Posts
586
Joined
12/17/2009
Location
WV
US
Fantasy
1668th
Edited Date/Time
6/22/2021 11:42am
I originally had this posted in "Bike Builds". Was not getting much action , so I decided to post here. Thanks Sandman768 for your posts!
I have always liked the looks of the 84 RM250. They looked much like the works bikes of Barnett from a year or two earlier. So I came across a couple examples of the breed a month or so ago. Got them home just before the Wu Tang virus hit.
Here is one of the bikes I started with. Both in similar condition.
My plan, at the time, is to restore one as a racer and one as a "show" bike. Before I tear down my restos, I usually purchase the plastics, as those pieces can be the hardest to acquire. I was delighted to find on my local dealers website, the online fische said most was available. I ordered 2 of everything as a "warm up" order.
Proceeded to tear down both bikes. Both must have been flipped at one time. On both, the frame rail (fender/seat mount area) was tweaked and fixed poorly. Both frames had issues where the brake torque rod attaches to the frame. This leads me to believe that this is a weak area in these frames. I picked the best frame and fixed both areas of concern.
Around this time the dealer called and said my parts were in. To my dismay, the only thing that was available was the front number plate and fenders. I know from previous builds, this restore just got a lot tougher.
So I hit up https://www.cmsnl.com website. Found the left radiator shroud x2. Ordered in those and a few other things US Suzuki did not have available. SO I need to find a couple right rad shrouds, tanks and rear number plates. I am still on the search. Hit me up if you have anything, please!
While my frame was off to the powdercoaters (had to order in the RAL5017) I started working on the sub-assemblies. Parts of the motor headed out to Tom Morgan for his special sauce. The rest of the bike I can take care of in house.
The game plan has been tweaked to some extent with these 2 bikes. As I type, one will become a complete racer. My plan was for both to have new plastics. The show bike will be completed when I find said plastics. The race bike will be completed using the best plastics I can find.
Misc. ramblings:
Who makes the best pipe for these bikes?
I have restored a few 82/3 RM250's in my day. I was not impressed with the DLS front brake. So much so that I fitted a 83 CR front end to my last RM. Are the 84 RM's DLS brake system better than the 83's?
If anyone has any tips, tricks, or hints, please speak up. I did a search here & did not see anyone who has gone before me. Then again, Vital's search function blows dead bears...
Stay healthy!
Stan aka Whymee
I have always liked the looks of the 84 RM250. They looked much like the works bikes of Barnett from a year or two earlier. So I came across a couple examples of the breed a month or so ago. Got them home just before the Wu Tang virus hit.
Here is one of the bikes I started with. Both in similar condition.
My plan, at the time, is to restore one as a racer and one as a "show" bike. Before I tear down my restos, I usually purchase the plastics, as those pieces can be the hardest to acquire. I was delighted to find on my local dealers website, the online fische said most was available. I ordered 2 of everything as a "warm up" order.
Proceeded to tear down both bikes. Both must have been flipped at one time. On both, the frame rail (fender/seat mount area) was tweaked and fixed poorly. Both frames had issues where the brake torque rod attaches to the frame. This leads me to believe that this is a weak area in these frames. I picked the best frame and fixed both areas of concern.
Around this time the dealer called and said my parts were in. To my dismay, the only thing that was available was the front number plate and fenders. I know from previous builds, this restore just got a lot tougher.
So I hit up https://www.cmsnl.com website. Found the left radiator shroud x2. Ordered in those and a few other things US Suzuki did not have available. SO I need to find a couple right rad shrouds, tanks and rear number plates. I am still on the search. Hit me up if you have anything, please!
While my frame was off to the powdercoaters (had to order in the RAL5017) I started working on the sub-assemblies. Parts of the motor headed out to Tom Morgan for his special sauce. The rest of the bike I can take care of in house.
The game plan has been tweaked to some extent with these 2 bikes. As I type, one will become a complete racer. My plan was for both to have new plastics. The show bike will be completed when I find said plastics. The race bike will be completed using the best plastics I can find.
Misc. ramblings:
Who makes the best pipe for these bikes?
I have restored a few 82/3 RM250's in my day. I was not impressed with the DLS front brake. So much so that I fitted a 83 CR front end to my last RM. Are the 84 RM's DLS brake system better than the 83's?
If anyone has any tips, tricks, or hints, please speak up. I did a search here & did not see anyone who has gone before me. Then again, Vital's search function blows dead bears...
Stay healthy!
Stan aka Whymee
The 84”s were vgood bikes. The non powervalves engine makes good low to mid power, not top end screamers. You can mix & match 82 head & flywheel for more rev is you desire. The 84 DLS front brake is better than the 83, they did make some slight changes to cable mounting & hub,I believe. They take some tinkering to get right. 84 -85 125 side panels fit. Any exhaust pipe is hard to come by, take what you can get. If the rear shock was not serviced regularly the bodies get worn out. The rear suspension heim joints are very pricy if you can locate them. Rear fender/ seat mounting set up is a pain. I always wanted to convert the 250 to 125 tank & shrouds, but it’s more involved that you would think. The gas tank is high! Great bikes... I have a near mint original one. Good luck with builds
Thanks for the info Sandman!
I am not going to go into extreme detail of the restore and assembly. I will highlight a few items through out this build that you would not normally see. If you have any questions on a process, please feel free to comment.
Going back together is always the best part of the build for me. Everything is powdered, painted and squeaky clean and new.
Speaking of new. Every restore has items that are not available. Sometimes you have to recondition to the best of your ability. I know there are several on here that send their parts out to be replated. Couple years or so ago, I decided to see if I could DIY zinc plating.
Sure saves a lot of money in the long run!
I consider the bushing for the rear brake rare. I do like tight controls!
Which brings me to the build as of tonight.
Blue skies!
Whymee
Wow... your plating came out nice! Ohlins shock? Your moving right along..well done
Thanks for the kind words Sandman.
No sense in racing with a reconditioned tired 35 year old shock, when a new unit is available. Wish I could say the same for the brakes...
Anyhoo, the build is humming right along. Adding new & reconditioned parts is always the exciting part of a build. Case in point when the first plastic pieces are added. The build starts to come alive.
I have a set of 85 Wheel assemblies. The 85 RM's came with gold rims. I cannot decide if I should use them on this build. For some reason I am leaning to the silver rims.
Some good news from vendors today. Tom Morgan said my parts are on the way back. I will finally get to assemble the engine. Fairly fast turn around considering he had to wait two weeks for parts to come in from Suzuki.
One thing that has been concerning me was the graphics for this build. I was lucky to find NOS shroud decals, but not preprinted number plate backgrounds. Decal Works couldn't help. Finally called SK Designs Australia/America and they are going to help me out. I just wanted old school backgrounds. The more well known graphics companys do not have the templates for the older machines. SKDA does. Send 'em your vintage business, tell them Stan sent ya!
I cant decide on tires. I really want to try a set of Hoosiers. I cannot decide on a size. 110 or 120 for the rear? Opinions welcomed.
Everything else has been ordered in that I can find. I am just waiting on the brown trucks to start arriving!
Whymee
EDIT: I have been seeing old posts about the lousy fuel flow of the stock petcock. Being replaced by a Yamaha one. Can anybody give me the year and what machine this is coming off of?
How about wide pegs? Any later model RM fit the 84?
As always thanks for your comments!
Pulled a bonehead move. Lost the washer that goes on the collar between the bearings in the rear hub. Of course the item is no longer available from Suzuki. Perfect...
Refurbished both wheels with paint & Buchanon spokes. Came out nice. Original rims are in decent shape.
Built up most of the motor. Waiting on a bearing for the top end and a Mitaka clutch basket. Stock one was heavily grooved. Seems there is not enough meat on the stock baskets to file out badly worn grooves.
Here is the machine as it sits today.
While I am throwing out plugs, a big shout out to ASV. They have always taken care of me, and as an added bonus I like the feel of their lever assemblies. Pricey? Yes. But worth it to me.
My goal was to have this build done in a month. Lofty goal for sure. Still waiting for another shipment or two from across the big pond, as well as from my local dealer. It will be close.
I did mount a DG pipe up for fitment. Going to try to refurbish the stock silencer. I also have a stock pipe & a DG silencer to play with too. Will coat the pipe with VHT hi-temp clear.
'Till more deliveries roll in...
The Shop
I raced one a few times back in the day. Loved that bike.
I will look into a petcock from a 08 model....
Few more deliveries have rolled in. Radiators from Mylar's, Mitaka clutch basket, top end bearing to name a few.
Waiting on a rear wheel spacer and the rear wheel area will be assembled. Waiting on exhaust packing and fork boots. Also waiting on some buffing materials and the plastic will be done also.
Side panels are a bitch to find. I have looked high & low for NOS or good used to no avail. Broke down & ordered a set from DC Plastics. I will probably regret that move. Time will tell.
AS she sits tonight.
This tank is wide. I can see the advantage of doing this conversion. I was not aware that it was/is possible. DO you have a link as to someone that has done it?
Might give me an idea of what is involved!
Edit: Did a search and came up with this:
https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Old-School-Moto,22/84-85-RM125-tank-to-R…
Looks to be fairly involved. Although I do have a bare frame. Then again it might be easier to start with a 125 frame and add the 250 motor. Still looking for that post.
Yay or nay...
While cleaning up today I found the washer stuck to one of the rear wheel bearings!! Yay!! So I proceeded to finish off the the rear wheel today. It is starting to look like a motorcycle. The NOS spacer still has not shown up on my doorstep. Oh well...
Looks like the nays have it on the seat cover. I proceeded to reinstall a fairly fresh stock replacement yesterday. Beforehand I did glue to the base new seat foam. Now the previously mentioned cover will not fit. Just not enough material around the edges. I do not know whose seat foam it is, since it came with the spares package with one of the bikes I purchased. And I do not know if, when I purchase a new stocker, if it will fit either. I guess I have to take a chance.
Waiting on:
Silicone hose set
NOS rear brake pedal & tip
Cushion lever mud guards (rubber & hard plastic)
Fork boots
84 Yammie petcock (somebody somewhere said it would work - better flow)
Polishing supplies
This build is my fastest build to date.My goal was a month. I just might make it!
As she sits:
Pit Row
Don't be 'that guy'.
Anywhoo...
Been waiting on my silicone hoses & fork boots forever. I massaged the best stock hoses & threw them on. Added Evans coolant & gearbox oil. I am pretty much ready for a first fire.
I think I will end up stealing the blue fork boots from my 83 RM250 that I have never fired after a restoration. Then I can break it in, jet it and add my decals.
I will be running 50/50 VP110/90 octane ethanol free with 40/1 Yamalube R.
As she sits tonight.
We were at a race, and I was cleaning the bike after the first moto, and as I was doing the chain, I noticed it.. we have no welding kit, but there is a pre 65 class, and they always have kit... I asked the guy over the way if he could weld it , he said , no problem, but not with the motor in.. so we pulled the motor, and when he got back from his moto, I went over , he fired the torch up and cracked on.. 5 mins later we were rebuilding it .. made the second Moto with about 5 mins to spare.. A guy was watching with his kid, and when we were done , he said ' you have done that before' .. and I had to tell him that we never usually kept them long enough to have to pull a motor..
But that is a great build , and I think its one of the prettiest bikes Suzuki ever did.
Here is a life hint: "If you enjoy working on your own bikes, do not go to work wrenching on other peoples junk." I took a part time job at my local powersports dealer twisting wrenches. While it is an enjoyable part time employment (for the most part), this job took away my passion for my own bikes, until very recently.
So here I am trying to finish up 2 84 RM250's, one a race machine and one a stocker.
Stocker:
Pretty much ready to go. Have to replace some fasteners that are on order and do a few odds & ends and it will be ready to fire. I have looked high & low for new plastic for this bike. So far I have found front & rear fenders, front numberplate and radiator shrouds. I am desperately seeking the side plates. Some of you have any stashed away? Hit me up please!
I cannot restore a fuel tank to save my life. Can anybody recommend a person that can handle the job?
Had to use a debadged DG pipe. I have 3 stock pipes, this winter I am going to try to make one good pipe out of all of them, unless I come across a nice stocker...
I am using an Ohlins shock. My stock one looks so bad. I am investigating a company that can refurbish the stock shock. Probably also happen this winter. Any recommendations?
Still looking for an NOS rear sprocket too...
Race bike:
This one has an Ohlins shock also. Waiting on Steve from Vintage Ohlins to ship it out and the one pictured will go back to Steve to have a different hose installed. The one that is on it currently is way to long.
This bike has new plastics too. Less the unobtainable side panels. Tried DC Plastics offering. They barely made it out of the bag. Not acceptable. I would rather use worn, torn & faded stockers.
Been waiting for my PFR pipe to come in. Finally it did. More on this fiasco in a separate post.
Another problem area on both bikes is the rear lower mud guard. Both the guard (hard black plastic) and the upper rubber guard are not available anywhere. I bought a couple 82 or 83 NOS rubber guards and somehow I am going to make it work. More on that design later.
Finding stock fork boot clamps has been a chore also, just a FYI...
Rant on:
The SOB doesnt fit correctly. Yes I can mount it up, but it is under stress. If you know anything about pipe mounting, an exhaust under stress WILL crack eventually.
The pipe hits the frame in 2 places.
No pic, but the front mount only has one spring retainer, should have 2. These springs are going to sing like a song bird...
The mid mount does not line up correct.
And here is the item that sent me ballistic: The silencer, while it is a work of art, does not have ANY mount for the right numberplate.
I have tried emailing Eric, no response. Next is a phone call, but from what I am reading that won't get any results due to no answer. I have not had the pipe that long, so I tried the email first. Time to step up my game...
Pretty much pissed about this exhaust experience.
Rant off
Other than the above issues the pipe looks pretty nice.
Why am I getting that feeling that I am about to be fucked, with no lube...
Nothing about out vintage bike fun is worth getting pissed off about. We have the rest of our daily life to aggravate us. If you get no help, have it modified by a welder and have him put a number plate mount on the silencer. I'd still rather go through all that than use a cheesy DG pipe on a bike I had so much fun building.
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