Suzuki RV90 Project Begins
When we were younger we used to scoot around on my Dad’s old RV90. And like all young boys, my brothers and I eventually rode that motorcycle into the ground. Sure we managed to resurrect it a few times over the last 20 years but eventually it just sat in the shed and would not run any longer.
I decided that my boredom recently is purely caused by the fact that I do not have an activity or project to keep me occupied. After spending a weekend out on the farm trying to get another motorbike running I thought wouldn’t it by nice to breathe some life back into the old girl. So last week I purchased the RV90 service manual off eBay and this weekend I began work on restoring this old relic. Already I have managed to strip the bike down, perform some general cleaning, pull apart the carburetor and I have identified several damaged parts which I will now begin to source.
Obviously the photo’s below do not represent the very very poor state my little RV90 is in, however I hope after this project I will at least have a working RV90… The beautification process will have to be done after I test my mechanical whit.
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January 20th, 2008 at 03:52
Hello, my history is about the same. My dad had a old RV90 in the 80s. At that time it was already old but run nicely. I used to ride it around with my girlfriend which is today my wife. In 2005 I saw one rv90 parked in one street here in my town and all that good memories from my teen ages came back to my mind. I decided then to buy and restore one. I found one in the internet, bought it, had it all desassambled and it took more than two years to have all pieces and parts renewed or bought new to start remonting the bike again. This end of 2007, at the last week me and my 14 year old son spent the hole week working on it.
The little bike is back all in one piece and already the engine runs. Just have to have some electrical minor problems solved and it will be even street legal again.
It was quite a project but the result is really good, the little RV90 is shinning like new. I can’t wait to go out to the streets again with it and make people turn their neck to see it passing by.
Regards,
Gilberto Mendonca. Brazil
January 30th, 2008 at 10:13
I just repaired my 1974 RV90. I got my parts form bikebandit.com they are very professional and sell factory parts. They should have everything to get you running again. Good Luck. Mark T., St.Louis, Missouri, USA
March 31st, 2008 at 10:19
Hi just found this site,, I was given a rv 90 not running, My son and I started to try to get it to run. any help on where to get a manual or where and what color wires go where would be app. The bike store near us didn’t even have a alisting for a battery??? Is it worth it or should I give up?
March 31st, 2008 at 18:59
Hi Harry,
I found this site very useful to determine the part numbers for the RV90 http://www.mrcycles.com/, however as I live in Australia I ended up sourcing them from my local Suzuki dealer and surprisingly they still stocked quite a few of parts I required.
As for the manual my advice is eBay. I have made slow progress since starting as the bike is situated at my parents farm, which I only get out to every couple of months. I am enjoying the challenge and learning quite a lot about motorbikes on a whole.
Hope that helps you decide what you should do.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:13
Hi,
I too have just embarked on a project to restore 2x RV90’s (1/1981 models 99%complete) , and am having huge trouble sourcing a repair/service manual for these bikes. Just wondering if there is a way of copying it or something, OR if you know of where to get a copy.
I am from Newcastle NSW Aus.
Please contact me with any info you think may be useful.
Thanks
Todd.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:37
Hey! I have the same question as Todd. I’m just looking or a few specs, like point gap, etc. My buddy has one and we are about to bgin the process. We are in the USA, and they are far more rare here than by you guys. It’s a great bike! Thanks!
August 11th, 2008 at 20:59
I too grew up on an rv90, and of recent have found myself gettin quite sentimental about the little buggers. Only problem is to find one of them is damn near impossible in this country(South Africa). Not because they’re not common, because that special little bike seems to stir up a mountain of nostalgia and sentimentallity in anyone and everyone thats had the privilage to have owned one.
So good luck to all, nice to know I’m not alone in my love for the Suzuki RV90.
Cheers
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:45
I was just given a RV90 by a lady in NewOrleans. Her father foought it back in early 70s and rode it very little. He never titled it. The spedo reads 220 miles. Turnes over good and seems to have pretty good compresson. Throttle was stuck but I played with it and freed up the needle etc. Now the choke is still stuck and I’m not sure how to go about it. The carb, looks ckean and new. I need a repair manual or info. on how to get it out and apart. Don’t want to break anything.
I have an owners manual which I’m willing to share. just help me find the info. I need. I believe, If I can choke it, it will start. Cass
September 8th, 2008 at 07:43
I am trying to get my 1974 RV90 in shape after several years of it just gathering dust. Like others above, I really need a repair/service manual! If you would run yours through the local copy shop I’d be glad to pay you for that plus your trouble … and it looks like you should have them do several and you can make a few bucks!
[I don't imagine such things were ever copywrited and even if it was, it must not be by now.] How many pages is it?
And Cass … I don’t know what all is in the owners manual, but I’m sure enough useful stuff I’d be happy to pay for you for a copy of it also.
I spent forever finding an ignition and magneto coil assembly … I think I got the last new one still on the shelf … in the world!
Found it in Singapore! It is running good now, but I still need a wiring harness to replace the current mess [can't get street legal without it ... blinkers, etc. Ignition key hasn't been hooked up in decades ... wired around to a hokey on/off switch! :-)] If anyone has one that they know is good, please let me know. In fact … if anyone bought a junker for parts and have a bunch left, please get in touch … there’s a lot of stuff I could use yet!
Thanks M@tyBoy for the post which got all this started! [And the cites.] We almost have a club formed here!
And good luck with your project!
Tucker [tuthomp@alaska.net]
September 8th, 2008 at 11:01
Hey folks! At RepairManualClub.com they have the repair manual available as a free download! [70 pages].
No apparent gimmicks. I downloaded it just fine!
Tucker
September 11th, 2008 at 19:03
Thanks Tucker the direct link to the RV90 page is http://www.repairmanualclub.com/index.php?dlid=1116. I haven’t attempted to download it so I would be interested to know if anyone has.
If you would prefer a hard copy then plenty of places still stock the repair manuals:
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Suzuki+50-120cc+singles
http://openlibrary.org/b/OL3210264M - Links on the right hand side
I’m trying to source a replacement ignition coil or possibly something I can use instead… any ideas welcome.
September 15th, 2008 at 15:08
M@tyboy,
I also have picked up a 1972 RV90. I have the carb cleaned and just ordered the coil from MR Cycles (http://www.mrcycles.com/fiche_section_detail.asp) as I too have no spark. The OEM p/n is 33410-27110 but has been replaced by p/n 33410-27111. I downloaded the manual which is actually for a RV125 but most of the parts are the same. Do a google search for “RV90″ and you will find most of what you need. Good luck.
Shawn
October 14th, 2008 at 00:59
I have one of those (’74 RV90) too! And am restoring it as well, BUT I have run into a question I can’t answer, and thought maybe you could…
I am at the point of connecting the petcock fuel thingy and have 4 hoses… two from the gas tank and two from the carb… I’m not sure which hose plugs into which port! Is there any way you could assist me here? I just need to know which hose connects to which port. here’s a photo of the petcock I have on my bike… (http://www.junkiejools.com/ebay/back.jpg) hopefully its the same as yours.
Thanks for any help in advance!
October 24th, 2008 at 17:46
Where can I get a copy of the manual for the RV 90,mine is complete but very tatty,it’s in a thousand pieces at the moment being powder coated and recromed ete,etc.I just love two-strokes and it’s a throw-back to the seventies.Thanks people!
November 6th, 2008 at 19:45
hey, Phillipe, we got a real copy of RV90, and will soon go to production, if you are interested, mabye you shall send me a mail at quentin@skyteam.cn
By the way, the bike is produced in mainland China, we nearly finished all the tests here, and waiting for the EEC & EURO3 homologation coming, soon, mabye you could buy from our dealer in Austrilia, hope it’s a good news to you.
November 9th, 2008 at 20:04
Hi,
i’m french guy and i imported a rv90 1972 from usa. it’s very great to run. I had rv125 model too but rv90 is better for me.
i’m looking for turn signal for this year model. (very difficult to find!!).
Olivier from France
December 9th, 2008 at 14:37
I Bought a 74 too,, It runs, but needs a head and cylindar gasket. It backfires right out the head?? Other than that im tying to get it street legal with the state of south dakota,, The man that sold it to me never had a title,, cause he never rode the fucker on the street<> I showed them a picture and told me i need to get the previous owner to get the title?? What a joke…