Every thing is hear say. But, what I was saying is that Suzuki will make there own and Kawi will make there own. So, with what I heard, IF Kawi makes a 450, it won't be a rebagged Suzuki.

 

I think it would be great if Kawi and Suzi's bikes are different. Theres always room for variety.It would definitely be great to have 4 diff. hi-po 450's to choose from.I'm a brand loyal guy so I'll be prayin' for yellow...............

 

The Kawi and Suzuki 450s will be completely different DIRTBIKES. This is definitely a fact. NOT hear-say. They are competitive flagship models and they will definitely not share them across both ineups. The ATVs however COULD MAYBE be shared, but I doubt it.


The RMZ250 engine in the Ozark frame wouldn't make much sense. The RMZ250 engine was designed with Racing in mind. The Ozark frame was designed for going 20mph around a farm. With the Z400 frame fiasco, I don't think Suzuki will put a hi-po motor in a puny little utility frame. People who buy an RMZ250 engine in a quad are going to jump it, race it, etc... The Ozark frame won't survive. Also, everyone knows that entry-racers who don't know how to judge jumps, or maintain (and sometime buy) their own machine are much tougher on machinery than an experienced 450 rider who maintains and pays for his sh*t. that's not to say that most 4 wheeled 450 riders have a brain. A lot of them don't. Typical ATV riders are idiots when compared to typical MX bike riders and racers who actually know something about riding and machines. But once the machines get better, the riders will get better. Humans subconsciously mirror their creations.

Also, the ozark frame was designed for SHAFT DRIVE!!! Utility frames are typically more designed around drivetrains, sport frames are designed more around suspension. Look at the front clip and shock mounting points of the Z250. One look at that thing and you know that the RMZ250 engine wouldn't make a good match for it.

 

I agree that the Z250 frame would not be good for RMZ250 engine. I think the frame might be able to handle it, but the suspension would definately need help and therefore the frame wouldn't work.

Not to start any problems or anything either, but I just sorta makes me mad when people say the Z250 is just an Ozark with sport plastic. It does have the same frame and main engine companents, but it has different exhaust, gearing, suspension, and a few different minor engine changes. I've ridden the Ozark before and the Z250 definately handles better and has more pep.

 

here's the Z250 frame:

http://216.37.204.202/Suzuki_OEM/Suz...=13&A=116&B=27

That really doesn't even look like a sport frame to me, also, the RMZ engine wouldn't work because the motor mounts are in stupid locations WAY off from where a high performance ATV or dirtbike engine usually bolts in and and the front clip is way too wide by today's standards and the top eye mounting location of the shocks are way to low, even with aftermarket shocks and A-arms, you couldn't get that thing up to snuff, and when you did, it would break or at least crack very badly when you actually put that suspension to use. The Z400 frame can't hold up in racing, so I doubt that the Z250 frame can hold up to the same rigors seeing as it was built by the same people, but WAY WAY weaker. I mean VERY WEAK. look at where the rear swingarm bolts on. it's just a flange welded on the outside of the rear down tube under the subframe a couple inches or so down.

And that's not even mentioning the rear suspension! jeeze, I don't even see where the rear shock even bolts to. I looked on the swingarm diagram and it didn't give me any clues, either. I see some areas but they could never support the weight of the machine. Wherever that shock bolts to, it's gotta be super weak.

At first, i thought Suzuki MIGHT put the RMZ engine in the Z250 frame, but now I see that it's completely impossible without drastic modification. And even then it would SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK!!!! i can't stress how bad of an idea that would be. Let's pray that they don't make such a huge mistake!!!

 

don't get pissed off. The Z250 has much more in common with an ozark than my LT250R has in common with a stock LT250R, but I definitely don't get mad when people say "you have an 86 quadracer" LOL. No, not one bit, sir. You and I gotta know our fuggin places! It's just a sport ozark, man. why get mad about it, you're just starting out like me. We'll move up to bigger and better things one day.

 

You do have a point there. It doesn't **** me off, but just kind of makes me frustrated because some dude made a huge deal out of it one time and was thinking it honestly was just an Ozark with different plastic.

 

Uh huh, yeah, and....... it is an Ozark with different plastic. Just like a SportTrax 250 is a a Recon 230 with no racks, different plastic and disc front brakes. These are beginner class quads, why all the confusion?

 

Hey Kid, there's nothing wrong with having a frame based on the Ozark! While it may not be intended for MX use, I know it has to be good for the trails. I could fly down the trails on my Ozark. Hanging with sports wasn't a problem and I would smoke other utilities. I was actually faster on the Ozark than I was on my new 400EX at first. Mind you I'm talking about tight trails here. The only thing I was concerned about with the Ozark was jumping. I'm 200#s and it felt like the Ozark wouldn't take my fat @ss jumping it alot. With the Z being lighter and having more susp travel than the Ozark I know it has to cook on the trails. Also a big plus is having the ground clearence to play in mud. I really miss that cause my 400 DOES NOT like mud............................[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

SORRY! I got off topic again. Hate when that happens! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

When asked if his Z400 would be competitive with the current YFZ450 and 450R, Doug Gust said that yes, it will be competitive, but 'they'- that is Suzuki- 'need to release the 2005 model early to stay competitive'. This means that more than likely, for 2005 we will see a 450cc beast from the yellow camp.