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I have learned a lot about the 2025 Suzuki 450 in the last couple months of riding it. For all of you Suzuki haters out there, there is no room to hate on this bike. Sure it doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles that other bikes have, but bare bones, this thing is pretty damn good! I have had some of the most fun days riding on the Suzuki so I am here to let you in on how living with the RM-Z450 has been. Are there things that can make it better? Absolutely, but if you are a two-wheel enthusiast like myself, and on a budget, this bike is a great option. I have tested this bike in all conditions (sand, mud, loam, ruts, hard pack) and there are characteristics of the bike that I like in each condition. I even rode the bike at 10,000 feet elevation at Leadville MX and it was plenty powerful enough for me. Below is a list of notable things that I have learned about the bike.
Reliability: With over 30 hours on the bike, I have had to do nothing to it. I did some general maintenance (oil changes, filter changes, checked bolts and spokes) but other than that, the bike has been bullet proof. I did break off one of the engine guards (probably caught a rock) and I changed the chain and sprocket(went from a 50 tooth to a 51 in the rear which gave it a bit more bottom end at elevation). Other than that, I have had zero issues with the bike.
Motor: This is something that I get asked about a lot. Personally, I really enjoy the engine characteristics of this bike. As a rider that hasn’t been on a bike that much the past few years, I didn’t want anything too fast that could get me into trouble. However, I also didn’t want something that was too slow either. That being said, the Suzuki was a solid choice because it delivers a smooth power, a nice exciting amount of bottom end, revs out a bit quicker than I would like so you do have to short shift it. I would like a bit more length in power but, obviously I have been riding it up at elevation and the bikes are significantly slower up here. My biggest complaint about the motor is that when you start it, it takes a second for it to clean up. The RM-Z450 is a little cold blooded at first. When it’s cold, it’s rich feeling for the first lap or so and then it cleans up. I have been riding it with the grey plug, but I plan on riding it with the lean/white plug (which I should have been doing) moving forward.
Clutch: I have been riding a KTM for the last few years and have been running a hydraulic clutch so coming back to the cable clutch I was not sure what to expect. There are characteristics that I liked and disliked. Obviously the hydraulic clutch is easier to pull and you get a more consistent pull every time. I do like the adjustability of the cable clutch though as I am old school and like the clutch to pull a certain way. I feel like I get that with a cable clutch, but I have been living with the cable pull and haven’t gone home from a day of riding just wishing I had a hydro.
Suspension and Chassis: This is a big topic on Suzuki as well know it’s a dated design. It’s known that the Showa BFRC shock has some issues. It definitely has some quirks about it. Off throttle coming into corners, I feel as though I don’t have a ton of feel and control over what the rear end is doing. The rear wants to kick a little more than I am used to coming off a KTM. On throttle, the bike tracks great and I enjoy this aspect of the BFRC. The bike is known for its cornering capabilities even though it’s a dated design and from experience, the Suzuki does corner well. I think it cornered better than my newer KTM that I loved. It tracks very well on corner exits and through acceleration bumps. In my opinion, the bike works great as long as you are on the throttle. As soon as you are off throttle is when it feels a bit nervous for me. I had a lot of questions about the weight of the bike also and you can definitely feel that the bike is heavier but it does not lose its agility (side to side feel). If anything, I feel that the bike is more stable in areas compared to my KTM because of its slightly porky weight. Sometimes weight is a good thing as long as the CG feel isn’t too heavy or high. If you can get some weight added a bit lower at times, it can help with tracking.
Kickstart My Heart: Now this has been one of the most poked fun of things about the Suzuki 450. Does it suck to have to kickstart? Well, yeah it does, I am getting older and like I said, I was on a KTM before! Would I rather have a button to start the dang thing? Hell yeah! But these are first world problems people. The bike fires up on the second or third kick every time. Is it more effort for us vet riders? Yes, but that is not a deal breaker for me. I understand it could be for some of you, but I feel if I am able to ride the damn thing I sure as hell be able to kick that damn yellow bike over to make it start. No biggie…
Aesthetics: The Suzuki stands out amongst other bikes because you just don’t see very many. The retro graphics had all the other vet riders going down memory lane. I got more compliments on how this bike looks than any other bike I have ever owned. Suzukis and he color yellow is just cool looking!
