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/1060787
2019 SUZUKI RM-Z250 FIRST IMPRESSION P72 move straight into shootout testing. The new RM-Z250 is still kick-start-only. Only two bikes in this class don't have electric start (Kawasaki's unchanged 2019 KX250F is the other). They both seem dated compared to the modern electric starting systems of the competition. Necessary in this class? Not really. But electric start is the new normal. Suzuki is brining other electronic tricks to the game. Their Suzuki Holeshot Assist Control (S-HAC) provides three modes of power management. There is a mode for slippery conditions or newer riders doing starts (A-Mode) and one for more aggres- sive power delivery where more traction is available and more skill is required to control power delivery (B-Mode). There is also the standard Base Mode for those in-between situations. Each mode returns to original ignition settings after six seconds or shifting into fourth gear (whichever happens first). Also on-board is Suzuki's fuel coupler EFI tuning. Suzuki gives owners two optional couplers to plug in—one providing richer-than- stock fueling and one providing leaner-than-stock fuel settings. Finally, inside the Electronic Control Module (ECM), Suzuki programs a traction manage- ment system. Suzuki claims this system constantly adjusts power delivery to maximize traction at all times by adjusting ignition timing and fuel- injector duration. This fine-tuning is not adjustable or manipulated by the rider. It's embedded into the system. We can't wait to compare traction to other bikes in controlled scenarios to see what it's all about. Right away, we're impressed with the bike's ability to find traction with its low-end power bias. We're not spinning out of control on corner exit. Suzuki also updated the RM-Z250 significantly for 2019 with chassis and suspension changes. The new frame and swingarm seem to be very rigid out of the box, with an edge of precise control built in that seems to sacrifice compliance and flex in some other areas. Likewise, the new KYB shock and KYB coil spring front fork have a tight, harsh edge to them so far. We're still breaking the bike in and looking for more compliance, but our initial impression is this bike is significantly stiffer than the competition. Most of our test riders have backed compression out on the fork significantly to get some compliance and (Right) We're still in the early stages of testing, but the RM-Z's chassis feels a little on the rigid side, and the forks are not exactly plush. A much stronger engine puts the RM-Z back in the ballpark compared to competitors.