Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Ridden the RMX. February 15

Sunday, 14 February 2010 17:00

We've all ridden the RMX at last. Suzuki Australia organised a great release with nice accom and a great testing ground. No doubt the other mags have told all about it on their websites, but for what it's worth, I thought the bike was probably every bit as good as the original two-stroke RMX (and that's saying something!). Youse can wait for issue #33 for the full write-up, but that's the gist of it. I do think for a rider like myself the RMX would probably be best left with the airbox and exhaust restrictors in place, but all the test bikes were fully derestricted so I can't be totally sure.

It's a very punchy motor with fast throttle response, and that's matched by fast, sure-footed handling. I heard a couple of the really fast guys pondering on whether or not the suspension was too soft, but I really enjoyed it.

I have to be honest and say the biggest impression I have of the release was what a great time I had. I don't just mean because I was riding a great bike. It was actually more to do with the atmosphere at the event. It was a very low-key affair compared to some releases, but it'll remain in my mind as a very pleasant couple of days. I took delivery of a guitar while I was there (thanks to Matt from Dirt Action for bringing it up from Sydney for me. It's a '97 SG Standard, for anyone who knows about such things) but I think it was mostly because of the people involved. Perry Morison and Jay Foreman (General Manager and race team manager respectively) I've known for a long time and always respected and got on well with. Assistant Marketing Manager Eoin Black is a likeable and easy-going sort of bloke, and Sou, who handled all the logistics for release did a sensational job. Brendan Gunton and his service team were so approachable and easy to work with, it was a real delight. Even Tak Hayasaki, Suzuki Australia's Managing Director went well out of his way to be there and was an affable dinner companion.

I don't think there are too many people in the Australian motorcycling world I don't get on with, but often the pressure of staging a model release can show on even an extremely proficient outfit, and I guess the casual demeanour of the Suzuki crew went a long way to making the whole two days and great, low-stress occasion.

I said I've known Perry for a long time - since his Honda days in fact - and I'll treasure a memory of him on the dais for his opening address at this function. He saw me point the camera at him so he stopped, smiled, and waited for the flash. It's makes me laugh every time I see the pic...

It pretty much sums up the way whole thing ran. There was a fair bit of talk about tradition and history with Suzuki celebrating 100 years in 2009, and I have to say the folks from Suzuki really seem to be living the motorcycle life the way I remember it as a kid. They weren't bogged down in political correctness, and they weren't afraid to show how much they enjoyed what they were doing. It was a very great pleasure to be there. To top that off, I rang another rider I've long respected, Jason Cater, to have a yarn about the two-stroke RMX, and we ended up having quite a long, rambling chat. Jase and Peter Martin whooped a lot of freckle on RMs and RMXs through the 1990s, and even did some development with Suzuki Japan.

It must be something about Suzuki people! (Jase is a Yamaha-sponsored rider now. He loves Yamaha and thinks they're the best and will name his children after Yamaha models. Please don't send him or me any abusive e-mails).

The review on the RMX will be issue in #33 along with, I hope, a good, close look at Jay Foreman's DR650. TrailZone ran a piece on the bike a couple of issue ago, but as a DR650 owner, I was left busting with frustration at some of the info that was glossed over or not included. Jay's letting me take the bike away for a few days, so I'll find out the answers for myself and pass them on in issue #33.

This week I have to come up with a TV commercial for TBAM to run on Fuel TV, and on Friday I'll flash up to the Gold Coast to spend a day at the Moto Expo. I'll pick up a Husky 310 while I'm there, and I'm really looking forward to that. I thought it was fabulous at the launch last October, so I can't wait to thrash one around some terrain I know well and see how it stacks up. I'm expecting it be a fabulous little enduro contender.

More next week.

TF