Is Suzuki giving up?

Austin269
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Edited Date/Time 7/14/2019 3:34pm
There seems to be a motocross renaissance in the last few years with most of the Japanese brands catching up to the European bikes when it comes to E-start, weight, hydraulic clutches and ergos. With all of this happening there seems to be one brand who is just lagging behind continuously and that is Suzuki. When the "all new" 2018 was announced most people had high hopes, just to be let down with more of the same.

On another note, the factory team seems to be content with not being a contender in SX/MX at least in the 450 class. Don't get me wrong, I love Chad Reed but I know, you know and he knows that he isn't a title contender anymore. Weston is fast but no one knows how he is going to recover from the accident in Paris. With riders like Musquin on contract years I was hoping they would make a move to try and get him on board but no. This is obviously my observation and I truthfully do not know everything so I am curious as to what your opinions are on the matter?
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TbonesPop
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6/8/2019 8:41pm Edited Date/Time 6/8/2019 8:42pm
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be purchased at a bargain price the vast majority of the time. Seems to fulfill a market niche' if you ask me - why change? I agree on not having E start, but other than that, I have no complaints. If the 2020 RMZ450 had eStart, I'd buy one. And I love my YZ450F. I'd have both bikes. Just my $0.02. I couldn't care about weight reduction. I need to lose 15 lbs more than the bike does.
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Austin269
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6/8/2019 8:48pm
TbonesPop wrote:
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be...
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be purchased at a bargain price the vast majority of the time. Seems to fulfill a market niche' if you ask me - why change? I agree on not having E start, but other than that, I have no complaints. If the 2020 RMZ450 had eStart, I'd buy one. And I love my YZ450F. I'd have both bikes. Just my $0.02. I couldn't care about weight reduction. I need to lose 15 lbs more than the bike does.
I agree with all of those claims, most of which are why I own a 2018 RMZ 450 myself. The $6,700 price tag for a new rig was unbeatable. E-start would be amazing but I have never had it before so i guess i'm not really missing it. My biggest worry is that they will eventually get too far behind the 8 ball in competition. We all know having a bike that runs in the front of the class in pro events leads to sales, just looks at KTM for example. People are willing to pay an extra $1000 for a KTM than a Japanese model in most cases. I know Ken did it in 2016 on a Suzuki but that is a long time in this sport.
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Ramrod
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6/8/2019 8:49pm
Any single line Suzuki dealers are probably crying or out of business.

Maybe KTM will buy the motorcycle brand and pull a Husky...
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Austin269
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6/8/2019 8:55pm
Ramrod wrote:
Any single line Suzuki dealers are probably crying or out of business.

Maybe KTM will buy the motorcycle brand and pull a Husky...
Lol three identical brands on the track would be interesting. Where I live there aren't any exclusively Suzuki dealers anymore.

The Shop

Mossy
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6/8/2019 8:57pm
I’m buying a 2018 Rmz 450 on Tuesday. The bike suits me perfectly, and if it wasn’t for the price, then I couldn’t afford a new bike. Really pumped to get my first 450 as well.
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Ramrod
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6/8/2019 9:10pm Edited Date/Time 6/8/2019 9:10pm
You know what, I bought a yz250 a year ago and it hasn’t changed since 2005 and I actually think that is a strength the bike has, and it rocks.

Let’s bring this thread up in 10 years and see haha
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Austin269
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6/8/2019 9:35pm
Mossy wrote:
I’m buying a 2018 Rmz 450 on Tuesday. The bike suits me perfectly, and if it wasn’t for the price, then I couldn’t afford a new...
I’m buying a 2018 Rmz 450 on Tuesday. The bike suits me perfectly, and if it wasn’t for the price, then I couldn’t afford a new bike. Really pumped to get my first 450 as well.
Congrats man, I really love mine to be honest. Ya this thread isn't meant to flame the bike at all because it's an awesome machine, just the state of Suzuki as a whole.
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Austin269
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6/8/2019 9:38pm
Ramrod wrote:
You know what, I bought a yz250 a year ago and it hasn’t changed since 2005 and I actually think that is a strength the bike...
You know what, I bought a yz250 a year ago and it hasn’t changed since 2005 and I actually think that is a strength the bike has, and it rocks.

Let’s bring this thread up in 10 years and see haha
Ya I race C class mostly so this bike offers more stock than I will ever be able to get out of it. I will own my Zuke until I either strike it rich or wrap it around a tree (hopefully strike it rich). The YZ was a winning formula and it will remain relevant for a long long time.
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Excaliburbmx
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6/8/2019 11:14pm
Ramrod wrote:
Any single line Suzuki dealers are probably crying or out of business.

Maybe KTM will buy the motorcycle brand and pull a Husky...
If you think Suzuki is small enough for that to happen you are crazy. Suzuki is huge they just are not into giving a huge budget to off-road at the moment.

They could swallow up Ktm group.
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GODZILLA
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6/8/2019 11:59pm
Suzuki gave up a long time ago...
And nobody signs for them unless he has no other option.
Why would Musquin have gone there?
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zehn
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6/9/2019 12:12am
GODZILLA wrote:
Suzuki gave up a long time ago...
And nobody signs for them unless he has no other option.
Why would Musquin have gone there?
Wow, really
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Motocrossjunky
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6/9/2019 3:15am
Stories going around the GP paddock that Jacky Martens might switch to Suzuki’s for next year as the factory Suzuki team. It’s not going well for Suzuki lately, but I don’t think that they are giving up just yet.
bh84
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6/9/2019 3:27am
I think Suzuki is spending mountains on money on their MotoGP team. They’e had to fast track development on the GSX-RR to avoid losing Rins. That can’t be a cheap venture, Kawasaki gave up on MotoGP because of the cost.
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kb228
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6/9/2019 4:46am
Ramrod wrote:
Any single line Suzuki dealers are probably crying or out of business.

Maybe KTM will buy the motorcycle brand and pull a Husky...
KTM doesnt hold a candle to suzuki
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6/9/2019 5:44am



Interesting noting that the KTM data is from 2016, would be interesting to see how that have grown since then. However Suzi looks pretty comfortable but they are obviously concentrating on other areas at the moment (that’s if Wiki is correct)
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kb228
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6/9/2019 6:39am
kb228 wrote:
KTM doesnt hold a candle to suzuki
People don’t like facts.
2019. World full of fake news and facts that are only correct when it doesnt hurt your feelings
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GODZILLA
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6/9/2019 8:14am
Sorry, my mistake, I thought we were talking MX sales and results.
Laughing
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kkawboy14
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6/9/2019 8:16am
I have no idea.......but kawasaki is trying really really hard!
tylermx967
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6/9/2019 9:05am
I TIHNK THAT SUSZUKI NEVER QUIT TRYING TO MAKE THE FASTIST BIKES I GOT THE 2008 RM85 AND IT STILL WORK REAL GOOD WE LOOK FOR GOOD OFFERS FOR THE RM100 AND DIND EVEN GET SCARED IF ITS A OLD BIKE BECASE WE NO DOSE IT WILL BE SOLD SUSZUKI QUALETY
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Ramrod
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6/9/2019 9:21am
tylermx967 wrote:
I TIHNK THAT SUSZUKI NEVER QUIT TRYING TO MAKE THE FASTIST BIKES I GOT THE 2008 RM85 AND IT STILL WORK REAL GOOD WE LOOK FOR...
I TIHNK THAT SUSZUKI NEVER QUIT TRYING TO MAKE THE FASTIST BIKES I GOT THE 2008 RM85 AND IT STILL WORK REAL GOOD WE LOOK FOR GOOD OFFERS FOR THE RM100 AND DIND EVEN GET SCARED IF ITS A OLD BIKE BECASE WE NO DOSE IT WILL BE SOLD SUSZUKI QUALETY
The gospel according to Tyler
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6/9/2019 9:26am
TbonesPop wrote:
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be...
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be purchased at a bargain price the vast majority of the time. Seems to fulfill a market niche' if you ask me - why change? I agree on not having E start, but other than that, I have no complaints. If the 2020 RMZ450 had eStart, I'd buy one. And I love my YZ450F. I'd have both bikes. Just my $0.02. I couldn't care about weight reduction. I need to lose 15 lbs more than the bike does.
Another Suzuki apologist......

1. "Quality bike" - not. one of the most expensive brands for OEM parts.
2. "Incredibly reliable (best in class)" - Okay, no. That would be Yamaha and has been for years.
3. "turns on a dime (best in class)" - Once again, no. That would be the Honda since 2017.
4. "easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction)" - buddy, unless you are buying Ti, you're not losing any more than 5 pounds.
5. That shock is hot garbage.
6. Gotta spend at least 2k to match another brands STOCK motor.

If you are a racer and you buy a Suzuki you're getting ripped off cause you need bank roll to match it to other brands. Period. Any serious racer knows this. Look at the field of pros, i don't gotta tell you guys nothing.
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BikeGuy321
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6/9/2019 9:33am
Good bike for most casual riders, but it's pretty damn heavy if you consider that the other bikes have e-start and they're still lighter.
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Falcon
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6/9/2019 10:12am
2011: Suzuki must be about to go out of business
2012: Suzuki is so broke, they must be going out of business
2013: Suzuki filed for bankruptcy; they're out of business
2014: Suzuki didn't go out of business but they don't have anything new. They're going to fold
2015: Suzuki's RMZ sucks. They must be going out of business
2016: I can't believe Suzuki hasn't gone out of business
2017: Suzuki is about to go under
2018: Suzuki's all-new RMZ sucks. They must be going out of business
2019: Suzuki gave up. They're about to go out of business.

Just how long do you guys think it takes to go out of business? By the way, motocross bikes and motocross racing are not the main focus of ANY japanese motorcycle brand. Any of them could stop manufacturing MX bikes tomorrow and it would probably help their bottom line, to be honest.
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tek14
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6/9/2019 10:21am
Falcon wrote:
2011: Suzuki must be about to go out of business 2012: Suzuki is so broke, they must be going out of business 2013: Suzuki filed for...
2011: Suzuki must be about to go out of business
2012: Suzuki is so broke, they must be going out of business
2013: Suzuki filed for bankruptcy; they're out of business
2014: Suzuki didn't go out of business but they don't have anything new. They're going to fold
2015: Suzuki's RMZ sucks. They must be going out of business
2016: I can't believe Suzuki hasn't gone out of business
2017: Suzuki is about to go under
2018: Suzuki's all-new RMZ sucks. They must be going out of business
2019: Suzuki gave up. They're about to go out of business.

Just how long do you guys think it takes to go out of business? By the way, motocross bikes and motocross racing are not the main focus of ANY japanese motorcycle brand. Any of them could stop manufacturing MX bikes tomorrow and it would probably help their bottom line, to be honest.
all-new RMZ.. that must have been before 2011 right?
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6/9/2019 10:23am
GODZILLA wrote:
Sorry, my mistake, I thought we were talking MX sales and results.
Laughing
TBF You can't judge someone/a company on being rubbish in a field that they're not really trying at. Its a bit like saying Tiger Woods is a rubbish soccer player.... When Tiger isn't training to be a soccer player..

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Falcon
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6/9/2019 10:28am
Falcon wrote:
2011: Suzuki must be about to go out of business 2012: Suzuki is so broke, they must be going out of business 2013: Suzuki filed for...
2011: Suzuki must be about to go out of business
2012: Suzuki is so broke, they must be going out of business
2013: Suzuki filed for bankruptcy; they're out of business
2014: Suzuki didn't go out of business but they don't have anything new. They're going to fold
2015: Suzuki's RMZ sucks. They must be going out of business
2016: I can't believe Suzuki hasn't gone out of business
2017: Suzuki is about to go under
2018: Suzuki's all-new RMZ sucks. They must be going out of business
2019: Suzuki gave up. They're about to go out of business.

Just how long do you guys think it takes to go out of business? By the way, motocross bikes and motocross racing are not the main focus of ANY japanese motorcycle brand. Any of them could stop manufacturing MX bikes tomorrow and it would probably help their bottom line, to be honest.
tek14 wrote:
all-new RMZ.. that must have been before 2011 right?
Speaking in OEM parlance, the 2018 was all-new. You and I both know that nobody changes everything in a given year. "All" is a relative term.
6/9/2019 10:31am
TbonesPop wrote:
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be...
Quality bike, incredibly reliable (best in class), turns on a dime (best in class), easy to modify to one's liking (including weight reduction), and can be purchased at a bargain price the vast majority of the time. Seems to fulfill a market niche' if you ask me - why change? I agree on not having E start, but other than that, I have no complaints. If the 2020 RMZ450 had eStart, I'd buy one. And I love my YZ450F. I'd have both bikes. Just my $0.02. I couldn't care about weight reduction. I need to lose 15 lbs more than the bike does.
Austin269 wrote:
I agree with all of those claims, most of which are why I own a 2018 RMZ 450 myself. The $6,700 price tag for a new...
I agree with all of those claims, most of which are why I own a 2018 RMZ 450 myself. The $6,700 price tag for a new rig was unbeatable. E-start would be amazing but I have never had it before so i guess i'm not really missing it. My biggest worry is that they will eventually get too far behind the 8 ball in competition. We all know having a bike that runs in the front of the class in pro events leads to sales, just looks at KTM for example. People are willing to pay an extra $1000 for a KTM than a Japanese model in most cases. I know Ken did it in 2016 on a Suzuki but that is a long time in this sport.
You can buy '19 Kx450's right now for $6850 OTD at Power Motorsports in Sublimity Oregon. E start,Spring fork,Hydro clutch...

19 KX450

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