For die-hard motorcyclists few things that beat the freedom of riding off-road. Unconstrained by traffic—and traffic laws— dirt bikes are all about cutting your own path. Every now and then, we’re keen to throw some roost, and Suzuki’s 2022 RM-Z250 ($7,899) is a fun way to do it.
--
Suzuki, in contrast to the other big motorcycle manufacturers, offers a simpler off-road lineup. The RM-Z250 slots into its three-bike motocross segment. While these bikes are engineered for closed-course competition, not everyone lines up at the starting gate every time they ride.
Because this RM is a competition bike, there’s no kickstand; it rests on either a removable axle-mounted triangle stand or a raised centerstand. The latter looks nicer, but it requires added effort to lift the 233-pound (claimed) yellow bike off the stand, and because of their lengthy suspension travel and ground clearance, moto bikes are tall by design. Still, a slim seat and nicely tapered radiator shrouds make it easy for an average-sized person to get comfortable at the controls.
Most modern dirt bikes employ electric start. Suzuki, on the other hand, wants riders to fire its liquid-cooled 249cc single the old fashion way, so it has gifted the bike a mechanical right-hand-side kickstarter. If you’re new to dirt biking it may seem like more of a chore, even if you’ll look cooler. If you’re the old-school type, one or two kicks, even ill-timed kicks, are enough to light the engine. A handy cold-start elevates idle in chilly weather...
Find out more: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2022-suzuki-rm-z250/
Photography/video/edit: Joseph Agustin
Motorcycle Riding Gear Worn
Helmet: Alpinestars Supertech Limited-Edition Deus Ex Machina, https://www.alpinestars.com/
Goggle: 100% Armega, https://www.100percent.com/
Jersey: Alpinestars 2022 Supertech Foster
Pant: Alpinestars 2022 Supertech Foster
Gloves: Alpinestars 2022 Radar
Boot: Alpinestars Tech 7
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
--
Suzuki, in contrast to the other big motorcycle manufacturers, offers a simpler off-road lineup. The RM-Z250 slots into its three-bike motocross segment. While these bikes are engineered for closed-course competition, not everyone lines up at the starting gate every time they ride.
Because this RM is a competition bike, there’s no kickstand; it rests on either a removable axle-mounted triangle stand or a raised centerstand. The latter looks nicer, but it requires added effort to lift the 233-pound (claimed) yellow bike off the stand, and because of their lengthy suspension travel and ground clearance, moto bikes are tall by design. Still, a slim seat and nicely tapered radiator shrouds make it easy for an average-sized person to get comfortable at the controls.
Most modern dirt bikes employ electric start. Suzuki, on the other hand, wants riders to fire its liquid-cooled 249cc single the old fashion way, so it has gifted the bike a mechanical right-hand-side kickstarter. If you’re new to dirt biking it may seem like more of a chore, even if you’ll look cooler. If you’re the old-school type, one or two kicks, even ill-timed kicks, are enough to light the engine. A handy cold-start elevates idle in chilly weather...
Find out more: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2022-suzuki-rm-z250/
Photography/video/edit: Joseph Agustin
Motorcycle Riding Gear Worn
Helmet: Alpinestars Supertech Limited-Edition Deus Ex Machina, https://www.alpinestars.com/
Goggle: 100% Armega, https://www.100percent.com/
Jersey: Alpinestars 2022 Supertech Foster
Pant: Alpinestars 2022 Supertech Foster
Gloves: Alpinestars 2022 Radar
Boot: Alpinestars Tech 7
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 Hey folks, we just got done riding
00:20 Suzuki's RMZ250 motocross bike.
00:24 Now, the motocross sport is usually associated
00:27 with kids, teenagers, and young guys
00:30 who like to go fast off-road.
00:33 But once in a while, we old guys wanna have some fun
00:37 and go off some jumps,
00:38 and that's where this RMZ250 comes into play.
00:43 Now, Suzuki's been making its RMZ250
00:47 four-stroke motocross bike since back in the early 2000s,
00:52 way back when Suzuki actually had a collaboration
00:56 with Kawasaki, where Kawasaki's KX250F
01:01 and Suzuki's RMZ250 were the same bike.
01:05 Finally, I think in 2007, they split apart
01:08 and each had their own motorcycles.
01:11 Fast forward to today, and we have this RMZ250.
01:15 The last time this motorcycle saw a major overhaul
01:19 was in 2018.
01:22 That's when Suzuki switched its manufacturing.
01:26 They built a brand new factory in Hamamatsu, Japan,
01:30 and this model was the first vehicle
01:33 to roll off that assembly line.
01:35 Suzuki's RMZ250 always gets beat up
01:39 in various reviews and comparisons,
01:42 but it's still a very good bike.
01:45 Let's start with the engine.
01:47 250cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve cylinder head engine
01:52 powers this motorcycle.
01:53 What I really like about the power plant on this RMZ250
01:56 is it's got a lot of bottom end.
01:58 If you're the type of rider who doesn't like
02:00 to have these motorcycles revving to the moon,
02:03 which is kind of converse because 250Fs
02:05 are usually associated with high-revving power plants.
02:08 This thing doesn't like to rev high.
02:10 It likes to rev low.
02:11 It's got nice bottom-end power, nice mid-range power.
02:15 It's really good for an old guy who wants something
02:18 that just comes off the corners real well
02:20 and a bike you don't have to rev to the moon.
02:22 I'm not a rider who likes to rev things super high.
02:24 This engine works really good with me.
02:28 Five-speed transmission.
02:29 These Suzuki RMZ250s always have really short transmissions
02:34 and short final drive gearing.
02:36 Again, that works good with the bottom-end power
02:39 of this motorcycle.
02:40 You do a lot of shifting on it, but that's okay
02:43 because this bike comes off corners really well.
02:47 I like that I can run through first, second,
02:49 third, fourth gears and not have to be going
02:52 very fast on this bike.
02:56 Suzuki's are always renowned for their excellent handling
02:59 and the steering on this vehicle is just, it's stupendous.
03:02 I like the smaller 250CC class of motocross
03:07 and off-road vehicles just because they're really easy
03:10 to put where you want.
03:11 You know, I'm not a super good dirt bike rider,
03:13 so inside ruts and getting the motorcycle steered
03:17 on a quick inside turn is always trouble,
03:20 always hard for me.
03:21 When I'm on a bike that handles so sharply
03:24 like the Suzuki RMZ250, I feel like a hero.
03:28 Suspension on this motorcycle, yeah, it's stiff,
03:31 but I'm 190 pounds right now.
03:33 I'm a heavy guy and the extra spring rate of the fork
03:38 and the shock, it works pretty decently for me.
03:42 Of course, if you're a lighter fellow, less than 190 pounds,
03:45 this bike's gonna be definitely over sprung for you.
03:48 But if you're a big boy who likes to eat pizzas
03:51 and put down 12 packs, you are gonna like this RMZ250
03:55 just 'cause it's got that really stiff suspension.
03:58 So when you're going fast, when you're going over stuff
04:01 that has big bumps in the fast stuff, you're gonna like it.
04:05 Conversely, if you're riding really low speed stuff,
04:10 riding maybe even off-road terrain where you're going slow,
04:13 this bike does not like going slow.
04:16 It doesn't do good in big bumps and slow.
04:19 It wants a big heavy rider going fast.
04:23 Now, this RMZ250 is still, it's crazy to say this,
04:28 but it's still equipped with a manual kick starter.
04:32 Now, that might dissuade some dirt bike enthusiasts,
04:37 but honestly, once you get this bike in neutral,
04:40 once you kick the lever in top dead center,
04:43 this bike fires up first or second kick every time.
04:47 It's a very easy motorcycle to get running,
04:51 even though it doesn't have electric start.
04:55 We have our RMZ250.
04:56 This motorcycle is fitted with whole shot assist,
05:00 which we will use today.
05:01 This allows the vehicle to use an alternative map.
05:07 The alternative map helps allow the rear tire
05:12 to hook up against the slippery concrete.
05:17 So it allows the rear tire, in theory, more traction,
05:21 so you can get off this concrete start
05:24 and get onto the dirt and have more hookup.
05:29 As we will see today,
05:30 the start of a motocross race is everything.
05:34 If you can get out in front right away,
05:36 you are gonna have much better chances
05:38 of having a good race.
05:41 We rode this motorcycle during the annual Surfer Cross race
05:46 that pits professional dirt bike racers
05:50 and professional surfers together over two days,
05:55 and this RMZ250 was a great bike for that.
05:59 We rode at Paris Raceway.
06:01 It has larger jumps.
06:02 You're going a little bit faster
06:04 in certain segments of the track,
06:06 and that's where this stiffer suspension really held off.
06:11 (motorcycle engine revving)
06:12 For $7,900, Suzuki offers a good value proposition
06:16 with its 2021 RMZ250 motocross bike.
06:21 Sure, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles
06:25 of some of the other 250cc four-strokes in this segment,
06:31 but it looks good, it's fun to ride,
06:35 it is a very well-built machine,
06:39 and it's not going to break the bank.
06:41 All right, folks, that's a wrap from our RMZ250 review.
06:47 Make sure to log on to MotorcyclistOnline.com.
06:51 That's where all of my written content lives.
06:55 Give this video a thumbs up if you liked it,
06:57 thumbs it down if you didn't,
06:59 and we'll see you guys next time.
07:00 Thanks for riding along with us today.
07:03 (upbeat music)
07:05 (camera shutter clicking)
07:10 (camera shutter clicking)
07:13 (upbeat music)
07:16 (upbeat music)
07:18 (upbeat music)