What is tumble flow? Basically, it is the flow that rotates near the outer edges of the intake charge. To pull more power out of the existing design, the cylinder head intake port was revised for a 25% increase in tumble flow. To get the 2018 Suzuki RM-Z450 to run better, Suzuki engineers took a good look at the 2017 RM-Z’s 449cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected DOHC engine. The 2018 RM-Z450’s 449cc DOHC makes more power via a revised cylinder head and cam timing, updated fuel-injection and a new ECM. Suzuki calls it “The Winning Balance,” developing the RM-Z450 to run, turn and stop better. The most significant changes to the 2018 RM-Z450 are in the chassis and suspension, right where they needed to be, but the RM-Z’s engine also received updates. Suzuki engineers did just that, and more.
2017 RMZ 450 REVIEW UPDATE
If Suzuki could update the suspension and make the 2018 Suzuki RM-Z450 more comfortable to ride, there was little doubt that it would probably be a better bike. Despite flawed suspension and an extremely rigid-feeling chassis, the 2017 model was a well-liked 450, and few would argue that Suzuki already produces one of the best-cornering 450cc motocrossers in the class. So how did Suzuki do it with a machine that wasn’t all-new from the ground up? Pretty simple, really. If there were a category for most-improved 450cc motocross bike in our testing criteria, the Suzuki would have battled the class-winning 2018 Yamaha YZ450F to the wire for that honor. That may not sound significant, but when our score card tally was complete, the 2018 RM-Z450 missed the podium by a scant few points, and it was unanimously praised by our test crew. Improved engine performance, an all-new chassis and all-new suspension have given the RM-Z450 a new lease on life in the tough 450cc motocross class, and it’s still one of the best-handling 450s of all time.Īfter finishing near the bottom in our 2017 450cc Motocross Shootout, the Suzuki moved up a position this year, finishing in fourth place in our 2018 450cc Motocross Shootout. Suzuki clearly put in a lot of effort to raise the competitive level of its 2018 Suzuki RM-Z450, and it shows.