Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2024 SUZUKI RM-Z250 BETTER THAN THE 2023 RM-Z250?
A: Yes and no. The answer is “yes” if you bought the bike before January1, 2024, and it’s “no” if you bought the bike after the new year. How come? Because Suzuki offered its RM-Z250/450 bikes as “RM Army Edition” models to anyone buying them before the end of 2023. The RM Army Edition was first introduced a year ago, and back then the bike came with a full Yoshimura RS-12 exhaust system and Throttle Syndicate graphics. For the 2024 model year, the RM Army Editions come with a full Pro Circuit T-6 exhaust system, which livens up the RM-Z250 engine.
Q: WHAT IS OUR BIGGEST COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 2024 SUZUKI RM-Z250?
A: The best selling point for the Suzuki is that it comes with the lowest price tag out of all the new 250 four-stroke models; however, the forks are so stiff that you’ll have to use some of the money you saved to fix the forks.
Suzuki ran Kayaba PSF-2 air forks on its 2016-2018 RM-Z250s before switching to the KYB coil spring forks they have now, which have 5.0 N/mm springs in them. Unfortunately, 5.0 N/mm is way too stiff for a 250. It’s the same spring that Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki run in their 450 forks. In contrast, the Kayaba coil spring forks on the YZ250F use a 4.7 N/mm spring rate. You would think that since Suzuki has been criticized for its forks for five straight years they would have done something about them by now.
We tested the RM Army Edition RM-Z250 with the Pro Circuit T-6 exhaust system.
Q: WHAT IS THE QUICKEST AND CHEAPEST FORK FIX?
A: The quickest fix for the stock 2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 forks (and for any fork that is too stiff) is to lower the oil height in the forks by 30mm in both legs. This is not as effective as sending the forks out to be re-valved and re-sprung, but it will make the bike ridable at zero cost.
How do you drain fork oil? Simply take your forks off, clean your fork caps to prevent dirt from getting inside, remove the air bleed screw, and carefully tip the fork leg at a 45-degree angle with the air-bleed screw hole aimed directly into a cubic-centimeter measuring cup. This step is easiest with the help of a friend. Slowly compress the base of the fork leg with your right hand, holding the fork-leg tube firmly with your left hand. Continue to pump the fork leg until fork oil begins to exit the air-bleed screw hole. If too much oil has been removed, tip the fork leg right-side up and, using a fork syringe tool, draw fork oil into the syringe and slowly compress it back into the air-bleed screw hole.
Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT THE RM-Z250 GOT ANY UPDATES?
A: The last RM-Z250 remodel came in 2019 when the RM-Z250 got an updated frame, Kayaba spring forks, bigger front brake rotor, dual injectors, a new shock, revised cylinder head, updated piston pin, refined gear ratios, a new cam-chain tensioner and new bodywork. All these updates made the bike significantly better (besides the brutally stiff forks). The changes to the 2019 RM-Z250 did make more power from mid to top—approximately 2 more horsepower.
Q: HOW DOES THE RM-Z250 STACK UP AGAINST THE COMPETITION?
A: The 2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 offers the least peak horsepower in its class. Yes, you can buy a good exhaust system to liven up the power and drop off the engine to your favorite tuner in search of more excitement, but then you’ll be chasing your tail. The money you pay to become competitive with the rest of the 250 four-strokes means you’re no longer riding an “affordable bike.” And, any money spent to catch up to the other manufacturers’ bikes is all for naught if the riders on other brands spend the same money and pull further away from you.
The 2024 Suzuki hangs with the best in the class from 5000 rpm until 8000 rpm with strong low-to-mid power. But after 8000 rpm, the KTM, Husky, and Kawasaki walk away from the RM-Z. The bottom-end grunt does make the RM-Z250 easier to ride, with less effort required to get going. Its friendly engine is perfect for riders who aren’t ready for the fire-breathing, 14,000-rpm powerbands of the 2024 KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and Kawasaki. To make the 2024 RM-Z250 equal to the class-leading 250cc Amateur- or AMA-class race engines, like the KTM 250SXF, it would take at least $4000 in porting, an exhaust system, a high-compression piston, cam and ECU mods.
The Pro Circuit T-6 exhaust system boosts the bottom-end snap and mid-range power on the RM-Z250. But it only came stock on 2024 RM-Z250 bought before the first of the year.
Q: DOES THE PRO CIRCUIT T-6 EXHAUST SYSTEM HELP THE RM-Z250?
A: On the track, the RM-Z250 runs much better with the T-6 exhaust system that comes as an RM Army Edition upgrade. The bottom end is snappier. The midrange is stronger, and the top end is improved as well. The Pro Circuit system didn’t elevate this bike to the level of the Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, GasGas or Husqvarna, but it did help the RM-Z250 look better, sound better and run better. Our test riders noticed the biggest gains in the bottom end with the Pro Circuit system installed.
Q: HOW DOES THE 2024 SUZUKI RM-Z250 HANDLE?
A: The frame updates that came in 2019 put even more emphasis on the front end; however, in stock form, the ultra-stiff forks don’t give you any chance of finding any sort of comfort if the track is rough. The Suzuki is only nice on a smooth track with lots of traction under braking. If the dirt is soft, you’ll be able to compress the forks and carve through turns, but if the dirt has a hard base to it, the forks will rattle your teeth out.
Once you lower the spring rate on the forks, you’ll realize the forks aren’t the only stiff aspect of this bike; the aluminum frame is also rigid. FCP Racing makes engine mounts for $429 that help with this. Although it’s stiff, the RM-Z250 chassis is consistent. Our test riders complained about it being harsh, but they also admit that it’s predictable; they know how the chassis would react to the bumps every lap.
Q: DOES THE SUZUKI RM-Z250 OFFER DIFFERENT MAPS?
A: The 2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 comes with three pre-programmed plug-in fuel couplers that change the EFI tuning. The white coupler is the most aggressive off the bottom and gets the rpm to rev through its range faster; however, Suzuki has taken the initiative to bring to market their MX Tuner 2.0 tool, which plugs into the bike and allows your smartphone to connect to the ECU via Wi-Fi. It’s very similar to the first-generation Yamaha Power Tuner app.
The MX Tuner 2.0 app allows you to choose between four pre-programmed maps (aggressive, smooth, richer and leaner) for different riding conditions. You can set these maps into any of the three plug-in couplers that come with the bike. You can also create custom fuel and ignition timing maps with the app as well. Plus, the app is great for keeping maintenance records and monitoring engine hours and real-time engine functions, including rpm and throttle position (only while the MX Tuner is plugged in).
Unfortunately, because the Suzuki doesn’t already have a battery, you will need to buy a battery and cable to connect power to the bike. The battery and cable are sold separately.
On the track, the map updates produce a noticeable difference. The Pro Circuit map is night-and-day better than stock and works best with the Pro Circuit exhaust system. If you don’t want to spend the money on a re-mapped vortex, the battery and cable will remap the stock ECU for better performance.
Q: WHAT IS SUZUKI MISSING?
A: If Suzuki won’t fix their forks, build a more competitive engine or add an electric starter, we wish they would at least drop the price a little more. The $8,099 MSRP is much better than the $11,449 price tag of the 2024-1/2 Husqvarna FC250 Rockstar Edition, but, it would be better if Suzuki would lower that price point even further and focus their marketing on entry-level riders. There’s a demand for more affordable dirt bikes, and Suzuki could be the perfect answer.
Q: WHAT DID WE HATE?
A: The hate list:
(1) Clutch. The cable clutch is easy to pull in, but it also tends to slip after a few hard hours of riding. Stiffer aftermarket clutch springs help your clutch last longer.
(2) Brakes. The front brake needs help. It has low stopping power, and it will fade over a long moto of hard use.
(3) Forks. The RM-Z250 forks are far too stiff.
(4) Electric start. Electric starting is standard for all modern four-strokes—Suzuki hasn’t gotten the memo.
(5) Weight. At 227 pounds (without fuel in the tank), it is heavy. It would be even heavier if they switched out the kickstart lever for a battery and electric starter.
(6) Engine. It’s the slowest bike in the class. You need to short-shift to keep the RM-Z250 in the power.
(7) Resale value. It’s hard to get any money for a used RM-Z250 when the dealerships have new ones already marked down below MSRP.
(8) Transmission. The gears can be notchy when shifted under a load.
Q: WHAT DID WE LIKE?
A: The like list:
(1) RM Army. We’re happy Suzuki at least offered an RM Army version of its 250/450 models. Unfortunately, if you didn’t buy a Suzuki before December 31st, you missed out on the Pro Circuit T-6 exhaust system and RM Army graphics.
(2) Durability. We have consistently put over 50 hours on our RM-Z250 test bikes every year since 2019 with no serious issues. We even ran the same chain guide and slider last year for all 50 hours with no quibbles.
(3) Cornering. After you fix the forks, the RM-Z250 loves to corner. It’s nimble and doesn’t oversteer or want to stand up in the middle of the turn.
(4) Tires. We like the MX33 tires front and rear.
(5) Price. The $8,099 MSRP is nice.
Q: WHAT DO WE REALLY THINK?
A: Without updating a thing since 2019, the Suzuki has become a polarizing bike that you’ll either love or hate. Riders who buy a Suzuki either want to save money or stand out from the pack by using a kickstarter instead of a push-button e-start. The Suzuki is still one of the sharpest looking bikes on the track. The engine is user-friendly for novice-level riders, and the durability is impressive. With just the addition of softer fork springs, the Suzuki RM-Z250 is a great bike for many riders.
MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2024 SUZUKI RM-Z250 Motocross Action Magazine.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login