Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1058408
2018 SUZUKI RM-Z250 The more forgiving nature of the suspen- sion is a welcome (necessary) upgrade on a bike like this. The precise handling and stable chassis of the RM-Z dare you to push harder, and with improved suspenders, you can do so without the fear of taking a wrong step and wrecking your wrists. Even with the PC-tuned suspension, the PSF2 still isn't as capable through the chatter and braking bumps as we know coil-spring forks can be. But the action is consistent and predictable, keeping a good front-to-rear bal- ance, and yes, smoother overall. The RM-Z is also a blast off-road, especially on single-track where its razor-sharp agility can really shine. I know, this is a motocross bike and not designed for trail riding. But there are few things in life quite as grin inducing as darting between bushes on a 250F like a scared rabbit. Guilty, your honor. If the RM-Z250 was your only bike, you could very well get along with this suspension package just fine, but when you know how good today's suspension can be, it's hard to accept anything less. Like the rest of the Japanese brands, Suzuki appears moving back toward the coil-spring fork design, and we're glad. It already did so with its 2018 RM-Z450, and the 250 has fol- lowed suit in 2019. Hopefully it will help elevate the yellow bike to a more competitive status, but until then, we can say with confidence that there is room for performance improvement on the Kayaba PSF2 air fork with a proper re-valve. P74 Project With our simple upgrades—FMF full-system exhaust and Precision Concepts suspension re-valve—we found ourselves with a much more appealing machine. The Cycle News RM-Z250 has a lot more spark and offers a smoother ride, and those upgrades could well have placed it a lot closer among its competitors in our 250F comparison. But whether or not it's the fastest or the fanci- est of the bunch, for a rider of my particular skillset, the RM-Z250 has a lot to offer. It's a versatile, dependable, easy-to-ride bike that I feel confident taking just about anywhere, like the golden retriever of the 250F class. Some might prefer a pit bull on the track over a golden retriever, but here's the thing about pit bulls—they might be faster in the hands of a pro, but they're not going to boost your skill level. There's a lot to love about a bike you can do more with. While it may not have bells and whistles like electric start, map switches or traction control, it also doesn't have the price tag to match. The basic elements are there, with decent fit and finish that won't have you immediately shop- ping for a new handlebar and footpegs. IN THE END In the end, we came up with a much- improved RM-Z250 that we enjoyed spending time on.