Classic Bike Review: 1976 Suzuki RM370-A
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- Опубликовано: 23 мар 2019
- This is a classic bike review of Suzuki's excellent 1976 RM370 motocross machine. The was the first of Suzuki's open class RM racers and a really important machine for Suzuki and the sport as a whole at the time.
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If you would like to read more about the '76 RM370, check out my Classic Steel on it at PulpMX.com pulpmx.com/2013/08/29/gps-cla... 
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I bought a 79 RM400 brand new when I was 15 and loved every minute of it. I guess that's why it's still in my Garage. The front tire is rarely on the ground! It just floats a couple inches off the ground whenever your on the gas, just dig it.
raced one for a couple of years 77/78 loved it
Ahhhh, the old 400 Tankslappers. I didn't even want them alongside me down a bumpy straight. You never knew when they would come careening across your line with the rider desperately hanging onto the bars. :-) I actually met both DeCoster and Robert in St. Louis the first time the Trans Am came through. Quite the humbling experience. Thanks for kicking up those memories!
As soon as these things came out the entire starting line in the open class at any level was full of these things. RMs of every size dominated local motocross in the Sacramento area during 1976 and 1977. Seeing Magoo and Cantaloupi go at it every weekend also made it awesome to be there. Unbelievable wheel to wheel battles that would go on from the drop of the gate to the end. Nothing better !
One of my all time favorite bikes! When I was about 10 or 11 years old we moved to Saudi Arabia from California fo my dads work. A friend of mine’s father had a brand new RM370 and it just imprinted on me as the epitome of cool. There were a bunch of us who lived in a contractors camp near Daharan who all rode dirt bikes, some of the best riding I’ve ever seen in my life over there in the 1970’s!
This bike was top class in its day from Japan..I had a TM250 for a while and sold that to trade up to the 1977 model of this bike the 370B..More power with much better suspension than the TM this beast really handled and it made me a much much better rider..Wish i still had it and kept them all..those where the real riding days..Good one Suzuki.
I had a yellow 72 TM 400, i was 16 at the time, that bike turned me from boy to a man, then got the RM 370 that was a dream to ride and almost inmediately started racing motocross, wich i did for 25+ years. Now i'm 60 and glad to find the channel.
I had the 1977 RM250, it was great bike and loved it. Sold the bike in the 80's and bought a 1984 RM125, another great bike.
Here, here, 78 RM250B with the plastic tank. Oh yea...
RM 370 is mid 1970's motocross Greatness ! 👍 Love it and thank you for the review !
You bet!
Loved your presentation on this bike , i had one as a kid 15 years old in 1976 and @ 135lbs i use to wheelie so easy :) i was Not a racer just loved the bikes :)
I owned a brand new 1977 RM100. Fun bike and very easy to work on. I miss that bike.
Just found your channel. Started racing in 75. Saw the change from TM to RM, YZ with its monoshock, and the Elsinores. It was a great time for MX. So many choices with Maicos, Bultacos, Husky, CamAm, etc... Miss those days, so its nice to see you bring back the memories.
George Kreiner it was cool when more brands were available, they all had different souls too
Come out to an Ahrma race and race those bikes again. We have a ton of fun
Awesome show! Sure brings back great memories. I just can't understand why someone can't make a bike like the bikes from the late 70's to mid 80's today. Simpler and easier to maintain. Maybe not a race winner, just fun to ride!
I raced MX through the 70’s and a couple of my bikes of the Suzuki’s were RM80,RM125B, PE175, PE250, SP370, PE400 . The 400 was so mellow like a four stroke, very easy to ride.
This was my favorite bike I ever owned in the B model.....it was so well rounded you could ride it to it's full potential. I rode it everyday for an hour or more for 3 years with just normal care and it never failed. Clean the filter often, change the trans with Bel Ray, watch the spokes and Ride!
I had 1 of these years ago! Had excellent front suspension, but I hated the rear! Dances all over the place! Nobody could pass me though, cause they’d get hit by my rear wheel bouncing from 1 side of the track 2 the other! Had awesome power! Like my CanAm 480! Was Kawasaki guy since 14, but best bikes I ever owned were my CR’s! 05 CR125R & ‘07 CRF 250R! Bought the Honda’s brand new! Dealer had 2 sell me on the 4stroke 250, but turned out 2 b the best dirtbike I ever owned! Been mx racing since I was 14! Luv ur vids! 👏👍
I had a '75 and '76 RM370 at the same time, in the late '90's. Talk about a fun bike to ride. It was by far the oldest bike in our group at the time, but had NO problem keeping up in the woods!
I sold them to a customer, around 2001, who wanted to go vintage racing with his son. $300 for both, both running and riding too.
Wish I still had them today....
I had a rm 250t rm 125x rm125 e then went back to older bikes. I still have a rmz 450 now but looking for a older 125 again. You can’t beat the old school bikes
On the piston ports.. I drilled 2 small holes in the piston on the exhaust side and used the vacuum of the pipe to pull in the charge..
worked better that I hoped it would. Suzuki had the best 2 shock system hands down..
My first moto bike was a 76' RM 125.
My favorite bike was a '79 RM 400, very durable.
Love your videos Tony, keep 'em coming!
Glad you like them!
My cousin and I had one of these in late 70,s takes me back.
Somewhere around 67-68 my Dad was approached by a bike shop to race a two stroke suzuki. He was running a 350 honda in the ooen class prior to that. Anyways he said nobody ever seen a 2 stroke bike before (this is in southwestern Pittsburgh PA area). He lost one race on that bike (took a second, he still knows the track and the turn on the last lap the guy passed him on). He was applying for his ama pro license as he had enough points, and got drafted and went to Vietnam and survived. It wasnt a tm, and my uncle knows what bike it was and the shop name as i forgot. Interesting seeing the suzuki mx history with the tms and what could have been for my Dad.
Good show and information, I have 79 rm400 has the original plastics, the bike is original 👌
These bikes have come a long way. Great stuff, thanks for sharing 🤟🏻
Hey when's the next vid dude. No rush 😀
Next week most likely
I did a full frame mod on a TM400 back in the 70's ... Cut the frame Dropped the motor 3" , lengthened the swingarm, Layed down the shocks, and built a new upswept over the motor expansion chamber. It handles a lot better.
Good video. Btw, the reason for laydown shocks is to make them progressive. They start off soft, and get firmer as they go up.
The first laydown shocks did the opposite - the mechanical advantage got greater (softer) the further up the stroke. Moving the bottom of the shock was better. Or better still, do both (e.g Marco, husky and VB monty). But then the hydraulics were over worked and over heated and ...pogo; oversprung and under dampened after two laps..
I bought one in '88. It was the first dirtbike I owned. Lots of blasting on that one! The aluminum gas tank cracked around the petcock of course. Fire bomb.
Excellent vid, you nailed all the fine points, and having owned the RM370 I can say it wasn't a fast bike, but it was so good you could ride it fast! Thanks, great work!
Lee Curry Very knowledgeable and complete assessment of this quantum leap model year. I was licking my chops thinking I could add something Tony omitted, but he did nail it. I owned an RM400 but never a 370. I still have a 76 Rm250 stuffed somewhere in my shed.
Being only a year older than Tony , I didn’t get to race these when new. I have though been racing Ahrma Historic for over 15 years. For Historic 500 the 370 A and B are good mounts . The A was a killer and the B smoother . It’s actually the among the most potent of the 75-77 Open bikes with only the 77 Yz 400 D or 440 Maico Being stronger . The European bikes of the era had better chassis but as much as the Rm flexed it still handles well. Exhaust is loud with joke of a silencer, shifting is actually good . My brother races one as he prefers a hard hitting rocket , while I like the broad power of the 390 Husqvarna. Wheels are actually ok too .
These videos are very informative. It would be better if you could have someone riding one today to add to this. I realize that there are not too many around & just a few in museums.
Good bikes, bad bikes, each manufacture has had their up's and down's. But one factor that has been the same since the 80's, is which manufacture hired Roger DeCoster. Where ever that man went, (including Suzuki), the bikes and racers he touched,---turned to gold. If there is one man who influenced the most, every dirt bike we race today and for the last few decades, it would be Roger DeCoster. "The Man", will live as long as this sport does.
You do great vids sir; presentation and most of all, knowledge. You should get a job at MXA, hard magazine. They need your talent.
Sir, you are so correct about Roger D...he is the man...nobody has come close to making motocross what it is today..the man
I bought one used in 77 and loved the bike. I felt like Roger D!
1976 RM---125 was the first MX bike I ever saw and heard. A neighbor got one, (still friends today), and I tell ya what! It was just the coolest thing a 12 year old boy ever saw in his whole life!!! :) My Mom hated the noise though. She got used to it. :)
One of the best mx bikes I have ever owned wish I still had it.
That was a fantastic report! Thank You!
I think 1971 was their breakout year. That was after the first European moto title. I was a teenager and remember it well. I owned one.
This is a great video. I was 12 in 76. Read Motocross Action religiously. I had a mere 1973 Yamaha LT-2...this RM was my dream bike.
Later (foolishly I guess!) in 1989 I bought a brand new CR-500 (2 stroke with I think 65 HP). OMG!
Oh, and subbed.
Nice work as usual TB. Keep em coming!! Especially pre 1990 stuff. #oldballs
Excellent. Enjoyed this very much thank you !
Tony, good run down on the RM 370, thanks for that. :-)
I think if Suzuki brought back the RM125 and RM250 2 strokes they would gain way more sales then just rolling out 4 strokes. YAMAHA still offers these and lots are sold to guys like me that couldn't be bothered with crazy expensive rebuilds and maintenance of race 4 strokes. The public has gone 2 stroke crazy again.. so offer a 2 stroke and sales will prove them as a very necessary part of the mx lineup. After 39 years of riding mx.. I'd never buy another 4 stroke race bike.
I think you are right. Having been a Suzuki guy for decades they'd be my first choice if I were to buy a new bike. Not gonna buy a 4 stroke though....
@@s.thompson867 most of us can't afford the expense of 4 strokes. Not to mention the noise level that closes local riding areas and mx tracks. The track I ran was close due to 4 strokes
enduro trucker Ernie Desjardins that’s exactly why I’m looking for an 85’ XR350, you take care of those and they are bulletproof , older 4 strokes are the way to go as far a as low maintenance. I’m going to put a dual sport kit on it, I’m sick,of loading and hauling, throw the garage door up and haul ass to the corner store and then the fishin hole
Dollar for Dollar it was the best all round motocross bike for 76 and 77
Ive rode a 74 tm 400 quite a bit and really enjoyed it, pulled like freight train all the way to 80mph. Great on power lines.
Yea it was geared up a bit, that helped the on off switch you were talking about. I remember those rm 370s brand new in show room, local suzuki dealer. Never rode one, but i agree good looking bike.
Had the same bike. Damn wonder I didn't get killed on it. Mine was bored 60 over and it was a monster!
I had a TM250 when I was 16 yrs old. It was destroyed in a fire before I had a chance to really get into it, but I do recall the rear shocks (yes, it had two, near vertical, placed near the axel) being waaay over sprung and under-dampened. ‘Twas a bucking bronc of a machine. I got a Honda CR250R Elsinore after the fire. As for true track, they did move bottom mount forward slightly in addition to angling them forward.
Suzuki.....Way of life!👌
Great comments and an independepth video keep the videos coming
That was interesting brings back memories.
Great channel.
How bout one on the RM 400s.
Maybe some of the 70's Spanish bikes?
Cool vid...love the history
I had a 76 rm 125 I loved that bike
Really well done ! ))
I use to pop a wheel stand on this groovy bike!
Had one of these back in the 70s. A real workhorse . Not a popular bike tho.Ended up putting a TT 500 yamaha engine in the frame, and rode that for a couple of years with some success in enduros.
Extremely popular bike they were about 35% of the open bikes on any gate around here
excellent job
Thank you very much!
very informative. thanks
My 76 stock OEM had the separate reservoir rear shocks. May have been an end of year bike that got the upgraded shocks but I thought all 76 models had them.
Favorite bike of ALL-TIME 💓
I had one in '77 and it was a fun bike to ride. Only problem I had was the back brake cable snapping off from the backing plate. The pistons can also be used on the early Maico 400 as they had the same bore and pin size. My friend's Bultaco 370 was faster but less reliable.
Very interesting - thanks.
A friend had a TM 400.
Man, better hold on tight.
I had a 73' TM-400 and I didn't think that the ignition was as spontaneous as most people make them out to be. I did however hate the harder starting, and the low momentum at idle from that small internal fly wheel. That ignition was definitely not a good one for trail riding, which was what I used the bike for. Eventually I ended up putting a TS-400 ignition on it and that made a wonderful difference for my purpose. The frame was as he said, weak and broke a lot. I was constantly welding it for repair. I also ended up putting a PE tank on it later for more fuel capacity. (that took a special mount that I made) I also shattered 2 transmissions in it as well. The original, and then the TS gearing, and then I went back to the TM gears. All in all, I had fun on it while I had it. I kind of miss having it around as something to toy with. It had lots of torque! Hummed through the trails in 2nd and 3rd with plenty of low end grunt. I did experiment one time and found out that the ignition on my TS-185 was similar in the way it mounted as the TM was. So we put the TM-400 ignition on the TS-185. Now that was a blast! It really perked up that little engine. It should be noted however that the TM ignition will only work correctly with the TM cdi box. There's something different about it, and will not run correctly on any other cdi box from the TS's. I ended up selling the ignition on ebay as a complete set, I think (if I can remember correctly) I got about $285 for it, and I'm sure it made someone very happy.
Laying down the shocks also increased the shock piston speed as it compressed through its travel. It was "rising rate", as they say the linkage brought in. It would be rising rate until the swing arm was perpendicular to the shocks, (but would not travel that far). The standard shock (almost vertical), was even a tiny bit of a riding rate. Bit nobody cared. haha
Bet the shifting was not as bad as early Sach s engine s , probably the most iffy shifting ever! Would have loved to ride a 370 . Did race a 74 TM 125 and it was fun. Earlier 70 s raced a Bultaco Pursang 125 class. I agree Suzuki should make a direct port 2 cycle !
I am watching the video now. Someone near me had a TM but I couldn’t remember if it was a 250 or 400.
DeCoster was THE man.
STILL IS THE MAN. Helped 4 Decades of Motocross kids. AMAZING!
Bought one for 100 bucks started road it before buying it. Carb dirty back tire Bald sprockets wore out. Got it home cleaned the carb. Went down my 150' gravel driveway. Cracked second gear. Looped it. Bald back tire chain. Fun bike.
Enjoyed this very much, just a comment though on the use of Phillips head screws.
I fell foul of the stripped out screw heads on Japanese bikes for many years until a seasoned mechanic put me onto JIS screw drivers, Japanese industry standard screws as it turns out aren't Phillips head at all !
TM was Japanese shorthand for "hurt me". I was riding an MXB 400 at the time and it was a good bike for the day.....only the feedback from the high-placed monoshock (mono-hop) could really kick your butt.
My 250 black engine beamish has a very close copy of the Yamaha reeds setup, as far as i know, no other Suzuki used this setup. it's so close a copy the Yam reeds bolt straight in with no mods
Ok I'm being a child right now...But I'm laughing my ass off at the slip of the tongue @ 11:37. @ my age things like that shouldn't make me giggle, but it is. Love your reviews and holy crap what a collection you have! Been riding bikes my whole life, I started @ 8 with a 1 yr old used 78 YZ80, then I got into racing & my dad bought 3 82 YZ80j's, 2 were for racing & 1 was for practice. Wish I had 1 of the 82's still, they were so strong! I used to sneak out on my older brothers TS185 even though I couldn't touch the ground on it. I quickly figured out to lean it on something to start it & take off, I felt like I was flying when I'd ride his bike. This was a great review, ty!
ghpjerry lol holy crap I did not even notice that I did that! Too funny
I had 82 YZ 80 first year for liquid cooling radiator on the front forks it was red and white! Fast little bike! 👍
@@mr.rm250rodneylynn8 82 was the 1st yr for liquid cooled and yes it was mounted in front...but it wasn't until 1985 that they were red & white. They were the classic black & yellow until 85. Those were the days weren't they??
@@mr.rm250rodneylynn8
ruclips.net/video/E0q8v-QmzDg/видео.html
The states models were red and white bro! 100 % I bought the bike brand new from nopa bike shop in 82! I asked when I bought it why is mine red and white and my buddy's was yellow and black he explained it was from the states! 👍 braaaaaaap!
Loved my 125
I rode both in 76. I worked at a Suzuki shop. I owned a 76 RM 250 and preferred it over the 370. 370 was big brute and made it hard to ride. 250 was also a brute, on or off on the power and no reed, but much easier ride.
Both used the same reed type intake but the 76 A model Rm250 was oversquare and a fast revving punchy engine . The 77 250 B was under square and broad pulling. It set the blueprint by using a smaller bore and longer stroke like the 250 Maicos.
@@jamessharp9790 your correct about the reed. Excuse my poor memory. I had a lot of fun on that bike. Rear hub broke but other than that a solid bike.
TM's were junk, the 400's were considered dangerous to ride. But they looked good! The RM's were fast out of the crate.
I agree as i had the TM250 back in the early 70s and it too was very dangerous to ride fast mainly because of poor suspension travel and a frame geometry that didnt work that gave terrible handling..So with a bigger 400 engine in basically the same frame the TM400 was suicide to ride fast or race..I remember guys back then racing them and mostly ending up in hospital for a while so as a result alot of TMs went up for sale back then my 250 included.
It's hard to believe the contrast - from zero to hero in one fell swoop.
Not Junk . Yes the 71 Tm 400 was a handful But it was the ignition curve that let it advance and hit so hard. Plus the chassis was just no match at all for the Euro bikes , but by 74 the Tm 400 was a fantastic bike. Sadly , the legend is greater than reality.
@@jamessharp9790 never had 1 myself as I wasn't around (born in 75) but the Yamaha SC 500 was just as bad.
@@Kickback-dm7zt I’ve raced both and I was born in 1968. Presently have 1978 RM125c, 1978 Rm250C2 , 2001 Rm250, 1976 Rm370A and a few other European bikes. Legends and wives tales do nothing to perpetuate the sport , but I suppose they’re cathartic in the same way as meth 🤷🏻♂️😂
Had a 74 tm 125...good bike.
please make a video of the 1978 Suzuki Rm 125!
My 14 year old son races one of those , he’s won a few times and leads his class in the series .
I had and raced a 77 rm370 now I have a 1980 rm400.
Suzuki was odd back then with their models, I think they also had a 370 B.1975 was tm125, halfway thru the year was rm125. Great video!
Yep, the B model came in 77. Then in 78 came the RM400.
Please do the history of the RM 500
Seeing all the magazines behind you, would you be interested in about an 85% complete collection of "Super Motocross" that were sold? Good shape too.
EarthSurferUSA thanks you very much but I actually already have all of them. 👍🏻
Didn't Magoo snap one of those TM's in half a bunch of times
My dad got me a 125 and he got the 370 they were good bikes . He road a husky 250 before and I came up from his old bulltaco
There’s tm400 vids up lol everything you said
Yep, Roller DeCoaster was the man!
I wonder if there’s any record of his reaction to the new 1971 TM400’s performance? Maybe he was so good that he didn’t notice that it was a man killer! TM 125s, however, were pretty good bikes. Of course the RM125 took it to a whole new level. I still like the looks of the old short travel bikes better, they looked low, sleek and mean. If looks had won races the TMs would have been total winners!
I wonder why the 250 had a longer swingarm they used to put em on the 400
No , the swingarms were the same 250-370 on the A , B went to a boxed arm but still same 250-370,
Aluminum arm on 78 C model 400 same as 250C2 .
I got a 1976 RM 100, my mom bought it for me brand new , anybody know where I can get the shifter side of the crankcase, it's broke were the shifting rod goes in ?
That’s the same side cover as the Tm100/125 should be easy to find on FB vintage Suzuki groups but check your dealer many Nos Suzuki parts still available.
I owned a 1976 rm 125 and to this day I don't believe I owned a better turning dirt bike and I've has lot's of bikes even my 2001 ktm125 and my 2002 ktm 250 din't turn as well as my old rm125 love that bike road that bike hard for 7 years wish i still had it.
Nice, very nice. 👍😎
i worked for a suzuki state distributer qld .aus in 7ts i personly owned tm 125 rm rm 125 s rm 250b was a great job working with bikes and rideing in my 6ts now still have bikes but ride a bit slower now lols
How about a history on the KX250 Bill Ward was one of the best
Are you sure the gas tank was aluminum? I think it was steel. My older brother had an RM 370 B when I was a kid and it was steel. I think the C's were the first plastic tanks.
My apologies, you are right. I was only 10 at the time and I assumed the tank was steel like his older Husky's.
I started racing on a 1972 Suzuki TM125, went to a 1973 Honda 125 Elsinore, 1974 KX250, A 1975 RM 370 and then a 1976 RM125. After those I kinda burned out racing. The RM370A did hit dealers in 1975 and was sold and tested as a 1975 and not a 1976. www.yeoldecycleshoppe.com/roadtestlibrary/2017/3/28/1975-suzuki-rm250-and-rm370-road-test
If ever noticed in movies and tv shows in the 70's they used the yz dirt bikes for stunts and action scenes.
They used all kinds
*SUZUKI owned the 125 class tho - 2 strokes are where it is at - Now KTM/Husky and other EURO bikes are innovating 2 strokes!*
It was a good semi mellow Sunday ride compared to something like the Bultaco 370 Pursang.
Funny because I’ve ridden Rm370 A and B at race speed As well as 168 and 193 Pursangs and the 370 Bultaco is smooth and torquey . The Rm is a hard hitter by comparison
A plus content
Greeves were the big bikes in the 60's early 70's. Not BSA.
Had a 78. Loved that bike. Had tons of torque! Traded it for a Harley Sportster
the way you slammed the TM400 made me wonder how much time you've personally spent on a TM400, considering you didn't mention the the 2 biggest faults with the bike, the 4 speed gearbox and not being able to start it without a compression release, I think it's a pretty good bet the answer is you never actually rode one. Was the TM400 a handful, hell yes, as I'm sure anyone who actually rode one would confirm, the TM400, especially the 71' was the scariest E ticket ride ever conceived on 2 wheels. As far as its predictability, it was very predictable, no matter what gear you were in, every time you twisted the throttle like clockwork the front wheel would shoot straight up toward the sky, if that isn't predictable I don't know what is. Did it handle well, ummmm no, it's kinda hard to steer with your front wheel always off the ground. The TM400 was the scariest bike ever made and the biggest adrenaline rush you could have on 2 wheels , and I've never seen anyone climb off one who in spite of trembling and being weak in the knees wasn't still grinning from ear to ear. Accomplishment with the TM400 wasn't about winning with it, it was about surviving it.......
I had a cyclone it did massive wheelies I miss that but the handling was absolute garbage and jumping it destroyed my knees and ankles.
Most never rode them. Just regurgitating urban legend and myth.
That was cooll
I rode a fellow's RM 370 one time. It looked like it had rolled out of Roger DeCoster's shop, meaning it was quite trick. I believe I was on it for a minute before it mouse trapped my ass. I was picking gravel out of my ass for a month or so afterwards. That bike had a light switch power band, I have come to prefer 250 bikes, I can usually use the power they make. The huge bore open class bikes of that era were fucking monsters.
Right on, I had one and did not dig the power band, engine wise my CZ 400 blew it away !!
I swapped out the steel stock reed valves for the Boysen plastic reeds. That made for a milder midrange hit.
I miss mine this bike is so light magnesium engine case very powerful bike vibration and noise scares you at first
I got to ride a 1976 RM125 back in the eighties and I thought it was pretty gutless at the time but I would love to ride a 250 or 370 now. I'm sure that big bore ripped!