Why Buy a Suzuki? Yoshimura, That's Why 8

Springtime is usually a great time to buy a new motorcycle, especially if you're looking for a good deal on a new bike before the new models hit the floor. The early part of each year is definitely rebate time, and Suzuki takes it up a few notches, by not just offering cash back, but adding some very nice (and pricey) parts for your new ride.

For the second year in a row, Suzuki has leveraged their tight relationship with Yoshimura to offer up some bling and extra performance for anyone that picks up a 2016 RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 before 3/31/16. There are also two options to choose from. The first is an all titanium/carbon fiber RS-4 exhaust system. Option two gets you a stainless/aluminum version of the RS-4, but also includes a batch of black "works edition" hard anodized parts. These include a rear brake clevis, timing plugs, axle blocks, and a steering stem nut to spice up the look of the bike.

In the case of the RM-Z250, the added performance of the exhaust is a particularly beneficial way for Suzuki to give back to the customer. In our 250F Shootout, there was a general consensus that the newest RM-Z250 has a fantastic chassis and some solid upgrades to the suspension, but was lacking a bit in the power department. By offering these Yoshimura packages, Suzuki eliminates one major upgrade that most people spend their hard-earned cash on, leaving that bit of budget for suspension, some gear, or maybe a season's worth of trips to the track.

The two best things about this package? One is most definitely the added power. As you can guess, Yoshimura has the most R&D time when it comes to Suzukis. In this case, it really shows as the RS-4 exhaust feels like it has gains across the board, but mostly focuses on the low-to-mid range, where the RM-Z250 can use the most help. The second best thing? The look of the whole package. It's hard to beat the look of a carbon-capped Yoshimura exhaust on the RM-Z250, along with all the blacked out hard parts.

Either package is a great choice. It just depends if you'd rather go all-in for a the titanium/carbon exhaust, or get a more durable stainless/aluminum system along with some bling goodies to finish it off. Either way, if you're hunting for a new 450 or 250 right now and Suzuki is on your short list, take an extra look their way...but don't wait too long, the deal wraps up at the end of the month.

Article and Photos by Michael Lindsay