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General Specifications for the RL250 can vary from publication to publication. Most of the differences seem to be just a mistake or a typographical error representing the same value in both metric and our decimal system. For example, the Suzuki Service Manual states that the RL250 has a 1.63 meter turning radius (in Japan, I guess) and the US RL250 has a 53 foot turning radius. Maybe that's why the "RL250 doesn't turn well". That one's easy since someone just left the decimal point out. It should be 5.3 feet. On the other hand, the 1975 RL250M Owners Manual states the Maximum Horsepower is "1.8 HP at 6,000 rpm". There's that missing decimal point. Granted, most of the differences are insignificant but if an RL250 owner only has one reference, there would be an unsolvable question about a specification's accuracy. Four resources have been pulled together here; the original Suzuki Service Manual - published June 1974, 1974 RL250L Owner's Manual - published April 1974, 1975 RL250M Owner's Manual - published August 1974, Clymer Suzuki 125-400 Singles 1964-1981 Service, Repair, Maintenance manual - 10th printing November 1996. An 'x' just means that the publication didn't have a value or reference for the category. Anything highlighted in red is an obvious typo. There are a couple of odd things, like '18 ps' from the Suzuki Service Manual instead of '18 hp' (horsepower), that is entered as found in the publication. Remember that the 'differences' in the 1974 RL250L and 1975 RL250M are not necessarily by model year. I discuss my impressions of how and when changes were made here. The RL250 ignition system is known as P.E.I., or Pointless Electronic Ignition. In spite of this very unfortunate name, the system has proven itself to be almost trouble-free. Being electronic, the ignition advance is built-in to the CD Ignition Unit and it is non-adjustable. Only one part number Ignition Unit is listed for the two model years. The differences in timing values given below are quite different and I don't know which is 'correct'. The timing is set by such a secure and simple method that, once accomplished, there is no real need to worry, check, or tinker with it. It's as 'set and forget' as anything I've ever dealt with. The fuel-oil mixture shown below was, of course, pretty standard fare for the mid 70s. Motor oil or automobile automatic transmission fluid was specified for different tasks because there just wasn't motorcycle specific lubricants readily available. Today, an owner would need to be prepared to take some verbal abuse for the cloud of smoke that could be tracked from space emitted by his RL250 using a 20:1 mixture of motor oil and gasoline. A modern semi-synthetic in a mixture of 60:1 will do wonders for your engine, the environment, and interpersonal relationships with your fellow riders. Speaking of modern lubricants, there is a short discussion of transmission lubricants here and fork oils here. Clymer Suzuki Service Manual 1974 Owner's Manual 1975 Owner's Manual Dimensions Overall Length 80.1 in 80.1 in 80.1 in 80.1 in Overall Width 33.5 in 33.5 in 33.5 in 33.5 in Overall Height x 44.5 in 44.5 in 44.5 in Wheelbase 53.0 in 53.0 in 53.0 in 53.0 in Ground Clearance 11.4 in 11.4 in 11.4 in 11.4 in Weight 199 lb 199 lb 119 lb 199 lb
Performance Maximum speed x 104-120 kph (65-70 mph) x x
Engine Type 2-Stroke Air-Cooled Gasoline 2-Stroke Air-Cooled Gasoline 2-Stroke Air-Cooled Gasoline 2-Stroke Air-Cooled Gasoline Cylinder Arrangement Single Single 1 1 Displacement 15.0 cu in (246cc) 246cc, 15.0 cu in 246cc, 15.0 cu in 246cc, 15.0 cu in Bore x Stroke 2.76x2.52 in (70x64mm) 2.76x2.52 in (70x64mm) 70x64mm (2.76x2.52 in) 70x64mm (2.76x2.52 in) Compression Ratio 6.7:1 6.7:1 6.7 6.0 Maximum Horsepower 18 hp @ 6,000 rpm 18 ps @ 6,000 rpm 18 hp @ 6,000 rpm 1.8 hp @ 6,000 rpm Maximum Torque 16.6 ft-lb @ 4,500 rpm 16.6 ft-lb @ 4,500 rpm 16.6 ft-lb @ 4,400 rpm 16.6 ft-lb @ 4,500 rpm Starter Type Primary Kick Primary Kick Primary Kick Primary Kick Valve System x Piston valve Piston valve Piston valve
Fuel System Carburetor VM 28SH VM 28SH VM 28SH VM 28SH Fuel Tank Capacity 1.3 gal (5.0 liters) 5 liters (1.3 gal) 1.3 gal (5.0 liters) including 1.3 gal (5.0 liters) including 1.5 US pint (0.7 liter) reserve 1.5 US pint (0.7 liter) reserve Air Filter x Wet polyurethane filter Wet polyurethane filter Wet polyurethane filter
Lubrication System Engine Gas-oil Mixture 20:1 Gas-oil Mixture 20:1 Gas-oil Mixture 20:1 Gas-oil Mixture 20:1 Transmission Oil Capacity 1.5 pint (700cc) 700cc (1.5 US pint) 700cc (1.5 US pint) 850cc (1.8 US pint)
Ignition System Type P.E.I. P.E.I. P.E.I. P.E.I. Timing 21º @ 4,000 rpm 21º @ 4,000 rpm 14º @ 1,000 rpm 14º @ 1,000 rpm 21º @ 6,000 rpm 21º @ 6,000 rpm Spark Plug Type B7ES NGK B-7ES NGK or B-7ES NGK or B-7ES NGK or Nippon Denso W22ES Nippon Denso W22ES Nippon Denso W22ES Transmission and Clutch Clutch Type Wet multi-disk Wet multi-plate Wet multi-plate Wet multi-plate Transmission Type 5-speed constant mesh 5-speed constant mesh 5-speed constant mesh 5-speed constant mesh Transmission Gear Ratios 1st 2.41:1 (29/12) Same Same Same 2nd 1.80:1 (27/15) 3rd 1.41:1 (24/17) 4th 0.86:1 (19/22) 5th 0.64:1 (16/25) Primary Reduction Ratio 4.16:1 (75/18) 75/18 = 4.166 4.166 (75/18) 4.235 (72/17) Secondary Reduction Ratio 3.60:1 (54/15) 54/15 = 3.600 3.600 (54/15) 3.600 (54/15) Drive chain x #428, 120 links #428, 120 links #428, 120 links
Suspension Front Telescopic Fork Telescopic, Oil Damped Hydraulically Damped telescopic fork Telescopic fork with hydraulic damper Rear Swinging Arm Swinging arm, oil damped Hydraulically damped swinging Swinging arm with hydraulic damper arm 5-way 5-way adjustable Steering Steering Angle 60º 60º (right and left) 60º (right and left) 60º (right and left) Turning Radius 64 in (1,630mm) 53 ft (1.63 m) 5.3 ft (1.63 m) 5.3 ft (1.63 m) Trail x 3.0 in (76mm) 3.0 in (76mm) 3.0 in (76mm) Caster x 63º 63º 63º
Brake Type Drum x x x Front x Right Hand operated, Right Hand operated, Right Hand operated, internal expanding internal expanding internal expanding Rear x Right Foot operated, Right Foot operated, Right Foot operated, internal expanding internal expanding internal expanding Tires Front x 2.75-21 4PR 2.75-21 4PR Semi-knobby 2.75-21-4PR, Trial universal Rear x 4.00-18 4PR 4.00-18 4PR Trial 4.00-18-4PR, Trial universal
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