over the years I've built it to my perfect woods rocket but I'm ready to move on. You got a great deal on that bike man.
The original owner of a 98?? That is badass! bet you two go together like peanut butter and jelly haha
@@GregHitchko thanks man I've had ol Suzie a long time. In 99 the bike was stolen and I got her back in 2000. I wanted to cry when I saw what the dopeheads did to my bike. Frame up resto and Ive did alot of topends and one bottom end (not a fan of the water pump). It works great for me👍
@@BM205 damn what a story! So sweet that you got the bike bike, my brother had his crf450 stolen in Florida while he was trying to sell it. I feel your pain, he got his bike back too but, like yours im sure, it wasnt the same. So cool you still have it though.
Bought a 93 RM 250, it’s a awesome bike, only thing I did was put a 12 tooth sprocket set up, and pro tapper bars, it lifts up all the way up to 4th gear. Bike is absolutely best reliable bike I have. Negative side suspension sucks, not to bad in the trails though
That is so rad! Any of these older two strokes you can find nowadays is just awesome
I love the way 93 looks.
awesome video!I loved my 01 250 and 125 looking for another zook these days
Thanks David! I support getting another zook, good luck on the search, used 2 stroke market is insane right now
01 250 was the best bike I ever had. Absolute beast
Looks like a good start to me .any year is good i have a 85 i paid 200 for and did a top end and rear suspension and berrings and fork seals .this bike flys .and i like the older rm because i have short legs and i love the wishbone suspension .my friend had a 78 and eaven that bike was awsome .with a rm 250 you cant go wrong
That's so rad Branden, thanks for sharing your RM experience! They are awesome bikes. My brother actually had a 77 RM125 growing up. It was a ripper too.
I had an 02 and it was a rocket ship. Very light-switch power delivery. However it had poor aftermarket support.
My 06 was so much more rideable and had better aftermarket support. Had mine for 8yrs now. I can strip and rebuild without a manual now and know most torque ratings by memory. I've put hundreds of hard woods and enduro hours on mine although I stopped using it all through the winter a couple years ago because the conditions just trashes the bike.
Warning: very lengthy braindump ahead.
Getting OEM engine parts (not piston, rods, cranks) is getting difficult. So are seat bases + seat foams. You can still get OEM showa parts but I've had to contact them directly to get them. My bike came with a broken seat base and subframe. I've not found replacements.
Power valves wear out/break. I had to make do with an expensive worn out one as mine cracked. If you have notchy power delivery on a late model, make sure the powervalve governor isn't worn. Parts end up square instead of being round and it isn't obvious.
Upper and lower shock bearings brinnell super quickly. I've given up with them and made bronze bushings to use instead.
Fork parts are almost interchangeable with rmzs of the same year (axle ends and shim-stack is different). So are braking parts.
Front master is crap on RMs. Spongey. Use a crfs front master. Same piston diameter but has a better mechanism that gives it a firm feel.
Getting decent pegs is difficult. Think you can only get cast stainless ones that are heavy AF or titanium raptors. You can get cast steel ones that are cheap, but they're pure chinesium. The titanium ones are amazing but are expensive and required modifying to not catch and hold the kickstart lever down. I also had to get my set made to order.
Ream out the peg mounts to 11mm pins. They are likely to be egg shaped by now and will cause pegs to droop down.
FMF gnarly pipes really make a difference for woods but will knock off power on the top. The fit on FMF pipes are all over the shop so don't be surprised if you have to "fettle" them to fit/not rub through coolant hoses.
I used to have a bills pipe and the bike was crazy fast on the top end but not much use down low.
If you grip the bike with your legs and you are in muddy conditions, the airbox will eventually wear through on the left by your boots. I've not found a way around this other than replacing it with another one. I noticed pastrana used to cover this region on his bikes with some unsightly white material. I always wondered what it was.
Clutches on these bikes are shite. No other word for it. I don't believe hinson or rekluse make anything for these bikes anymore. Just NOS. You can get decent CNC, hard anodised baskets from talon or mitaka. Use these over OEM. If you find neutral near impossible to find when the engine is running or the clutch is locked up when cold starting, and you have new basket + plates, look at the hub. These are also shite OEM. Hinson used to make CNC ones. I couldn't find them last time I looked. I bought up the OEM ones I could find last year before brexit hit (OEM parts I find are typically in the EU. Fowler's, the UK OEM parts place has been disappointing for this bike over the years).
You can get hydraulic clutches for these bikes. I've made do without but I have a hand problem now and I'm going to have to buy it.
Rim choices (at least 18") were super limited last time I built a wheelset. Couldn't find SM pro rims anymore so Excels were the only choice.
Be careful buying anything labelled for an rm250 online, especially on Alibaba and ebay. I've had plenty rmz250 parts arrive. Go to the manufacturers website and search their catalogues to get the part number. Then search that part number online.
Polisport plastics are a bit of a lottery. They normally fit fine but sometimes seem prebent or the holes drilled incorrectly. And for whatever reason, the right-hand rear panel always needs modifying to clear the exhaust mounts.
Try to use all-balls stuff only if you're strapped for cash or if they're the only ones that have the part. The quality of their wheel bearings and fork-seals especially have been crap whenever I've used them. Skf fork seals and any brand-name bearings are much better value.
Can't fault their braking parts rebuild kits tho.
THIS IS SOME SOLID INFO dude!! Much appreciated for dropping this for everyone.
Hey Greg great work,your channel is awesome..Im in my first steps on motocross,and im between Kx and Rm..
Thanks man! Shit if you can find any one of those bikes, you have found gold at this point in time. I haven't ridden them back to back yet but based on what I've researched the RM is a GREAT handling bike
@@GregHitchko Thank you Greg!.Your Kawasaki Chevy is a masterpiece!Keep it sharp👊👌
@@JokeR-wl6yc Thanks! Much appreciated, facelift coming soon!
Great deal on the bike.
I see every roached out 2 stroke going for stupid high prices. Everyone thinks their junk is gold.
I recently drove from CA to Texas to pick up an ebay score on a solid KX500. Good deals are still out there.
RIGHT?! Man is it so frustrating to see the prices of these hammered bikes. Crazy. But sounds like you caught a rad deal! I'd love to find a KX500 some day.
If your doing anything other than motocross you will be happier with a late 80's early 90's rm. The riding position plushness and seat is just better on the older bikes for trail riding.
Had a chance to take David Pingrees 2000 Suzuki full factory rm 125 for a ride probably the fastest 125 I have ridden to date, butter smooth transmission with awesome power.
That is badass! I would have loved to ride it too 🙌🏼🙌🏼
@@GregHitchko but almost as fun as buddy Antunez Arenacross RM250 Bill's pipes special
@@pc2150 Damn! Have you ridden any one else's bikes??
@@GregHitchko lucky to have a great friend in motocross, I'm from Massachusetts and still believe that Southwick is the best track on the planet, had the fortune of meeting some of the best riders in the sport and riding some of the best bikes. Still to date the best and nicest guy ever is Travis Pastrana I bumped into him at a private track in Florida during the 2000 Daytona supercross 100% gave me his full attention and absolutely a great guy, I did ask to ride his full factory rm 125 but he was setting it up for the race, he was there in a old Suzuki race van with his girlfriend who is his wife today. Side note I missed an opportunity to get one of Greg Albee's bikes years ago also I think it was around 2500 crazy huh?
@@GregHitchko I still have that 91 kx250 waiting for a guy to restore it.
Hope you checked the air box before you started it but yea the best bike ever !
i just bought my first bike this weekend. $300 for a 1999 rm250 that was just sitting for years. i’m very excited to get it running :)
$300??? Dude that is a steal! Sounds like that’ll be an awesome project
I had a 2001 and a 2004 RM250 the 04 was a very good bike. Engine was a beast, I should have thrown a flywheel weight on it, but it was a great bike.
So sweet! Once I am done with the RM Build I am going to compare it with and without a flywheel weight on it!
My wife Just bought me a 01 rm250 for $800 with all pro circuit aftermarket parts on it from a pawn shop been looking for a bike around here & just kid bikes around here are over a grand
That is by far the best find I have heard so far! So rad, sounds like I need to look at pawn shops too for bikes lol
Great video man im looking at a 1990 rm250 project and you just saved me a whole bunch of research👍🤣
Haha that is great to hear! Glad I could help with that ✊🏼
Love my 06, I'd never give it up.
Can't wait to rip this one!
i’m looking at a 2003 rm250 for 2,500. mega hyped. i’m doing a heavier fly wheel tho bc it’s a lot of power
Hell yeah that's awesome! I fully support that decision Joseph
@@GregHitchko Any weird flaws to look out for on the bike?
@@josephelefante9617 the brakes aren't as strong as the other bikes in the class but test it out and see how they feel. Otherwise, you treat it well, and it will last you!
I didn't not no that about frame switch on the years thanks now I no I can tell the years n not get lied to when I ask or if they didn't no forshore
Right on Chad! Glad you can use the info to your advantage now!
I still have my 01 RM250 and it still rips especially with the v force reeds and pro circuit pipe on it. I tried drag racing with a 2017 yz250 all stock and the results are....... well, let's just say I will bet 100bucks if we do it again 😎
Mint condition 2006 model listed in my country @ R25, 000.00 that's approx $1, 687.00
Damnn that’s a solid price!!
My favorite rm’s personally are the last generation. 05-08
I have. 2005 rm125, 2006 rm250, and a 2008 rm250 that’s still in the crate. It’s my prized possession. I also have a drz400sm 2006, that’s my everyday vehicle, I keep all my bikes looking as close to factory stock as possible, so they all look the same, stock graphics and plastics., I can’t stand restyle kits! Ugh!
they look so nice when they’re all parked next to each other, even the drz matches lol
Whatttt that is so rad Allen! Man would I love to come across a bike in a crate, that would be so cool, so just the 2008 is still in the crate?
If for any reason you decide to get a different exhaust pipe, silencer or seat/seat cover please please let me know. I will buy then from you. Been looking for too long for them, my stock pipe got stolen out of my garage.
Oh dang man! Yes I have the stock pipe/silencer and seat cover and I'd be willing to sell those to you for sure! Send me an email at ghitchko@gmail.com
Got a 2008 RM250 with a completely rebuilt engine with new plastics on it. it's also got the FMF fatty exhaust system with a shorty silencer. Absolutely amazing bike with lots of power, managed to get it for 2600 euros
Damn thats a hell of a bike and a great deal right there!
@@GregHitchko Thanks! yeah I figured when I heard the seller got tons of calls about it even after i picked it up, thanks alot for the amazing video, it's really good to have all the info about the models in one place. Learnt even more about this bike now
@@haarukko right on! That was like me when i bought the CR250 i picked up. The seller showed me a ton of messages of other people wanting it. Glad you found the info helpful man!
I got the same year. Bike.. And my wife and I bedroom is right about our garage. I like to use my RM and her alarm clock sometimes 😂
Hahaha that is amazing. Rise and braap!!
Just bought a 98 cr 250 for 2200 and it has vforce3 reeds and a lectron carb
Hell yeah, I bet it's going to rip!
Is this the same for the RM125?
I got a 2006 RM 250 One hell of a beast and corners like a 125, IF not better, this engine is in My opinion stronger then the 2002 crf 450 witch ive had One and thats the fastest stock 450 engine ever made, crazy Good bike😃
This makes me soooo excited to ride this thing! Can't wait. Thanks for that feedback on it!
'89 rm 250 checking in 💯
Nice bike!
Mid 80s to 97 Rms are wicked bikes so I totally disagree
How are the 2003’s looking at picking up a 03 in really good condition
This is probably late but i've had an '03 for 20 years and use it for desert. have race tech suspension and... not saying it's the best ... but i love the bike. It is challenging to jet and tends to consume a bit of transmission oil and the power is not really smooth especially with a turbinecore muffler. But the stock bottom end lasted 14 years (over 1000 hours) and overall i just love it
That’s one of the most ass kickin RM’s ever made right there bro!
i remember a RM125 was a fast son of b my old boss owned it said the motor had a power band which i dont think they put power bands in .Anyway ive heard of power bands in transmissions in vehicles and thats been
in 1977 for that particular model.
My brother had a 77 RM125 growing up, that's badass!
I'm looking suzuki rm125..which model year your prefer?
The newest one you can find is going to be the best but with that being said, it's all about how well of a deal you can find as well. 2001 and up I would stay with since that is the latest body style
So if the 04 and up RM250 used the 47mm Showa TC forks, in theory if you ordered oem Honda fork seals for a 04 and up Cr250r (also using 47mm Showa TC forks.) would they be the exact same part with just the Honda label on the package? Or did the manufactures make totally different parts for their suspension?
I am pretty positive that they are the same/similar fork! I just spot checked a couple different seal companies on Rocky mountain and they both had the same part number for the CR and RM. I checked Pro X and Tusk. You should be good!
@@GregHitchko Always wanted an RM, and now that I discovered they used the same Showas that are on my CR and CRF I definitely wanna try and get one. Not an easy find in today’s used market however... At least not here in the northern Midwest.
@@awesomefish100 that is a fact for everywhere I feel, but has to be tougher in the midwest! So for your reference, I just checked and the honda showa forks fit the RM bottom clamp, but not the top. The CR fork is skinnier than the RM top triple clamp, not positive on the diameters
@@GregHitchko Interesting... Thanks for the input!
Just got an 01 Rm250 project. My son is 15, he won beginner class series in vintage on his 78Rm125 and I’m building up a 78 Rm250 for him now. The club has classes for up to 08 models. I want to build the 01 up to make it nasty fast . Do I need an 03 bottom end to use 03 up cylinder?
That is badass James! What a cool bike for your son to ride. My brother had a 77 RM125 too. As far as using the 03 bottom end for an 03 cylinder, it does look that way. Based on the part numbers off of Rock Mountains OEM parts website, the 01/02 crankcase and cylinder were similar while the 03 up were similar.
Greg Hitchko thank you sir
There are no changes made after 2006 . The 2007 and 2008 models are not even listed on the oem parts list . 2006 was the last year of any changes. 2007 and 2008 models were left over 2006 models.
Greg I watch your videos all the time and I appreciate what you do what is your all time favorite 2stroke?
I appreciate the kind words my man! Man I'm honestly team green, or I want another 06 RM250. That's a fun bike💨💨
Right on I'm green to the end myself my fav is my 99 splitfier . Keep up the great work Greag!
The best!! RM 250!!!
Can’t wait to ride this bike! ✊🏼💨
Proud 2008 RMZ 250 owner here
There's one 2007 pretty clean farm kept an hour snd half away for $4900 Canadian. and the guy firm on the price,, im contemplating
Yellow No 4 is just an iconic bike….. 🐐
Sooo true!
After watching this it’s made me keep my 2008 rm 250 2/ thanks man
Snapchat me I’ll show you how mines looks
@ tbrown.2314
Hell yeahh! That is badass, love hearing that. One of the reasons why I love to produce the content.
@@taylorbrown407 do you have instagram? I am @greghitchko
You from Maryland ? Dan in the building! Great video tho!
Nahh man visiting for the holidays! Thanks for the feedback too! You from Maryland?
@@GregHitchko yep born and raised lol I just got 06 rmz 450 I’m excited
@@ChefO301 Hell yeah!! I had a buddy with an 06 RMZ450 growing up. Things are GNARLY!
Hello, I would like to know if $1100 is a good purchase for a Suzuki RM 250 2t from the year 2000. I understand very little about motorcycles but I am aware that the prices are super crazy compared to a few years ago. I await your response. Greetings from Spain!
I would say that is an amazing price for that bike, I would scoop it up while you have the chance!
@@GregHitchko ok thanks! Do you usually have some type of failures this year?
I own one and it’s amazing
The RM definitely rips!
Nothing carves a corner to this day like the 04 - 08 RM 125 and RM250. Infact some of the manufacturers in 2023 are using the same geometry as these 04 - 08 RM's.
I believe that! Those bikes corner like a dream🙌🏼
So is the 96-98 a good bike as I like the evos
Just got a 1995 250 runs well to wondering what it's actually worth
what do you think about the 98 year engine
It's a sold engine! Can't go wrong with it. Torquey and easy to manage power. Not quite as explosive as the KX from that year, but fun to ride!
I bought a 06 rm250 brand new in 08, for $4500, cash!! Got hurt on the farm 5 months later. Held on to it for a few years in case I'd walk again. Sold in for $2200. Wish I still had it. 🥲
Man that would be one hell of a bike if you still had it all this time, Derek!
2001 was the one.
Solid machine right there!
Only weakness was the stock clutch was cream cheese, but no one runs a stock clutch long anyway.
I have a 2000 it is a beast but hard to find parts.
Got a quick question, i have a 2002 RM250K2 that i bought for 500 bucks, i have everything for it but always wondered if it is worth the money to get going or if i should save up and buy a newer model? Also great video gives alot of great info that i had no idea about!
Thanks man, glad the info in the video was informative! Honestly, you've got the 2002, I'd run with that as it is still a phenomenal bike. In the comments on this video, Charles from @mXrevival left a GREAT comment on a list of things you can do to the 01-03 models to tweak them better. Definitely check those out!
@@GregHitchko will do man! thank you!
i got a 1998 suzuki rm250 for 2000 dollars and its litterally perfect condition and i have the street title
I have a 1984 RM-250 I am about to restore again. . . .
Need a good place for shocks
I don’t know though if I can find the time, I might just sell it ?
I have a lot of house work to get done before I can even think about doing anything “ For myself”
Awesome project you got! I picked up a 2008 last year for $1500 but it was in ABYSMAL shape. Way worse than this '06. I'm in the midst of rebuilding that one to OEM original look (jc_bikebuilds). Excited to see the progress on this one and your others!
Damn $1500 is a pretty solid price still for an 08! Can't wait to see yours when it is all set as well!
I just bought me a 2005 RM 250 for $800.00 my hole Grail. I just put a front tire and clean out the carb. Omg I am so much in heaven.
Whattt that is a steal dude! Great pick up right there, I'm jealous 🤣🙌🏼
@@GregHitchko thanks and it was ridden very little. I cleaned the carb and a new spark plug and 1 kick it fires right up.
Immaculate was in storage for years . I can't believe I have found my holy grail. Thank you
@@robertandreason3218 cheers that! Stoked for you, all you need to do now is grip it and rip it!
How good are the 01 rm 250
The 2001 are a solid machine! Check out the comment by mXrevival here on this video and he describes a few things to make the 01 models even better
Man I envy your 2 stroke finds. So excited for this build series! Just out of curiosity, are these bill of sale only bikes? In my area (Stl) 99ish 2 strokes still go for 2500-3k which is insane. If you get the title also that's icing on top
Thanks Jonathan! Still insane here too for these older two strokes, just saw a 2001 KX250 posted for 4K non-negotiable, and it was nothing special, like what??? There were a bunch with no title but all of the bikes that I found had titles, I was searching for months!
@@GregHitchko glad you stuck it out then 🤟. Looking forward to more great content thanks for the reply
@@Nahtanoj65 no doubt man! I appreciate the support 🙌🏼
How much would you say a 2004 rm250 fully restored from frame up worth? About 3hrs on it
Fully restored like that is basically a brand new bike, I would say at least 5K to start depending on what is on it and the quality of the build!
I recently found a 2008 with less than 25 hrs on it.. completely stock.. LOVE IT! My only complaint is that the forks seem super stiff.. I weigh 170lbs and there seems to be no balance between the forks and the shock.
I've looked around for some "dialed in" or "recommended settings" from mxa or Transworld or dirt rider but have not had any luck with that yet.
Does anyone have a link to a test 2006-2008 with some recommended settings by chance?
That is a great question! I am not sure. Have you gone ahead and set your sag for the rear? Also have you heard of Keefer Inc Testing? @kriskeefer just went over suspension adjustments in his Keefer Tested Podcast!
@@GregHitchko yes set the sag and do believe the rear spring matches my weight nicely. Will definitely check out Keefer's channel👌🏼.
Another question actually, I crashed the bike quite violently (or so I've been told as I don't remember the crash at all) almost two weeks back. I'm physically now recovered to the point where I can go through the bike a bit and start repairing it. A few days back I noticed one of the stoppers on the bottom triple clamp broke off completely. Did you by chance switch your OEM clamps out for aftermarket, if so would you be interested in selling them?
It seems near impossible to find parts for these older bikes these days. Maybe you have any recommendations as to where a guy stands a chance of finding something like that, it looks like you do quite a bit with bikes no longer in production. Thought it was worth asking!
Keep up the good work man 👍🏼
@@canjay4033 oh damn! Hope you are okay my dude, glad you are healing up from it. That is crazy how the stop on the triple clamp would break off. You can look for clamps from a 2005-2008 Rm125, 2005-2007 RMZ450, 2007-2009 RMZ250, or 2001-2003 RM250, all of those models had the same size fork and offset. That should open up more opportunity to grab a set of clamps for you!
@@GregHitchko thanks so much! I did have some unclarity on that actually. I'll have another look 👍🏼. I'm doing good thank you, I ended up with a few bruised ribs, a concussion, bruised jaw and esophagus .. but about 85% back to normal now. Dirtbikes are awesome but you have to try and stay on them 😅
@@canjay4033 wow glad it wasn't worse! And you can certainly say that again!
What do you think of the 99 rm250 I have one got it on trade for a 13 rmz450 that was in need of fork seals and motor work
Right on dude! The engine is killer, huge improvements over the 98 model. It does lack in the handling department because the suspension is said to be pretty soft in stock form. Get it worked to your weight and ability and you will have a RIPPER of a bike!
@@GregHitchko it is def soft feeling but it’s f perfect for my weight
@@Donaldsrepair Awesome then I would grip it and rip it dude!
something you didnt really touch on was the jetting. I have an 02 and ideally you want an 04 or newer as the older ones are finicky as hell to jet. I am at a 168 main with a 45 pilot and its close but still runs kinda shitty.
It is definitely a finicky subject all together haha but yes I forgot to mention that about the older ones! So many factors go into getting it right, its tough for sure.
Get a #7 slide with the necp needle and your jetting should be closer usually stock especially the older ones were super rich
As soon as you started it I knew you hit a lick ! You really know your stuff . Good buy ! There is something in the air in West VA . That's were I went for 3 of my KX125's from MI although 2 were in box's but complete for the most part .Question: Does the heavier fly wheels also apply to the 125's. The 99 had the lighter fly wheel. The 200O had the heavier flywheel and the 2001 2002 went back to the lighter one ? Or so it seems in my teardowns !
Thanks Mark! WV must be the hot spot for used bikes because there were a few other ones that I was also interested in, in that area as well. The heavier flywheel should apply to the 125s as well! Also helps to increase the predictability of the power. Test them out and give it a try!