KIWI RIDER 04 2020 VOL2 | Page 46

There are those ‘experts’ who still say the RM- Z250 didn’t change all that much in the last decade. These people don’t know what they’re talking about. Yes, the shrouds might have kept a similar shape but the changes between each generation were monumental – I know because I’ve been racing on this brand since 2013. It did fall behind in development, yes. But Suzuki corrected that with the 2019 and has continued to do so with the 2020 model. Case in point… the new dual injectors that give it some extra go in the higher RPM. It means the 250 has a good range of power, from down low to the midrange – where the RM-Z250 was always at its strongest – and now up top, giving the bike another couple of ponies when it’s high in the revs. 46 KIWI RIDER If you’ve been around long enough, you’ve probably heard the saying that “Suzukis turn”, right? That’s still true, now more so than ever, with the 2020 retaining the brand’s philosophy of “RUN, TURN and STOP” to make a motorcycle that carves its way through turns but is also stable on straightaways. This Suzuki not only turns but it also turns heads. Sure, it’s not a deal-breaker for most riders, but it’s a positive that the RM-Z250 looks as fast on the stand as it is on the track or trails. From the way it turns, to the way it looks and also its price, the 2020 Suzuki RM-Z250 is sharp.