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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
They need to change people’s perception of them and their products.
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The bike was good when they introduced it in 2008. It is largely still the same machine today in 2022. Call me crazy but I am not buying a new RMZ today for the money they want when there are many other options that are far better for only a little more. If buying a new unit with old school engineering and out dated performance are your thing. Go for it.
Obviously many of us mortals will never utilize 100% of the performance…but still I could not pull the trigger on an RMZ for these reasons.
Everything else? Totally on the money and I can see it all happening... I am hoping it does.
There hasn’t been one person that’s ridden my Suzuki that hasn’t liked it and then scratched their head asking why they have such a bad reputation.
You want to talk about a new bike that isn’t even good compared to an 08 model? That 22 CRF doesn’t hold a candle to the 2007 CRF. The 22 is a huge step backwards, but you won’t hear many tell you that.
Pit Row
Again, most riders would not know any better.
And the chassis was all new, different suspension components but the engine and electronics were largely left untouched. They're the only OEM that has continued with their original engine architecture from when they introduced their 450 back in the early to mid 2000s.
The E start though now that I’ve had one…I’m never going back, fuck that. Kicking is hard
Like someone said, Suzuki as a manufacturer suffers from a marketing and consumer perception problem. Not a performance or product problem.
You just proved that point.
The Suzuki weighs that much without hydraulic clutch and without electric start AND it makes the least amount of power.
Per google:
WET
RMZ450 250lb
CRF450 244lb
KX450 243lb
YZ450F 245lb
KTM450 236lb
AND THE RMZ does not have electric start.
If we were comparing apples to apples and removing the electric start from every other mfg…the Suzook would be an obese MC.
-The 22 stock mapping is one big downfall. Really dirty down low and once you finally get out of that window it hits unexpectedly hard.
-This is no exaggeration, the seat literally feels like you’re sitting on a 2x4 and you can feel everything through it.
-The chassis feels so rigid you can feel every bump and vibration through the bars, seat and foot pegs. The bike never felt planted. It wanted to dance around every time I hit a bump. It wore me out in just a few laps.
-Fast choppy straightaways are one part of the track I wanted to avoid if I could. The only way to avoid headshake was to do everything I could to make sure I hit zero bumps.
-The turning was really hard to figure out, I would oversteer, make adjustments to my positioning and then would understeer. I couldn’t find a sweet spot to combat this issue. Something I’ve never had a problem with on any other bike I’ve ridden before.
2007
- The 07 put the power to the ground so nicely. It was strong, but smooth. Easy to control unlike the weird mapping on the 22.
- The bike never did anything funky no matter what I hit, how hard I hit it or what angle I hit it at. It never kicked, danced around and I never got headshake. I rode all of the same lines that I rode on the 22.
- The 07 turned amazing and went exactly where I wanted it to go every time. It was precise. It settled into corners, and tracked straight over all of the acceleration bumps.
- The 07 was nowhere near the 22 in rigidity. I have to say it was one of the most comfortable feeling bikes I have ever ridden. I could trust it over just about everything. I could easily ride the 07 twice as many laps as the 22 and not be nearly as worn out.
Overall, the 22 was honestly the most uncomfortable bike I have ridden to date. I couldn’t trust it over anything really. I do think most of the issues I had with the 22 can be fixed with time and money, it’s just not money and time I’d be willing to spend.
I’d hands down pick the 07 every day of the week over the 22.
Post a reply to: NEW RMZ450!? oh boy.