2016 250F MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
P64
SHOOTOUT
COUNTDOWN
6
TH
PLACE
SUZUKI RM-Z250
D
espite its dated looks, the 2016 Suzuki RM-
Z250 is one of the most changed bikes of the
group, but it wasn't improved enough to stay
ahead of the even more changed and improved
KTM or Husky, or the updated Honda and Yamaha.
It did, however, gain ground on the once king of
the class, the Kawasaki, but it still dropped from
third to sixth on our list compared to our 2015
shootout results.
The Suzuki is, however, a very good bike; it's
just that the bikes behind it last year—the KTM,
Husky and the Honda—just got big-time better. The
Suzuki is, however, improved over the '15 RM-Z
but just not as much as you'd think after all of the
changes it got to the motor and chassis.
Overall, though, the Suzuki is still a very good
motorcycle. Its motor has a more lively feel (not
necessarily more powerful, though), and its new
KYB PSF2 air fork is a big improvement over its
previous Showa SFF spring fork. In fact, one of
our test riders who flat out did not like the RM-Z
last year actually loved the new one, ranking it
high on his list, but he was in the minority with our
many testers, who basically criticized the Suzuki
for its comparatively weaker motor and heavier
