2009 Suzuki RM-Z450 Preview

Introduction

Now if the bike was to be fuel injected engineers plans didn’t include any early technology weaknesses so they turned their heads towards GSX-R road racers and inspired their new creation on the fuel injection system found there. A complete success, the new implementation uses a specially created Keihin throttle body and offers greater low-to-mid range grunt. Feeding the engine is done through an internal pump which doesn’t require a battery.

But once the fuel has reached its resting place intervenes yet another factor which makes the engine offer better response down low, through the mid-range, and all the way to the top end: the new design of the combustion chamber. Also, the intake and exhaust valve angle guides have been narrowed and squish areas increased in order to achieve better air and fuel mixing and implicit a bigger bang in the cylinder.

Intake efficiency was taken to a whole new level due to the new intake port angle and cam timing, while the exhaust port and cam timing exploit better the engine’s bangs and gain even more performance.

Very ingeniously, the front fender has a sloped-down shape with the purpose of guiding the air current to the air ducts and offer better cooling. At the rear end, the fender comes with air intakes on each side, a deciding factor for intake effectiveness.

The next, best and natural choice was to mate the redesigned engine to a 5-speed transmission that will get the best out of it. That was also made possible through the link type shifting mechanism.

2009 Suzuki RM-Z450

For 2009, Suzuki decided to go for the semi-dry-sump lubrication system featuring separate oil chambers for the tranny and crankshaft using the tranny as the oil sump. This leaves room for lowering the crankshaft, reducing the engine height and has the rider more in control with a lower center of gravity.

In what concerns the chassis, most pieces are made of aluminum and Suzuki focused on delivering a quick-handling and yet properly-accommodating machine.

They started with the frame which was built from an aluminum alloy making the piece light and yet rigid, perfect for closed-course competitions. The great balance achieved between these two features of the frame also gave it the needed sharpness in what concerns the way it performs.

Showa delivered the suspensions. A fully adjustable cartridge-style front fork does a perfect job in keeping the weight down and absorbing the shock of the bumps. At the rear end there is the same formula only that this time it applies on shock absorber which keeps things in control through tight corners and in bumpy situations. Also, much to do with the rider’s safety feel through corners has the aluminum-alloy swingarm.

Brake rotors were designed to cool easily and not through the water in the mud as they deflect that very easily thanks to their new race inspired shape.

Also dealing with mud are the footpegs which offer maximum clearance between the mounting bracket and footrest. Well positioned in place, the rider can now concentrate on winning rather than on not falling down the bike.

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