VOL. 52 ISSUE 29 JULY 21, 2015 P53
BY KIT PALMER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM BOOTH
A
fter getting some major
updates for the 2015 model
year, it comes as little
surprise that the 2016 version of
the Suzuki RM-Z450 takes on little
changes, though we were expect-
ing some long-awaited plastic
updates that it didn't get. Perhaps
next year. Let's hope so.
Last year, the RM-Z received
changes to the aluminum frame
to give it more flex and better feel,
and it also joined the air fork wars.
It was fitted with Showa's latest-
generation SFF-AIR Triple Cham-
ber fork, which we thought worked
well and had tons of potential, but
was far too complicated for the av-
erage rider (most air forks are, for
that matter). Not that you couldn't
figure it all out eventually, but these
forks do require a lot of knowledge
and constant attention. And that
can get a little tiresome after a
while. Still the new frame and fork
benefitted the RM-Z450 greatly (we
never liked the previous SFF spring
fork).
The frame and Showa SFF-AIR
Triple Chamber fork returns for
2016 as does nearly everything
