Posts
4464
Joined
8/1/2013
Location
Avondale, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
12/29/2018 5:35am
Soooo im thinking about getting a new rmz450. I had a 15 kx450 and hated it. It felt like a dump truck, brutal power delivery, felt heavy, felt tiring, all arm pump and fighting it.
Rode a 17 crf450 and besides suspension settings i really liked it. Felt light, engine was more usable.
Would a 18 rmz with suspension set up amd possibly a yosh exhaust be more like a newer crf or that 15 kawi?
Any insight is appreciated.
Currently on a 17 husky 350 that i love but the new rmz's pricing and handling traits/49mm spring forks seems appealing to me.
Rode a 17 crf450 and besides suspension settings i really liked it. Felt light, engine was more usable.
Would a 18 rmz with suspension set up amd possibly a yosh exhaust be more like a newer crf or that 15 kawi?
Any insight is appreciated.
Currently on a 17 husky 350 that i love but the new rmz's pricing and handling traits/49mm spring forks seems appealing to me.
He's trying to sell his 2018 350SXF and is looking at left over 17-18 RMZ450's for dirt cheap. You can do a lot of mods to the RMZ for the cost of a new KTM or similar jap bike.
The Shop
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcd/d/2018-suzuki-rm-z/6703956221.h…
So, I would suggest getting one, you won't be disappointed. There was no real change for the 19 so an 18 will be fine.
get the link and put it on, raise the fork tubes 1 MM and an aftermarket exhaust and you are good to go. Otherwise, do the suspension now or later for your skill level.
Then I started reading more about Crowers 350 mods and 63 hp with torque at 8k rpm that seems to basically match the RMZ.
So I don't know what I will do, but you are not the only one thinking about it.
It wont be the "best bike ever" but it wont be bad either. After you get comfy - and tailor it to your needs - it's a damn good bike. The "slower power" is STILL plenty for ANYONE and it will turn great lap times easier than more engine.
"lug" it some rather than rev it on long straights - and it is just as solid as the other bikes up till about 50 mph
Do yourself a huge favor - and BEFORE you do ANYTHING to the bike - other than set sag - ride it 15 hours (if you ride frequently).
After that time - move sag up and down - clickers around - tires/tire pressure...and fork height.
But doing all that before you have 15 hours on it - is a waste. At hour 0 you are trying to fit a bike to YOU in your immediate wants off a different bike.
But after some time - you have adapted a little to bike - learned its in and outs, making adjustments has more effectiveness. A production bike has a LOT of time behind it - and is suited to its unique quirks and chassis better than most people can immediately fix when they hop on a bike. Even the "stinkbug" feel being reported - has some advantages at times.
Years back - in 2014 - we figured out the yzf450 like the forks up in the clamps - and sag around 98-100. It was stinkbug in feel - but it worked best this way in all regards - EVEN stability. Once you could get a rider to focus on HOW the bike worked this way - rather than HOW he said it "felt" just sitting on it etc..they were dead sold....
Too many people and racers tried to make the bike FEEL how they thought they wanted - lowereing the rear - sticking the forks out far - etc..and the bike just worked terribly
https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2018-Suzuki-RM-Z-450-5003647559
Pit Row
And before anyone cries about not supporting dealers by shopping around. Well too bad the only point of the rmz is cheap, so shopping around is it lol.
A flat piston shape is ideal once you get a lot of “pop” up to get more comp you loose burn speed generally and gain weight
Ive liked the CP offerring box bridged with dlc pin in the past - havent dyno the new wiseco racer elite on the rmz but have used it on some other builds with good sucess and the JE offerings are always great
Limited experience on wossners for 4t so dont know there
I have 42 hours on it and the only issue I’ve had is I’ve worn out the peg pins and mounts ( happens on every bike I own ) and I went with a Hinson clutch because I usually like the heavier springs but having some issues with it too and looks like clutch basket is little loose, I replaced bearing that’s on shaft and etc but still looser than should be ( wiggly ) makes some noise when I use it harder with the Hinson clutch kit with oem one in it, it doesn’t do it, so that’s kind of odd, must be the springs just that much heavier, this winter I’ll probably just get whole Hinson set up.
My rims are even straight still which I’m shocked on.
I have full FMF pipe and had my intake cam gear advanced both made improvements, I’ll rebuild it this winter and get high comp piston and probably have head ported hopefully get me the little more snap I’m looking for.
But yeah I love it.
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