After spending the last three months riding and racing our Suzuki RM250, I've made some minor changes that have gone a long way. The biggest and most-noticeable was a Pro Circuit pipe and silencer. The new exhaust system not only smoothed out the power but also gave the Suzuki a good boost of top-end and improved overrev. I played around with the jetting as it was now a bit on the lean side, finally going up on the main jet to a 168 and dropping the clip one spot to the third position. With this jetting and pipe combo, the RM still works great on pump gas, even better than stock.
When I first rode the RM250 at the bike intro, the suspension was progressive but tended to blow through the stroke faster than I liked. Over time, I have played around with the clickers and the oil level in the fork, but the more hours I put on the bike, the softer the fork gets. The shock is a similar case: It blows through the stroke quickly and is very harsh from big hits. The suspension is becoming a little loose; at least it's time for a service. I'm not too thrilled with the stock Showa suspension; for me, it really holds the bike back.
Since I still love the RM250 and intend to keep riding it, my next steps will be major ones to dial in the bike. As the suspension is coming off for much-needed maintenance, I'll be sending it to MB1 Suspension to get more progression out of the fork and shock along with better bottoming resistance. I'm also going to try a Pro Circuit offset triple clamp that is claimed to spice up the handling. That, and the usual personal touches that suit my style-I'm all about style.