2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 First Ride Review [Pro Circuit Equipped]

September 30, 2023

The media convened at Southern California’s world-renowned Fox Raceway for the Suzuki RM-Z Media Ride Day for our first ride aboard the 2024 RM-Z250. You are probably wondering what is new this year, right? Well, (almost) nothing—the RM-Z250 platform remains the same. The model year 2024 marks another unchanged continuance of Suzuki’s RM-Z platform. The Suzuki motocross department is living by my Dad’s motto, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. The Suzuki RM-Z lineup has a long-standing reputation as one of the best-handling motocross bikes on the track, so no change is not necessarily a bad thing.

However, if you purchase a 2024 RM-Z250 or RM-Z450 before October 1, it comes with a dealer-installed Pro Circuit T-6 RM Army Edition exhaust system and RM Army Edition graphics. As you can see, the RM Army Edition is a sharp-looking motorcycle.

The Pro Circuit T-6 exhaust system looks and sounds great. It’s not too loud or slappy; it has a nice tone, and you can tell it is designed specifically to compliment the RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 motor packages.

I spent a good amount of time on the RM-Z250 RM Army Edition during the ride day, and it confirmed that the RM-Z platform remains a great handling package. The 2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 tracks really well around corners and during acceleration. When I first hopped on the RM-Z250 in the morning, techs set the sag to 105 and left all the suspension settings to factory spec.

As it was set, the front-end traction felt a little loose to me. While it wasn’t uncontrollable, I was getting some feedback on the small bumps and felt the front end slip out around some corners. Luckily, the key members of the HEP Motorsports and Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance team were on-site to assist me with setup.

After several laps, I pulled into the mechanics’ tent and gave HEP Motorsports Team Manager Larry Brooks my feedback. I told him exactly what I was feeling, and he immediately grabbed a tool and checked my fork clicker settings. He suggested softening the compression damping and turned the clickers out four clicks.

I went back out on the track and immediately felt a huge difference in the front end. It was certainly smoother and tracked much better through the corners. With that setting, I was happy for the rest of the day.

There are a few features on the RM-Z models that are often overlooked. There is a selectable holeshot device derived from the factory race bike development. There are three power modes, and all RM-Zs come with Suzuki’s MX-Tuner 2.0, which debuted three years ago. Using a smartphone application that communicates with the ECU via a coupler system, fuel delivery and ignition timing can be changed to taste and conditions.

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The bottom line is, when it comes to a Suzuki the last few years, you know what you’re going to get. The RM-Z models remain true to their top-of-the-class handling reputation. If a buyer can get past the fact that the RM-Z models are still kickstart, the payoff is a comfortable, high-performing motorcycle for less than a competing brand’s MSRP.

Looking forward, I will be putting a lot more hours on the 2024 RM-Z250, and I am encouraged by this shakedown ride and setup clinic. In the meantime, I’ll be doing a long-term test of the 2024 RM-Z450 RM Army Edition, and that includes finding out what the Pro Circuit T-6 exhaust adds to the 450’s character and performance.

Static photography by Will Embree / SMX Pictures
Action photography by Don Williams

RIDING STYLE

Helmet: Arai VX-Pro 4
Goggles: Oakley Airbrake MX
Pants + jersey: Alpinestars Supertech
Gloves: Troy Lee Designs Air
Body armor: Alpinestars Bionic Sequence Protection Jacket
Knee braces: Alpinestars Bionic-10 Carbon
Socks: Ethika Moto
Boots: Alpinestars Tech 10

2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 Specs

ENGINE

Type: 4-stroke single
Displacement: 249cc
Bore x stroke: 77.0 × 53.6mm
Compression ratio: 13.75:1
Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 valves
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Fueling: Dual-injector EFI
Starting: Kick
Transmission: 5-speed
Clutch: Web multi0plate
Final drive: D.I.D 520 chain

CHASSIS

Frame: Aluminum twin-beam
Handlebar: Renthal
Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable KYB inverted fork; 12.2 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted fully adjustable KYB shock; 11.8 inches
Wheels: DID DirtStar
Tires: Dunlop Geomax MX33
Front tire: 80/100 x 21
Rear tire: 100/90 x 19
Front brake: 270mm disc
Rear brake: 240mm disc

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES