Difference between revisions of "Suzuki RV90"
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Suzuki RV90 " | In the mid-Seventies, [[Suzuki]] launched a little leisure bike, primarily intended for messing around on the beaches of California and Florida, onto tile American market: they called it the Van Van. It was known internally as the Suzuki RV90. | ||
==Straight Out of Disney== | |||
The little Suzuki looked as odd as it sounded, seemingly taken straight from a Walt Disney cartoon, which doubtless ensured its enormous success, albeit in an entirely different field than that int ended II\' its designers. The Van Van was built in 50, 90 and 125cc versions, and there was even a "Farmer" version with a rough luggage grid and an oil-tight chain-case. | |||
==An Urban Phenomenon== | |||
It was on the crowded streets of urban France, rather than the beaches of the USA, that the Van Van really caught on . Its huge saddle and little donut tires in spired confidence in its riders.Van Van looked easy, safe and comfortable to ride, and had a considerably more macho image than the other mopeds on the block. It rapidly attracted a whole new clientèle who might never have ventured onto two wheels if it hadn't been for this odd little leisure bike. Its success was even more puzzling considering that its low-pressure tires were designed for sand, which made the steering very heavy on blacktop surfaces and rendered the road holding somewhat chancy. | |||
==1972 RV90J== | ==1972 RV90J== | ||
[[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90J.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90J]][[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90-Blue-3697-0.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90 in Blue]][[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90-Blue-3697-1.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90 in Blue]][[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90-Blue-3697-2.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90 in Blue]] | [[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90J.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90J]][[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90-Blue-3697-0.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90 in Blue]][[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90-Blue-3697-1.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90 in Blue]][[Image:1972-Suzuki-RV90-Blue-3697-2.jpg|left|thumb|1972 Suzuki RV90 in Blue]] |
Revision as of 15:59, 24 January 2007
In the mid-Seventies, Suzuki launched a little leisure bike, primarily intended for messing around on the beaches of California and Florida, onto tile American market: they called it the Van Van. It was known internally as the Suzuki RV90.
Straight Out of Disney
The little Suzuki looked as odd as it sounded, seemingly taken straight from a Walt Disney cartoon, which doubtless ensured its enormous success, albeit in an entirely different field than that int ended II\' its designers. The Van Van was built in 50, 90 and 125cc versions, and there was even a "Farmer" version with a rough luggage grid and an oil-tight chain-case.
An Urban Phenomenon
It was on the crowded streets of urban France, rather than the beaches of the USA, that the Van Van really caught on . Its huge saddle and little donut tires in spired confidence in its riders.Van Van looked easy, safe and comfortable to ride, and had a considerably more macho image than the other mopeds on the block. It rapidly attracted a whole new clientèle who might never have ventured onto two wheels if it hadn't been for this odd little leisure bike. Its success was even more puzzling considering that its low-pressure tires were designed for sand, which made the steering very heavy on blacktop surfaces and rendered the road holding somewhat chancy.
1972 RV90J
- FRAME #: RV90-10001
- ENGINE #: RV90-10001
- ENGINE TYPE: ... 88cc 2 Strk.
- MODEL CODE: ... 271
- COLOR: Daytona Blue
- Black rims
- Black upper fork tubes
- White stripe on edge of front and rear fenders
- Black Suzuki with white outline on frame cover
1973 RV90K
- FRAME #: RV90-35601
- ENGINE #: RV90-36393
- ENGINE TYPE: ... 88cc2 Strk.
- MODEL CODE: ... 271
- COLOR: Laredo Red
- Silver rims
- Upper fork tubes primary color
- White and black stripes on front and rear fenders
1974 RV90L
- FRAME #: RV90-57055
- ENGINE #: RV90-57881
- ENGINE TYPE: . . . 88cc 2 Strk.
- MODEL CODE: . . . 271
- COLOR: . White
- Red and black stripes on front and rear fenders
- Black Suzuki on upper frame tube cover
- Skid plate
- Hydraulic front forks
1975 RV90M
- FRAME #: RV90-70623
- ENGINE #: ... RV90-71552
- ENGINE TYPE: ... 88cc 2 Strk.
- MODEL CODE: ... 271
- COLOR Coronado Blue
- White Suzuki on upper frame tube cover
- Silver air cleaner housing
1977 RV90B
- FRAME #: RV90-90674
- ENGINE #: RV90-91633
- ENGINE TYPE: ... 88cc 2 Strk.
- MODEL CODE: ... 271
- COLOR: Yellow
- Black Suzuki on upper frame tube cover
- White front and rear fenders
- Skid plate
- Choke lever mounted on top of left hand switch assembly