2015 450 MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
P48
SHOOTOUT
COUNTDOWN
R
ating the Suzuki gave us the
most trouble, but this has been
the case the last few years.
The RM-Z450 is a fantastic bike
and many people love it. So do
we—but not on every track.
Suzuki made several changes to
the 2015 RM-Z450 that are worth
noting. The biggest, in our opin-
ion, is the switch from the previous
(and not-so-good) Showa SFF coil-
spring fork for Showa's new 49mm
SFF-AIR fork—this was a much-
needed upgrade. The aluminum
twin-spar frame is basically all new,
too, and is said to be four percent
lighter than the previous frame and
has been designed for a less-rigid
feel from the headtube area. It also
got a three-position Holeshot As-
sist (aka Launch Control like on
the KX450F), a longer kickstarter
lever for easier starting, updates
to its five-speed gearbox and more
efficient water-cooling.
Without question, the Suzuki is
the best turning bike of the group,
and this is nothing new. The RM-Z
can carve an inside line like noth-
ing else, but it will also go outside
and anywhere else you want it to
go without complaint. Unfortunate-
ly, this comes at a price—reduced
straight-line stability. When speeds
5
TH
PLACE
SUZUKI RM-Z450
