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/1481963
QUICKSPIN I 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z250 & RM-Z450 P106 some, might make up for its lack of power on top, but the suspen- sion is sprung for supercross riding with large jumps. If the en- gine output was increased and/ or the suspension rates were decreased, the yellow submarine might stand more of a chance. Granted, most of these complaints can likely be cured with some tuning from your local suspension tech but needing to fork out some extra money on your way home from the dealer- ship isn't ideal. However, by sav- ing some money on the sticker price, you will likely have a little extra dough to throw at the Zook's suspension. Pair that with an aftermarket exhaust system and an ignition, then both RM-Zs would bump up a notch in their overall competitiveness. Overall, the Suzukis are still a solid platform for someone who wants a new bike. We've seen teams like HEP and BarX Suzuki holeshot main events on the 250 and the 450, so we know the motors have potential. The stock RM-Zs don't have the bells and whistles of some of the other new models, but they are cheaper in price. Suspen- sion can almost be overlooked but the real kicker here, no pun intended, is that both bikes would make huge strides forward if they came equipped with an electric start rather than the old-school kickstarter. A few extra tweaks, like a pipe and ignition, would also give the Suzuki an extra bump in power. Our fingers are crossed that the yellow brand will eventually sort out the suspen- sion gremlins or possibly bring us a new generation soon. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z250 ($7899) / 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z450 ($8999) ENGINE TYPE 4-stroke, single VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4-valve DISPLACEMENT 249cc / 449cc BORE X STROKE 77.0 x 53.6mm / 96.0 x 62.1mm COMPRESSION RATIO 13.75:1 / 12.5:1 FUEL SYSTEM EFI, dual-injector type STARTING SYSTEM Kick LUBRICATION Semi-dry sump CLUTCH Wet multi-plate TRANSMISSION 5-speed constant mesh FRAME Aluminum, twin-spar HANDLEBARS Renthal tapered aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION KYB, 48mm fork, coil spring, fully adjustable / Showa fork, coil spring, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION KYB, single shock, fully adjustable / Showa single shock, linkage, BFRC technology, fully adjustable FRONT BRAKE Single 270mm disc, 2-piston caliper REAR BRAKE Single disc, 1-piston caliper WHEELS D.I.D Dirt Star rims, black FRONT TIRE 80/100-21 in. Dunlop MX33 / 80/100-21 in. Bridgestone Battlecross X30 REAR TIRE 100/90-19 in. Dunlop MX33 / 110/90-19 in. Bridgestone Battlecross X30 WHEELBASE 58.46 in. / 58.3 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 13.0 in. SEAT HEIGHT 37.5 in. / 37.8 in. FUEL CAPACITY 1.66 gal. / 1.7 gal. WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED) 233 lbs. / 247 lbs. RIDER AIDS Suzuki Holeshot Assist Control (S-HAC), Traction Management System