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Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:56 pm
by Starky
Bloody hell you are right Scorps.
I have clean forgotten the show and shine. I think the Paint Doctor should sponsor the event seeing most of it will be his work. Except for your outstanding contributions to the eradication of dull and scratched paint work. Maybe the Paint Doctor could sponsor me and keep me in bright shiny tanks and side panels. Now that would be neat.
I think I am now the proud owner of all the maroon/red bling in town.

Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 11:12 pm
by Scorps
Howdy Y'all,
My only contribution this year will be Dad's RL - the Paint Doctor has a KT tank and 2 sets of sidecovers as we speak. Looks like the Paint Doctor is making the most of KRudd's stimulus package!
I know the KT is coming along in the right direction - David Lahey has seen the only sneak peak photo's in existence - and his comment was "wierd"!!
Back on topic - Dad's RL should be even nicer, he has since:
Powder coated the frame and hubs black
Installed his "champagne" rims and stainless spokes
Polished the front fork legs
Sending some fatbars to the anodisers to get them "champagned"
Cheers,
Your friendly neighbourhood KawiMan,
Scorps
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:16 am
by Peter Paice
Back in 1976 I was approached by Suzuki and had a meeting in Sydney with Gen. Manager and Rep. from Japan. They wanted to do a RL250 similar to the Beamish Suzuki sold in G.B. It was to be called the PAICE RL250 and I would be paid for each bike they sold. Unfortunately this was less than Yamaha were already paying me so I declined.It was a pity as I think it would have been a winner based on the Prototype they showed me. I think it went to Kym Powell in S.A. There might have ended up a few more RL's in Maryborough.
Cheers
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:10 pm
by Ross Grimsey
Hey Peter, if they had of thown in a decent hat you may have reconsidered!! Funny how we used to think because we ride trials we have to wear a silly pommy hat. unfortunatly i did too!
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 1:38 pm
by Wazza
I was a bit sceptical of web site forums in the past. The problem was that I'd read so many that were made up of w#*kers writing in a manner akin to the way a teen would text on a mobile phone. But I must say that this Trials Australia forum is great. It's certainly the only forum I can ever see myself being involved in (much like the sport itself come to think of it). Why am I saying all this? Simple. Where else could you engage in a bit of nice articulate banter with a few mates when out of nowhere a legend like Peter Paice joins in! On top of that the reply Peter posted enlightened us to a point in time that could have very well resulted in Suzuki being a much more prominent force in the world of trials. For a passionate Suzuki nut like myself, stories like this are priceless. Thankyou Peter and I hope you keep up the posts.
Please excuse me now as I pop over to the "other" RL forum to take care of a little matter called STARKY! According to this so called mate of mine it seems I'm having "relations" with RL250's leading to several offspring. I purchased a TY175 off Starky last weekend to restore for my son Dylan (9yrs). What's that have to do with anything? Well I'm obviously going to need parts for Dylan's TY and I just happen to know where a couple of these live. If you go to start one of your TYs Starky and it won't go, I know nothing!
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:26 pm
by Starky
Wazza,
To get Dylan started on his own bike I don't mind helping where I can with parts. There are a few sad TY175's on ebay at the moment down the Gold Coast way, could be good for spares.
As you restore the TY it will become quite evident that you are dealing with a superior engineered product than that you have been used to working on.
I got my TY250 sorted enough to say that it is rideable this morning. I will be able to play with the big boys now. Wait until the TY175 Hot Rod gets off the bench.
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 6:34 pm
by Warren
Hi Guys
Not having much exposure to the Suzuki Trials bikes at all, what were they/ are they like. Is there any literature I can read on them as well as the old Kawasaki's.
Cheers Warren
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 6:59 pm
by David Lahey
Theres lots here about Kawasaki trials bikes here including an Australian magazine comparison of the Kawasaki and the Suzuki (and the Yamaha and Honda)
http://members.tripod.com/kawasakiKT/index-4.htmlAnd here is an interesting history of Suzuki trials bikes
http://geocities.com/chapter11vintagera ... ory_suzukiI hope the other Warren (Wazza) doesn't find out that there is a Warren not familiar with Suzuki trials bikes!
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 8:51 pm
by Starky
Re: Suzuki RL250 photos from the 1970s
Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 9:21 pm
by David Lahey
You've got a good memory Starky. The two RLs I was talking about a while back are even further North (somewhere near Mackay) than us but will probably be making an appearance at RTC trials soon.
I noticed that RL on eBay and was wondering when someone from Maryborough (who shall remain nameless but who we know has a liking for Suzukis and whose name starts with W) was going to phone up and ask one of us locals to have a look at it in person. Maybe W.... doesn't realise that Boyne Island is only 3 km away from both the Sophios and Lahey places.
This being the year that I am deliberately being kind to people who ride Suzukis, I would be happy to have a close look at that bike for W......
By the way, there was a Suzuki in last weekends trial at Bobs Creek, but it was a DS80. I think that W.... would have been excited all the same because it is from the same family of bikes.