VOL. 51 ISSUE 36 SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 P79
years, like the Yamaha YZ250F
and Kawasaki KX250F.
But it's not all about power.
The RM-Z has a smoothing-work-
ing and positive-feeling transmis-
sion. It takes little persuading of
the shift lever to select any of the
RM-Z's five gears with the throt-
tle wide open, and clutch pull is
also very light and offers excel-
lent feel. However, the Suzuki's
clutch doesn't have a great rep-
utation for holding up to a lot of
abuse: Aggressive riders will get
the RM-Z's clutch to fade rather
easily.
When it comes to starting
the RM-Z250, you just never
know—sometimes it starts on
the first kick, sometimes the fifth
(or third, or seventh, or second,
etc.). There doesn't appear to be
any rhyme or reason as to when
it might lite.
Even though the RM-Z isn't the
lightest (235 pounds claimed)
bike in its class, it always feels
as though it is. The Suzuki is well
balanced and has a narrow pro-
file that makes it feel light and
nimble between your legs. It's
very responsive to rider input and
inspires confidence on rough
and fast tracks. We also like the
bend of the RM-Z's Renthal alu-
minum Fatbar handlebar. Unfor-
tunately, you have less handlebar
adjustability with the RM-Z250
compared to some of the other
bikes, like the Yamaha and Kawa-
saki. Unlike the new RM-Z450,
the 250 does not offer any kind
of launch control mode.
But like the RM-Z450 the RM-
Z250 is a very good turning ma-
chine. Inside, outside, it doesn't
matter which line you take with
the little RM-Z, it'll go wherever
you point it, even if you point
it into the ruts, where it always
does a good job of staying.
Suspension is good, too. The
RM-Z is fitted with a Showa-made
Separate Function Fork (SFF)
fork, but it's not an "air" fork like
the SFF pneumatic fork found on
some of the other 2015 produc-
tion bikes. It still utilizes a single
spring (housed in the right leg
with damping control in the left),
unlike the SFF TAC-Air fork on
the 2015 RM-Z450. The main dif-
The RM-Z250
might not be the
fastest 250F out
there, but it still
has a solid motor.
Still a looker.
