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/365773
2015 SUZUKI RM-Z450 FIRST RIDE P44 bike a more stable feel. Overall action of the rear end is again impressive and is one of the better performing production shocks out there. Turning has always been a treat on the RM-Z and we are happy to report that it still is— nothing has changed. When it comes to the turns, going in- side or outside, or through the ruts or berms, it doesn't matter with the RM-Z; it handles them all extremely well. The updated fork and chang- es to the frame bumped up our confidence when entering the corner, too, as the bike seems to hold its ground better over the braking bumps. Stability, at both high and low speeds, is no- ticeably improved. You will notice it, too. The 'Zook's front brake could use some help. After riding the new CRF450R and KX450F that both got over-sized front-brake rotors for 2015, the Suzuki's front brake now seems a little weak in comparison. The bite just isn't quite there—evidently, our stan- dards when it comes to front brakes have risen a bit. As for the motor, not too much new to report here. It feels very similar to last year's mill, but the tweaks to the ECU seems to have smoothed things out a bit right off the bottom and added a bit more pizazz in the middle of the power- band. Top-end and over-rev feel the same—decent—but the meat and potatoes of this motor is still from bottom to mid and a little be- yond. Don't worry, the RM-Z is still plenty fast on top, but we feel that the RM-Z450 performs best when you short-shift it a bit and take advantage of its outstanding bottom-to-mid pull. This bike does seem to take a little less effort to start, and we liked the new launch control. It's simple to operate and really makes a difference on slick sur- faces, but we haven't had the chance to try it out on a concrete pad yet. With a less aggressive hit (Mode A), it's easier to get the power to the ground for smoother and more controllable launches. Again, we applaud the addition. We noticed that the bike is somewhat quieter. Suzuki as- sured us that the new muffler only robs decibels, not horse- power. As always, the RM-Z is comfortable in the seat. It feels slim between your legs and is easy to move around on, and we still like the Renthal Fatbar tapered aluminum handlebars. After just two days on the bike, it's easy to conclude that the 2015 RM-Z450, as simi- lar it looks to last year's, is a much-improved motorcycle. Suzuki kept what we already love about the RM-Z450—its motor, turning prowess, er- gos and maneuverability—and improved everything we didn't like about it—forks and overly rigid chassis. Yes, it certainly could use a fresh new look, but for now, we'll gladly accept the performance changes the Su- zuki got over a change of plastic. Maybe next year, though. But we are, so far, happy with what we see—or should we say, don't see—when it comes to the 2015 Suzuki RM-Z450. >>PROS: •Improved fork performance •More forgiving chassis •Launch control >>CONS: •Complex fork tuning •Tired looks •No included fork air pump Our number-one complaint with the RM-Z450 last year was the fork— not anymore!