Cycle News

SHOOTOUT P52 2014 250F MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT COUNTDOWN 4TH PLACE SUZUKI RM-Z250 L ast year, the Suzuki RM-Z250 was one of our favorite bikes – and it still is – but it slipped from second to fourth in our 2014 rating. Like we said, we still love the yellow bike but big improvements to both the Honda and Yamaha pushed the red and blue/ white bikes ahead of it – but not by much, especially the Honda. If, however, this comparison was based solely on Supercross, the Suzuki would eek out the Honda, mostly because of its amazing turning capabilities. But since our shootouts encompass a wide range of tracks, we preferred the improved Honda to the unchanged Suzuki. The Suzuki feels a little more one-dimensional compared to the other three bikes that finished ahead of it. With its super-sharp turning, great low-to-mid power delivery, spot-on throttling, solid low-to-mid-speed handling and tight gearbox, the Suzuki just feels right at home on more compact tracks with big jumps, which is something the RMZ's forks can handle much better than the relentless pounding of more higher-speed and generally rougher motocross tracks that have a lot of smaller and square-edged bumps. The Suzuki has a very good motor overall, and we like the RM-Z's adjustable coupler system for altering mapping/fueling, mainly for its simplicity. As mentioned, the bike has good bottom- and top-end, and excellent midrange performance, we just wish it had a bit more at each end - more grunt way down low (just above idle) and a bit more over-rev. We're nitpicking, of course, but you have to be that way when all of these bikes are so close in performance. But probably our single-biggest gripe with the RM-Z250 is the fork. Although it seems better fitted to the 250 than the RM-Z450, it still leaves a lot to be desired in the plush department, especially compared to the YZ, CR and KX's forks. The back end is, however, much better and on par with the other bikes, though a little stiff. In the handling department, the Suzuki hangs right up there with the best of them until speeds really pick up – that's when the RM-Z can start to feel a little busy and just doesn't have that glued-to-the-ground feeling as some of the others. But it sure can turn. Brakes are pretty much on par with the other Japanese bikes. Overall, the Suzuki is an outstanding bike that excels on Supercross-type tracks, tighter and smoother the better. The fork is below average, in our opinion, and that hurt its performance on rougher tracks, but it's still a very good all-around package that is certainly worth checking out. D no ch lik tu no

• Cover