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Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 9:33 am
by Straycat
LOL, I knew you'd have a reply to that. :smile:

you were quite right though, it feels like a bigger bike than it is.

Since I now have the RG250 safety done I have to get out on it for a ride too, I suspect it will feel quite small on the road by comparison.

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 4:07 pm
by ns86
Dave, I am wondering if your RG250WW is possibly a 1986. I just procured a 1987 RG250WW mk4 but it's the one with the 17" rear wheel, bigger forks without anti-dive, larger front disks and the 3 spoke rims. Just noticed that your RG250 say's 1987. I'm not too knowledgeable about these. Even the paint is different on the 1987 version and it was possibly a JDM only, but not certain. Stumbled upon this bike and a 1983 RG250 also and had no idea there were 2 WW versions made. I actually thought it was a hodgepodge of different ones put together when I bought it but it's actually correct and the last version with low production apparently. Any more info appreciated!

From RSBFS comments- 1987 RG250 MK4 it was an in between model between the RG250 MK3 and the 88 RGV250 and I believe only sold for 6 months and only in Japan in limited numbers.

http://raresportbikesforsale.com/1986-s ... ly-1-mile/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 4:23 pm
by silverstrom
Dave's is a 1987 Cdn spec Mk 3 that was a blue and white bike that I bought locally (Peterborough). It was dated and registered as an 87. I was never going to get the restoration done, but did gather all of the parts and Dave looked bored so off it went to Powassan. I was thrilled when Dave decided to do a WW themed build. We both agreed that blue and white RG250s look awful. It's going to look very nice when it comes back to my collection :smt003

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 7:30 pm
by ns86
Was the RG250WW Mk3 sold in Canada? What years was the RG250 for sale In Canada? I only recall a couple. Can't be certain from this

http://www.suzukicycles.org/RG-series/RG250-Gamma.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:54 pm
by silverstrom
ns86 wrote:Was the RG250WW Mk3 sold in Canada? What years was the RG250 for sale In Canada? I only recall a couple. Can't be certain from this

http://www.suzukicycles.org/RG-series/RG250-Gamma.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm not sure Dan. I've never seen a WW 250 that is Canadian spec. I always thought no WW RG250s came via Suzuki Canada. As you know, they did bring in 100 WW 500s.

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:13 pm
by Straycat
Hi Dan, sorry for the late reply, congrats on the wolf. John is correct its an 87 mk3. It started out as one of the 110 blue and white bikes that came to Canada. I chose the WW livery that I liked the most (it's not actually 87 WW livery)

To my knowledge, there were no WW RG250 bikes imported through official Suzuki channels to Canada at all, only WW Rg500s.

As I understand it, the Mk4 was Japan (and possibly Europe?) only, and did have some differences as you indicate. It was 1987 for the mk4. Canada got the Mk3 in 1987 instead.

Feel free to email me if you have any other questions, if I can help at all as you start in on the mk4. Happy to share what I know.

Dave

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:36 am
by ns86
Thanx Dave, Appreciate the offer. The Mk4 part was a big surprise to me, AFTER I bought it, Dan

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:34 am
by Straycat
Post a few Pic's Dan, would love to see it. Good surprises are a rare thing after we buy these old bikes bikes we all love, its usually the other way around.

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:47 am
by ns86
Hi Dave, First I found a 1983 NS250 needing a facelift. All there sans left side cover but disassembled to a rolling chassis with the engine in it. A few days later 2 rg250's, both historically significant. First and last years of the JDM RG250. The MK4 is all there but the front fairing which will be a challenge in itself. The MK1 is missing a front end and tank so I will need to collect parts for a few years and may end up having to part it out which would be a shame. I am trying to resurrect significant models when they come up. All 3 of these being quite rare in Canada. Large numbers of MK1's worldwide may help so fingers crossed for reasonable parts for it? Not much to look at presently and at my Nephew's still, Dan

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:47 pm
by Straycat
Understood Dan.

OEM front fairings seem to be hard to get, especially the Upper and the 2pc belly pan (optional on the Canadian models). Miyabee/Spongebob had a lot of RG parts a few yrs ago but lately nothing at all, they dried up like the NS400R parts did.

Skidmarx in the UK make very good fiberglass re-pop fairings for the RG250 if you decide to go that route. I have a set, they are very nice. I used the bellypan with oem mids and oem upper in my restoration as I never found an OEM Belly Pan (and stopped looking since, so i you happen to find 2, let me know :) )

https://www.skidmarx.co.uk/road-replace ... ork/suzuki" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Id also recommend that you keep an eye out asap for the 6 "U" shaped brackets that join the mid fairing to the lower belly pan. They also seem to be like rocking horse poop. It took me for ever to find 6 of them. If your bike already has those, you're lucky.

The RG250 community didnt seem too active when I was restoring mine, but the RGV250 Forum is very active and there are RG250 Guys on there (RG section of the forum). That would be one place to post what you need.

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:20 pm
by ns86
Thanx for the info and links Dave. Hopefully I get a bit lucky! Seems I am better at finding bikes and parts to do the restoring than actually doing it, unlike yourself and John! I do enjoy the hunt though, Dan

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:46 pm
by silverstrom
Make a cheeky offer and restore it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-RG-25 ... Swe6FaHtPl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not sure about the year for this bodywork https://www.ebay.de/sch/m.html?_ssn=bru ... 0&_sacat=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 12:34 pm
by ns86
Thanx for the links.. Seems Miyabee sells lots of RG250 items on their Yahoo Japan site but rarely on the Ebay one. Need to find a way to access Yahoo Japan without a Proxy bidder or 3rd party shipper!

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 2:10 pm
by Straycat
Hi Dan, you may already have this link to Miyabee's own site. Ive ordered via this site before and shipping has been fast and easy

https://www.miyabeeplus.co.jp/?lang=EN& ... &keywords=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: FIrst Post - New RZ500 Owner

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 6:38 pm
by ns86
Thanx Dave and yes I have order from there too. Naomi said 5 or 10% cheaper than ebay I recall. They seem to be using it more again and posting less on ebay lately.

Getting schooled on the early 250's. I realized that an NS250 frame is different than an NS400 frame, which makes sense, the bike being significantly lighter. And that an Rg250 MK1 and MK2 frame are the same and MK3 and MK 4 are updated to heavier extrusion. MK1/2 and MK3/4 engines are quite different also. Never knew much about the early RG 250's. I have seen 2 1986 MK3 WW paint schemes, so 3 WW versions for the RG250 in all. Not sure what the style similar to the Canadian 500 WW is about? Not sure about VIN #s for MK4 WW but mine is after one that was listed on Ebay so that's a good sign. It is possible I have a standard MK4 with gold wheels and ww instruments still! Also read there were less white/red/black RG500's than the 100 WW's brought in by Suzuki Canada, around 80.