A terrific review of the bike! The information is usable and purposeful. These are really enjoyable bikes to ride all over the town/city. Great Suzuki styling and the price is affordable for a great bike! Thanks for this review, I do like this style for the price and reliability, as you have mentioned. I enjoyed the ride, the review and the posting of the video!
It was good but I turned off cos I can’t stand hearing all his mouth noises, slapping up his lips and sucking his teeth, gross Also air induction into the exhaust isn’t new or ground breaking, CCM cxr230s have it and are basic af, and you’re not making the bike more eco, you’re diluting the exhaust with fresh air...
First hand experience : Got a new 2015sm road it hard every time I got on it. Burnt many sets of tires off and few sets of break pads, I Jumped it , Dumped it dropped it and knocked it over. Road it on the highway at 80 mph for hours . Took it off road where a SM shouldn't go, learned to drift it in a circle on grass then pavement . Learned how to go through the gears ridding a wheelie. Been over the handle bars bringing the back wheel up to high at the stop light. I put 44,000 miles on that bike in five years. I had one hell of a fun time every single mile. The ONLY thing ever done to maintain the bike besides tires and break pads was just oil change . The valves were never even adjusted. It run strong the day I sold it. (I almost cried) . Sold it for 4k got it new for 7,200.00 .... So I paid 3,200.00 for 5 years of riding that bike That means 640$ a year or just 53 dollars a month. To ride that bike. That's a pretty good deal in my book.
The day after they redo it everyone will be on here lamenting about the days of indestructible steel frames and adjusting the carb for 4 bucks in jets.
I have friends with DRZ400SM's. Once I got to ride them around for a day I was hooked! I ended up trading my MT-07 for the SM life. Something about a Thumper just made me excited. I've owned many Carbureted vehicles and have grown to really enjoy them and honestly enjoy how minimalist the DRZ is. It's extremely enjoyable and at the same time relaxing to ride quickly becoming my favorite motorcycle. It is heavy compared to other dual sports but if you're coming from heavier sport bikes it feels like a bicycle!
That's what puts me off many modern bikes... The weight. When manufacturers start paying attention to that they will make more 'hitters', bikes that sell off the shelf a and leave a lasting impression. Better acceleration, braking, Handling... Low weight helps in many areas favoured by the user.
A tip I can give about camera angle that always works. Right now it is pointed almost directly down at the ground most of the time. If you make the camera lens parallel with your face shield the angle will almost always be spot-on.
If it aint broke, don't fix it. Now I wouldn't complain if Suzuki upgraded this thing, but I have a 2016 model that is all tricked out. Spent about $2500 in upgrades, and it's arguably the most fun bike I have. It's not the fastest, but you can really ring it's neck and not be going insane illegal speeds, which I like. Very fun even at lower speeds. And it handles great with a sticky set of tires. If you can get one of these used for $3-4K, and then put another grand or two in mods, you'll have one of the more fun bikes out there.
I absolutely love mine. I also really appreciate how simple the maintenance is in comparison to the other supermoto's out there. Picked mine up for 5k, all tricked out. Worth every penny.
I used to own a DRZ400-S with SM wheels. I absolutely loved this bike and by far one of the best bikes I have every owned for running the corners. I may pick up an SM one day soon.
I don't need to even click play to know that this is literally the same exact bike that I have, and I bought it in 2008. The fact that this bike is still running a carb is beyond me.
I believe that the way the emission regulations work is that existing designs were somewhat grandfathered in. That is, they are only held to the emission requirements that were in place at the time the bike was introduced. The flipside of these regulations is that any upgrades will negate the grandfather status. Hence, this bike still has only 5 speeds and a carburetor.
I had one and loved it as a third bike, for playing in the hills or kart tracks. The previous owner included dirt wheels so in half hour i could swap and ride trails. It could use a 6th gear.
For those that have never ridden one, do it. It's not brain splatteringly fast, but it's the most fun I've had on two wheels by a huge margin. Makes me regret getting a supernaked, TBH. Edit: Actually, I take that back. I put supermoto handlebars on my bike and I sort of get the best of both worlds. :)
I have a 21 Husqvarna fe501s and a 20 Kawasaki z900 and I still might get the drz400sm. I've have 2 of them in the past and they are absolutely fun bikes, carb and headlight included. Great review and love the new graphics .
I have a 2004 version - Unfortunately we can't get them new here in Scotland. I think that they are superb with an absolutely bullet proof engine!! Not very fast but so much fun to ride on twisty roads with sticky rubber on the wheels!! You don't buy a Suzuki DRZ400 SM to run as standard .... You can customise it to your taste more than any other bike that I can think of.
@Daniel Fenton yeah dual sports do take some converting to make them more adventure capable, but even so they still work out considerably cheaper and far more capable than an off the shelf 'adventure' bike (for off road based overlanding)
Good to see a motorcycle journalist do a review of the 'ol DRZ! Such a big following and aftermarket for them. One of the best and most fun-to-ride motorcycles I've ever owned.
Just got a 2022. Ive had many other bikes. My last two were GSXR600 and a GSXR1000. I had a ton of fun on the sport bikes, but have to say that the DRZ is the most fun I’ve had out of the 5 bikes I’ve owned in my life time. I love the torquey engine, and it’s just a blast to ride on twisty back roads. Wish I had explored the super moto world a long time ago. I find myself trying to stay out of trouble from the desire to avoid traffic by hoping curbs, burning across a field and back out onto the road in the suburbs. This bike brings out inner kid. I don’t have any issues with it not being fuel injected or having a 6th gear. Ride it as it was intended to be ridden and you can have more fun than you can imagine. It’s a great bike!
If you're planning on taking it off road quite a bit, get the drz. If you plan on mainly hooning on the streets with less off-road, the dr650 is a better supermoto. Either way, you can't go wrong.
@@ajaxracing the point is it the consumer shouldn't have to and buying a brand new motorcycle. And it would cost them less than $ $10 buying in production size bulk And that should be passed on to the consumer. They need to put LED lights on their bikes
I find it funny when everyone complains that it isn't fast enough. I have the 400s and it gets to 70km/h in second gear and 100km/h at the top of third. Takes no more than 5 seconds to get to 100km/h which by car standards is faster than many V8 cars.
I bought one brand new just before Christmas, tough choice considering the new 300s coming out soon but f**k new tech I’m old school and I love old school tech/bikes.
Finally something that I own 🤟 Got it new in 2017. I reckon the best color scheme in white and blue rims.Yes it's really old school but that makes it stand out between today's fully loaded bikes.So much fun to ride even in standard form.Just needs a pipe and jetting and it comes alive, putting out 42-45 HP.What I miss on it is a sixth gear and a rev counter.The aftermarket options are endless you can really upgrade whatever on it.
Have you thought about getting and FCR and 15/39 gearing? It makes the DR.Z way more highway friendly but with no loss of power and torque cause of the new power bump. They have bunch of Chinese clone 39mm FCR carbs on Ebay for like $100. Some food for thought. Cheers!
@@machupikachu1085 hi, I heard of those mods, Inline with the 3x3 mod. They should all work well on DRZ However it's not an option anymore to me as, I sold my bike. I'll have a review on my bike soon on my channel, and I'm also pretty sure that I'll buy a Supermoto again at some point. They are such fun bikes..
@@billbonu1639 the Revolution Counter for Motorcycles is a precision tool designed by TEXA to measure engine speed on large and small motorcycles. WTF is Google?? Your friend to find basic stuff like that 🤣
@@Chumbucketsecret There's a reason you should understand before you claim they're cheaping out. They can't update it because of the pukes that claim the planet is going to fry. Which is a big farce designed to make money on EVs and scare people into a bunch of sacrifices. Facts all.
Whats the point of reviewing a bike that hasn't changed in 20 years? I have a 2007 DrZ and it's the same thing. Pretty sure the Drz has kept Suzuki afloat for the last 5 years. They have been kind of phoning it in. They really need to throw EFI and a 6th gear at the drz...like people having been asking for the last decade. The 450L is $11,000 OTD. Kind of insane for a dual sport. We need Suzuki to come in with an updated Drz for $8,000 and save us all
I would love to have a DR400 as backup bike to my KTM 500 EXC that I love and hate lol :) . (sometimes it is nice to go ride without needing to do a oil change and check valve clearance first).
I have a 2020, very happy with the it. He briefly mentioned the seat height but didn’t give the exact number, it’s 35” which can be a serious problem for some. At 75 mph on the highway I would say it’s running high in the rpm range and not a very pleasant experience, keep it at 65 or below and you’ll be happy 👍
@@IRLtrolls definitely and that’s what most people do if they buy one it’s usually used, I don’t know who’s spending that kind of money on a new/old DRZ...
I have an 18 with a bigger carb, led baja designs headlamp, stainless steel brake lines and some other mods. Should I be bleeding the air from my forks?
They need to update this thing. Fuel injected, more power, same reliability, 6th gear with better highway gearing, tachometer, gear position indicator, temperature gauge, wet sump oil system with a sight glass... I have one, but I wish they'd have improved it by now.
@@indyjones3287 right, we know. The point is, it's becoming more & more irrelevant as time goes on. The bike needs an update and sales figures will start to prove that.
I have a 2020 DRZ400SM in gray. I replaced the stock headlight with a JNS Engineering LED headlight. It looks great and it’s really bright. I also installed a set of Denali Electronics DRLs in amber color on the front fender. I removed the stock reflectors and used the holes on the bracket to mount the lights.
Im new to bikes and picked up a naked Yamaha recently. Back then I believed a super moto like this, even though old design, would be a great starter. But now I know that this is a cycle for advanced riders because of the hooligan capabilities and techniques you would need to ride it to full potential. Underestimated daredevil for sure.
California vehicle code Section 21658.1 look it up: you're not lane splitting when there is only one lane on the road. Riding on the shoulder is not legal and is very dangerous. Please review lane splitting laws and ride safely!
I bought a 2006 brand new for $5500 out the door. Was a great bike. Put 26K miles on it. Spent way too much time and money beefing up the motor, and then dealing with the fallout from that (blown headgaskets). Ended up going out and buying a KTM 690. A way better bike in every way. Now I spend my time riding bikes, instead of working on them!
Let me get this straight, the tires are smooth on the inside because Suzuki uses non tubeless wheels.The mirrors are adjustable, just like every other adjustable mirror. Yikes! I like Adam's reviews but sometimes he over complicates things..
Had mine since 2016, and still loved it. FCR39, full Yoshimura RS-2, and Hotcams Stage 2s. Those mods made my bike a lot more fun than it was in stock.
I'm getting the FCR39. Want the 41, but wayyy too much lol. I want a quiet pipe tho. What is the best aftermarket pipe for FCR that won't get me evicted? Q4/powerbomb or something else?
Nice bike. These would sell like crazy in Europe if Euro emissions would allow them. I'd rather have my Duke 390. though, but I remember really enjoying my DR250SH when I was a young man in Tokyo.
Been doing bike research and I’m definitely going to buy an older model. I wanna master this bike so I don’t drop my nice bike whenever I can afford that nice bike one day hopefully.
It's a great bike, and I don't mind the carburetor and the five speed. It is, however, too tall for an old guy with a 29-in leg seam. Why they went to the trouble of changing the fork but retaining 10 inches of travel I don't know. My gs650 has 7 inches of travel and is a fine bumpy road bike. I'm going to get the suspension lowered 3 inches and I will love this bike a lot more! It's fine while I'm moving but I'm getting tired of having to reach for the ground when there's a dip under my foot.
Thanks for the review. That's some crazy street laws where you are from. Just making your own lane, I could see people getting upset with that. I couldn't do that even if it was legal hear cause of common courtesy. I guess I'm never in a rush, and can wait my turn. Thanks for letting us know about the DRZ.
Who was the little dude on the Tron bike? Future GP rider, son of Val perhaps? Thanks for sharing, a fun, usable, inexpensive, bike with huge potential for modifying and inducing some serious smiles/fun. Ciao..
Unfortunately Suzuki stopped selling this bike in Europe, because of emission regulations, for plenty years now. Nowadays used ones cost more then they costed brand new. If a manufacturer, like KTM, build a small capacity supermoto around 6k they probably would sell it like crazy. So why don’t take that 390 engine and put it in a dirtbike/supermoto chassis?
8:43 tyre, air, rim and that rubber plate thing that make nipples airtight.. I would rather chose for tubes. it's easier to maintain. the whole bike screams: reliability
@@kamenrider8543 I've only done the Ricochet bash plate (black), ego barkbusters and the massive rack from cycleracks so far. Changing front sprocket is next on the list. Fun little bike to learn on.
I made the switch to a 2021 CRF 450 RL from a DRZ and have never looked back, love the bike so much better than the DRZ in pretty much every single way
The 650 is worse in every way except the ability to do 90 on the freeway. Also the 400 is actually faster than the 650. The 650 just has more power down low for lugging around.
Chuck a pair of Continental Attack SM evo's on it. Stick with the OEM sizes, and pressures. Takes the heaviness out of the steering and transforms the bike into a scalpel in the twisties
@@ewokkowe4879 that cost a lot.except for the bike being under powered and heavy as tank you have to pay for suspension and better brakes out of the box
@@tougeattack123 how does it cost a lot? Both front and rear suspension are fully adjustable. Did you put a new seat in your car because you couldn't find a comfy seating position? 😋
@@tougeattack123 actually, no it does not mean that at all. It means adjusting the fully adjustable suspension. There are literally hundreds of different combinations in stock form to suit your riding style and weight. You are referring to having a custom overhaul to your suspension because you think it's too soft. My buddy has jumped his stock SM consistently over 20+ feet while not bottoming out. How much more firm do you need? Are you using yours for X-Games?
I learned two things as a DRZ-SM owner. 1. The DRZ is a capable bike and will run forever. 2. Don’t go down the rabbit-hole of mods. You will spend thousands for a couple HP. Not worth it. Just sell it (easily) and get a KTM.
They can’t change to EFI due to new laws. They would have to be euro 5 & in Australia have ABS fitted standard (front & rear) for it to be road legal. I like the saying “keep it simple, stupid”
I sold mines i miss it very much this bike will outlast anything if you buy it leave it stock it get better fuel economy and it smoother and i will buy it again
A terrific review of the bike! The information is usable and purposeful. These are really enjoyable bikes to ride all over the town/city. Great Suzuki styling and the price is affordable for a great bike! Thanks for this review, I do like this style for the price and reliability, as you have mentioned. I enjoyed the ride, the review and the posting of the video!
Very nice. Thank you for taking a moment to watch this video and leave a nice comment.
It was good but I turned off cos I can’t stand hearing all his mouth noises, slapping up his lips and sucking his teeth, gross
Also air induction into the exhaust isn’t new or ground breaking, CCM cxr230s have it and are basic af, and you’re not making the bike more eco, you’re diluting the exhaust with fresh air...
Sooo this bike does ok cruising at 65 70 for 15 20 miles at a time ?
@@WelsheDragon you sound butt hurt because you got a 250 or something…. Lol
Wow the D riding is insane
First hand experience : Got a new 2015sm road it hard every time I got on it. Burnt many sets of tires off and few sets of break pads, I Jumped it , Dumped it dropped it and knocked it over. Road it on the highway at 80 mph for hours . Took it off road where a SM shouldn't go, learned to drift it in a circle on grass then pavement . Learned how to go through the gears ridding a wheelie. Been over the handle bars bringing the back wheel up to high at the stop light. I put 44,000 miles on that bike in five years. I had one hell of a fun time every single mile. The ONLY thing ever done to maintain the bike besides tires and break pads was just oil change . The valves were never even adjusted. It run strong the day I sold it. (I almost cried) . Sold it for 4k got it new for 7,200.00 .... So I paid 3,200.00 for 5 years of riding that bike That means 640$ a year or just 53 dollars a month. To ride that bike. That's a pretty good deal in my book.
Damn bro 44k miles!?
Why did you sell it?
What bike u are ride now
Beautiful honest write-up
BRAKES
The day after they redo it everyone will be on here lamenting about the days of indestructible steel frames and adjusting the carb for 4 bucks in jets.
I’ll be one of those guys, but why wait fir that day to come? This bike is FUN!
Exactly. At the same time all anyone does now is whine and complain constantly about everything.
True but getting that carb off the bike is an exercise in expletives.
@@jkro30a Undo the subframe
EFI is better in every way
Most fun bike to ride. You know how a DRZ rider shifts? It’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5.
Lol!
Lol
So true!
lmao
Same with my dr650... lol
I have friends with DRZ400SM's. Once I got to ride them around for a day I was hooked! I ended up trading my MT-07 for the SM life. Something about a Thumper just made me excited. I've owned many Carbureted vehicles and have grown to really enjoy them and honestly enjoy how minimalist the DRZ is. It's extremely enjoyable and at the same time relaxing to ride quickly becoming my favorite motorcycle. It is heavy compared to other dual sports but if you're coming from heavier sport bikes it feels like a bicycle!
Thank you for repeating what literally thousands of other reviewers and commenters have already said. Breathtaking.
That's what puts me off many modern bikes... The weight. When manufacturers start paying attention to that they will make more 'hitters', bikes that sell off the shelf a and leave a lasting impression. Better acceleration, braking, Handling... Low weight helps in many areas favoured by the user.
Watch on 1.5x speed (anytime you see Adam). You're welcome.
Doesn't EVen *pause* *lipsmack* *pause* WORK *pause* on me anyMORE.
@@chainedlightning 😂
ITS TORTUROUS !!!
My hero. Lol
Wow that bike seems to accelerate pretty fast now
A tip I can give about camera angle that always works. Right now it is pointed almost directly down at the ground most of the time. If you make the camera lens parallel with your face shield the angle will almost always be spot-on.
100% on point!
Can we please have one more person saying the bike should have a six speed gearbox and fuel-injection?
And extra 50-200 cc
But....at.....an.....exaggerated....slow....pace.....like....the .....reviewer. Annoying
the bike should have a six speed and fuel injection. welcome
@@smeggysmeg2837 Aaahhhh!
Carburetor are best = no computer garbage
I love that you're reviewing this so soon after the pumpkin SM. Look forward to your Kawi KLX300 review!
Yes. That worked out quite well somehow, lol.
If it aint broke, don't fix it. Now I wouldn't complain if Suzuki upgraded this thing, but I have a 2016 model that is all tricked out. Spent about $2500 in upgrades, and it's arguably the most fun bike I have. It's not the fastest, but you can really ring it's neck and not be going insane illegal speeds, which I like. Very fun even at lower speeds. And it handles great with a sticky set of tires. If you can get one of these used for $3-4K, and then put another grand or two in mods, you'll have one of the more fun bikes out there.
smcr690 or husqvarna 701 sm are great alternatives.
I absolutely love mine. I also really appreciate how simple the maintenance is in comparison to the other supermoto's out there. Picked mine up for 5k, all tricked out. Worth every penny.
I picked up my 08 with 2.5k miles for $1.5k stock. Well someone replaced the rubber steering dampeners, but no 3x3! $1500!!!
@@darthorpheus damn thats a steal bro
I used to own a DRZ400-S with SM wheels. I absolutely loved this bike and by far one of the best bikes I have every owned for running the corners. I may pick up an SM one day soon.
I don't need to even click play to know that this is literally the same exact bike that I have, and I bought it in 2008. The fact that this bike is still running a carb is beyond me.
This particular machine was used in the war of 1812.
@@busboy3232 😆
I believe that the way the emission regulations work is that existing designs were somewhat grandfathered in. That is, they are only held to the emission requirements that were in place at the time the bike was introduced. The flipside of these regulations is that any upgrades will negate the grandfather status. Hence, this bike still has only 5 speeds and a carburetor.
@@rick-hm3ji Jesus it could use a 6th gear.
Your a legend in your own mind💯🤣
I had one and loved it as a third bike, for playing in the hills or kart tracks. The previous owner included dirt wheels so in half hour i could swap and ride trails. It could use a 6th gear.
For those that have never ridden one, do it. It's not brain splatteringly fast, but it's the most fun I've had on two wheels by a huge margin. Makes me regret getting a supernaked, TBH. Edit: Actually, I take that back. I put supermoto handlebars on my bike and I sort of get the best of both worlds. :)
A 21 year production run is short compared to the Yamaha SR400/500, which came out in 1978, and is still in production 😳. Fun knows no age limit 😉🏍👍.
I see Suzuki came out with bold new graphics....again....for the 20th year in a row 😆
The emphasis when he says asphalt “ASS FAULT” haha 😆
Cheap on insurance, tons of info on forums, and long list of possible mods!
Think I pay 10 bucks for insurance
@@1Corinthians151-4 how is the service on these bike. I can change the oil etc but im worried about opening up the engine etc
I have a 21 Husqvarna fe501s and a 20 Kawasaki z900 and I still might get the drz400sm. I've have 2 of them in the past and they are absolutely fun bikes, carb and headlight included. Great review and love the new graphics .
I can't imagine a drz review video without a wheelie.
they don’t exist lol
21 years old,that's new to me,still got a 79 Yamaha L2s till now hahaha
Why are people complaining about the carbs why change something that works very well?
I guess they don't want the ability push start it lol
I have a 2004 version - Unfortunately we can't get them new here in Scotland.
I think that they are superb with an absolutely bullet proof engine!!
Not very fast but so much fun to ride on twisty roads with sticky rubber on the wheels!!
You don't buy a Suzuki DRZ400 SM to run as standard .... You can customise it to your taste more than any other bike that I can think of.
That would be a great 'zombie apocalypse' bike...for all the obvious reasons.
Now that the KLR is gone, maybe. The DR650 is probably better, though.
@Daniel Fenton safari make a 28L tank for it
@Daniel Fenton yeah dual sports do take some converting to make them more adventure capable, but even so they still work out considerably cheaper and far more capable than an off the shelf 'adventure' bike (for off road based overlanding)
@@lovelessissimo Isn't the KLR 650 back on the market again?
@@1TruePatriot it is now, haha
Good to see a motorcycle journalist do a review of the 'ol DRZ! Such a big following and aftermarket for them. One of the best and most fun-to-ride motorcycles I've ever owned.
Stainless lines help brake feel a lot. FCR, big bore and full MRD exhaust and this thing rips.
Carbed in 2021, honestly didn’t see that coming.
Just got a 2022. Ive had many other bikes. My last two were GSXR600 and a GSXR1000. I had a ton of fun on the sport bikes, but have to say that the DRZ is the most fun I’ve had out of the 5 bikes I’ve owned in my life time. I love the torquey engine, and it’s just a blast to ride on twisty back roads.
Wish I had explored the super moto world a long time ago. I find myself trying to stay out of trouble from the desire to avoid traffic by hoping curbs, burning across a field and back out onto the road in the suburbs. This bike brings out inner kid.
I don’t have any issues with it not being fuel injected or having a 6th gear. Ride it as it was intended to be ridden and you can have more fun than you can imagine. It’s a great bike!
I'm really thinking of buying a new one. Where I live, it is getting hard to find decent ones used. Just trying to justify a $9000 dirt bike lol
@@machupikachu1085did u ever get one? I am in your same.boat now..
@@josephoberman331 I did indeed. We're all going dirt biking tomorrow in Orange county.
If you're planning on taking it off road quite a bit, get the drz. If you plan on mainly hooning on the streets with less off-road, the dr650 is a better supermoto. Either way, you can't go wrong.
Be honest, tell them the Lighting is unacceptable!
Easy upgrade with just a bulb
..
@@ajaxracing the point is it the consumer shouldn't have to and buying a brand new motorcycle. And it would cost them less than $ $10 buying in production size bulk And that should be passed on to the consumer. They need to put LED lights on their bikes
I find it funny when everyone complains that it isn't fast enough. I have the 400s and it gets to 70km/h in second gear and 100km/h at the top of third. Takes no more than 5 seconds to get to 100km/h which by car standards is faster than many V8 cars.
people want busa torque for grom money. Suzuki can't win.
I have added a braided front brake line and it made a massive difference ! Huge
I though about doing the same thing. How is that brake in the dirt tho?
I bought one brand new just before Christmas, tough choice considering the new 300s coming out soon but f**k new tech I’m old school and I love old school tech/bikes.
300s?
I bought the crf300l and I’m looking at buying one of the new 400sm as the crf was useless off road and the Suzuki goes better for not much $ more
You made the right choice. Basically the same weight as the 300's with 50% more horsepower and better suspension.
Finally something that I own 🤟
Got it new in 2017. I reckon the best color scheme in white and blue rims.Yes it's really old school but that makes it stand out between today's fully loaded bikes.So much fun to ride even in standard form.Just needs a pipe and jetting and it comes alive, putting out 42-45 HP.What I miss on it is a sixth gear and a rev counter.The aftermarket options are endless you can really upgrade whatever on it.
Have you thought about getting and FCR and 15/39 gearing? It makes the DR.Z way more highway friendly but with no loss of power and torque cause of the new power bump. They have bunch of Chinese clone 39mm FCR carbs on Ebay for like $100. Some food for thought.
Cheers!
@@machupikachu1085 hi,
I heard of those mods, Inline with the 3x3 mod. They should all work well on DRZ
However it's not an option anymore to me as, I sold my bike.
I'll have a review on my bike soon on my channel, and I'm also pretty sure that I'll buy a Supermoto again at some point.
They are such fun bikes..
WTF is a rev counter
@@billbonu1639 it's what they call a tachometer in some places where you don't live. Hope that helps.
Cheers!
@@billbonu1639 the Revolution Counter for Motorcycles is a precision tool designed by TEXA to measure engine speed on large and small motorcycles.
WTF is Google??
Your friend to find basic stuff like that 🤣
...aaaaand for under $600, you can make 20 minute wheel swaps with a set of 18” / 21” ebay alu rims/tires for the dirt!
please tell me where you can get a dirt setup for under $600.
Not to mention you need to swap out speedo gears and brake caliper bracket. It's another $1k + to do a dirt setup if you buy new.
@@jonathanlocker4 I’d love to know as well lol
@@CollinMac96 I'd love to know how he can do it in 20 minutes lol!
I’m totally captivated by the features, character and benefits of this bike. Wonderful review 🤘
Nothing " Budget " about these motorcycles. Well built, highly competent, proven and reliable.
Agreed
You mean not changing anything for over 20 years isn’t budget? Yeah ok.
@@Chumbucketsecret There's a reason you should understand before you claim they're cheaping out. They can't update it because of the pukes that claim the planet is going to fry. Which is a big farce designed to make money on EVs and scare people into a bunch of sacrifices. Facts all.
for the love of god please add a 6th gear!
Not enough motor on the dirt for a 6th gear ://// the SM Isn't what's keeping this bike alive
Lmfaooo I own a 2016 I really wish it had a 6th gear
That was the main reason I sold the one I had. It sounded like it was going to explode on the highway.
If you gotta go into the engine, Get the ACT kit. Conversely, buy the FCR carb and gear it 15/39. Problem solved.
Cheers!
For as long as an unrefined DRZ400 exists, there will always be a soul to complain about it not having a sixth gear.
A good apocalypse bike for sure. These will run forever and parts are everywhere, same with the klr.
It’s old, but still cool! Love the colors this year, too.
Whats the point of reviewing a bike that hasn't changed in 20 years? I have a 2007 DrZ and it's the same thing. Pretty sure the Drz has kept Suzuki afloat for the last 5 years. They have been kind of phoning it in. They really need to throw EFI and a 6th gear at the drz...like people having been asking for the last decade.
The 450L is $11,000 OTD. Kind of insane for a dual sport. We need Suzuki to come in with an updated Drz for $8,000 and save us all
People been crying out for new drz for 15 years
@@Bow-to-the-absurd yes we’ve been crying for a new DRZ but atleast update the damn thing, not release the same thing from 15 years ago
I know right. Really all they have to do is switch to fuel injection and most people would shut up about updating it.
@@Lexyboogie sadly, it's not that simple. The entire bike would have to be redesigned, basically. No mean feat. The new one would be $10k
Should be $6000 new at most
Great review of a great bike. I'm old enough to recognize it's heritage goes back to the 1980's trail bikes.
haha love the kid speeding past you on the go-cart track" Hey Uncle Adam stop playing on the track"
Lol. Yup. Always good to see the young bucks grippin' it and rippn' it.
I would love to have a DR400 as backup bike to my KTM 500 EXC that I love and hate lol :) . (sometimes it is nice to go ride without needing to do a oil change and check valve clearance first).
sometimes? lol
Sweet machine tho.
I have a 2020, very happy with the it. He briefly mentioned the seat height but didn’t give the exact number, it’s 35” which can be a serious problem for some. At 75 mph on the highway I would say it’s running high in the rpm range and not a very pleasant experience, keep it at 65 or below and you’ll be happy 👍
Once you learn to cruise I.dont really take mine out if ima be on the freeway 20min or more but shes damn good in traffic
Consider an FCR39 with 15/39 gearing if it's in the budget. Freeway problem solved!
Cheers!
"This bike is old is Suzuki's lineup"
*Laughs in unchanged DR650*
Dude! You're my favorite reviewer/presenter! Hopefully, you'll be continuing these this year. 👍👍
Hi Bradley, thank you for the nice note. Nothing is certain, but we expect to continue publishing this content for the 2021 calendar year.
Still pretty expensive for old tech...
Yep. I bought an 07 with good mods for $2,000. Same exact bike. I've beat the hell out of it and it keeps going. Definitely got my money's worth
@@IRLtrolls definitely and that’s what most people do if they buy one it’s usually used, I don’t know who’s spending that kind of money on a new/old DRZ...
I have an 18 with a bigger carb, led baja designs headlamp, stainless steel brake lines and some other mods. Should I be bleeding the air from my forks?
The Suzuki brochure says...proven not old tech ;)
@@moorepower13 I’m sure it does lol
why would you change it if it still works?
this goes back to the legendary DR350
Those were sweet bikes!
Have a 91 dr250s the baby bro to this bike and heres the kicker its got a 6th gear lmao still love my Drz tho
True, 'cept the DR350 had 6 gears. D'oh!!
They need to update this thing. Fuel injected, more power, same reliability, 6th gear with better highway gearing, tachometer, gear position indicator, temperature gauge, wet sump oil system with a sight glass... I have one, but I wish they'd have improved it by now.
Same here... I see no difference between this and my ‘04
The couldn't meet emission standards without lots of R&D. If they don't change, it's grandfathered in.
@@indyjones3287 right, we know. The point is, it's becoming more & more irrelevant as time goes on. The bike needs an update and sales figures will start to prove that.
@@indyjones3287 I didn't pay the 8 something K they're asking for a new one, I bought mine used. Even Adam stated he wouldn't spend his money on it.
@@duncan7494 were there SM in 04?
Still a great looking bike and an excellent motorcycle. What it lacks in newness and technology it more than makes up for with its stone reliability.
Amazing really. Suzuki are world MotoGP champions - the pinnacle of machines and riders and yet their range is full of old knockers like this.
Ride it and you’ll understand.
I have a 2020 DRZ400SM in gray. I replaced the stock headlight with a JNS Engineering LED headlight. It looks great and it’s really bright. I also installed a set of Denali Electronics DRLs in amber color on the front fender. I removed the stock reflectors and used the holes on the bracket to mount the lights.
Im new to bikes and picked up a naked Yamaha recently. Back then I believed a super moto like this, even though old design, would be a great starter. But now I know that this is a cycle for advanced riders because of the hooligan capabilities and techniques you would need to ride it to full potential. Underestimated daredevil for sure.
Truth. Mastered it on road? Throw on some knobbies and master it off road!
California vehicle code Section 21658.1 look it up: you're not lane splitting when there is only one lane on the road. Riding on the shoulder is not legal and is very dangerous. Please review lane splitting laws and ride safely!
KTM 390 adventure 43 horsepower 387 pounds wet, adjustable shocks, TFT dash, stability control with IMU with cornering abs/cornering TC. $6100
Great review of a fairly great bike. I love the fact that you're actually reviewing while riding. I hate voice over reviews.
Do you honestly think he was dragging knee on a track while musing in real time?
I bought a 2006 brand new for $5500 out the door. Was a great bike. Put 26K miles on it. Spent way too much time and money beefing up the motor, and then dealing with the fallout from that (blown headgaskets). Ended up going out and buying a KTM 690. A way better bike in every way. Now I spend my time riding bikes, instead of working on them!
That’s what people say when they get rid of their KTMs.
@@rzu7120 I've owned 5 of them now. I guess I've been lucky. No issues whatsoever.
Let me get this straight, the tires are smooth on the inside because Suzuki uses non tubeless wheels.The mirrors are adjustable, just like every other adjustable mirror. Yikes!
I like Adam's reviews but sometimes he over complicates things..
Had mine since 2016, and still loved it. FCR39, full Yoshimura RS-2, and Hotcams Stage 2s. Those mods made my bike a lot more fun than it was in stock.
I'm getting the FCR39. Want the 41, but wayyy too much lol. I want a quiet pipe tho. What is the best aftermarket pipe for FCR that won't get me evicted? Q4/powerbomb or something else?
@@machupikachu1085 I heard the FMF is the most quiet one compared to the Yoshimura RS-2, and MRD. Definitely stay away from the MRD.
Would love a drz400e but stopped coming to the UK years ago... bullet proof.
Nice bike. These would sell like crazy in Europe if Euro emissions would allow them. I'd rather have my Duke 390. though, but I remember really enjoying my DR250SH when I was a young man in Tokyo.
Actually it was first a drz400e green sticker trail bike then later it became a dual sport a DRZ400S and finally a drz400sm
I was trying to make out where this was because it was so familiar and I realized it was Vista. Pretty cool. Great video.
Been doing bike research and I’m definitely going to buy an older model. I wanna master this bike so I don’t drop my nice bike whenever I can afford that nice bike one day hopefully.
I watch a ton of motorcycle videos, you are so thorough, great job!
It's a great bike, and I don't mind the carburetor and the five speed. It is, however, too tall for an old guy with a 29-in leg seam. Why they went to the trouble of changing the fork but retaining 10 inches of travel I don't know. My gs650 has 7 inches of travel and is a fine bumpy road bike.
I'm going to get the suspension lowered 3 inches and I will love this bike a lot more! It's fine while I'm moving but I'm getting tired of having to reach for the ground when there's a dip under my foot.
Great video but man the audio quality is terrible what's going on there
Why is it this bike looks soo beatiful!
Why does this guy always sound high?
Take a shot every time he says “Dee Are Zee Four Hundred Ess Em”
Thanks for the review.
That's some crazy street laws where you are from. Just making your own lane, I could see people getting upset with that. I couldn't do that even if it was legal hear cause of common courtesy. I guess I'm never in a rush, and can wait my turn. Thanks for letting us know about the DRZ.
In cali you have to if you dont you will get run over
What he's doing is 100% not legal. The man rides like a full blown idiot.
Who was the little dude on the Tron bike? Future GP rider, son of Val perhaps? Thanks for sharing, a fun, usable, inexpensive, bike with huge potential for modifying and inducing some serious smiles/fun. Ciao..
This guys sound like he has glue in his mouth it's nasty
He talks like a learner driver pulling away for the first time.
Yes very nice guy but I fall asleep listening to his robot voice tone
Unfortunately Suzuki stopped selling this bike in Europe, because of emission regulations, for plenty years now. Nowadays used ones cost more then they costed brand new. If a manufacturer, like KTM, build a small capacity supermoto around 6k they probably would sell it like crazy. So why don’t take that 390 engine and put it in a dirtbike/supermoto chassis?
They retard is why.
Nothing they do makes sence, and they focus too much on max speed
Do you picture the 390 engine will have the same reliability as the DrZ?
Everytime I considered a DRZ400 I was surprised at how many of them on the used market had their engine replaced before 20000km...
Why?
8:43 tyre, air, rim and that rubber plate thing that make nipples airtight.. I would rather chose for tubes. it's easier to maintain. the whole bike screams: reliability
Indeed. Perfect zombie apocalypse/shtf bike...
recently got myself a 2021 Dr200s, gotta say Im a bit jealous of that seat ;)
@@kamenrider8543 I've only done the Ricochet bash plate (black), ego barkbusters and the massive rack from cycleracks so far. Changing front sprocket is next on the list. Fun little bike to learn on.
@@kamenrider8543 Sweet! How is the Q4 over the stock can? I'll have to rejet after my FCR upgrade, but don't wanna get evicted lol
That’s a dope paint job
I made the switch to a 2021 CRF 450 RL from a DRZ and have never looked back, love the bike so much better than the DRZ in pretty much every single way
It should be for twice the price and maintenance lol.
Congrats on the new mount!
Cheers!
Dude that little kid on the go kart track rules
*During a wheelie*
Me: oh crap oh crap
Adam: oh yea, that’s it, that’s nice
I like it, but I'd step up to the DR 650 for the extra juice and cheaper cost.
The 650 is worse in every way except the ability to do 90 on the freeway. Also the 400 is actually faster than the 650. The 650 just has more power down low for lugging around.
@@MTrout5140
🤔
@@MTrout5140 facts
Late to the party, but yeah, the DR650 has the same amount of horsepower but is over 120 pounds heaver. 😟
Chuck a pair of Continental Attack SM evo's on it. Stick with the OEM sizes, and pressures.
Takes the heaviness out of the steering and transforms the bike into a scalpel in the twisties
Best review on the
DR-ZSM on the internet. Thank you!
no 6th gear
Crazy cool neighborhood u live man great vid great information 👍
It’s crazy that they have not changed anything, my 06 drz400sm looks the same
Could you look up from the highway once in a while.
"Racer tuck."
It also needs firmer suspension stock, thr thing dives like a submarine under hard braking
Have you tried setting the suspension for your weight and riding style.?
@@ewokkowe4879 that cost a lot.except for the bike being under powered and heavy as tank you have to pay for suspension and better brakes out of the box
@@tougeattack123 how does it cost a lot? Both front and rear suspension are fully adjustable. Did you put a new seat in your car because you couldn't find a comfy seating position? 😋
@@machupikachu1085 setting for you means new springs and revalving. drz suspension sucks its to soft
@@tougeattack123 actually, no it does not mean that at all. It means adjusting the fully adjustable suspension. There are literally hundreds of different combinations in stock form to suit your riding style and weight.
You are referring to having a custom overhaul to your suspension because you think it's too soft.
My buddy has jumped his stock SM consistently over 20+ feet while not bottoming out. How much more firm do you need? Are you using yours for X-Games?
I learned two things as a DRZ-SM owner.
1. The DRZ is a capable bike and will run forever.
2. Don’t go down the rabbit-hole of mods. You will spend thousands for a couple HP. Not worth it. Just sell it (easily) and get a KTM.
P.s. it doesn't pass emissions. Its grandfathered in because they havent/wont/can't make updates besides color and graphics.
It actually looks good.
They can’t change to EFI due to new laws. They would have to be euro 5 & in Australia have ABS fitted standard (front & rear) for it to be road legal. I like the saying “keep it simple, stupid”
All true! I'm glad someone else understands the current export agreement.
Cheers!
Dude has the "Lars Ulrich" accent so much. I love it
He's better at drums too! :D
@@machupikachu1085 oh, 100% ha!
I sold mines i miss it very much this bike will outlast anything if you buy it leave it stock it get better fuel economy and it smoother and i will buy it again
Good thing about tube in your tire is you can ride offroad with less air.
0:49 ASS FAULT SPECIFICATION is all I heard. 😆
An oldie but goodie. Kind of like Adam.