Australasian Dirt Bike — January 2018

56 | JANUARY 2018 http://www.adbmag.com.au

The masters’ voice

RYAN MARMONT

LIKES

The bottom-to-mid power was okay. It had

allthe same characteristics that the Suzuki

usually has. I did find that with clicker

adjustments on the suspension you noticed

a big difference.

DISLIKES

I didn’t like the seating position. I just

didn’t feel stable on this bike. It had a hard,

flat seat which stopped me from feeling

comfortable. I found the front would dive on

me and deflect at the handlebar. The rear

end was high and kicked me around a bit. No

electric start is a disadvantage in this

company. The bike also lacked a little top

end power.

WHERE I RATED IT: 4TH

MEGRUTLEDGE

LIKES

It was super smooth in the power

departmentright the way through the range.

It suited my style. I started off not liking the

suspension but we played around with it

quite a bit and it worked really well. I liked

the flat feeling to the seated position.

DISLIKES

The rear brake was a little bit spongy but

thatwas about it.

WHERE I RATED IT:1ST

CODYMACKIE

LIKES

I liked it in second and third gear, where this

bike felt like a hotted up 250. I liked the

sound of it and I think it looks pretty cool.

DISLIKES

I definitely felt like it was riding really flat,

whichaffected my turns a bit. I would like to

see a hydraulic clutch and electric start on

this bike being such a brand new model just

released this year.

WHERE I RATED IT: 4TH

LAWSON BOPPING

LIKES

I liked the way it turned. It still feels like a

Suzukiand turns on a dime. I liked the

torque as well. The power is just nice and

smooth. The spring fork is much better.

DISLIKES

I don’t like the new handlebar. They’re real

low. The gigantic exhaust pipe out the back

gives it an average note to the bike. I don’t

mind the motor but it is a bit flat. I wasn’t a

fanofthetyres.

WHERE I RATED IT: 2ND

2018 MX SHOOTOUT I 450CC BATTLE

DANIEL PHILLIPS

NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE

Suzuki

RM-Z450

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER!: The ratings given

above are not the weighted scores from

each riders’ scorecards, they are their

personal opinions based on their overall feel

of the bike. Their ratings did vary slightly

from the official scoring.