Topic: Suzuki RM85

[MauiK3]

That is an impressive front fork!!

[BenelliSEI]

That is an impressive front fork!!

The entire bike is beautifully built and looks very strong.

[grcamna2]

That is an impressive front fork!!

The entire bike is beautifully built and looks very strong.

John,that's no beginner's bike.
I hope your grandson gets ramped-up,then gets out there with all gear-on and spins it   
How many gears does it have ?

[BenelliSEI]

That is an impressive front fork!!

The entire bike is beautifully built and looks very strong.

John,that's no beginner's bike.
I hope your grandson gets ramped-up,then gets out there with all gear-on and spins it   
How many gears does it have ?

I rode it today and you are correct. It’s too fast! I had to sit on the tank to keep the front wheel on the ground. He’s off to a Honda riding school, in the Ganaraska Forest, before he gets on it. May be looking for a “lazy” 4-stroke.

[RAFster122s]

It is going to be like forbidden fruit, calling to him…

[BenelliSEI]

Yesterday my grandson Jack spent the day in the Ganaraska Forest learning to use the clutch and gearbox on a CRF150. Electric start, super little bike with a lovely young gal as his instructor. Today he’s on the RM85 with 1/2 a tank of fuel gone already.  Wow….Greated a monster. Makes me smile.

[MauiK3]

Nice to see all the safety gear he's wearing.

[BenelliSEI]

Nice to see all the safety gear he's wearing.

Non negotiable! His Mom's here so safety first! At the school yesterday they spent the first 1/2 stressing the importance of gearing up properly for EVERY ride.

[BenelliSEI]

Another great picture.

[jgger]

He looks like he will outgrow that one pretty soon. Size wise at least. But maybe it's just the grin that makes it look that way.

[BenelliSEI]

He looks like he will outgrow that one pretty soon. Size wise at least. But maybe it's just the grin that makes it look that way.

You’re right! He’s 13 and almost 6’ tall! But for now he’s learning to use the clutch/gears and having a blast. I believe there is an “LM” version with bigger wheels and a longer swing arm. Trolling around to see if I can find a “broken” one…… Ultimately a 4 stroke Honda is next!

[grcamna2]

He looks like he will outgrow that one pretty soon. Size wise at least. But maybe it's just the grin that makes it look that way.

You’re right! He’s 13 and almost 6’ tall! But for now he’s learning to use the clutch/gears and having a blast. I believe there is an “LM” version with bigger wheels and a longer swing arm. Trolling around to see if I can find a “broken” one…… Ultimately a 4 stroke Honda is next!

XR200R ?

[BenelliSEI]

That’s what I’m thinking! The new 125cc bikes they use at the schools were amazing. Might be an option, but I’m looking for something older, that I can ride too!

[Kevin D]

My son and I went to a Honda dirtbike school in Ohio 16? years ago. There were 125’s and 200’s provided. My son at 13 or 14? got a 125 and I got a 200. I hadn’t ridden a dirt bike in 40+ years but I was thrashing the 200 by midday. It was very rideable and reminded me of my SL from 1970 with more power and a lot more suspension. I left the school thinking that a 250 would be appropriate for me, and my son would be up to a 250 in time. Junior did not have any motorcycling experience coming in but was doing very well on the 125 by the end of the day.
 On the drive home we were passed by a group of sport bikers. A Gixxer rider approached us on his rear wheel and passed us at 80+ mph. He tooled down the exit ramp and carried his wheelie around the bends to the stop sign at the end of the ramp. Junior got an eyeful of that, oops, wrong lesson for the day.

[BenelliSEI]

Kevin….. The instructor was so good. I think we’ll take him back for the next level, before the end of the season.

[RAFster122s]

Last year a kid on MC riding wheelie on major thoroughfare in Tucson (Speedway if I recall correctly) rode it into a pickup truck, he died.

[BenelliSEI]

Yup…..”it’s all good until it’s not”…….

[Kelly E]

I've seen several guys wheelie into parked cars at the park where we hung out during and after high school. It was always some fool that thought he was an awesome rider. I learned that wheelies are a bad idea.

[RAFster122s]

Made worse by the stunt rider demonstrations that the squids want to emulate, trying to be cool. The huge density of hooligan videos defying the law and those riding at insane speeds lane splitting does not help either. The videos of bikes, sport bikes, and other idiots running from the cops also pisses me off.