The History of Suzuki's RM250 Two-Strokes 1976-2008

[@rex.d4810]

Love my '06! Bring them all back. Make Motocross Great Again!

[@earlderksen8998]

I like your thinking, I still think 2 strokes rule not a 4 stroke fan ,bring back 125 250 and open class 500cc

[@petermurray2469]

Hi Tony, great video! My first motocross bike was a 1976 RM250 and in later years, roughly '95 to '97 I was Suzuki's test rider for the RM250. I think you did a good job breaking down the bike through the years. I saw my picture in your video about 7 times. Pete

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Pete it is so cool hearing from you. You always had great style and had some great picks in the mags.

[@fermcmetz]

Thank you! A lot of work behind this video! I had the fortune of find an almost brand new 08 RM and it's the love of my life.

[@AbcAbc-ox6pg]

Me too, I have a brand new 08 as well and I won't ride it. Have a 03 for riding.

[@The08450]

GREAT TO SEE YOU WITH A NEW VIDEO!!!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Hey, thanks!

[@Damien-q8t]

Between the sound of the engine and the colour why does the RM (and yellow YZs from back in the 70s and 80s) remind me of angry wasps,lol

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

@@Damien-q8tBecause they are! lol

[@EkzdeeLFT]

finally a video where you didn't rake the 1987 over the coals. It is really a great bike. I bought one by accident a few years ago and have loved it ever since. What a sleeper.

[@gregwolfe4950]

That was great! Thanks! Always been a fan of Suzuki. Had a 82 125 88 250. 06 250. Fun bikes.

[@2strokemachines648]

Hell yeah man super stoked you released this video! You do hands down the best and most comprehensive videos of old bikes by far, thank you for all the awesome videos you make!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you!

[@stevenoram5139]

You are right there awesome bikes 2006 rm 250 I have 2006 250 and 2008 rm 125.. Alot of people say suzuki is crap and most want honda for no good reason, but most of people saying suzuki is crap as never ridden rm 250 ...rm fans know back in early 90s / 2000s up to 2006 the rm bikes were proper 2 stroke mx bikes and the bikes to beat. it also won loads of mx shootouts from 2004 2005 2006.. So yes the 2006 rm is one of best 2 strokes engines to have and bike that will still keep up with 4 strokes 18 years later no problem😁 it still looks modern and very slim great looking fast bikes will run with newer yz no problem and put dent in honda cr kx hype 😁 also if you like evo racing 1991 rm 125 250 is another awesome year to have if you want to smoke the old cr bikes at evo races.. We need to start putting prices up on used rm market like they do with last gen cr 250s the rm is much better bike so about time we started getting what there worth when sold

[@braapchop5925]

Though the RM is a great bike, it lacks in overall quality compared to the Honda....thats why the price difference maintains where it is. The last gen CR takes some dialing in, but once set up, I’d never go back to the RM.

[@xipingpooh5783]

Great job on the retrospective. My 2002 is in my will, I’ll let my two sons figure out who gets to keep it. I loved the 1988 RM250 I had as well. I wish I had kept it. At least I was smart enough to keep the 2002 !! RM 250 Champions that I remember : Joel Robert 3x 250GP Tony DeStefino 3x250 US Kent Howerton 2x 250 US Mark Barnett (SX) George Jobe 2x250GP Alex Puzar 1x 250GP Greg Albertyn 1x US 1x 250GP Micheal Pichon 2x 250 GP Ricky Charmichael (SX)

[@DandVonTV]

Tony, thanks for another video. Listening in my office while crunching numbers.

[@mk3vr611]

I was a Honda guy for years. I bought a 2006 RM250 2 stroke the RC Edition and it was the most reliable bike I have ever had. I fell in love with bikes again after this purchase. I wish I never sold it for a 450.

[@sambuvca22]

My buddy had a 97 I loved that motorcycle. I was riding a 1996 CR500 at the time. Very shortly after that i went to the 250 cc full time. Just thinking out loud, these were the best years of my young adult life. Thanks for these vids. really brings me back

[@dirtyoffroader2093]

Really enjoyed the video. 👍 I had the 89 the 90 and 92.. and for me the 89 was just perfect, the abuse that bike took was unreal, I'd heard of motors detonating back then, but we found it bomb proof in all the conditions we threw at it, maybe we just had a good one. I also had the '98 250, I couldn't gel with that bike it felt less spicy than the others. All great bikes though. 😎👍

[@huntertaylor2747]

Great video. Had a 03 and 05 and they were rocket ships!

[@markhingst5368]

Brilliant comprehensive breakdown, thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. Would LOVE to see this format covering Husqvarna/Husaberg motorcycles.

[@jgeraci1]

Loved my 77 RM 80 B . Had it from 6th grade until I was about 18 when I gave it away to some kid. Thing was a warrior!

[@AbcAbc-ox6pg]

Thanks for the fantastic video. I have a never ridden '08 in my living room and I will keep it forever. Great bike.

[@albertking7012]

Been waiting for this! I grew up riding a clapped out 79 IT175 my dad bought me in 84 when i was 14. Then i obviously started getting the magazines, but man the RM bikes were always my favorite, drooled all over the Dirt Bike pages. Still have the IT actually after all these years and am grateful for my dad, that bike taught me how to wrench. I got to ride in the golden era so thanks Tony for taking me back man.

[@gabrielesala6336]

Amazing video man, this is probably the most thorough documentary i’ve seen about any bike

[@georgecustanzza56]

Great history video of the awesome RM250! Loved it!

[@caseymckeeborrego]

I absolutely loved the video! I've got a 1990 and 1993 RM250, my brother has the 91. We fell in love with the barky case reed engines. Im usually a 500 guy, but these ride like 125s that can actually haul my oversized carcass around. Thank you for the fantastic content!

[@sambuvca22]

Love the 1980 model. Thing looks awesome.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Me too!

[@johncarlson3061]

Outstanding!! Wonderful original literature, and juicy Tech info! I grew up a Suzuki kid in the 80's! Started with a 1980 Jr50 and progressed to a 1983 DS80. All brand new at time. I turn 50 this year.. I want my dads old bike now..79 DS185 ,wish i could find one ...

[@catfish0574]

Good on you Tony, soooo great to go back and look at the history of the sport we love, I had motocross action, dirt bike , Motocross and Australian Dirt bike Mags from the 80’s which my Mum threw out 👎

[@briancourtwright3413]

Once again thank you! I've never been a Suzuki fan but I love all things moto. I wish you could retire and just do these videos! As a side note my best friend bought a 1994 and got a full PC engine. I was racing over 25A class at the time on Hondas and thought I was a big deal. That was the most terrifying bike I've ever ridden. It hit so hard and came all undone due to the stock suspension. He broke his wrist and bought an XR400. Even jumped doubles he wouldn't on the RM😂

[@MattMcCort]

Thank you for these videos. You are so incredibly good at putting these together and narrating. I’m blown away at how good this video looks and the level of detail. Top notch!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Wow, thank you!

[@pieterfourie9292]

Got my 2008 model in 2014...best bike I've ever had. Gosh, we're together for 10 years now.💘 Until death do us part...

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I really enjoy your comments sections. People with experience here. People who, (unlike MXA today), know how to jet a carb, and remember how to use a clutch. :)

[@skippyzero4689]

Dude I’ve been saving up for my first bike and I’ve been dead set on a Yamaha but this video changed my mind 100% haha. This bike has a hectic history

[@mikescaffo4850]

You do a fantastic job at explaining everything tony nobody dose it better

[@jimmy_dirtbike]

Yooooo Tony!!! I haven’t even watched this yet, but when I saw the thumbnail I got right into it and liked it because all your videos are golden!!🎉

[@WeirdoDudo88]

Thank you for the awesome breakdown for these machines! Love the 96-97 looks for sure. Looking foward to try out a RM when I can

[@kennyremouremovich8788]

I enjoy your commentary. You do a very good job writing your scripts and practice your dialogs. I appreciate that you don't pause in your delivery. Cramming great info in the shortest amount of time, thank you! Hey don't they still offer the RM 250 in other parts of the world? Have they continued with minor upgrades or are they sitting on a 15 year design? It's affordable to continue to make the same product year after year. Suppliers and manufacturing costs have got to be simplified with repetition. I still ride old two strokes, ones that fit my age. I'm 63 riding an '86 Husky 400 XC that rules the deserts of Utah. Thanks again, Remo

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you for your kind words. I believe Suzuki did offer the RM250 in some markets through about 2012, but I do not think it is currently available anywhere in the world.

[@michaelmorton6781]

YESSSS!!!!!! IVE WAITED TO LONG FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE SUZUKI!!!

[@robertrishel3685]

One of my favorite all time motorcycles! Coincidentally, I just watched the 1970’s Burt Reynolds’s film, Hooper, which features the 1976 (77?) RM250! I remember seeing that movie and its motocross references back in the day, which heavily influenced my existing fascination with racing moto. While I never owned an RM250, they did feature highly in my life as objects of desire. When I moved to Japan in November 1980, my father arranged for me to have a try out ride with the MrBike racing team (later made more of note by Steve Martin). That tryout involved my very first time riding a 250 at only 13 years old. The team claimed it was the only bike they had available for me to ride, a 1981 model RM250. I was so nervous and worried, completely intimidated by the power (I had only ridden 80’s and 125’s) that I short shifted my way around that unfamiliar race track, Chubu MrBike Sports land. I guess, by virtue of being American, I made the team that day and went on to race for Team MrBike until we left Japan in 1984. It remains some of the very best and most exciting years of my life. A real dream come true for a mediocre amateur racer. When we returned to the US, my parents opened up a motorcycle shop (Kawasaki franchise) in Warrenton Oregon, a shop my father named MrBike Motorsports. We raced all around the Pacific Northwest from 1985 until the business sadly ended in 1991. I’ll never forget that tryout day on that RM250 my father had arranged for me…forever cementing himself into hero status in my heart.

[@nealrstevens]

Great job on this history segment, really thorough and well done. I never knew about the Full Floater lawsuit, shame on Suzuki for trying to rip him off. I just read Don Richardson's book, really glad the case ended in his favor.

[@joshuasteel2109]

The 1993 to 1995 chassis were there weak point. To rigid and twitchy at speed. The engines were awesome i thought. Great Video 👍🏻 thank you very much for sharing Tony.

[@99SH]

love it, thanks blaze!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Glad you like it!

[@motonorcal9938]

Awesome stuff...nice walk down memory lane. Even though I didn't have a 250 all those years, I remember the different models and new technologies. I had a 1980 RM80, 1995 RM125 (switched to Honda for the rest of the 1980s) and still have my 2004 RM250. Also have an old 1982 RM125 I dug out of trash pile and loving working on. The 1982 RM125 was so cool.

[@grantcarncross5380]

Great Video once again, outstanding. Absolutely agree if Suzuki and the other 2 Japanese brands bought out the 2 strokes wouldn't have much trouble selling them. Only have to look at the Yamaha YZs here in Australia the 125s and 250s sell in a heart beat, plus less maintenance as well, plus you can never beat the sound of a 2 stroke engine.

[@jamesthomas1702]

Great video, thanks alot. I love my '08, never gonna sell it..😊

[@JujU957-1]

I owned and raced the 99 and 06 RM250. The 06 was probably one of the best bikes I had ridden. I raced this bike right up till 2014 in nor cal for the OTHG series and loved that bike.

[@ryanhomer8558]

I bought a brand new 06 rm 250 leftover in 2007. Amazing bike

[@johntomasik1555]

15:22 A self actuating front brake upon landing....now that sounds exciting! lol Great vid and content you put out. Had an '06 RM250. I'd heard about how great the Suzuki's would turn, but experiencing it was something else. It felt like it was in a rut even on flat blue groove. Never had a bike turn better.

[@tpm3092]

I didn't know that Howard Stern rode MX (12:55 in the video)

[@LBrawn]

OUTSTANDING JOB ,TONY, please do the KX250, YZ250, and YZ400/465/490.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I will for sure

[@lenjackson6842]

This has to be my favorite episode of the vault , you took me all the way down memory lane lol , I have owned most of the models you covered at some time or another in both 125 and 250's with my absolute favorite being the pair I had in 1992 , I have to say that I won more races on those two bikes ... Keep up the good work..

[@wackedoutdude]

loving these vids. I don't even own a mx bike but Unreal content. So detailed and informative. Keep up the great work.

[@2strokeFORever]

I'm an 80s and 90s CR guy but i think my buddies 06 rm250 is oje of the best bikes I've ridden. Had great low end, pulled up top, sharp handing and good suspension

[@andreawhalen4142]

I was an rm guy until 84 when a cr 250 would absolutely bury my rm. the honda in 84 was quite a bit stronger than even my 85 rm. i now have an 88 rm250 i'm building and that year the rm engine was top rung.

[@mxthunder2]

Amazing video! I love these retrospectives so much!

[@diddlethepoodle4812]

My first bike as a kid was an 83 rm 80. Liquid cooled on the 80 was awesome. That bike was great! I miss it.

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

2:22:44 The RMZ and RM you had were gorgeous bikes. Wow. Bet that was fun. Wish Suzuki would get passionate again about the RMZ. Totally agree that a RC4 reissue would sell for Suzuki.

[@mattrob1483]

Great vid I got the 06 rm still original seat

[@chrisstephens6194]

My favourite bike. Watching bit by bit .Great work so far.

[@jethroboorer2860]

Holy crap man that was epic. Well done

[@kenkl5204]

I share everywhere i can. You are the reason I bought my wr250Z's and 95 cr250 oh and......lol. but your info gave me the knowledge I needed. Like the WRz the last 3 yrs are the same.

[@rogerodom1993]

Love your stuff Tony. Watch em all.

[@23MikeJ22]

Awesome😉😉😉👍nice video thanks so much

[@EarthSurferUSA]

52:26 Looks like Jim Holley, showing up the other mag test riders. :)

[@Ryan-lb4cd]

That 89 classic Blue and Yellow 🔥🔥🔥

[@highwayman1218]

Great job! 👍👍 Most of us back then really figured Suzuki would get their late 80s bikes super dialed with the surprise additions of Hannah and O'Mara. They never really did and ended up being more of a publicity deal. Yeah, I still remember the first time seeing the 91's at my local Suzuki shop. Felt like yourself as a wtf is this.... But nowadays those "No Fear" flashy days of the early 90s Im fond of.

[@moe92870]

Had an 85', I think I'm gonna try an buy it back from my brother.? 🤞

[@dank3823]

I agree the '90 bike was a looker. A great transition from the previous bikes. Too bad Suzuki isn't as competitive anymore.

[@sunspiral79]

Great video Tony...I always loved those bikes with the blue motor...they looked tricked out with gold rims

[@diddlethepoodle4812]

89-98 bikes. That 90s moto style was awesome. I miss being a kid.

[@lw3918]

2006 was the best looking bike. Love the yellow and blue.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

You can get low end torque with a piston port smaller bore engine. But bigger hp is mathematically related to higher rpm.

[@K4JW]

A good day just got better. A new blaze video 🤙

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@Half.Throttle.adventures.]

I remember my yz 80 front brake cable wraped around the fork and sent me over the bars. Man that hurt like hell..

[@evanwilliams2602]

Love these videos,appreciate all the work you do! You should do some quad series history of some historic sport atvs, 👍🏻

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I plan to!

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

84-89 are my favorite, looked very pagoda Asian to me, Bruce Lee would approve. 88, 89 crs had 51 bhp back then so the zukes were down on power.👍🤠🇺🇸

[@TrumpDesantis-zm3kg]

Didn't know Howard Stern rode an RM-250, 12:55

[@LBrawn]

🤣

[@GS-zv3qn]

Is that a factory pro, I don't recognize the face. They would use the race team riders in the ads

[@panic-revv85]

I jad a 96 rm125 and it was agreat bike!

[@flyfishincrazy]

Thank’s man these are awesome

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Glad you like them!

[@JohnnyDodge-k8q]

Good show and information I have 79 rm400 most of the bike is original great bike

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Where did you find the period retail prices of the older bikes. I could not find a list, or even a bike price anywhere. Those prices seem a 2 or 3 hundred bucks high for the late 70's early 80's. The prices really went up fast because of the FIM 1986 production rule. I did not buy a new 250 until 1986, (had 125's and a 100), and I never paid over $900.00 for a 100 or 125 (3 of them before 1980). I think a 125 in 1980 was about $1,200, but I got a left over 79 YZ125 instead for $850.00. After $850 for a used 1982 YZ250 (bought in 84 and started racing),---everything else jumped over 2 and 3 grand real quick.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I took them from the magazine tests at the time. Dirt bike always published the retail price in their tests

[@JohnnyDodge-k8q]

My 79 rm400 it took time to get uses to the back fender I've seen people put vintage motocross stickers on it looks good

[@exploringwithJim]

If you could have any one of these, based on styling and performance, which model would you choose?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I would love to find another 1996 RM 250. It’s probably my all-time favorite.

[@LBrawn]

Awesome Tony 😀

[@Half.Throttle.adventures.]

Can you do an episode on the yz 490

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I will for sure

[@slagletoby]

I have a nearly perfect 2000 RM250 if anyone wants to buy it. It’s too perfect to ride and probably belongs in a collection.

[@KaWaR304]

I own a 07 rm250 with original graphics!

[@InertialDrive]

Did anyone ever try putting freon in the forks instead of air? It might improve bleed down like putting nitrogen in tires...

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

1:46:49 That is how an RM should look. In my mind’s eye it harkens back to the 1978 1/2 year model, (or the ‘77), which I always thought was what a Suzuki RM was supposed to look like.

[@michaelsmith2336]

2004-2008 best bike ever made

[@notme1453]

What they didn’t make CR’S them years?

[@michaelsmith2336]

@@notme1453yeah - they did - with shitry RC valve engine meh handling

[@taskpurposeretard9750]

Yamaha

[@psychosneighbor1509]

Can you narrow down which pulp podcast that was about the full floater? There's 166 episodes. I'm starting to think everyone is still trying to hide the story...

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Here you go pulpmx.com/podcast/guest-don-richardson/

[@davespin9034]

I owned a lot of Suzukis, the one I really wanted was the 1977 RM125, like the 250 a great looking bike. Had the 81, 91, 92, 93, 2015, 2018

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I know what you mean, the 77 is a looker, like a timeless design.

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

The work you put into these does not go un noticed. Absolutely top-notch You are the authority. Great work once again.

[@Damien-q8t]

Newer doesn't always mean better

[@rmtwofiftyzmann]

as you can tell by my handle,the 1982 RM250Z impressed me lol

[@SeaWolfEntertainment]

I have a 1976 Rm250A. Needs a little more work but it does run. Nothing can compare to those old two strokes.

[@tomchalker736]

I have a 05 which I got new and it's definitely a rocket. The only time I lost a race was on slippery surfaces. I also heard they messed up the jetting in 06

[@michaelmartin2912]

I Also wish that Suzuki would build a new rmz450

[@GoViking933]

It was kinda sad.. watching you describe the changes of the last model years and realizing what seems like yesterday, how long ago now it was..

[@TheMotocrossVault]

LOL I feel the same way! 2005 seems like yesterday

[@ludagrif]

32k views 750 likes? I can't imagine a better review than this.

[@andrewreebel6418]

Suzuki should never have stopped making their 2 strokes. They could still be making the same exact bike (cuz they would) and it would sell to this day.

[@panic-revv85]

Cow hide seats is what ive heard them 91s called.

[@michaelmartin2912]

I wish that They would build new one that Was efi for the rm250

[@johncarlson3061]

Could you please do a video on the history of the Suzuki DS ?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

The DS80?

[@Joe-pg3kg]

The old fork was bad maybe your local area liked them but they were universally hated on the west coast.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Is it me (my imagination, but I did have 2 Kawasaki's), or did Kawasaki always build strong engines?