Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
I think it’s happening regardless. Factory Suzuki engineers have been over here from Japan in the off-season so I suspect they have been developing it for some time. I don’t expect anything crazy just an E-Start and some minor changes to the chassis and a better stock suspension setting.
Not really a bad idea to get an e-start and keep the lower grade suspension components. Keep the MSRP as low as possible and sell as many “entry level” bikes as possible. Let the aftermarket products aid in the bike development for each individual rider. Then people can set the bike up for desert, woods, MX, trails. If you’ve got a good base that can be tweaked I think Suzuki could have a different, but profitable business model.
Look at the MTB market. Many different models of the same frame with different component levels. I personally buy lower level models then upgrade as parts wear out or I need specific component upgrades to meet my needs.
If it's e start it will mean new cases and other internal changes as well as the new starting system
They may follow other manufacturers and upgrade top end to finger followers too
They could easily say that the bike is doing good enough if it’s winning it doesn’t need an update. “It ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
That’s been their mentality so far, hasn’t it?
Suzuki won’t
Or... Will other manufacturers slow down on R&D? I mean, if a 10 year old bike can win, why pour all that money into R&D? Just pay more and get the top talents...
Since Ken jumped on the Suzuki, how many points has he lost from the bike not starting after a crash or a tip over? Would he be leading the championship now?
If there is one thing they should not leave alone, it is the kick starter.
Oh I totally agree. If they just added e-start that bike would be plenty fine. But they have been getting dogged for the last decade about and still haven’t
That is the question. If he had e-start would he be winning? How many SXs would he have already have won if he had e-start? Did he hinder his career?
I suspect there is, has been and will be significant internal debate about a next gen RMZ. The brass, “it’s great, look at the results”…. The engineers, “ it’s good, but we can easily make it better.”
Like most, I think they would hugely benefit from an update in the motor. Specifically adding the button. But might as well tune up the head while you’re in there. The frame might need a small adjustment for the changes in the motor, but don’t mess with the geometry. And suspension just needs a little better stock settings. Anyone racing will be getting their suspension work done anyway.
I don’t exactly know why, but with Suzuki, much like the Kawi 2 stroke, if you build it, they will come…
I do hope they update and become a force again. We can debate all day in regards to the 450, but not with the 250.
If they want to get young riders and make a push again, the 250 needs a refresh. Rider x getting offered 200k to go to star, vs 250k to ride whatever the factory version of this bike would be, is going to the farm.
Ask Harrison if he wanted a kickstarter yesterday.
Dear Suzuki,
Please build us a 350 with a kickstart.
It would be enough to get profesh back on yellow.
BNG!
If only what you said is true. What “lower grade” suspension components are there? The forks are the same 49mm a-lot style showas on the Honda and kawasakis.
The shock is a bfrc while the magazines cry about it, it’s more to do with their setting than the shock, they haven’t updated even the settings since 18 lol.
if it had e-start and the shock from the RMZ250, I’d consider it. Keep the chassis as-is.
My old knees don’t like kick starting anymore..
I agree.
If anything, if they win a title and did update with electric start, modern map system etc but leave the chassis/geo the same, I think they would be capitalizing on both fronts. Basically leaving the proven formula/platform mostly as-is but also giving the consumers the little comforts that they want (without messing with the core of the platform.) I think they'd sell a bunch.
Pit Row
If any of Suzuki's recent updates are an indication, DRZ400, Hayabusa, SV650, we will be letdown a RMZ update.
Lower grade suspension components? What are you talking about?
I guess my thought was if they came with cheaper (heavier) wheel set, lower grade internals on the suspension components, lower grade exhaust, and maybe cheaper handle bars. I’m sure there are bolt on parts that can be produced at a lower cost to the manufacturer. Maybe desert guys don’t care if a wheel set is heavy if they’re strong?
The idea is you get a great platform to build at a lower MSRP. I guess it’s kind of already been that way for the last few years. Just trying to think of ways to keep new motorcycle motorcycles cost down and if you don’t need a “ready to race” dirtbike then why not have a great base to start with and build upon.
The Suzuki map system is one of the most advanced I feel like. You adjust timing across the entire rpm range and throttle position. It’s pretty detailed. I wish you could download and install other users maps though without entering it manually
What I guess I don't get is how much cheaper "lower grade" of components in what is essentially the same product with the same amount of raw materials in it, just an older design, is going to be more than a few hundred dollars cheaper overall. To me, if I'm spending that much on a bike, a few hundred dollars isn't going to make me buy a Suzuki instead of a Honda or Yamaha.
I guess the question is, how much of the msrp on a bike is dedicated to paying off the molds for that particular models parts, vs raw material and labor? I have a hard time believing they can keep a desirable amount of profit by using the same parts for longer and taking $3k off the msrp.
i think they should have KYB on all models, but I’m not advocating for more expensive components they just need a better stock setting, they have been oversprung for years now.
Don't mess with it, its working.
Hopefully they just do an inverse of the last update and plop in a more modern engine w/ an E-start on practically the same chassis.
I can’t help but feel like the whole “Suzuki is the most planted/stable/best cornering bike” thing is aided by its weight. Look at how people ride and talk about the Starks. They were banned from XGames because they were TOO FLICKABLE even though they’re heavier bikes!
No offense but have you ever worked on a bike? Do you ride..?
What are you going to cheap out on inside the suspension components? Cast aluminum shafts? Lol?
I genuinely think that instead of “a whole new platform” every 2-3 years these brands should just slowly dial in chassis and motor issues for 6-8 years…Yamaha has done this to some degree and arguably has the best stock platform
I think the flickablilty is attributed to it being electric. It doesn’t have the inertia of a ice engine.
They can do shit in X games that gas bikes can’t because they can get 110mph rear wheel speed instantly in the air and still be rideable on the ground.
No gas bike can do that.
Post a reply to: Suzuki will