Suzuki RL250 test photos March 1975

[David Lahey]

Trail and Track magazine tested the road registerable version of the RL250 as sold by Peter Stevens Motorcycles in Melbourne and printed it in the April 1975 issue. I found the magazine today and remembered there was some discussion a while ago about the steering damper and other road-going gear.
At the risk of getting Westy excited, here is some of the test showing the steering angle limiters and steering damper

[Westy]

Hey well look at that. David do you have a readable copy of that file? I'd like to know what it says.
I can read some of it. It says that the stand looks terrible. I can read that when I squint.

I have a drama with my old RL at the moment. No go.
Did you know that thr RL can start backward just like on old Monty?

[David Lahey]

Just about anything will make a spark with the motor rotating backwards, except for some fancy designs by Yamaha (eg TY250) that had a diode in the wire to the HT coil. The ignition system can't tell which way the motor is turning, and most motors will still run with the spark happening after TDC.
If you PM me your email address I'll send you higher resolution copies of that test. Each page is a few megabytes at full res if you want that.

[brt650]

And just to butt in,
I have a 1961 Villiers 9E engine. Single cylinder ,197cc,twin points ,electric start(Siba).This engine is designed to run in both direction's .I believe it's out of a scooter or 3 wheeler not sure. When we start being able to go backwards without gaining five points I'll fit it to my Italjet.Not saying I'll be able to control it backwards .
Cheers