2016 Thoughts

[hoov165x]

8 hours in on my 2016 so far, and I have to say I am impressed.  I have owned all the makes and the one thing that sticks out on this machine is the unreal front wheel traction on this bike.  Hondas are quirky.  Kawasakis are stable but need a rut and even then are not impressive in the turns.  Yamahas track real nice and are stable but turning is a chore.  The latest KTM/Husky is probably the closest but still doesn't earn all my trust in the turns. The Suzuki isn't too bad for stability when you spend some real time setting the chassis up, and the turning abilities are &%$#@!ing awesome!!!!  It is taking me a while as I have never had a bike with this cornering ability, but my trust in this bike is increasing big time with each ride.  I am using the bike offroad in the PNW woods, but in terrain that isn't too technical.  At my house I have about 20 miles of private, deep woods, loamy, singletrack with very little in the way of rocks or roots in the trail.  Lots of ups and downs.  There are some areas that are hard slick clay, but overall it is hero dirt.  The suspension, if you are riding head-over-the-bars and aggressive, is predictable with no surprises.  Chop sucks, but I expected that with MX valving as well as having an air fork.  I may do a spring conversion- maybe.  The clutch fades really quickly but has nice engagement.  Played with the gearing but ended back at stock.  Chassis is super sensitive to setup but I have it working real well after a lot of testing.  

Now, if I took this bike to my normal riding areas that are super steep and techy, and the trails are littered with rootwads, root steps, embedded rocks, and the like, I would probably hate it- but that is why I have a two stroke, right?

I really like this bike!!

[Guest]

I agree, I have the 2017 and have a blast riding it in the woods.  To put it in perspective, I have ridden a 2007 YZ250f and a 2003 YZ125 on the same trails behind my house and had a miserable time with them.  The RMZ can just be threaded through tight spaces and at speed, its amazing.  Couldn't be happier with this bike so far.

[racermx66]

On 9/27/2017 at 10:04 PM, hoov165x said:

8 hours in on my 2016 so far, and I have to say I am impressed.  I have owned all the makes and the one thing that sticks out on this machine is the unreal front wheel traction on this bike.  Hondas are quirky.  Kawasakis are stable but need a rut and even then are not impressive in the turns.  Yamahas track real nice and are stable but turning is a chore.  The latest KTM/Husky is probably the closest but still doesn't earn all my trust in the turns. The Suzuki isn't too bad for stability when you spend some real time setting the chassis up, and the turning abilities are &%$#@!ing awesome!!!!  It is taking me a while as I have never had a bike with this cornering ability, but my trust in this bike is increasing big time with each ride.  I am using the bike offroad in the PNW woods, but in terrain that isn't too technical.  At my house I have about 20 miles of private, deep woods, loamy, singletrack with very little in the way of rocks or roots in the trail.  Lots of ups and downs.  There are some areas that are hard slick clay, but overall it is hero dirt.  The suspension, if you are riding head-over-the-bars and aggressive, is predictable with no surprises.  Chop sucks, but I expected that with MX valving as well as having an air fork.  I may do a spring conversion- maybe.  The clutch fades really quickly but has nice engagement.  Played with the gearing but ended back at stock.  Chassis is super sensitive to setup but I have it working real well after a lot of testing.  

Now, if I took this bike to my normal riding areas that are super steep and techy, and the trails are littered with rootwads, root steps, embedded rocks, and the like, I would probably hate it- but that is why I have a two stroke, right?

I really like this bike!!

How you liking the bike so far? I was at my local dealer and he had a brand new 2016 RMZ-250 for $5,500, but since I bought several bikes from him, he'd be willing to deal a little. Maybe some time over the winter I might just pick this up and use it as strictly a professional practice bike. Don't care if it is not the quickest bike, I know I'm not getting a factory ride.

[yama722]

I recently bought a 2017, I wasn't looking for the Suzuki I was looking at that yz's but the price on the rmz was so good I couldn't pass it up. I have been on a yz250f for 10 years and loved the bike so I was kind of apprehensive about the Suzuki, that being said this rmz is the best bike I ever rode, I am amazed at how good it is, it is true that what they say about the turning, it's effortless, turns on a dime, compared to my yz it feels like a mountain bike, even though it's heavier then my yz when picking it up to put on the stand, when riding it it feels so light and flickable it's unreal, the engine has plenty of power, more then I will ever need and most of it is low and midrange right where i like it. I ride mostly on a track so the suspension works great, although the forks are a little harsh, it's nothing I can't live with. I am completely blow away about how good this bike is, the handling, how light it feels, and the engine, all around great bike.

[hoov165x]

On 11/11/2017 at 1:50 PM, racermx66 said:

How you liking the bike so far? I was at my local dealer and he had a brand new 2016 RMZ-250 for $5,500, but since I bought several bikes from him, he'd be willing to deal a little. Maybe some time over the winter I might just pick this up and use it as strictly a professional practice bike. Don't care if it is not the quickest bike, I know I'm not getting a factory ride.?

Well, it is put away for the winter.  It is snowmobiling time!!  I did get a fair amount of time on the bike this late summer.  My original thoughts still apply for sure, but I really am not gelling with the fork.  I have spent a lot of time playing with the settings and have yet to find my happy place.  This spring, when I pull the bike out of mothballs, I am going to either do a spring conversion or see about fitting a SSS KYB fork.  Then the bike will be truly outstanding... I hope.

[bring the rain]

I have seen the deals as well. forks and durability are the only thing skeering me away. I have seen keefer or others saying its a great bike but only have 15 hours on it. maybe if I read a few 50 hours of no problems ill bite.

[qwert321]

I have 80hrs (2015 all mx track) and not one issue and I rev the shit out of it.

Everyone always tells me I need to shift sooner .

put a piston in around 40hrs and it look good still( think I should have waited atleast another20-40hrs) valves have not budged.

I know of others with older 2011 -2012 rmz250 That were trouble free for 120-140hrs minus the crappy transmission that was updated in 2013 the update fixed that issue.

one had rod break a piston pin at 125hrs but he swears it was on deceleration and he should have shifted others were sold so not sure if had issue after?

key is oil I think I try not to go longer than 4hrs on oil and 8 on oil filters.

im personally impressed with my rmz it still feels like new when I ride it.

Edited February 3, 2018 by qwert321

[Cdub563]

On my uncles 16 rmz250 we went to check the valves and the cam cap bars I’m not sure what exactly it is but they’re completely in the way to check the valves. I ended up shoving a feeler gauge to the side of it but there’s gotta be a more accurate way to check them and easier way. 

[Torrture]

I have about 20 hrs on my '16 , love it. Awesome bike.

[Cdub563]

Have you checked the vakves

[qwert321]

Checking valves can be tricky to get feeler gauge in but not impossible.

the compactness is needed they could make easier to check but then bike would have to be wider between the frame spars which makes the bike wider ...

[Cdub563]

On my 2013 kx 250 f the bars aren’t there just caps so it’s super easy

[thsp485]

On ‎2‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 11:51 AM, qwert321 said:

I have 80hrs (2015 all mx track) and not one issue and I rev the shit out of it.

Everyone always tells me I need to shift sooner .

put a piston in around 40hrs and it look good still( think I should have waited atleast another20-40hrs) valves have not budged.

I know of others with older 2011 -2012 rmz250 That were trouble free for 120-140hrs minus the crappy transmission that was updated in 2013 the update fixed that issue.

one had rod break a piston pin at 125hrs but he swears it was on deceleration and he should have shifted others were sold so not sure if had issue after?

key is oil I think I try not to go longer than 4hrs on oil and 8 on oil filters.

im personally impressed with my rmz it still feels like new when I ride it.

I had done a lot of research on different bikes before picking up a 2017 RMZ 250 (270 BB kit) with 14 hours on it.  I had listened to a RacerX podcasts with Jimmy Albertson, who ran the Motorcycle SuperStore Suzuki 3250 squad in 2016.  Thet had 4 riders and their budget did not allow them to swap parts nearly as often as Pro Circuit and the big teams could.  He said they ran that crap out of their RMZ's both the practice bikes and race bikes and they never broke.  He swears by these RMZ's.

[qwert321]

I heard that pod cast also.

i was not sure what year he was talking about( not sure if he mentioned) but he did praise the rmz. I think the rmz not being as high strung as the lasted bikes from the other manufacturers helps it reliability also.