|
By Jason Giacchino
2006 Suzuki Quadracer
LT-R450 Review
ATV Innovation
 You really have to hand it to Suzuki. After
years of an ATV lineup that consisted entirely
of utility and play machines, 2003 witnessed the
birth of something special. That was the first
model year of their top selling Quadsport
LT-Z400; a machine that proved once and for all
that ATV riders were tired of being left in the
proverbial dust of off-road technology. Not only
did consumers immediately respond with their
wallets, the entire industry felt the ripples as
the realization of the potential
sport-performance market clicked on like a light
switch. Kawasaki and Arctic Cat jumped at the
chance to co-brand the Z400, while Honda and
Yamaha answered with the TRX450R and YFZ450
respectively. While nobody would have faulted
Suzuki for sitting back and relying upon the
proven performance of their only 3 model year
old Z400, Suzuki has raised the bar once again;
this time diving right into the new competitive
450cc class that they helped rejuvenate. Like
the Z400 before it, it is clear that Suzuki’s
LT-R450 is going to do to the race track what
the LT-Z400 did to the trails.
Initial Impressions
Physically, the LT-R450 is an attention
getter even when surrounded by a showroom full
of competing quads. With a seat height of just a
tad over 30.5 inches, less than 4 inches of
ground clearance, tiny 18 inch rear wheels, and
a stance about three inches wider than the rest
of the pack, the Quadracer gives off the
presence of a highly modified 250R wearing stock
Suzuki plastics. However, the similarities end
there. Swinging a leg over the squatty 450
inspires an immediate feeling of confidence. A
high rear section with a T-shaped seat that
becomes steadily narrower as it blends into the
tank results in a very commanding view over the
bars. The foot peg/ seat relationship is such
that the rider’s legs aren’t cramped but allowed
just enough bend to be comfortable while
providing a solid sense of mobility. The rest of
the cockpit is as equally well laid out with a
natural reach to the bars that encourages
picture-perfect, elbows out racing form. The
rider sits on the R450, not in it and as a
result is graced with an instant sense of
mobility. Moving around on the quad is
alarmingly natural. Even completely stock, we
required no tweaking of the controls to begin
our ride-report. The machine not only looks fast
standing perfectly still, but makes the rider
feel fast as well.
Firing It Up
 The
fuel injected 450 single fires up with
only the push of a button and a handful of
clutch. The factory fuel mapping is simply spot
on right from the get-go, offering a motor that
doesn’t stammer or sputter (even during warm
up). The
exhaust note is smooth and steady,
reminiscent more of the high revving purr of a
performance super-sport street bike than the
more tractor-like growl of 4 stroke ATVs from
yesteryear.
Clutch pull is butter-smooth and with a high,
even idle there is no need to blip the throttle
when stepping the machine into gear. Easing the
clutch out can be a bit of a touchy affair for
riders expecting the low-end roll on power of a
dedicated trail machine. As a result, the clutch
appears to engage late; capturing power pulses
from the uncannily smooth 450 power-plant just
before the lever is completely released. Any
concerns of a dead spot in the power band are
quickly erased as simply touching the throttle
at this point results in a snappy blast of
arm-yanking torque.
Through the Gear Box
 Once in motion, snapping the Quadracer
through its gears is an absolutely intoxicating
affair. Each of its five forward gears starts
out fairly mellow and smooth but blasts into the
stratosphere with alarming authority. The mid
range is meaty and hard hitting, providing a
false sense of touching the peak of the power
spread. Riders with the perseverance to continue
winding out the 450 will be rewarded with an
additional top end hit that carries well into
the next gear. Like everything else on the
machine, the transmission is perfectly spaced
and incredibly smooth. While blitzing along, the
stock exhaust system never becomes overly
offending but maintains the butter smooth snarl
of Suzuki’s GSX series of sport bikes.
Handling
It’s fair to say that we were impressed with
the Suzuki already, but doing so would be an
injustice to perhaps the quad’s most admirable
trait: Its handling abilities. At 49 inches wide
it doesn’t take long to start relying upon the
quad’s incredible cornering abilities. The
harder the chassis is stuffed into corners, the
more stability it exhibits coming out of the
exits. Never did the Quadracer display a hint of
twitch or chassis flex. In fact firm suspension
only adds to the chassis’ sense of stability.
The LT-R450 slides like a cartoon character
stepping on a banana peel! Railing tight berms
is simply a matter of pitching the quad sideways
and blipping the throttle. In an explosion of
roost and clouds of rolling dust, the 450
handles the rest.
On The Track
 If racing happens to be on your agenda, look
no further than the ‘Zook. Out of the box this
ATV has fully adjustable suspension (10.6 inches
of travel in the front and 11.4 in the rear)
perfectly modulated hydraulic discs all around
and even stock tires that outperform most
aftermarket efforts. The handling of the machine
isn’t fully realized until exploring the
hay-bale lined confides of the motocross track.
The Suzuki is a stable flier and lands with
progressive plush-ness. With limitless
suspension settings, the LT-R450 can be fine
tuned to any track condition from baked hard
pack to soft black loam with the dialing of a
few clickers.
We found that the quad works best on the
track while keeping the revs up and feathering
the clutch so as to avoid having to drop it down
a gear to exit corners or on the approach to
jumps. The explosive top end is more than
willing to compensate the rider for his efforts.
On The Trail
 While we weren’t surprised to discover that
the quad is a literal masterpiece on the track
(after all the very name of the machine is
Quad-Racer), we were quite impressed with its
trail mannerisms as well. Although the ATV isn’t
graced with an abundance of ground clearance (or
tractor style low end) it is quite manageable on
all but the most technical or mud ridden trails.
Due to a generous spread of usable power and
handling that puts most other quads to shame;
the potential certainly exists to use the LT for
high speed exploration or weekend romps. Desert
riders will find much to like here as well, even
in stock trim the liquid cooled 450 has enough
guts on tap to make short work of the dunes.
Conclusions
So does Suzuki have a winner on its hands?
Undeniably so. In fact after logging a few days
in the saddle of the LT-450R, it becomes
alarmingly clear that once again the competition
is going to be sent back to the drawing boards
in effort to compete. Suzuki deserves praise for
having the courage to shake things up not only
once but twice in recent years. Their commitment
to innovation continues to raise the bar and has
all of the other manufacturers playing catch-up.
LTR-450 Specifications
- Engine: 450cc, 4-stroke, single
cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve
- Bore Stroke: 95.5 x 62.8mm
- Compression Ratio: 11.7:1
- Fuel System: Fuel Injection
- Lubrication: Dry sump
- Ignition: CDI
- Transmission: 5-speed constant mesh
- Final Drive: chain
- Overall Length: 1845mm (72.6 in.)
- Overall Width: 1245mm (49.0 in.)
- Overall Height: 1085mm (42.7 in.)
- Seat Height: 780mm (30.7 in.)
- Ground Clearance: 240mm (9.44 in.)
- Wheelbase: 1285mm (50.6 in.)
- Dry Weight: 167kg (368 lbs.)
- Suspension
Front: Independent, double A-arm,
fully adjustable preload, compression & rebound
damping with 10.6 inches of travel
Rear: Linkage-type, fully adjustable
spring preload, rebound and high and low speed
compression damping with 11.4 inches of travel
- Brakes
Front: Dual hydraulic discs
Rear: Single hydraulic disc
- Tires
Front: AT20 x 7 R10
Rear: AT18 x 10 R8
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 10 liters (2.6 gal.)
- Color: Yellow, White
- MSRP - $7,299
- Contact Suzuki at 1-800-828-7433
-
http://www.suzukicycles.com
|
