Australasian Dirt Bike — September 2017

FIRST RIDE I 2018 SUZUKI RM-Z450

NEW STUFF

We already covered the 2018 changes

in detail in the last issue, including

the49mmShowaspring-cartridge

fork,ShowaBFRCshockandcomplete

revamp of the chassis/swingarm/

plastics,solet’snotwastetoomuch

timeonthetechnicalstuff.Let’sget

straight into how those dramatic

changes translate on the track.

Themostnoticeablethingwhen

ridingthenewSuzukiisnotthemotor

orthesuspensionbutthechassis.

Immediately you notice a slimmer feel

to the bike along with the flatter seat

profile.Theframe,combinedwiththe

newswingarm,givestheRM-Zavery

agile and flickable feel.

ForaslongasIcanremember,

Suzukishavebeenknownasbikes

thatwouldholdaninsidelineona

turnbetterthanmost.Abikethat,

even for the whip-challenged rider,

couldbethrownsidewaysonadecent

jump,providingsomedecentscrubs

and whips for the camera.

But, in recent years, the RM-Z450 has

earned a reputation for having a rather

bulky and rigid chassis which resulted

in the yellow machines losing some of

their agility and aggressiveness. Suzuki

fans will be happy to know that the

new chassis has delivered some extra

feel and feedback via a frame that is

slightly less rigid and bulky. A big step

in the right direction.

FORK

The change from the Showa SFF-Air

TAC fork to a 49mm spring-cartridge

affair without the alphabet soup is a

MUFFLER
We get the FIM-spec silencer with
matching exhaust cam profi le and
ignition timing.

SWINGARM
The wheelbase is slightly shorter, the
swingarm is totally different and the
rear master cylinder is streamlined.

AIRBOX
Suzuki has gone to a lot of trouble to
keep crud out of the fi lter, including
that plastic “bulkhead” on the left.

52 | SEPTEMBER 2017 http://www.adbmag.com.au