OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: newbee on February 25, 2008, 09:05:32 pm

Title: Suzuki RM250
Post by: newbee on February 25, 2008, 09:05:32 pm

Hi all, Have question about the RM 250, I have a Vin of RJ13A-102783. What year is it?
I think it is a 86 model, any ideas?

Thanks

Title: Re: Suzuki RM250
Post by: gerpster on February 25, 2008, 09:34:24 pm

I get 1985 or 1986 on a quick Google search.   

Title: Re: Suzuki RM250
Post by: vmx42 on February 26, 2008, 07:52:52 am

Hi Newbee,
I don't have access to the model numbers but a simple way to tell is to look at the rear suspension.
The '85 was the last of the Full Floaters that is compressed from both ends [has linkage rods on the swingarm and the bell crank on top of the shock]. The '86 was Suzukis first single shock where the shock is mounted solidly on the top and uses a linkage under the swingarm.
Thanks
VMX42

Title: Re: Suzuki RM250
Post by: Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout) on February 26, 2008, 09:08:10 am

how come they went away from the full floater design?  wasn't the logic that compressing shock at both ends was a good way to go?

Title: Re: Suzuki RM250
Post by: vmx42 on February 26, 2008, 03:04:17 pm

Hi Twistandshout,
I've heard many theories over the years:

Cost, the old Full Floater had a lot of parts and would have been expensive to produce. It is also a costly system to maintain as it has so many bearings [and they had to be kept within tolerance as the bearing play multiplied in the system].

Marketing, all the other manufacturers were using the same basic layout. Suzuki and Kawasaki were the last to follow.

Some people claim better mass centralisation [lower polar moment of intertia]. I reckon it wouldn't make much difference.

There are probably many other theories, but the reality was it took them many years to build a system that worked as well. And the funny thing with Suzuki was they went from the best rear suspension to the worst in one model year - the '86 model rear suspension was a complete dog. History has shown that the marketing people had more power to influence bike design than the riders or engineers.

As for the theory of compressing the shock from both end being a good one. Yeah it is. It has lots of benefits [many of them nothing to do with suspension quality]. Ducati still use a variation on the system on their Superbikes and Honda has used the concept on their MotoGP bikes as late as last year.

Long live the original Full Floater.
VMX42

Title: Re: Suzuki RM250
Post by: suzuki27 on February 26, 2008, 07:16:42 pm

The RJ13A was included in in the end of the run of the 1985F models and I presume then ran into the 1986.