VOL. 51 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 19, 2014 P41
minum frame. Look closely and
you'll see the redesigned down-
tube and the reshaped main-
frame inner ribs. The result? In-
creased and decreased rigidity
in key areas, and a four-percent
reduction in weight.
In the power department, Su-
zuki didn't need to do much be-
cause everyone was already hap-
py with the RM-Z's mill, but the
449cc four-stroke liquid-cooled
DOHC four-valve engine still re-
ceived a few minor updates. The
ECU was remapped to refine
what we feel is already a solid
power delivery. The piston pin
gets a diamond-like carbon (DLC)
surface treatment for less friction
and increased durability, and the
lightweight aluminum cylinder
features a SCEM coating (Suzuki
Composite Electrochemical Ma-
terial) for increased durability and
more efficient heat transfer.
To making starting a little easi-
er (a slight problem with the pre-
vious RM-Z450s), it now has a
one-inch longer kick-start lever,
a redesigned kick-drive gear, a
relocated kick idle gear, a newly
added breather gear and a rede-
signed decompression system.
For more precise shifting
there's a revised gearshift cam,
and precision machining was
used to match the gears a little
better in the RM-Z's five-speed
transmission.
Engine cooling is now more ef-
ficient. A redesigned water pump
cover and a direct-connect hose
increases flow by 16 percent,
which is significant. A cooler-
running engine maintains power
longer. There is also a new Y-
shaped main hose (instead of T)
for a more equal flow between
the left and right radiators.
To help reduce noise, the muf-
fler, which looks the same on the
outside as it did before, has a
(Above) The 2015 RM-Z450 might
not look much different on the
outside, but it's a much-improved
motorcycle.
(Left) One thing that hasn't changed
much is the RM-Z's awesome motor.
