Photos and Story by Donn Maeda

The 2020 450 Suzuki has been hammered message boards and media for the lack of development compared to the competition. It still has a kickstarter and shock that leaves you wanting more, but in my opinion it has a great base for a more affordable option. With a little bit of fine-tuning, it is easy to transform the Suzuki RM-450 an amazing race bike that is capable of winning at all levels of competition. Even in stock condition, the Suzuki is a very good bike that most riders cannot take full advantage of; it’s only in comparison to the offerings from other manufacturers that it seems to fall a little short.

Our friend Dennis Stapleton is a fixture in motocross around the globe, as he has competed not only in AMA Supercross and MX Nationals but also in more foreign countries than most factory riders. He is arguably known best as a Motocross Action Magazine test rider, but he also does R&D work for Fox Racing and several other aftermarket companies, including Wiseco Pistons.

Stapleton has been instrumental in helping us secure Wiseco product for several of our own project bike builds, and when he mentioned that he had put together a much-improved Suzuki RM-Z450 with only mild modifications, we asked to test it before he could even offer.

Gold Takasago Excel rims were laced up to the stock hubs by the unrivaled wheel builders at Dubya USA. Before they were assembled, Dubya sent the hubs off for a cool Cerakote coating, which gives stock hubs a super-cool factory look. Hoosier Tires were mounted to the wheels, and we were excited to take our first spin on the American-made tires.

Works Connection supplied a handful of its excellent aluminum products, from the Pro Launch Start Device and Elite Perch that set the standard by which all others are measured, to radiator braces, engine guards and a skid plate.

We spent the day at the track aboard Stapleton’s Wiseco machine and came away very impressed and pleased. Our pro test rider Mike Sleeter did the honors, and you can hear his impressions in the video above!