WHAT IS IT? 1999 SUZUKI RMX250
WHO? Toby Connor
WHERE DID YOU BUY IT? Facebook Marketplace
HOW MUCH? Not disclosed but it arrived as a rusty, neglected “roach” in desperate need of a full rebuild.
WHY DID YOU BUY IT?
I’ve always thought the old RMX250s were seriously underrated, so when this one popped up, rough, rusty, and gunked up, I figured it deserved another life. The frame was crusty, the motor was filthy, and every bearing felt like it belonged in a museum. But I love a challenge, and this was the perfect excuse for a proper ground-up rebuild.
I found it back in April, and last night I finally finished running and tidying the wiring loom. Once the new high seat foam and blue cover turn up, it’ll be completely done. I can send better photos when it’s finished!
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT?
Pretty much everything. Every bolt, bearing, seal, surface, and component has either been rebuilt, refinished, or replaced. The frame and sidestand were powdercoated, and a heap of parts, hubs, calipers, engine cases, swingarm, were vapour honed back to life.
It now runs Excel rims, fresh spokes, Renthal sprockets, and an RK gold chain. The wheels were trued with heavy-duty tubes and Dunlop tyres, and the chassis is packed with new bearings and seals (mostly All Balls), plus a DR-Z400 rear wheel bearing kit and ProX linkage kit.
The engine received OEM bearings, seals, and gaskets; a new piston and rings; a Wössner rod; a rebuilt crank; a fresh water impeller; a resleeved cylinder; new clutch and steel plates; and a ProX clutch basket. The gearbox got a new shift lever, and the bike now wears a larger brake pedal tip with all the matching OEM hardware.
It also copped new radiators and hoses, oversized footpegs, a Keihin PK38 carb, a DEL needle (impossible to find!), VForce 3 reeds, a new fuel cap, and fully rebuilt suspension with Race Tech revalving and stiffer springs. Both brake systems were rebuilt too, with new Goldfren pads and braided HEL lines.
Cosmetically, it runs UFO plastics, repaired and polished shrouds, a SKDA kit, CEET high-firm foam and SKDA seat cover, and a 96 RM250 subframe. There’s also an FMF Fatty pipe, FMF Powercore silencer, fork gaiters, B&B frame guards, a Force disc guard, Renthal FatBars, lock-on grips, a quick action throttle, Factory Connection perch, fresh levers, new cables, and a complete chassis/engine bolt kit.
The wiring loom was stripped back, simplified, and relocated to remove the bulky junction box and hide the condenser under the tank. Lots of little touches finish it off, 3D printed swingarm caps, aluminium line clamps, and refinished hardware.
HOW DOES IT GO?
It runs unbelievably well for a ’99. After the full rebuild, it fires easily, feels crisp through the range, and reminds you why these engines deserved more credit. It’s smooth but strong, pulls cleanly, and sounds mint through the FMF system. For a project that started as a wreck, it’s now something to be genuinely proud of.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND BUYING ONE?
Absolutely, as long as you’re ready for the detective work. The Australian RMX runs a mix of unique parts, and not everything listed online (including some ProX catalog items) actually fits the Aussie model. But if you enjoy rebuilding, restoring, and making something old look new again, the pay-off is huge. Sending parts away for vapour honing, powdercoat, or resurfacing is incredibly satisfying, and hearing a once-dead bike roar back to life makes all the effort worth it.
5 UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT YOU OR THE BIKE
- It started as a totally rusted, gunked-out wreck, now it looks and runs better than new.
- The wiring loom was the hardest part: lots of clutter behind the number plate had to be removed or relocated.
- The parts chase was frustrating at times, especially figuring out what fits the Australian RMX and what doesn’t.
- The vapour blasting and powdercoating were the most enjoyable parts of the build.
- I’m extremely proud of how it turned out. These bikes are underrated, and this one now feels special.
