There is a 2021 RMZ450 for sale near me for a very decent price. Seems I’ve heard a lot of negative opinions on the rear shock, with some people saying it’s so bad it makes the bike dangerous to ride. What is the fix? Send it out to someone like factory connection? Replace it with the kyb shock from the RMZ250? I would imagine sending it out wouldn’t be very helpful as from what I read its the way the shock was designed is the issue. Plus, not that many people ride this bike and no other manufacturer uses this shock that I’m aware of so I can’t imagine even a big company like factory connection would have much data and testing with it.
It looks like a pretty low hour bike and he’s asking $4400 which is pretty reasonable, but I don’t want to have to spend another $1000 just to make the bike safe to ride.
Yes.
I don’t like the BFRC shock at all. Stock, it’s not great. I’ve ridden a revalved one by Factory Connection and it is better. I wouldn't say it is unsafe to ride at all though.
But, I would definitely get the KYB shock off the 250 if you are a serious rider. With the right spring for your weight, the stock valving is just fine and it will take the weight off the front end and make the forks feel better. I don't think you'll be in $1000 either.
No it’s not that bad. Much like the air forks at one point, it was new and people didn’t want to take the time to sort it. Enzo did the fork and shock on my 20 and the shock is great.
Edit: Sexton was running a BFRC shock and I believe AC and a few others ran it as well at certain points.
No it’s not, I bought into the kyb hype ant got a 250 shock on mine, couldn’t tell you what I didn’t like about the bfrc. Get it revalved/sprung you’ll be just fine
The Shop
Depends on your speed, it can be a very forgiving shock, but I would find a kyb250 shock and you will have an epic bike.
I rode my 2020 RMZ450 bone stock for the first year. No revalve, or respring. It was fine 99% of the time. Here’s what stood out to me:
-exiting corners the quick rebound felt like a Trax shock, the rear wheel followed the ground amazingly and as a result the bike felt far more hooked up exiting corners.
-jumping I never felt any weirdness. I rode the entire Texas winter series in the back of the 450A pack and +25A for speed context, and those tracks had a pretty good variety of dirt and got decently rough.
-my only “oh crap” moments from that shock came when I was at a track that had turning rollers. As the bike was leaned over at hit a roller, it felt like the bike would rebound quickly enough that the bike would spin like a helicopter’s blade. That sensation was felt at only three tracks that year.
-a revalve made it feel like a normal shock. Fastlap suspension had a very good setting.
if you want a 250 shock, they’re fairly cheap OEM. Search the part number for one and I think retailers have them for $462.
All the major online retailers are at $686 or so for the KYB rear shock. Weird timing on this thread, I was just looking at revalves,, got prices from $450-800. One guy said to ride it first, see what you don't like before diving into a revalve.
Oh look, a proper suspension technician. Best to go with him. How guys send suspension off the get done before riding the bike is beyond me.
Only rode my 450 a few times so far but it isn’t dangerous at all. I am no pro so who knows for a really fast rider.
This is spot on and the same reason I didn’t like it with stock valving. On the gas, it felt the same as a regular shock. Off the gas, I just wasn’t used to what it would do.
But to the OP, I’d snag that thing in a heartbeat for that deal and ride the wheels off it.
I bought a new 2018 when they came out and had that bike almost 3 years, 150 hours on it.
I am a very heavy but decently fast vet rider usually, I had TZR that always does my stuff do it and I never had a single issue in all the time I rode and raced that bike with the bfrc shock, not saying a normal one isnt better or could be, but I had no issue with it, it was stiff and slow just how I like it after revalved and sprung.
That is a great price on a good bike. I was very happy with mine after i revalved it but I’m also less picky with my shock then I am with forks.
The works shock is nothing comparable to the production one. I tested a Honda works one once, amazing...production RM-Z I detest with a passion. Taken apart, they're very different.
Can you get it working okay-ish? Sure... But, I would never label that thing as something I would choose to have on a bike given options.
Great price for the bike though.
Lol I know they are pretty much nothing alike other than name alone.
Enzo definitely has mine working great. I’m also nowhere near pro speed though so I’m sure that’s a factor as well 😂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKfB7QKVFzU
Here's a cool video explaining it and an interesting opinion.
Interesting video from someone who clearly knows what they are talking about, so there really is no need for a new shock when race tech can get it working as good as a conventional shock. I've had no issue with mine, I think it works fine but I'm not A grade or a pro level rider either.
But what is the gap between it and other shocks? The design is similar, the only difference is the physical placement of various components, which all seem to make more sense with the BFRC setup. So I imagine it's largely the valving!
Pros have it working good. Obviously Suzuki doesn't. But Suzuki is also the same OEM that is broadly missing on the same KYB components that everyone has loved forever as industry-best on Yamaha, and find painfully out-of-date on an RMZ250
Pit Row
You can run a 2008 Kx450F KYB shock…
it’s cheap, it works!
it touches the frame just a little bit but you can get one from eBay for like $150.00
Rode my '18 for several years (~20 hours) with stock shock, stock spring, and a Ride Engineering link. It was fine. Not confidence inspiring, but I wouldn't call it dangerous. Mind you, I'm a 55 year old Old Timer Int. that doesn't race anymore. I did have several guys ride my bike including a 25+ Int. and other than him saying the bike was slow (compared to his YZ450F) he had no problems getting around the track at his quick pace.
When it came time to freshen up the suspension, I priced a revalve / re-spring and for just a few hundred dollars more I could bolt up an RMZ-250 KYB (and new spring). I'm sure the re-valve would have worked just fine, but I wanted a better base to work from plus the added adjust-ability (high speed compression).
Suspension's the most important mod on your bike, so I get your concern, but (to re-iterate) i wouldn't call Suzuki's stock BFRC dangerous. Any bike can be made "safer" and more confidence inspiring with custom spring and suspension settings for your weight and ability.
Great timing on this. I am looking at an RMZ450 right now, I called a suspension shop that was suggested to me by a friend and was told the shock isn't nearly as bad as advertised, and it's easily fixed. He added the forks can be made really good with a simple re-valve. I guess I'll find out soon enough.
Update us if you don’t mind. Who did you use and how did you like everything?
Don't fuck around. Get the KYB off a 250. The BFRC gets weird when you let off the gas.
Would you think that a KYB shock and stock forks sprung right would be a good setup or am I going to be chasing shim stacks regardless?
Ride the bike a few times to see what you like and don’t like about the suspension. Send your suspension to Enzo and let them work their magic. If you aren’t riding anything supercrossy, the BFRC is more than fine. Enzo has really good setting for them.
Definitely get the KYB shock, it changes the handling of the bike immediately. I had RG3 do my BARF shock and it was better, but the bike settles right down w the KYB. Without it, it isn't dangerous, but the bike is always ping ponging around. With just this change, the fork works a lot better too.
I had JBI install his pro set up on the fork, $1000 bucks, or you can buy his kit for like half that. Suspension is excellent now and I don't really touch the settings except for minor fork clicker adjustments. Only complaint I have is that the whole chassis is stiff and so it still ping-pongs a little in situations like chop going into a rut. Once its in the line it's fantastic though.
How did you get yours? I was going to call BarX and ActiveRide and see if they have any leftovers. I don’t really want to drop $450 on a shock rn. I paid cash and Im wanting to keep it chill. I still have to get filters oil and quality of life parts like a seat cover haha
For break-in, stock BFRC is worth running for a bit (especially if budget is a main concern). With clickers and excessive sag, they aren’t as bad as most proclaim. 1 turn out for both the Comp and Rebound adjusters, 108-112mm sag, let her eat! These RM-Z’s are short-shifting machines…
PS: Don’t be afraid to tinker with fork height/raising the front end to help settle the rear/calm everything down, as well…
When people say short shift I wonder what they mean. I’m coming off of a YZ250 so feel like i already short shift. Is it going to be worse than riding a 2 stroke?
Also, how are the Bridgestones on this? I was planning on pulling them off brand new and selling them but may try them if they’re good. That was my logic with the shock too was to just remove it at 0 hours while it’s worth at least $200 maybe.
Just ride the damn thing. You won’t be any faster on dunlops than the Bridgestones.
you’re on a budget so ride it for a couple months with the correct sprints and the BFRC shock then get a KYB shock and a revalve when you have the $$$
I rode mine forever with the BFRC shock and to be honest I never gelled with it, but I still got plenty of ride time in.
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