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Home » motocross bikes » 2011 Suzuki RM-Z450 – First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

2011 Suzuki RM-Z450 – First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

By: chris barrett

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

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<p>With the manufacturers focusing on the 94-decibel sound requirement, everyone expected to see the performance side take a bit of a backseat this year. I mean, after all, louder is faster, right? Well, after spending some time on the 2011 RM-Z450, I have changed my outlook, and guess what? Louder doesn’t always mean faster. The quieter, more ear-friendly 94 decibels not only sound much better for the rider and spectators but will also surprise you when it comes down to actual performance on the track.Suzuki definitely did its homework. With a new exhaust system, revised intake and exhaust cam profiles, upped compression and updated ECU settings, the yellow fellows did an amazing job of dropping the noise level and keeping the power right where you want it. We did notice that the more pleasing noise level smoothed out the hit a little from a year ago, but that’s mainly reflected in the power feel and not at all in the power delivery. For example, most people crack the throttle, feel the back tire break loose and their bike wants to rip from their hands-then instantly claim they have the fastest bike around. Maybe there is some truth to that, but nine times out of 10 it won’t show an improvement in lap times. And yes, some test riders wanted more hit down low for some of the tight, tacky turns at Milestone and begged to go up a tooth on the rear sprocket, yet after getting more time on the RM-Z and heading to some other tracks such as Racetown 395, Competitive Edge and Glen Helen, we got a great feel for the torque and delivery of this motor-and there is a lot to be said about traction and drivability, and the new Suzuki says it all.The power delivery of this motor gives traction everywhere you want down low; with a seamless transition through mid to top and great overrev, this is not the kind of bike to slap you silly and call you stupid. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not slow by any means, but it is easy to ride consistently…consistently fast. It will get you there just as quick, if not quicker, and with a lot less effort than the other 450s.And we feel this strong, tractable power is a real benefit to the RM-Z chassis. It helps with that “take whatever line you want and change direction whenever you feel like it” sensation. The RM-Z can turn later and pivot off just about any rut or berm or, if those aren’t available, any little dirt clod will suffice. Now you may think that by having such awesome cornering traits the Suzuki might be a little unstable at speed, but it’s not. The RM-Z is very stable. That stability combined with the “go where you want” cornering really opens up your options on the track and changes the way you look at connecting turns. As for the suspension, it does what it’s supposed to do. It may not be the best out of the box, but it is definitely not the worst. It is very balanced and doesn’t do anything truly wrong. It uses the whole stroke and really plays well with the power and cornering traits of the RM-Z. By using the whole stroke, it soaks up the chop and keeps the power to the ground, and luckily still has great bottoming resistance. It is a well-rounded setting for a wide variety of riders.But Suzuki didn’t stop there with the development of its revised RM-Z; it also looked toward some added durability. The 2011 comes with stronger main bearings, a new cylinder design for better crankcase breathing, and a more durable injector in its 43mm Keihin throttle body. The front brake was updated with a new aluminum piston (replacing last year’s resin piston) and a refined rotor. This improved the performance (the front brake has excellent control and feel) and bumped up the durability thus far (always a good thing). The new RM-Z also comes with a stronger seat cover to help reduce long-term wear. And as of now, we haven’t seen any signs of tearing, but we still have plenty of hours to put on this bike, so we’ll let you know.
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<p>With sound, performance and durability all improved for the New Year, what more could there be? How about ease of use? If you want to change up the EFI settings, say for high humidity, loamy or sandy track conditions, then just snap in one of the two additional plugs for richer or leaner FI settings (2010 only came with one additional richer plug). Suzuki also relocated the oil filler cap more toward the rear of the clutch cover for easier filling, so no more oil-drenched sidecovers and floors. And again, for your convenience, a fuel line plug is provided so no dirt can enter the fuel pump during routine maintenance. Polish that off with a shiny new Renthal Fatbar and the only thing you’ll need to be worried about is what number plate backgrounds to stick on.All of our testers were bummed out when the ’10 RM-Z didn’t make it for the 2010 Dirt Rider Shootout, because after riding it, everyone knew it would have been an excellent competitor. For 2011, the RM-Z450 is here, and she means business. With some great handling characteristics (it’s light, nimble, goes where you want when you want combined with the all-important stability) and some great motor characteristics (tractable, smooth, controllable and don’t forget the 94-decibel sound level) the new Suzuki is more refined, more durable and more of a very complete package. If there is one thing that really helps come shootout time and all the bike swapping that goes on, it is when a bike has that dialed package feel. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled to see how it all unfolds come the 450 Shootout. It will be a packed class.<br />
<h3>Specifications: 2011 RM-Z450</h3>
<p>MSRP: $8,149<br />
Actual weight: 253 lb<br />
Seat height: 37.5 in.<br />
Seat-to-footpeg distance: 21.0 in.<br />
Footpeg height: 16.5 in.<br />
Ground clearance: 12.0 in.</p>
<h4>What’s hot!</h4>
<p>94-decibel sound level!<br />
Excellent cornering while still being very stable.<br />
Very maneuverable, easy to change direction at any moment.<br />
Strong, tractable power is easy to control.<br />
A complete, well-rounded package that just won a National MX title.<br />
<h4>What’s not!</h4>
<p>Some testers wanted more punch down low.<br />
The bright yellow color seems to attract bees.<br />
<h3>Opinions</h3>
<p><strong>Mike Barrett</strong><br />
<strong>5’10″/195 lb/50+ Novice</strong><br />At first, the RM-Z450 took me a little time to get used to. Possibly the track conditions or maybe I’m just used to my CRF450R, but all I needed was a little more time on the bike and maybe for the suspension to break in a little more, and from then on, I was very happy with the RM-Z.The handling was excellent. When I first went out I was trying to turn the bike too soon, but after a few laps, I found I could wait until the last second and then turn or pivot off of anything. This bike was very easy to maneuver; all I had to do was point the bike where I wanted to go, and it would go, no questions asked. As for the motor, it only gets better. The power was very smooth and easy to control. There was no abrupt hit trying to lay me out, but if I wanted more power, there was still plenty left in the throttle. The suspension was also spot-on; on a choppy, dry, ungroomed track the suspension smoothed out the bumps and kept me out there throwing down laps. It also helped that the RM-Z was very stable at speed. Another big plus was the ergos. They were very neutral and the bike was easy to move around on, not too big or too cramped, but just right. The RM-Z is a well-oiled wheel, and I would have gladly raced this bike exactly how it was.<strong>Jimmy Lewis</strong></p>
<p><strong>5’10″/185 lb/Sr. Pro</strong></p>
<p>If you look at the recent racing record of Suzuki and specifically the RM-Z450, you can see the bike has plenty of potential. Sure, the race bikes are nearly works bikes, but you have to start with a good platform. That is this RM-Z.</p>
<p>It does not really stand out in any one area for me. The handling is definitely the high point of the package, and it is really good when looked at in an overall sense. Power, mediocre. Suspension, mediocre. Brakes, weight feel, clutch action, all of this is very mediocre. And mediocre, in the high performance you get these days, is actually fabulous, just compared in very high-level company where other brands have some standout performances in individual areas.</p>
<p>But where this bike really shines is in how damn easy it is to ride fast and not be thinking about what the bike does. You are easily comfortable, and it does what you want without a fight. It is a great stock package, and if there is an area an individual rider might want to make a little better to suit a personal preference, the Suzuki will definitely comply. Just ask Ryan Dungey.</p></div>

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