RMZ450-1 month into it...

[gonzo]

This update is for Satch and yes I still have my 250 but the 125 is sold.

Well after about a month of owning the RMZ450 I am still really enjoying the performance of the bike. It really handles like no other 4-stroke. Also the power delivery is very nice and the 4 speed I love. I know alot of guys dont and there are some sections where I wish it had five, not for more top end but for more range in sandy sections. I put a Dr D on it (thanks to dubach racing for the hook up) and that really made a difference in the power. It's amazing how much that stock system muffles that bike down. I have to admit though the first day with the pipe I almost took it off. It was so annoying loud even to ride the bike I couldnt take it. Well after that day it seems to be quieter. Maybe the packing needed to be broken in. I also put a quickshot on the bike. It's ok but not worth the price tag. It did help the slight bog on the low end but nothing really worth it. It's not much different than putting a smaller leak jet in but the bike comes stock with a 30 so I dont know what your options really are. All and all performance wise it's a great bike. Suzuki really impressed me and others with the bike.

I do have a few gripes though. First of all the graphics royally suck. They blow off when you powerwash the bike so I just completely ripped them off so now I am naked. Second the seat is not gripper. I really hate that. I am sliding up and down like dutch ***** in Amsterdam. Third for some reason the bike has been overheating and losing coolant every ride. It's not much but the bike sometimes stalls when hot (something the quickshot was supposed to fix). It's getting pretty annoying. Time for some EI!!! Fourth is the stupid manual chain tensioner for the cams. I dont know why they didnt use and automatic. If you dont adjust it you will spin your cams and blow your valves. It's a 10 minute fix but it shouldnt be. I will put this in the same book as the oil/coolant cover from the RMZ 250. And the biggest gripe I have is how difficult the carb is to work on. You can't get to it very easily. It's tucked behind the frame and the only way to really get at it is to completely remove it. Now that is pretty easy to do with the frame the way it is and having the hot start mounted on the carb.

If I had to choose between it and the Honda again I would still take the RMZ. All bikes have the neuonces and I can look past them. Part of owning and racing a dirt bike is working on it so dont complain when you have to. Besides it's much more enjoyable than doing my "real" job or chores around the house so I really dont mind. But performance wise, ergo's, and overall fun factor rank very highly on my scales. The RMZ is definitly a hit.

If you get a chance to take one for a spin I suggest you do it. They are really like no other bike Suzuki has built. I could never ride a different suzuki. This one I have felt 100% comfortable on from the get go.

[LoKi]

Sounds good. I can't wait till the day I have one of my own.

[BIGEVIL]

Gonzo your Avatar is mentaly disturbing. Any ways if you think the RMZ450 was good you should ride a RM250 its a way better bike IMO, blasting berms (among other things) is so much easier than on that big 450 its not even funny.

[Satch0922]

Good write up Gonzo. The RMZ is appealing because of all the accolades it is getting on the handling....sounds like a fun bike!

[Mr.Boof]

awesome, I hope the rmz 250 gets the same frame and some more reliable engine parts such as valves. That would be a great bike then.

[DCox]

Amazing first year offering.

Suzuki may seize the crown from Honda next time around . . . .

[Silver_Fox]

Originally Posted by DCox

Amazing first year offering.

Suzuki may seize the crown from Honda next time around . . . .

Do you think Suzuki was thinking about that when they signed RC?
I love the combination of RC and Decoster.

[gonzo]

Actually RC is saying there are a few things that need to be worked out on the bike for him. Whatever, I think it's a great bike. I think in the future all the brands will be more evenly separated. Honda just set the bar very high with the CRF and the other brands are now coming along to match. The only problem is going to be in the suspension arena for Kawi and Yamaha. KYB needs to come up with something soon. Right now the only KYB stuff that is any good is on the YZ250. The rest of the bikes have slightly different internals. Even still it's no match for Showa stuff. It's unreal how good that product is stock.

[DCox]

Originally Posted by Silver_Fox

Do you think Suzuki was thinking about that when they signed RC?

No. Suzuki as a company cares nothing about selling more motorcycles than Honda. In true Japanese fashion, their race team exists only for honor and glory in the sport.

And DeCoster works pro bono for the same reason . . . .

[pintlermotocros]

And the biggest gripe I have is how difficult the carb is to work on. You can't get to it very easily. It's tucked behind the frame and the only way to really get at it is to completely remove it. Now that is pretty easy to do with the frame the way it is and having the hot start mounted on the carb.

You need to have jap hands for that kinda stuff.

-Pintlar-

[Shifting]

Originally Posted by gonzo

KYB needs to come up with something soon. Right now the only KYB stuff that is any good is on the YZ250. The rest of the bikes have slightly different internals. Even still it's no match for Showa stuff. It's unreal how good that product is stock.

Know my question is.....if everyone feels that the Showa suspenders are a large part of the fact the Honda reins king and they are lightyears better than the KYB.....why don't the manufactures change to the Showas or why doesn't KYB set their stuff up like the Showa stuff? If some one on the track was killing me lap for lap and the only difference was our tires....I sure as heck would buy the same tires to even the playing field!!!

[gonzo]

Showa has the patent on their overall design and...they are owned by Honda. I dont know how Suzuki got the gear but they did some how. Honda doesnt want to have too many competitors on their stuff. Maybe Mr Honda and Mr Suzuki play ping pong together or something I dunno.

[Shifting]

As stupid as this sounds...I didn't know Honda owned Showa. Didn't Honda run KYB's on some of their CR125's???

[gonzo]

They still do. Apparently they can get KYB's for their bikes cheaper than they can do Showa's on them. I hear though that the suspension is part of the reason Honda's are so much. My RMZ450 was cheaper than a CRF250. That's just ridiculous. The CRF450 was 900 more. I mean they really do put the best stock bike together as far as components go. But that doesnt mean it's the best bike for everyone but for most it is.

[gonzo]

I just put some new graphics on it yesterday. How do you guys like? Not bad for really cheap graphics.

[Satch0922]

very nice

[twoofeach]

My buddy's race team has been waiting for Suzuki to come out with their four stroke for years. Once it came out, they ditched their CRF450's. They currently have 4! The first thing they did was ditch the stock pipe. They test for Thunder Alley and actually had a couple of pipes built. They were better than stock but not that great. There is a custom pipe builder here that built them a couple of pipes. Very nice. It doesn't look like something someone made out of their garage. It looks factory just like PC of FMF. My friend watched them dyno a pipe for a YZF and it added 5 HP. I'm sure the RMZ would get similar results. Not like you need it because that thing shreds. One other thing you might want to watch for is the fuel petcock. As you may have noticed, it is located directly behind the radiator. One unexpected left side plow job and that radiator will not be serviceable. Factory connection makes a mod to solve that problem. Apparently, it has occurred on more than one occassion. My friend found out the hard way in Hangtown. He got back to the pits and smelled the unmistakeable odor of hot antifreeze. He had to switch his suspension (front and back), number plates, etc...in less than 30 minutes. It would have been easier to just switch radiators but ask anyone that has ever worked with a hot radiator.

NOTE: I know a bunch of you out there use Thunder Alley pipes. Although the Thunder Alley pipe was less than impressive on the RMZ we are discussing here, the pipes built for the CRF450/250 pipes are excellent. Especially if run with the lowboy header pipe. I don't care what anybody says, I love listening to those pipes.

[K-9]

I'm really liking that bike I hear the darkside calling (thumpers), but I'm not listening

[DPW]

Looks good to me....sometimes cheap graphics are the best!

[drman]

That thing is pimp.


TOE--think you could get us a few pics of their bikes with the pipes?