Why suzukis turn so well

drt410
Profile picture for user drt410
Posts
2075
Joined
3/18/2017
Location
Boston, MA US
drt410
Edited Date/Time 9/24/2018 12:34am
Is this really a bonafide fact or up for debate? I know Hondas turn very well also. Does suzuki just always have less rake than any other bike sacrificing high speed stability? Ive searched and never seen an end all be all reason why this is. Does it just get repeated by testers or really true? Why cant other mfgs just do the same? Has to have to do with the rake.
|
Underground 9/21/2018 3:16pm
9/21/2018 3:16pm
Because they are designed that way. Maybe you should try one and find out for yourself
2
13
mattyhamz2
Profile picture for user mattyhamz2
Posts
10866
Joined
7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
767th
mattyhamz2 9/21/2018 3:20pm
9/21/2018 3:20pm Edited Date/Time 9/21/2018 3:43pm
drt410 wrote:
Is this really a bonafide fact or up for debate? I know Hondas turn very well also. Does suzuki just always have less rake than any...
Is this really a bonafide fact or up for debate? I know Hondas turn very well also. Does suzuki just always have less rake than any other bike sacrificing high speed stability? Ive searched and never seen an end all be all reason why this is. Does it just get repeated by testers or really true? Why cant other mfgs just do the same? Has to have to do with the rake.
The Suzuki's are very precise when it comes to turning. The Honda, at least the ones I've ridden, are easy to under and over steer.

And yes, they do give up a bit of straight line stability compared to the other bikes. You have to give a little to get a little.
2
3
TbonesPop
Profile picture for user TbonesPop
Posts
3463
Joined
1/26/2010
Location
Gilbert, AZ US
Fantasy
405th
TbonesPop 9/21/2018 3:27pm
9/21/2018 3:27pm
Suzuki's are very underrated in my opinion overall. They are excellent turning bikes, it is true. I didn't believe the hype until I rode one, then ended up buying one. The bike goes where your eyes go, and the Suzuki is damn near like Yoda. You just barely have to think about where you want it to go - not really even initiate the turn, and with just subtle body movements (without thinking) and the bike goes there. I'm by no means an expert rider and even I can tell they turn like a dream.
3
3
drt410
Profile picture for user drt410
Posts
2075
Joined
3/18/2017
Location
Boston, MA US
drt410 9/21/2018 3:30pm
9/21/2018 3:30pm
So is it just the rake?

The Shop

See All »
dadofagun
Profile picture for user dadofagun
Posts
1720
Joined
3/28/2015
Location
Satan's Hollow, OK US
Fantasy
1962nd
dadofagun 9/21/2018 3:34pm
9/21/2018 3:34pm
Nothing, and I mean nothing, turns as well as a Suzuki...... fantastic bikes. They catch a ton of shit on here, but, your dollar goes further for the normal weekend warrior on a RM, or RMZ. Been my experience anyway......
5
colintrax
Profile picture for user colintrax
Posts
4704
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Taylorsville, GA US
Fantasy
2342nd
colintrax 9/21/2018 3:41pm
9/21/2018 3:41pm
Head angle, swing arm length, suspension set up, frame flex, and more all play into how well it does/doesnt handle. I believe the zook mostly benefits from a steeper head angle.
2
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2769
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA US
loftyair 9/21/2018 3:45pm
9/21/2018 3:45pm
Just be careful if used to riding yam or kawi, the suz will turn, sharp, now, oops!
2
mattyhamz2
Profile picture for user mattyhamz2
Posts
10866
Joined
7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
767th
mattyhamz2 9/21/2018 3:47pm
9/21/2018 3:47pm
loftyair wrote:
Just be careful if used to riding yam or kawi, the suz will turn, sharp, now, oops!
Lol!! Been there, experienced that and almost went down a few times!
1
Gilby122
Profile picture for user Gilby122
Posts
348
Joined
4/29/2014
Location
WY US
Gilby122 9/21/2018 4:10pm
9/21/2018 4:10pm
I just got an '18. Turns so well I grabbed a hair too much front brake and my ribs broke the ground on my fall!! Sick
JM485
Profile picture for user JM485
Posts
5404
Joined
10/1/2013
Location
Davis, CA US
JM485 9/21/2018 4:24pm
9/21/2018 4:24pm
They turn so well because people on the internet hype them up and people just keep repeating it, kind of like sss suspension. Both are good, but neither are as magical as you would be led to believe.
10
7
peelout
Profile picture for user peelout
Posts
17870
Joined
1/6/2011
Location
Ogden, UT US
peelout 9/21/2018 4:26pm
9/21/2018 4:26pm Edited Date/Time 9/21/2018 4:45pm
because they hella slow
18
9
Kyle_McNab
Profile picture for user Kyle_McNab
Posts
740
Joined
1/19/2018
Location
Crofton, MD US
Kyle_McNab 9/21/2018 4:40pm
9/21/2018 4:40pm
Cuz people that have no idea what makes a bike good. Bunch of dumbass love to hate on the zook but fail to realize how important it is to be comfortable. The chassis is good and predictable but I guess we got a bunch of pros here in vital that need more power... smh
3
3
FGR01
Profile picture for user FGR01
Posts
5112
Joined
10/1/2006
Location
AZ US
Fantasy
1222nd
FGR01 9/21/2018 4:42pm
9/21/2018 4:42pm
It's definitely not as simple as having steeper rake or more front weight bias. Look at the specs. The CRF450 (27deg22min)and YZ450F(27.33deg) both actually have steeper rake than the RMZ(27.8deg) and the weight bias of the RMZ is also pretty much in line with the rest of the class. Obviously Suzuki has some other aspects of the secret formula figured out.
5
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6341
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Bruce372 9/21/2018 5:10pm
9/21/2018 5:10pm
I think the shock setup on the rmz450 helps it turn so well and have so much front end grip
1
Falcon
Profile picture for user Falcon
Posts
10108
Joined
11/16/2011
Location
Menifee, CA US
Fantasy
798th
Falcon 9/21/2018 5:24pm
9/21/2018 5:24pm
Suzukis definitely turn better, but they also give some headshake and will spit you on the ground faster.

When I switched over to Yamahas way back in 1997, there was one day when I hit a half-buried rock on my new YZ125. It flicked the bike sideways with me high-sided over the top. While the bike was briefly in the air, I thought, "well, this is another broken collarbone," but then the tires hit the dirt and the thing straightened out. My previous RM125 would never have regained its composure in that situation.
The opposite side of the coin happened when I rode my buddy's RM a few years later; I felt like I could lean into any turn and just keep going faster. It was like the machine was on rails in the turns. Want to turn sharper? Lean it harder. Sharper? Even harder. There's no way it will go sharper than that is there? Yep, just lean it even harder. Amazing.
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 9/21/2018 5:30pm
9/21/2018 5:30pm
Back in 2001-2002 oldest son and I would swap bikes between my 01 YZ250F and his 01 RM125. Funny shit getting on the RM after burning laps on the 250F, diving into a corner with him on my ass and grabbing a handful of front brake. Talk about ending up on your ass in a heartbeat! The little RM was super light and felt even lighter. Cornered like it was on rails and would stop on a dime. Amazing stuff.
Lightning78
Profile picture for user Lightning78
Posts
6313
Joined
12/12/2007
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
Lightning78 9/21/2018 5:42pm
9/21/2018 5:42pm
I loved my 01 RM250 ....But the holy grail the 06 RM250 I didn't like as much it felt like it had the smallest window where it would work great and it it was even slightly off in sag depending on conditions or even clickers the bike was a complete handful
1
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2499
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 9/21/2018 5:48pm
9/21/2018 5:48pm
JM485 wrote:
They turn so well because people on the internet hype them up and people just keep repeating it, kind of like sss suspension. Both are good...
They turn so well because people on the internet hype them up and people just keep repeating it, kind of like sss suspension. Both are good, but neither are as magical as you would be led to believe.
Agree... The Zuks turn as well as the Honda. The difference will be in the stability of Zuk not being on par with the red bike. The frame geometry along with other factors like swing arm & triple clamp dimension all play a factor in the turning capabilities. Read an article on this a few yrs. back that was very informative, but couldn't find it.
2

Pit Row

See All »
MotoMo165
Profile picture for user MotoMo165
Posts
1415
Joined
4/3/2014
Location
TX US
MotoMo165 9/21/2018 5:54pm
9/21/2018 5:54pm Edited Date/Time 9/21/2018 5:54pm
Because the engine is so mellow and it’s not the lightest bike, solid slow cheap bike lol I may buy a 19
1
5
Kyle_McNab
Profile picture for user Kyle_McNab
Posts
740
Joined
1/19/2018
Location
Crofton, MD US
Kyle_McNab 9/21/2018 6:21pm
9/21/2018 6:21pm
Honda’s don’t seem that stable at all.They are pretty twitchy compared to the other bikes
2
3
malachi177
Profile picture for user malachi177
Posts
2281
Joined
12/18/2010
Location
B.C., BC CA
malachi177 9/21/2018 9:51pm
9/21/2018 9:51pm
JM485 wrote:
They turn so well because people on the internet hype them up and people just keep repeating it, kind of like sss suspension. Both are good...
They turn so well because people on the internet hype them up and people just keep repeating it, kind of like sss suspension. Both are good, but neither are as magical as you would be led to believe.
H4L wrote:
Agree... The Zuks turn as well as the Honda. The difference will be in the stability of Zuk not being on par with the red bike...
Agree... The Zuks turn as well as the Honda. The difference will be in the stability of Zuk not being on par with the red bike. The frame geometry along with other factors like swing arm & triple clamp dimension all play a factor in the turning capabilities. Read an article on this a few yrs. back that was very informative, but couldn't find it.
The Honda doesn't turn as well as the Zook.
5
5
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2499
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 9/21/2018 10:01pm
9/21/2018 10:01pm
malachi177 wrote:
The Honda doesn't turn as well as the Zook.
My experience tells me otherwise...
1
3
magoo1982
Profile picture for user magoo1982
Posts
277
Joined
4/20/2016
Location
Miamitown, OH US
magoo1982 9/22/2018 3:14am
9/22/2018 3:14am Edited Date/Time 9/22/2018 3:16am
Illinois Suzuki dealer advertising on c-list , 450s- 18s $ 5299 .00 and 19s $6299.00
GODZILLA
Profile picture for user GODZILLA
Posts
901
Joined
3/3/2018
Location
FR
GODZILLA 9/22/2018 3:53am
9/22/2018 3:53am
That's just because they're soooooooo top heavy once you lean them they litterally fall into the turn.
Tongue
1
1
Tiki
Profile picture for user Tiki
Posts
10338
Joined
8/1/2006
Location
Corona, CA US
Fantasy
1670th
Tiki 9/22/2018 8:05am
9/22/2018 8:05am
drt410 wrote:
So is it just the rake?
Rake, wheelbase, sag, spring height, offset of forks, how the motor is mounted in the cradle. It is not just one thing. And any bike can be made to turn well, it's not witchcraft. Just from the floor, Suzuki turns better than others most years.
1
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2499
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 9/22/2018 10:00am
9/22/2018 10:00am
Tiki wrote:
Rake, wheelbase, sag, spring height, offset of forks, how the motor is mounted in the cradle. It is not just one thing. And any bike can...
Rake, wheelbase, sag, spring height, offset of forks, how the motor is mounted in the cradle. It is not just one thing. And any bike can be made to turn well, it's not witchcraft. Just from the floor, Suzuki turns better than others most years.
Yep. The sag & suspension work do help. but it is more of a fine tuning aspect of it. It really starts with the foundation of the chassis, swing arm & triple clamp dimensions. The YZ is a good example of it as it is a stable chassis with not having a good turning feature.
1
1

Post a reply to: Why suzukis turn so well