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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
The RX carries an extra 3.864 pounds of gas, has a lead acid battery, HEAVY tires, a kickstand assembly & a larger heavier plastic gas tank to hole that extra .625 gallons. I'm estimating this all adds up to about 12-14 pounds (allowing for a lighter battery in lieu of the lead-acid boat anchor, remove stand/left RX foot-peg mount and replace w/R part, MX tires...maybe 19", less gas...maybe even an OEM CR tank...and shrouds...etc.).
Oh, how about that electric starter? So, all that aside...
I'm quite sure your gonna see, right here on Vital, an RX turned CRF-R E/S (electric start). I get the sneaking suspicion it'll be just a few pounds heavier than an R...and, eventually, my accomplice and I will make it...
LIGHTER! (Because, when you see Kenny and Cole hitting that button...we'll be able to have our own versions of that Unobtanium!)
If I get to have my way...we'll build an "RCF" & throw PLENTY of Ti and Carbon goodies at it. Why?
Because...
We can.
I rated the Yamaha 2nd. It was VERY easy to achieve lots of fast laps with it and I can adapt to changing lines/track conditions on it ,too. I think that some of the riders had more difficulty than I did finding "front to rear" balance on the YZF...the RMZ, too. The only bike I had that problem with was the KXF.
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The FC350 we had around during the photo shoot? Had that white crap in it that some of them get. Changed the filter...
Voila.
Just seemed weird that it wasn't in there since the KTM and Husky aren't the same from what we were told.
I would probably prefer the cushy suspension and chassis of the RX. I'm currently riding a 14' rmz 450 that is well setup, but would really like electric start and less weight. Sounds like I should get a 350.
What I enjoy most is that they will allow you to be "almost" 450 lazy and it still revs to the sky like a 250. Actually, it revs BETTER than some 250s. And, as I realized AGAIN today...they feel LIGHT.
do they all run on the dyno with same air filter oil, engine oil, etc?
Do they use the same dyno tire, or wheels/tires that are on hand for testing at rt?
how many hours on the bikes before dyno testing?
Part of my making my living requires my dyno be repeatable... and learning what creates variance between engines is also a big part in how to make hp, as well as what creates variance in dyno results on unchanged test mules so you dont chase your ass going no where.
People would be very surprised to see how much power variance and losses there are to various oils as well oil fill amount.... its hugely important.
Most people are overfilled on some bikes... and its costly for dyno numbers.
And race techs dyno to my knowledge is an absorber water brake type. Sadly these can be very unrepeatable in data, and load time on the dyno (run time) is important for mapping purposes to accurately correlate to the track.
If I map for longer load times vs short you end up with different fueling. This is why bikes can dyno very similarly but feel very different as on track perception and mapping here is becoming more important than actual hp numbers for avg consumers
Pit Row
Today, while riding some silt-covered hard-packed rut-infested single-track in the hills of Glen Helen on an FC350, I rode complete loops with and without it. Without it the bike would step out and launch off of rocks ALL THE TIME...
With it...I started to understand how Haaker does it!
I dont doubt anyone thinks the RMZ is a good bike (at the end of the day they are ALL good or very good bikes) and can be made VERY good with dollars. The 2018 version should be interesting.
Btw. which 450 is fastest half throttle in third gear?
It's okay JohnRoy, Yamaha is the bestest. It's the winner of the special shootout I just invented for you. It's a joint winner with SUZSUKI.
I'm amazed you still think it's normal for 6 pros of differing riding styles and sizes to come to an identical conclusion. Think it through before spouting off.
Suzuki took heat from lots of places when they went to their current plastic which I would describe as sharp and pointy/small side number plates.
Fast forward 5 years and all the bikes now have adopted much of the same, pointy sharp ends and small side plates...
I feel the rmz is still a great looking bike despite being unchanged... and black and yellow is a hard color combo to beat.
I would suggest for the sake of the sport magazines maybe put more weight on bikes improving but in a manner parts still interchange year to year.
Can ride one color multiple years and have parts work... its good for the aftermarket, And "globally" could be cheaper for all riders if manufacturers
if manufacturers stuck with certain design aspects for longer periods.
The honda 250f is slow stock now... but teams like geico are probably extremely happy when last years hard work still works this year..
Post a reply to: So guess who won? 450 Shootout is live...