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/1367911
P134 RIDE REVIEW I 2021 SUZUKI RM-Z450 (Above) Here is what sets the 2021 RM- Z450 apart from the 2020 model: you get this, Suzuki's new engine tuner package, sans battery. Now you can customize those three engine mapping couplers that come with the bike. (Left) Suzuki could be forgiven for not giving the RM-Z450 electric starting had they given it less weight, which is our biggest gripe with ol' yeller. Otherwise, the RM-Z is a fine motorcycle. PLUGAND GO With the Suzuki MX-Tuner 2.0, used in conjunction with your Apple or Android phone and the free WiGet app, riders now have a way of customizing the power characteristics within each of the bike's three couplers that still come with the RM-Z. The Suzuki tuner features four pre- programmed map options (Ag- gressive, Smoother, Richer and Leaner), but you can also build your own map by adjusting the fuel injection and ignition system settings. Or you can simply bor- row and swap custom maps with your fellow RM Army teammates. The app performs other tasks, as well, such as monitoring engine functions in real time and logging maintenance records. Before we dove into the new tuner, we first hit the track and re-familiarized ourselves with the RM-Z450 and its 11-year-old plug- in coupler system, which allows you to swap out mapping settings via the three pre-programmed couplers (lean/aggressive, stock, and rich/mellow) that you get with the purchase of the bike. Out on the track, with the standard (stock) coupler in place, the Suzuki provides a friendly power character com- pared to many of its rivals just like it did last year and the year before that, and... The respon- sive yet smooth power delivery with the standard mapping can be a welcomed contrast from some of the pull-your-arms-off power that we've felt from other bike manufacturers lately. How- ever, you find yourself frequently shifting to keep the Suzuki in the powerband's sweet spot. Next, we moved to the more aggressive coupler, which al- lowed us to carry gears farther. This resulted in less shifting and, overall, less work. It also gives the Suzuki some more pep and a more aggressive feeling mid to top, making it our map of choice of the three couplers. We didn't bother with the rich (mellow) coupler that is designed for extremely slick (wet or ultra-dry hard) surfaces. Plus, based on our past experiences with the RM-Z450, the mellow couplers never left the toolbox. Okay, time to play with the new Suzuki 2.0 MX-Tuner. The phone/app, which communi- cates with the 2.0 tuner, looks very similar to the Yamaha Power Tuner and is easy to use after the usual short learning period. The hard part, however, is the setup process. Out on the track, with the (Right) Smooth controllable power is still an RM-Z450 trademark.