05 RM 85 Good? Bad? Any issues?

[ocechap]

Looking at an 05 RM 85. Found one pretty cheap. Are they a decent bike? Any major issues with this year or model? Used for playing on mx track and woods riding. No racing really.

Thanks

Jim

 

[ocechap]

Not a big wheel, just fyi

 

[ncflattracker]

We had a 2005. All around good bike.The only thing we upgraded was the clutch basket and a pipe...

 

[DougRoost]

I prefer the KX100 (or a RM100 if you can find one), especially for woods. Less peak HP than the 85 but more torque. Add a flywheel weight, handguards, and skidplate and it's a woods weapon, with a 6 speed that gives it scary fast speed on top.

 

[150rguy]

What about a KTM 105 sx?

 

[griffbones]

I prefer the KX100 (or a RM100 if you can find one), especially for woods. Less peak HP than the 85 but more torque. Add a flywheel weight, handguards, and skidplate and it's a woods weapon, with a 6 speed that gives it scary fast speed on top.

I agree, I put a KX100 engine, ignition system and pipe in my son's KX85 chassis, and it is a woods weapon!

 

[tnrider]

i believe that the RM85 05/06 are the same. my son has been riding his 06 since july 06. we have had no major issues. only damaged part is that i bent the crossbar bringing the bike home (long story), so i replaced the bars in first week (stock bars are rather weak). make sure you have a pin or saftey wire in the front axle or the nut will spin off (that would be a bad thing)

 

[Cody305]

The biggest problem we had with our '05's were the frames broke. We had 2 of them. It isn't just the '05 models either. We had a '03 that did the same thing.
Motors are very good, suspension workable. You will need to safety wire a few different places, but for all around fun bikes they are very good. The Suzuki models have a tendency to "rattle" a bit more, but we never had any issues with reliability at all (other than the frames breaking) We also raced the bikes every weekend and practiced 2-3 days during the week, so they were rode hard.

 

[ocechap]

Wow, good info! Thanks folks!!

 

[Jasle]

same issues on our 05. broken frame. also broken shock linkage and suzuki had them on national backorder. PR2 and R&D make good aftermarket ones for the same cost as stock though.

 

[terrible]

Where are the frames cracking on the rm's you guys have seen broken?

 

[Cody305]

Ours broke on the front pipe coming down in front of the motor, just below the steering stem neck.