Testing Ken Roczen's 2023 Progressive Insurance/Ecstar Suzuki RM-Z450

Ken Roczen has raced and won for the likes of Factory Suzuki MXGP, Red Bull KTM, RCH Suzuki, Team Honda HRC, and in 2023 he added the HEP Motorsports group to that list. This latest venture has been on a totally private bike and we had the opportunity to test out his Progressive Insurance/Ecstar Suzuki RM-Z450. Check it out and enjoy.

[@Shreddylife]

Kickstart Kenny has been RIPPIN on the RM! Love to see it

[@stevesmith756]

You sir do the best reviews by far. Much more in depth and descriptive than any other reviewers. Very engineer like with great rider feedback. You know how to give us the right info.

[@henripuustinen4642]

Michael, your insights on these are next level. Anyone not appreciating your knowledge is probably on Vital, arguing about fireworks.

[@torr-michaelbennetta9785]

Beautiful bike. RM Army!!!!!

[@Efemedio1]

Photobomber! LOL! Saw you on the MXA video on KR's bike! When I saw you, I was looking forward to your review and it didn't disappoint! Thank you for the content ML512, BTW sweet kit!

[@microsoft790]

Awesome you talked about them actually lowering the compression ratio to get better burn in the cylinder at high revs. That’s a hard thing to manage when these bikes are supposed to have useable power from 4-12000 rpm.

[@torr-michaelbennetta9785]

Very impressive facts about the triple clamp situation and fork choices.

[@chrisvozza6530]

Great review ML thanks

[@mxcollin95]

Love how you dig deeper into the specs than anyone! You’re definitely the best at reporting on factory equipment by far. 👏 People have said you could buy the majority of this bike and I bet there are a few vet guys that would buy most of the stuff if we knew where to get it. Any chance you can post links on where to get identical stuff that’s available to the public??? That’d be greatly appreciated if so! Shoot…earn a commission on it if you can. 🤙

[@shadowkick2852]

Omg!! He is so lucky. I wish I could test that bike.

[@wednesdar452]

Incredible insight! Thank you!!

[@salubobryan1032]

Bruh your review is so good

[@holeshotinspectionllc2412]

Very indepth review, good stuff🏁🤙

[@theeyeofty6812]

The restart problem would kill me as a pro that's why I like the good old best of all time dirt bike and quads are 2 strokes we all know it takes more skill to a 2t fast on track but thats why i like kens bike cuz his is a kicker gotta give it to him for being a real man 🤣

[@Motoinc]

Of all magazines,this TECHNICAL BREAKDOWN was the best. Better then Keefer's .

[@JamieJohnson-vg4dm]

He'll I just watch some other people just ride his bike..lol😊 every one gets to ride Kenny's bike today

[@nottingham82]

Hey ML, what do you think ballpark would it cost a vet rider to build this exact bike including cost of a 2024 rm450? I have a feeling we are gonna see some roczen specials this year at the Perris vet track.

[@itstimetoridewithtoddsouza]

Question: do the Factory teams, like Honda/Yamaha/KTM race the same bikes (frame,motor,suspension,brakes, etc) as production bikes that's sold to the public? Or are they a different bike in its entirety? I understand they have certain parts that aren't production parts, triple tree, hubs, electronics/mapping, etc. Do they use the same suspension as stock but with engineered/after market internals? Do they change the motor internals or are they modified stock parts as sold to the public? How much $$ is a Factory bike cost? Are the "works edition" bikes even close to factory bikes?

[@microsoft790]

Interesting that Ken chose the 250 triple clamps because they are further down but more likely because he spent so much time on the Suzuki 250 he’s probably very comfortable like that.

[@vitalmx]

The team actually had already gone this way prior to Ken's arrival and the 250 clamps we're talking about weren't the same as the ones when Kenny rode a RM-Z250 all the way back in 2010.

[@ET50rippha]

Nice

[@MikeMartin-gz6ix]

I wish for a new rm250 and a new rmz450 and a new rm465

[@Shipman37x]

10:06 bolt missing on the mud flap

[@bigmac3941]

Both bolts are definitely still in there

[@MikeDieringer635]

@sshipmanrider96 weight reduction 😉

[@libertyfighter1]

the stock 450 good with the 250 rear shock that what you never mention Kenny ran that 250 shock and stock spring it looks like

[@vitalmx]

We did mention he was on the KYB fork and shock off a 250, but it was modified. there's a whole section in the vidoe aobut it.

[@panzerfaust7476]

if your a racer, why would you not choose Kenny's factory bike over a new stock production bike?

[@kylewaters8]

Idk it was a pretty dumb comment. No shit you’d take the race bike over a stock bike lmao

[@rogermelling8941]

What did most people say ?? He won't do well on it blah blah Er I think he did 🤔

[@JohnHowerton137]

I want a slipper clutch… why don’t people make them? Always hated 450 engine braking.

[@vitalmx]

Hinson does for this bike.

[@JohnHowerton137]

@@vitalmx thank you. I found 3 after I left here (Hinson, OEM, Suter). Guess I just needed to look 🤷‍♂️ This is probably the reason Kenny's bike feels good to so many people. Don't understand why more people don't use them? Probably one in Jett's bike too.

[@vitalmx]

Jett's bike doesn't have one. The main reasons slippers aren't commonly used are they have a drawn-out power feel, which some users don't like... the clutch is always slipping it can get hot, so if you use the clutch a lot on top of that, you'll burn out the clutch quickly. They're also fairly expensive when compared to a standard aftermarket clutch.@@JohnHowerton137

[@JohnHowerton137]

@@vitalmx guess that's why HEP was so worried about Scrub Daddy riding the bike 🤣

[@vitalmx]

@@JohnHowerton137 Yeah, they weren't stoked...

[@Spilligon]

“It’s very progressive.” 😉

[@vitalmx]

It's meant to be.

[@adamone90]

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