In celebration of Ken Roczen’s 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX title, his bike is being updated for 2027. While that doesn’t mean the 2027 Suzuki RM-Z450 has an electric starter, there are changes to the bike worth knowing about. Let’s get to the 6 Fast Facts you need to know.
New KYB suspension units are fitted to the 2027 Suzuki RM-Z450. The fork has full damping adjustment, but no spring preload adjustment. The upper triple clamp is also new. The shock is fully adjustable and continues to have linkage assistance. Suzuki says these changes are to make the bike more compliant.
A reshaped air cleaner outlet feeds the throttle body more efficiently. The goal is improving throttle response across the rev range.
A new muffler meets AMA and FIM sound output limits. The main change is to the internals, and the muffler bolts to a narrower subframe.
RK Excel rims are now used by the RM-Z450. The Bridgestone Battlecross X30 tires from last year return.
The RM-Z Champion Edition of the 2027 Suzuki RM-Z450 is available for no extra cost through the end of September.
The latest RM-Z450 includes the RM-Z Champion Edition, if you buy the bike by September 30. That means a Pro Circuit RM Army Edition T-6 full exhaust system, which features a stainless steel header, titanium muffler, and carbon fiber end cap, along with a Custom Ken Roczen Replica Graphics Kit. The RM-Z Champion Edition extras (total retail value, $1350) ship once the bike has completed retail registration, and installation is not included.
The changes make the price of the 2027 Suzuki RM-Z450 $300 more than last year. MSRP is now $9699. Suzuki is also offering financing as low as 8.99% APR for 60 months on approved credit. Military and First Responders can get $250 off. Both offers are good until September 30.
2027 Suzuki RM-Z450 Specifications
ENGINE
Type: 4-stroke single
Displacement: 449cc
Bore x stroke: 96.0 × 62.1mm
Compression ratio: 12.5:1
Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 valves
Starting: Kick
Fueling: EFI w/ 44mm throttle body
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Transmission: 5-speed
Clutch: Wet multiplate
Final drive: D.I.D 520 chain
CHASSIS
Frame: Aluminum twin-beam
Handlebar: Renthal
Front suspension; travel: Adjustable-damping KYB inverted fork; 12.2 inches
Have you ever wanted to ride a real MotoGP track? Well, here’s your chance! Leod Escapes does all sorts of incredible touring experiences with the very best that Europe has to offer. Fabulous accommodation, incredible food, and motorcycles what more can you ask for! So for the trip of a lifetime, visit LeodEscapes.com and check out your dream vacation.
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The 2026 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100 remains one of the purest expressions of excess in motorcycling, standing proudly as an example of two-wheeled wish fulfillment done right. There are no gimmicks, pangs of guilt, or disappointment in the Tuono V4 Factory; it is simply a damn good bike. Nic de Sena tells us all about why you need this exceptional motorcycle in your garage.
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This year, ARCH Motorcycle shocked the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan series by capturing their first historic race win. To explore the massive behind-the-scenes effort that fueled this success, we sit down with Executive Producers John Stevens and Chance Wright, of the new six-part docuseries, Hooligans: The ARCH Racing Project with Keanu Reeves & Gard Hollinger. In this segment, they give us an inside look at the show, which follows ARCH as they transition from building custom bikes to entering the high-stakes world of professional racing. Joining us alongside is Brad Knight from technical partner BDO. BDO USA serves as the official race tech and consulting advisor for ARCH Racing. Their technology partnership centers around a bespoke, AI-powered race intelligence platform designed to drastically optimize the team’s track performance. The AI side of this project focuses on taking raw race and telemetry data and transforming it into immediate, actionable insights for the crew. It’s a fascinating insight into the new technology that helps make them faster on track.
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Our guest this episode is Paul Puma, President of the United States Motorcycle Coaching Association (USMCA) and a Relationship Manager for Wells Fargo Motorsports Division. He leads the organization in connecting riders with certified coaches to promote nationwide safety, skill development, and sport growth.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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