P80
SHOOTOUT
2018 250F MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
that either sent a wave of vibrations through
your boots and gloves, or a soft setup so soft
that it would shy riders away from hitting
triples with the same aggression they could
on other bikes.
The RM-Z250's lack of power might be
enough to hold you back from going for the
big jumps anyways. Of the group, this is the
bike that challenges you to get a good drive
off the corner, its ultra-soft power delivery
followed by an unimpressive midrange and
a top-end that seemingly signs off before it
begins. Metcalfe was blunt when pointing the
RM-Z's biggest weakness out, saying, "The
Suzuki lacks in every area of the powerband
in comparison to the others."
Being as optimistic about the Suzuki as
possible, we can't help but point out how
confidence-inspiring the RM-Z is on the track,
even if its performance is subpar for high-
level riders. The lack of power will come as
a burden when racing, but in every other
situation the bike teaches the rider how to
extract as much performance out of a pack-
age as possible, without harsh consequences.
The mellow powerplant and quick-cornering
chassis may be perfect for a younger or less-
experienced rider looking to learn the ropes of
the 250 class.
There's no doubt that the RM-Z250 has
grown long in the tooth, and that any sort
of performance upgrades would benefit the
Suzuki, especially if those changes are in the
engine department. With the current crop of
bikes now featuring electric starters and on-
the-fly selectable engine maps, the RM-Z250
is falling further and further behind.
It's hard to not expect an updated ver-
sion of the baby RM-Z in 2019 after Suzuki
delivered an all-new 450 for the '18 model
year, but only time will tell. Here's to hoping
that Suzuki gives the RM-Z a fighting chance
in next year's shootout!
