Anyone have a suzuki drz400?

[Soltesjoey350]

If anyone does, let me know what you think about the bike. What you like, dislike, etc. I've been researching a couple different bikes trying to see what I want to invest in. Sport, cruiser, enduro...

I really like the idea of an enduro.

Thanks,

Joey

 

[4eyes]

I don't, but several riding buddies have had one. The only criticism I have heard is the seat (what dual sport has a comfy seat?), and always shifting for a 6th gear that isn't there on the highway.

http://advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

More info about dual sports than you would ever want to know.

 

[liam]

i've got one. good bike. well supported with parts and advice online.
there's not a lot of capacity in the fuel tank (which is probably a given for enduro), i get about 160kms between refills though i know everyone else gets more, and the seat is not great for more then an hour of riding, but in saying that i have ridden all the way round tasmania in 6 days, which is about 300kms per day on road, and it was not comfortable, but i would still do it again, and lots of people do longer trips.

 

[DesmoBro]

I had a 2007 DRZ 400s.... Great bike for the woods ok for short blasts on the highway but sucks on long highway trips....i got mine up to 102mph bone stock going down hill in 103 mph wind at my back....but seriously now i have the KLR 650 ....its like a cadillac compared to the drz super comfy on long trips and will blast to 120 mph and not bat an eye

 

[Soltesjoey350]

Thanks for the responses guys! I was looking for my next bike, for short trips around town and some trail riding also.

Would you suggest this bike for an intermediate rider? I've ridden a bunch of dirt bikes 250 and below, and then my stock cb350. I don't want to grow out of it too fast..

Thanks,

Joey

 

[liam]

it would probably be fine, as far as i know, to get more power the next steps either involve more weight such as xr600, xt600, dr600 etc or frequent rebuilds and high running costs like the ktms.
what are your other alternatives? i know Rideapart always recommends the wr250r as a more then able competitor

personally as a off road novice, there's been a couple of times when i've wished the drz was a bit smaller and lighter. like when my ankle got pinned underneath it and couldn't lift it off... i've been considering getting a older 2 stroke for trails riding with road registration for riding round town.

 

[Soltesjoey350]

it would probably be fine, as far as i know, to get more power the next steps either involve more weight such as xr600, xt600, dr600 etc or frequent rebuilds and high running costs like the ktms.
what are your other alternatives? i know Rideapart always recommends the wr250r as a more then able competitor

personally as a off road novice, there's been a couple of times when i've wished the drz was a bit smaller and lighter. like when my ankle got pinned underneath it and couldn't lift it off... i've been considering getting a older 2 stroke for trails riding with road registration for riding round town.

The other bikes I was considering were the bolt from star, the suzuki sr400, the new harley street, and the yamaha fz-09.

But I really like the thought of an dual sport bike since I'll use it both on and off road probably every week, and mostly because I'll get the best bang for my buck. In that area I was looking at ktm 500exc, suzuki dr650e, and the Honda crfl250...

Joey

 

[Tifun]

Drz400s supermoto conversion. by K.Osborn, on Flickr

My feedback is this. It's a commuter bike, it does great around town and is an absolute blast on curvy roads, it's extremely light(wind sail), it gets great mpg's, it's easily resalable, it vibrates a bit around 70, it vibrates like hell through the bars around 75(I'm geared so I'd say it would add 3-5mph to both of my figures before vibrations), it's unreasonably loud(big single with exhaust). It is not a road trip bike in most any trim.

Would I buy another one. Yes. Would I recommend it to others. Yes. My only 2 complaints are how loud my exhaust is(around town it's find. Sometimes I like to ride a few hours and it gets a bit annoying. The seat was a tad rough when I first got it. I had a local guy put a little more padding and I've been good to go ever since. I have more positives than negatives so overall I would call this bike a great success. Also, huge aftermarket support compared to any other dual sport/enduro/SM etc... Hoon around 3-4 hours on it no issues once you've gotten use to how she rides.

-Keith

 

[Soltesjoey350]

Thanks for the response man, I'm going to look at bikes on Thursday, and I'll be mainly looking at these ;D

I'm stoked cause most of the people that have them say what great bikes they are. Also I'm stoked to buy a bike that you won't see on every corner... Like a gixer lol.

Thanks a lot again,

Joey

 

[bradj]

if you do end up getting a dr you dont have to make it all queer looking like keith's bike. those plastics come in boy colors too

 

[Soltesjoey350]

if you do end up getting a dr you dont have to make it all queer looking like keith's bike. those plastics come in boy colors too

Hahaha I'm a fan of the gray models! I was gunna buy new, but I figured that I could get a nicer one with some upgrades way cheaper. With low miles too.

Joey


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tifun]

In my area you can frequently pick up 3-5 year old DRZ400s models in the 3k range with under 10k mileage all day long. The DRZ400sm bikes range from 3500 and up depending on year. Mine is a converted bike. The SM's (supermoto) sell very fast. Like unreal. So if you see one you want that's used you need to move very aggressively imo. And like Brad said, you don't have to build a girly one like me I let my daughter pick all the cosmetic stuff out. It was fun for both of us 8)

-Keith

 

[Soltesjoey350]

In my area you can frequently pick up 3-5 year old DRZ400s models in the 3k range with under 10k mileage all day long. The DRZ400sm bikes range from 3500 and up depending on year. Mine is a converted bike. The SM's (supermoto) sell very fast. Like unreal. So if you see one you want that's used you need to move very aggressively imo. And like Brad said, you don't have to build a girly one like me I let my daughter pick all the cosmetic stuff out. It was fun for both of us 8)

-Keith

Thanks for the input! I have found too that I can find very good drz's for around 3500. The more I see them, the more I like them...

Joey

 

[midlyfcrisis]

bought it brand new in 05 my first street bike. got bored with the yellow it came in
I miss this bike sooo much. sold it to buy another bike ended up paying bills.
total hooligan machine. fun to back in and wheelie.
I tried to take care of it the first top end went 30k which I guess is good did two more and sold it with 60k on the chassis. it was an s model so I had the dirt wheels that came with it. suspension was a bit soft for me but still one of the best bikes ive ever owned