After Suzuki came out with an ATV (the Ozark) to challenge Honda's FourTrax Recon in the quarter-liter utility class, we knew it would be just a matter of time before a sportier version would arrive to challenge the Recon's clone, the 250EX. According to Suzuki the idea to do the Z250 came before the utility-intentioned Ozark, but market realities forced the Ozark to debut first.
We tested the Ozark in our premiere issue and found it a delightful ride. Spunky for a 250 and confident in difficult terrain--at least to a point--it's a fine quad for any light-duty trail riding or work detail. The Z250 is just the quad we expected, largely an Ozark with no racks and different bodywork, styled to match the Z400. However, there are other changes beneath the skin.
While the SOHC air-cooled single springs from the Ozark, the Z250 features a freer-flowing intake and exhaust and a lighter crankshaft for 13 percent more power output. The Z250 also has revisions to the suspension for longer travel and a wider stance, both important to its sporting purpose. Gear ratios have been altered appropriately to give more top-end speed.
The goal of the new quarter-liter machine is to offer new riders a convenient, confident and fun ride that will last awhile--or be passed along to another new rider.
To highlight the strengths of the new recreational machine, Suzuki brought the press to West Virginia's landmark destination, the Hatfield-McCoy trail system (www.trailsheaven.com). There in the wooded, rolling hills of Appalachia, we sampled the Z250.
Our first impression of the machine was one of a very choppy ride, not helped by the rocky, rooty terrain. This perception changed within the first half hour as the new machine's suspension broke in, replacing the harsh ride with one quite refined for a lightweight quad bearing a rider a bit oversized for it (6 feet, 190 pounds). Crisp controls and quick steering defined the ride of this short, narrow quad. Despite its small base, the Z is very stable, even in very broken terrain.
Engine performance was up to the task. While the lil' Z didn't rip the rear wheels loose very often, it did tackle all but the most challenging trails, including some we'd prefer to have a 4x4 for. Appropriately enough for a machine with an automatic clutch, the Z250 pulls strong right from the bottom and carries very even torque through the entire rev range.
Our only complaint is that the automatic clutch system seems to need some work, not always changing gears when accelerating aggressively.
While clearly not the intended rider for this class of machine--in either size or experience--I can confidently say the Z250 is a fine addition to Suzuki's swiftly growing lineup.