Suzuki RM-Z450 2021 — Specifications

Can a motocross bike still afford to play the card of mechanical purity in 2025? Suzuki seems to believe it wholeheartedly with its RM-Z450, a machine that sticks to its positions with an almost disconcerting stubbornness. At a time when all its competitors are offering you an electric starter button with a smile, the Suzuki, on the other hand, offers you a kick. An act of faith, or an admission of being behind? At €9,299, the question is worth asking. Because yes, the Suzuki RM-Z450 is currently the only 450 motocross bike not equipped as standard with an electric starter. A detail? Not really, when you know that this modern comfort has become the norm at KTM, Husqvarna, Honda or Kawasaki.

However, let's not be mistaken. Beneath this aggressively styled fairing beats the heart of a fierce competitor, forged by more than 40 years of competition. The 449 cm³ engine has been reworked to offer a more linear torque curve and a crisp response at low revs. With its 60 horsepower, it is not the most powerful in the lineup, but it aims for efficiency. The magic mainly works thanks to its in-house electronic system, S-HAC, a three-mode launch assist that analyzes your throttle opening and gear selection to propel you off the grid with remarkable efficiency. It is a valuable tool, especially for an amateur rider looking to capitalize on every start.

The great strength of this RM-Z lies in its chassis. The overall balance has been tweaked, with weight shifted forward for increased agility. The aluminum frame has lost 700 grams and gained rigidity, while the lightweight swingarm, reduced by 100 grams, offers better ground feel. On board, the feeling is that of a sharp bike, which leans with exemplary neutrality and inspires immediate confidence. The Showa suspensions, a spring/hydraulic combination at the front and a BFRC shock at the rear, are remarkably progressive, absorbing shocks without ever bottoming out. You can feel the know-how derived from the GSX-R1000.

So, for whom? This Suzuki is aimed at the demanding motocross rider who prioritizes raw sensations and a direct connection with the machine. It forgives less than a KTM, requires a little more physical engagement, especially to start it. But in return, it offers driving clarity and cornering precision that make it a formidable weapon in the hands of experienced riders. The MX Tuner 2.0 pack, supplied as standard, allows you to fine-tune injection and ignition maps from a smartphone, a welcome feature to adapt to all tracks.

Ultimately, the Suzuki RM-Z450 is not a compromise bike. It embraces its choices, even archaic ones, and focuses entirely on pure efficiency. It is the preferred weapon of the track rider who prefers sensation to gadgetry, who accepts to give a kick to receive, in exchange, a machine of rare honesty and agility. In a hyper-electronic world, it’s almost an act of resistance.