2008 KTM Motocross - First Look

Suzuki has dropped the bomb on Japanese fuel-injected motocross bikes. The 2008 RM-Z450 is the first of the Big Four to release a production model MX bike with EFI, and it looks like a sweet move on the Yellow brand's part.

After being the last to offer a 450cc, 4-stroke motocross bike, and yet to bring out an off-road version, Suzuki has been left behind in much of the modern 4-stroke wars. That's all changed now that it is the first to the table with technology that is likely the next big evolution of the sport. There are plenty of new features about the big RM-Z. In fact, it's practically all-new, but the lack of a carburetor is definitely the highlight and drew cheers from the hundreds of Suzuki dealers and motorcycle media on hand for the release in Las Vegas.

Suzuki claims the EFI with a 43mm Keihin throttle body has better low-to-mid power delivery and roll-on performance, and of course, elevation won't be an issue anymore. It's powered entirely by the magneto which eliminates the need for any form of battery. The unit is bolted to the bottom of an all-new aluminum fuel tank. That's right, aluminum! The light-weight material was chosen rather than traditional plastic for a better seal with the EFI system. Inside the tank rests the Keihin fuel pump which is located at the lowest point. Because fuel won't be lost through overflow and is metered with higher precision, the new RM-Z is said to get much improved fuel economy. So much in fact that Suzuki was able to pare down the aluminum tank to 1.6 gallons, a 0.2-gallon decrease from the old model.

Motor mods have been done as well to match the new fuel system and improve performance. Intake cam timing was changed and the intake port angle was moved 11.5 degrees for less resistance. The exhaust was altered 10 degrees and the squish areas inside the cylinder are larger for a better burn. Engineers moved the hot start mechanism to the right handlebar where a dinky, black lever assists what Suzuki claims is a better-starting machine thanks to the properties of EFI. The bore is increased from 95.5mm to 96mm and the stroke dropped from 62.8mm to 62.1mm with a compression ratio bumped to 12.8:1.

The big, bulky, waffle-patterned aluminum chassis is all-new as well. It is still a twin-spar design, but gone are the blocky indentations by the footpegs, and the whole unit is visibly smaller and thinner. All told there's a crap-load of aluminum on this baby. The Renthal bars, chassis, fuel tank, chassis, subframe, swingarm, muffler and rear sprocket, just about the only piece of aluminum missing is a skidplate. The RM-Z comes with plastic engine guards, but no underbelly protection. And just what is so important that it needs protection, you ask? Well, how about an all-new 5-speed transmission. Suzuki held out the longest of the Japanese OEMs, but finally gave up on the 4-cog arrangement - off-road riders are dancing in the streets. In fact, the new tranny and elevation-ignorant EFI make for a sweet starting point for guys who avoid MX tracks. The only problem will be that dinky fuel tank. It's scary to think how expensive it will be for a high-capacity aftermarket version of the aluminum wonder.

Front and rear suspension received internal changes which are yet to be finalized, and are claimed to be lighter overall. Combined with the chassis weight savings, it seems as though Suzuki has created a super-light, but the claimed dry weight, also yet to be finalized, is four pounds heavier than last year's at 224 lbs.

The bike has a slightly different visual flavor than past Suzukis, but still retains the distinctive characteristics. Plastic bodywork is angular, but not as much as in past years. The rear render is less peaky, but the front now resembles more of a KTM-style beak. Another Katoomish feature is the gaps where the rear fender meets the back of the seat. These offer greater airflow to large vents in the sidepanels and radiator shrouds.

Wave brake rotors (250mm front, 240mm rear), gold chain and axle blocks, Excel rims, high-quality handlebars, gripper seat, a titanium header, aluminum chassis and fuel tank and EFI give this bike the look and feel of a factory machine more than any previous Suzuki. Regardless of what we conclude during our first tests (likely sometime in October) people are going to buy this bike simply for the techno wizardry and updated appeal. MSRP figures aren't available yet and the bikes won't start hitting dealer floors until around the same time as our expected first ride.

Amid all this great news about the flagship model, there's also some mediocre and bad news about the rest of the Yellow MX lineup. The RM-Z250 (MSRP: $6099) is basically unchanged for 2008, which is exactly what we expected with a completely new version in '07 and the rumors of EFI on the big-bore for this year. That's not a bad thing considering how well the engineers did their homework on the quarter-liter. There were a few updates which include a 38mm Keihin FCR carb (37mm in 2007), narrower exhaust ports, modified suspension internals and new muffler construction. It also gets the wave rotors, gold D.I.D. chain, new hot start, gripper seat and low-profile, nasty-sharp footpegs of its big brother.

The rest of the news, the bad stuff, is that the full-size 2-stroke line is almost gone. The RM125 is already toast, not making it to America for 2008, and the RM250 won't reappear for the 2009 model year. It'll be around through the next season, but get 'em while they're hot - or at least lukewarm - because this is the final act. The RM85 and 85L are still being carried in lieu of an answer for Honda's CRF150R.

Suzuki also released an all-new playbike which will meld right into the existing mini market. The DR-Z70 (MSRP: $1499) is the same size as a 50cc bike from the likes of Honda or Yamaha, but offers a slightly larger engine displacement. The cool thing is that it will accept many of the aftermarket bodywork, suspension upgrades and chassis mods. The motor is housed in a cradle-less chassis and rolls on a pair of 10-inch wheels. Little Timmy will enjoy the fact that both electric- and kick-start options are standard. If a 70cc machine is too small, the DR-Z lineup includes a 125 (MSRP: $2399) and 125L (MSRP: $2599) model to act as stepping stones to the RM-Z machines