Suzuki PE - is this the ultimate dirtbike?

[Beeza]

Bulletproof tough. Tamed down barely just enough from the explosive fiery far too-peaky RM two-stroke motocrossers. Are those unheralded PE Suzooks really just the absolutely utterly perfect off-roaders?

[scott411]

in the late 70's and early 80's yes i think they were,

[NordieBoy]

Unless you've just hopped onto a pre '80 PE175 from your usual pre '80 XR250 race bike.
Then you notice the powerband is about 1.5cm wide and stall it several times per lap

Now the XR may lay claim to the ultimate all-rounder though.

[laRIKin]

Well they were good in ways and then on the other hand, I know guys that would never buy one, ride one or even look at one again.

[Jantar]

..... Are those unheralded PE Suzooks really just the absolutely utterly perfect off-roaders?

I have owned both the 175 and the 250. The 250 was great for back country trails, and had power to spare, but the 175 handled like a dream. A slightly peakier motor meant that you couldn't just pootle on the 175, it had to be ridden, and ridden hard. Overall I preferred the 175.

[theblacksmith]

Ive heard some used to call them Piston Eaters???

[Kickaha]

Well the PE400 we used to knock around on was quite cool, but when a mate of mine rode it to Amberly from Chch he had to stop at Waikuku because his hands had gone numb from vibration

I'd be keen for another one to go trail riding on, it'd be even better for showing up some of the posers than the IT200 was

[NordieBoy]

I tried standing on the 175 and my legs get stopped by the side panels where they really bulge out around the shocks.
Most disconcerting the first time you feel something pressing into the back of your legs all of a sudden during a race.

[portokiwi]

i loved the good old TS 185cc that was a bike that could do allmost anything lol.
Had soooooooooooooo much fun on it.

[cheese]

I had a IT175 and to me that bike was the shit. Unfortunaltely someone bent the crank while doing the crang seals are really did turn it into shIT.

[GaZBur]

I had one for a while and thought it was a hoot for blasting - but a real pain to ride on the road or slow sections. It was either boggin down or wheel standing depending on if you were in the power band or not. It's more like riding a MX125 from the period rather than a 250. I changed it for a Yam TT250 thinking I would have more fun riding around on that but that was a mistake.

[B0000M]

I had a IT175 and to me that bike was the shit. Unfortunaltely someone bent the crank while doing the crang seals are really did turn it into shIT.

you and crank seals just dont get on do ya

[MSTRS:Me]

Ive heard some used to call them Piston Eaters???

Don't know, but the PE250 I had ate 2 bottom ends. It was a pig.
Edit...actually, I now recall it was the earlier TE250. The TE was the road legal TM, and the PE was the road legal RM - right? But the above is still true.

[NZsarge]

I had a IT175 and to me that bike was the shit. Unfortunaltely someone bent the crank while doing the crang seals are really did turn it into shIT.

Yeah I had a ported IT175J, really liked it but you dare not let the revs drop away, you had to be rowing on the gearbox like a mad man but when you did it was a quick bike for it's day, absolutely shat on XR250's of the same era.

Next came an IT250L and THAT was a real nice bike! Sweet suspension and mid range torque out the wazzoo!
XR's were better in the tight going but the moment thing opened up slightly it was hasta la vista baby!
I could only dream about what the 490 must have been like.

[B0000M]

man, im glad im not as old as you guys....

when i was 10, honda was just 1 year away from making the alloy framed CR250 lol