P72
Project
2018 SUZUKI RM-Z250
tempting option to simply swap out the
pneumatic-spring fork with coil-spring
components, but our goal was to work
with the system at hand and see how
much performance we could improve
from a standard re-valve.
In our quest to find a suitable shop to
perform the task, we looked to the off-
road powerhouse Precision Concepts
Racing team. Robby Bell and his crew
obviously have the expertise to work well
with the Kawasaki air fork, with racers
Blayne Thompson and Justin Seeds on
the podium regularly at GP events such as
WORCS and the West Coast Grand Prix.
To our delight, Robby and his dad, the re-
nowned Bob Bell, were eager to take on
the task of dialing in our little RM-Z to see
how manageable we could make it.
As for a specific target for our suspen-
sion re-valve, we had Precision Concepts
dial it in for me, a women's expert-level
rider. Since I not only enjoy motocross,
but also riding and racing off-road, we
requested a GP-spec. As we pointed
out in our 2018 250F Shootout, the little
Suzuki has a docile and confidence-
inspiring nature, and that translates to a
very versatile machine that is capable of
being a well-rounded bike. Since plenty of
people (myself included) ride a combina-
tion of track and off-road—not strictly one
or the other—it made sense to split the
difference in this real-world project.
We didn't
address the
RM-Z's weight
issue, but extra
snap from the
engine helps
it feel lighter
on its feet.
