The Suzuki RV125 VanVan is a retro-styled 125 cc motorcycle with wide, low-pressure tyres, introduced in 2003 and derived from the original RV125 sold from 1972 to 1982. Riders call it a sandbike because those balloon tyres grip loose surfaces remarkably well.
Suzuki VanVan at a glance
| RV125 original | 1972–1982 |
|---|---|
| VanVan introduced | 2003 |
| Engine | 125 cc four-stroke, air-cooled, SOHC single |
| Bore x stroke | 57 x 48.8 mm |
| Compression | 9.2:1 |
| Gearbox | six-speed constant mesh |
| Final drive | chain |
| Dry mass | 117–118 kg |
| Seat height | 770 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 6.5 litres |
| Tyres | 130/80-18 front, 180/80-14 rear, tube type |
| Fuel injection | from 2007 |
History of the Suzuki VanVan
The original RV
The RV125 was made from 1972 to 1982 with a five-speed gearbox and an air-cooled 123 cc two-stroke single; the RV family also included 90 and 50 cc machines. It was a light trail bike with unusually fat tyres for the time.
The 2003 VanVan
The new RV125 VanVan appeared in 2003 with a four-stroke, air-cooled SOHC single of 125 cc, a six-speed gearbox and chain drive. The retro bodywork sits on balloon tyres, a 117 kg dry mass and a 770 mm seat height, and the bike is classed as dual purpose: it will cruise urban and suburban streets at 60 mph or ride sandy and rough trails, though it is not designed for heavy mud. From 2007 the VanVan switched from a carburettor to fuel injection. Its low-pressure wide-section tyres are what earned it the sandbike nickname, helping it find grip and propel itself across loose ground.
Living with it
The VanVan measures 2,140 mm long, 860 mm wide and 1,120 mm tall on a 1,385 mm wheelbase, with a 6.5-litre tank. Suspension is telescopic forks and a swingarm, both with coil springs and oil damping, and braking is a front disc with a rear drum. The engine uses a wet sump and transistorised electronic ignition with an electric starter. In Japan the same idea was sold as the Grass Tracker, a name that stayed popular with riders looking for a small, characterful runabout.
Design and features
- Balloon tyres: wide, low-pressure rubber for sand and loose surfaces.
- Retro style: a modern take on the 1970s RV125.
- Light and low: 117 kg and a 770 mm seat.
- Fuel injection from 2007: cleaner running than the early carburetted bikes.
Suzuki VanVan versions
- RV125 (1972–1982): the original two-stroke, five-speed model.
- RV125 VanVan (2003): the four-stroke revival.
- VanVan with fuel injection (2007): the updated engine.
- Grass Tracker: the Japanese-market name for the same idea.
The VanVan shares its engine family with the TU250 and its small-bike character with the AX100. More Suzukis are in the Suzuki collection.
Video: ZONKOs Corner: Suzuki VanVan 125 / On- und Offroad, Racing
Video by 1000PS – die starke Motorradseite im Internet on YouTube.
Sources
- Suzuki RV125, English Wikipedia: history, engine, dimensions, tyres
