Posts: 11
Joined: 1/16/2019
Location: Lanesville, IN USA
Thinking about buying a 2015 rmz 450. It'll be my number two bike (I primarily race offroad) for the track, simply because it has only 20 hours on it and the price is right. I've never owned a Suzuki, so I'd like to hear people's experience with longevity, reliability, common issues if any, setup (especially that fork), etc etc. Thanks!
Posts: 3118
Joined: 8/1/2013
Location: Avondale, PA USA
Forks gonna suck. But by all accounts reliable as anything out there and a damn solid bike. I bought an 18 rmz due in part to all the reviews of actual owners saying how reliable and good the bikes are. And so far, i dont disagree.
Posts: 1269
Joined: 10/14/2017
Location: 86oh, CT USA
Friend of mine I ride with has a 14 with 400+ hours on it. never checked the valves and the bike runs great.
Posts: 1941
Joined: 2/4/2013
Location: Schaumburg, IL USA
Posts: 9107
Joined: 7/6/2015
Location: Santa Clarita, CA USA
Very reliable and once you have the forks revalved for your ability, they are good. Not the Yamaha KYB setup, but they are still good enough for the average guy. My dad hasn't had any issues with his forks on his 15 or 17's. Sent to Enzo for a revalve and the only thing we do is check the pressure before riding.
2017 RMZ450
2005 YZ250-sold :,(
1998 YZ250
2005 KX250F
80% of the time it works every time
IG @hammerfamily_4 & @2HRacing
Thanks to : Factory Effex, N2Dirt, Acerbis, DT1, Fasthouse, Matix, FMF, ASV, 100% & Mika Metals
Posts: 1804
Joined: 2/26/2011
Location: Gig Harbor, WA USA
My only experience with RMZs is with the 2009 450 that I owned. It was a phenomenal bike, reliable as hell and never had a single issue. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, the only "downside" is they can be more difficult to sell.
Go Hawks!
Posts: 572
Joined: 11/21/2006
Location: Orlando, FL USA
Posts: 927
Joined: 4/2/2013
Location: NZL
Posts: 573
Joined: 12/5/2014
Location: FIN, FIN
Posts: 6197
Joined: 11/16/2011
Location: Menifee, CA USA
mx510 wrote:
My only experience with RMZs is with the 2009 450 that I owned. It was a phenomenal bike, reliable as hell and never had a single issue. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, the only "downside" is they can be more difficult to sell.
It sucks that they're hard to sell. Apparently nobody wants a "phenomenal, reliable," bike that never has anything break, performs well, and costs less.
Braaapin' aint easy.
Posts: 1804
Joined: 2/26/2011
Location: Gig Harbor, WA USA
Falcon wrote:
It sucks that they're hard to sell. Apparently nobody wants a "phenomenal, reliable," bike that never has anything break, performs well, and costs less.
You don't have to sell me on the Suzuki, I agree completely with you. Its crazy that they have not been able to overcome their bad reputation from the 80s-90s.
Go Hawks!
Posts: 9107
Joined: 7/6/2015
Location: Santa Clarita, CA USA
mx510 wrote:
My only experience with RMZs is with the 2009 450 that I owned. It was a phenomenal bike, reliable as hell and never had a single issue. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, the only "downside" is they can be more difficult to sell.
Falcon wrote:
It sucks that they're hard to sell. Apparently nobody wants a "phenomenal, reliable," bike that never has anything break, performs well, and costs less.
mx510 wrote:
You don't have to sell me on the Suzuki, I agree completely with you. Its crazy that they have not been able to overcome their bad reputation from the 80s-90s.
I wouldn't say it's an issue of overcoming their bad reputation from that long ago. It was from an unchanged bike for 10 years that was slower and heavier than the others. Other than changing forks and a little bit in the frame over the years, the motor and plastic were exactly. Got a little long in the tooth. It gets shit on way too much thought because it is a great bike all around. Has its hits and misses like every other bike, but it is a solid bike overall.
2017 RMZ450
2005 YZ250-sold :,(
1998 YZ250
2005 KX250F
80% of the time it works every time
IG @hammerfamily_4 & @2HRacing
Thanks to : Factory Effex, N2Dirt, Acerbis, DT1, Fasthouse, Matix, FMF, ASV, 100% & Mika Metals
Posts: 3258
Joined: 3/21/2016
Location: BFE, TX USA
mx510 wrote:
You don't have to sell me on the Suzuki, I agree completely with you. Its crazy that they have not been able to overcome their bad reputation from the 80s-90s.
This is because a big segment of the weekend warrior bubbas out there arent very bright. Sheep/flock mentality. Just read any thread on 'race gas' and your IQ will take a 5-point drop just from that alone.
"We don't rent pigs."
Posts: 3989
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: USA
Posts: 59
Joined: 2/7/2017
Location: Carnelian Bay, CA USA
The 15’ RMZ was too front weight biased for me in sand or rough tracks. On smooth tracks it’s just about perfect though.
Posts: 456
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Athens, TX USA
MY DAD GOTS THE 2012 SUSZUKI AND DIND EVER HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR DID U TAKE IT TO THE MUD BOG???
suszuki rm85
Posts: 146
Joined: 6/5/2011
Location: Lehi, UT USA
I have had my 2015 RMZ450 for a little over a year now and it's been solid: Great power, turns well, clutch good.
I will for sure second the harsh forks. SFF Air. I'm not a fan. I Get beat up pretty quick or it could just be that fact that I only ride once every 2 months or so.......
Posts: 635
Joined: 7/12/2014
Location: GBR
Got a 15 with coming up to 70 hours on it.
I did the piston at 50 hours and it was borderline a waste of time, the thing looked new! (changing oil every 5 hours) Valves were perfect too.
Other than the forks, the other little and good mods to do are free, such as removing the 'judder' springs from the clutch, and re routing the crank breather to clean it up and get rid of the silly T split in it.
Although a 'less popular' popular bike, plenty of knowledgeable guys have/or still own them on this forum so its easy to get help and advice with the bike.
@russ_69
Posts: 9107
Joined: 7/6/2015
Location: Santa Clarita, CA USA
RussB wrote:
Got a 15 with coming up to 70 hours on it.
I did the piston at 50 hours and it was borderline a waste of time, the thing looked new! (changing oil every 5 hours) Valves were perfect too.
Other than the forks, the other little and good mods to do are free, such as removing the 'judder' springs from the clutch, and re routing the crank breather to clean it up and get rid of the silly T split in it.
Although a 'less popular' popular bike, plenty of knowledgeable guys have/or still own them on this forum so its easy to get help and advice with the bike.
What did removing the judder springs do?
2017 RMZ450
2005 YZ250-sold :,(
1998 YZ250
2005 KX250F
80% of the time it works every time
IG @hammerfamily_4 & @2HRacing
Thanks to : Factory Effex, N2Dirt, Acerbis, DT1, Fasthouse, Matix, FMF, ASV, 100% & Mika Metals
Posts: 635
Joined: 7/12/2014
Location: GBR
mattyhamz2 wrote:
What did removing the judder springs do?
Drastically reduced clutch drag. Makes for a slightly sharper engagement too which I prefer.
Definitely worth a try, its as easy as removing the clutch pack and taking them out (they sit at the base of the hub)
@russ_69
Posts: 9107
Joined: 7/6/2015
Location: Santa Clarita, CA USA
RussB wrote:
Got a 15 with coming up to 70 hours on it.
I did the piston at 50 hours and it was borderline a waste of time, the thing looked new! (changing oil every 5 hours) Valves were perfect too.
Other than the forks, the other little and good mods to do are free, such as removing the 'judder' springs from the clutch, and re routing the crank breather to clean it up and get rid of the silly T split in it.
Although a 'less popular' popular bike, plenty of knowledgeable guys have/or still own them on this forum so its easy to get help and advice with the bike.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
What did removing the judder springs do?
RussB wrote:
Drastically reduced clutch drag. Makes for a slightly sharper engagement too which I prefer.
Definitely worth a try, its as easy as removing the clutch pack and taking them out (they sit at the base of the hub)
Sweet! Thanks.
Have you had any issues with notchy shifting?
2017 RMZ450
2005 YZ250-sold :,(
1998 YZ250
2005 KX250F
80% of the time it works every time
IG @hammerfamily_4 & @2HRacing
Thanks to : Factory Effex, N2Dirt, Acerbis, DT1, Fasthouse, Matix, FMF, ASV, 100% & Mika Metals
Posts: 635
Joined: 7/12/2014
Location: GBR
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Sweet! Thanks.
Have you had any issues with notchy shifting?
Nope no shifting issues at all
@russ_69
Posts: 11
Joined: 1/16/2019
Location: Lanesville, IN USA
Ended up going with a 17 KTM 450. Price was very similar, couldn't pass it up. Thanks for the info!
