Suzuki has stolen a march on its Japanese opposition again, this time by announcing its RM-Z250 motocross machine will be fuel injected in 2010.
Suzuki was first to the punch in 2008 with its fuel injected RM-Z450, and now the 250 has followed suit, with its battery-less system boasting a 43mm throttle body. There's also a progressive throttle linkage and 16-bit computer, powered by a durable, lightweight magneto generator.
Based on the prototype machinery being campaigned in this year's All Japan Motocross Championship, which is usually a barometer for future production models, Kawasaki's 2010 KX250F was expected to be fuel injected, but that wasn't the case when it announced next year's arsenal a few weeks ago.
That's again left Suzuki on the fuel injected front line, with Honda and Yamaha still to go public with their 2010 arsenal. The Honda CRF450R is already fuel injected, while leaks have confirmed the Yamaha YZ450F will also ditch its carburetor for 2010.
The RM-Z250 also has revised cam timing, uprated intake ports and a stronger connecting rod, boosting maximum rpm to 13,500. Torque has also been increased.
The bike's twin-spar aluminium-alloy frame has also bee redesigned, with thicker walls (up from 2.5 to 3mm) and shallower side rails. The swingarm is also new.
The fuel tank is now aluminium, the footrests are new, and there are black number boards.
An Australian arrival date is yet to be announced by Suzuki Australia.