2018 SUZUKI RM-Z450
IGNITION
FIRST RIDE
After 10 years, the RM-Z gets a major refresh
Brendan Lutes
Since introducing the very first fuel-injected 450CC four-stroke back in 2008, Suzuki’s then-groundbreaking RM-Z450 has been quiet on the update front for the past decade. Only minor changes have trickled in and— to be blunt—the flagship RM-Z has fallen behind the cutting edge. For 2018 the RM-Z450 has a reworked engine, an updated frame and swingarm, plus fresh suspension components. All key items in any recipe for a return to greatness.
Suzuki claims higher peak horsepower and broader torque from the updated (not all-new) 449CC powerplant, accomplished through a new cylinder head with its intake port shape-matched with a new intake camshaft profile and a 30-percent larger air-filter opening. More air, more power. The throttle body is completely new, now with a higher-pressure fuel pump and the injector relocated to spray fuel directly at the throttle butterfly. Suzuki Holeshot Assist Control system (S-HAC) remains for 2018, which helps to smoothly apply power during starts via two available modes, A (updated from last year) and B. Lastly, the engine received improvements to the transmission and clutch, mostly to increase durability.
Complementing the new engine is an all-new chassis. Updated frame construction features new spars, hexagonal subframe rails, and a new steeringhead design and location (10mm rearward versus 2017). The results are a half-pound-lighter frame that results in more front weight bias for improved turning ability. A new thinner-wall aluminum swingarm also saves a quarter pound. Ergonomically, the new chassis means a narrower rider compartment, which, when combined with a flatter bar bend, improves overall comfort.
The biggest news is the fork. For the past few years, Suzuki and other manufacturers pushed air-spring fork technology, but it wasn’t well received. Pumping up the fork to the correct psi every ride was an obstacle, and the fork was also difficult to set up properly, so Suzuki has abandoned the air fork for 2018 and used a new Showa fork with conventional steel springing. The Showa shock is also all new and is the first of its kind on a dirt bike, using technology that’s referred to as Balance Free Rear Cushion like that used on the flagship sportbike, the GSX-R1000R. The BFRC system uses a separate damping circuit outside of the shock—the idea being that isolating compression and rebound circuits avoids the moment of “balance” that occurs when the wheel changes direction in the stroke.
After a day riding at the track, the feeling of the bike was more familiar than we would have liked. Right off the bottom, the engine feels a lot like the old RM-Z. It pulls longer, but it’s not necessarily stronger. At best, Suzuki fans will love the little bit of over-rev gained. Throughout our testing, we found that the leaner (white) ECU coupler helped wake up power delivery, giving it a harder hit throughout the rev range, hike the engine updates, the new chassis and suspension feel strikingly similar to the outgoing bike. There have been small improvements in comfort and ergonomics, but the RM-Z is still the heaviest 450 on the market. In most corners, it dives in with authority, tracks where you put it, and exits with confidence. One complaint, however, is the fact that when we first sat on the bike, the rear felt much higher than the front, even with the proper 105mm of sag.
2018 SUZUKI RM-Z450
ENGINE TYPE
Liquid-cooled, fourvalve single-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT
449cc
SEAT HEIGHT
37.8 in.
FUEL CAPACITY
1.6 gal.
CLAIMED WEIGHT
247 lb. (wet)
BASE PRICE
$8,899
THE NEW RM-Z IS A STEP FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS MODELS, AND AS A COMPLETE PACKAGE IT’S A BIKE THAT SUZUKI FANS WILL LOVE.
This helps the RM-Z pivot quickly through a turn, but more emphasis on the front end means the new Showa fork feels soft under braking and when landing from jumps. Plus, while the shock does provide good action in most conditions, it tends to kick when entering corners, putting more load on the soggy fork. As a package, the new suspension is a welcome improvement over last year, and once we became familiar with the bike and its nuances, we enjoyed its handling—especially cornering.
After such a long wait for a new RM-Z450, the initial excitement has been dulled a bit. Portions of the new RM-Z still need a little massaging—namely suspension settings and weight reduction. Even so, the new RM-Z is a step forward from previous models, and as a complete package it’s a bike that Suzuki fans will love. It still offers everything that has always made it a worthy MX bike— great cornering, comfortable ergonomics, and a solid engine. In spite of the few gripes, this new RM-Z450 is a great offering from a manufacturer that has been falling behind its competition for years, and we’re excited to see how it evolves.
