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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128404
where the power starts tapering off. peaking at 3 I.8 horsepower. In comparison. the
KTM tops out at 36.6 horsepower at
12.250 rpm.
At the more bottom-end-demanding
Starwest track. however. the gap between
the 5uzook and the rest of the bikes narrowed considerably. but it still took a more
conscious effort to keep the 5uzuki up to
speed with the rest.
Once you get things figured out on the
Suzuki. however. you can actually hang
with the other bikes around the track pretty good. but you have to work a lot harder.
mainly to keep it in the meat of the powerband. With the Suzuki. you have the tendency to over-rev the motor. because
you're panicking because the other bikes
are pulling away from you. Short-shift it
and you'lI have. at least. a fighting chance.
The Suzuki's chassis. on the other hand.
is in the ballpark. It actually handles pretty
well. and the suspension is quite good. too.
especially after softening things up a bit at
both ends. The fork. though. is a little spiky
on the harder hits; otherwise. it's not too
bad overall. We had no real complaints
with the back suspension.
Comfort is not an issue with the RM-Z.
It still actually feels pretty good. but aluminum. rather than the stock steel handlebars that the RM comes with. would have
made things a lot better.
Considering all of the power that the
KTM delivers. it's nice to know that the
KTM has strong brakes - almost too
strong. though. Both front and back brakes
are very sensitive and touchy. which can
get you in trouble on dry. hard-packed sections of the track. Either the brakes are on
or off; there's no in-between.
At Starwest. the KTM was just as
impressive - if not more so. KTM says that
the 250 SX-F was actually designed strictly
with Supercross in mind. unlike past KTMs
that were tuned more for the sweeping
outdoor tracks of Europe. so you might say
that this KTM has been ·i\mericanized."
which probably explains why the KTM
turns so good and worked so well at
Starwest.
We liked the KTM's six-speed transmis·
sion; the bike always felt like it was in the
right gear for any situation. on any track.
Admittedly. we came to appreciate the
strong and grabby brakes at Starwest. You
need them that way when slowing for
turns immediately following a long tabletop
or double.
Off the track. the KTM was always
super easy to start. requiring just a light.
gentle kick to get 'er fired. All of the bikes.
however. were good starters. but the KTM
just seemed to be the easiest.
The quarter-turn gas cap? Nice idea but
kind of a pain to use.
SPECIFICATIONS
Suzuki RM·Z250
MSRP:
ENGINE:
$5599
Uquid-cooled, DOHC.
4-vaIve. single
DISPLACEMENT:
249cc
77.0 x 53.6mm
BORE & STROKE:
COMPRESSION RATIO:
12.6: I
Keihin FCR37
CARBURETOR:
IGNmON:
Digital AC-CDI
a..uTOi:....Wet, multi-