Screaming Bananas!
Published: 13th March 2007
Author: Words by Tony Marshall Photos by Sutty
Take two great bikes, one good motocross track, a gregarious tester and a grumpy photographer then mix them all together for a day and you've got one hell of an explosive cocktail.
Two-stroke motocross bikes seem to be extinct at world championship level as the all-conquering short-stroke thumpers have taken control of both the MX1 and MX2 series. However, at centre level and below the oil-burners seem to be making a comeback as riders realise the added financial strain of running a four-popper just isn't worth the perceived benefit in performance.
And there could be another reason for the resurgence in sales - the DEP two-stroke British championship. Over 300 riders plus reserves have registered for the 17-race series so far disproving the Japanese manufacturers' theory that two-strokes are history.
Unfortunately, despite their on-track revival in the UK, the big four have cut back on their two-stroke development budgets meaning your '07 smoker probably isn't much different from your '06 or '05 - this is certainly the case with the pair of Suzuki RMs which haven't seen any significant changes in the last couple of years.
In an effort to increase interest in their 2007 RM250, Suzuki GB have launched it onto showroom floors as a Ricky Carmichael replica. While there's nothing particularly performance enhancing in the kit, blinging gold SM Pro rims and a One Industries Makita graphics package - including gripper seat cover - transform the stock bike into a real thing of beauty. Mmmm Carmichaely.
The 125 is left as Suzuki intended it to look which isn't really a bad thing - if you like yellow of course. The fact that the running gear on the bike remains more or less untouched from '06 isn't a problem either as it was a totally stock - bar a DEP pipe - RM125 that won the DEP 125 Challenge underneath Ben Taylor proving there's still life left in the old dog - that's both Ben and the bike!
Speaking of old dogs, DBR's chief tester Tony D Marshall is knocking on a bit too - he's 32 this year - but with age comes experience and our boy has plenty of that - British championship race winner, GP glory-hunter and multi-time youth champion - and all in the era when two-strokes ruled the roost. If anyone knows their way around a 125 or 250cc two-popper it's Lil' Tone and despite his increasing waistline he's one of the few magazine test riders we know who's still plenty light and quick enough to race a 125 competitively at the highest level.
To put the pair of bikes properly through their paces we used the excellent Essex MX facility that's just minutes from junction seven of the M11 near Chelmsford. Despite relentless rain in the days leading up to the test the circuit was in surprisingly good condition thanks to the tons of woodchips and sawdust that are mixed in with the indigenous soil to create deep, loamy conditions.
With two bikes, one track and an impatient tester all ready to rip we waited for a break in the weather then went at it like crazy fools. Over to Tony D for his thoughts on Suzuki's '07 screaming bananas...
"With all tests I like to start with the bike that has the smallest engine and work my way up so that means it's the 125 which primarily gets my attention today. I spent a lot of years racing 125 two-strokes although to be honest most of my riding these days is done on 250 four-strokes.
"Suzuki have played a blinder with their '07 RM-Z250 - it's very light and feels closer to a 125 two-stroke than any other bike I've ridden. The 125 obviously feels light too - it's seven kilos lighter than the RM-Z - but unlike the thumper which feels quite flat I feel like I'm actually sat in the 125. This feeling is accentuated by the braceless Renthal Fatbars which have quite a high bend.
specifications
RM125
Capacity: 124cc
Bore and stroke: 54mm x 54.5mm
Transmission: Five-speed
Carburettor: Mikuni TMX38SS
Front suspension: Showa fork
Rear suspension: Showa shock
Front brake: Disc
Rear brake: Disc
Wheelbase: 1450mm
Seat height: 950mm
Dry weight: 87kg
RM250
Capacity: 249cc
Bore and stroke: 66.4mm x 72mm
Transmission: Five-speed
Carburettor: Keihin PWK38S
Front suspension: Showa fork
Rear suspension: Showa shock
Front brake: Disc
Rear brake: Disc
Wheelbase: 1470mm
Seat height: 950mm
Dry weight: 96kg
For full feature and pictures see Dirtbike Rider Magazine, April 2007