An honest conversation about Suzuki's DRZ400 (SM)

Suzukis thinking process " what color should we do this year"

I own a DRZ and I agree with every statement in your video. But damn I have a shit load of fun just messing around on it. One other point is I have never been mechanically inclined but the older tech and the amount of info out there on the internet is a great advantage for me when repairs (rarely) or regular maintenance issues come up.

I was prepared to tell you how wrong you are but you're extremely right. If they had some competition that would be nice. I wish the WR450 came street legal

its an emissions problem, the drz400 is grandfathered in as a design that passed emissions at the time of creation... nobody could make a bike like that anymore cuz of new laws. they cant even update the drz with a 6speed gearbox or aluminum frame cuz any change to the design needs to pass the new standards. the drz is the underground bike surviving off love in the aftermarket scene and mod tutorials. i suggest gettting an old e model and turning it street legal, its the cheapest path.

It’s easy, just get older. Had my First SM in 05, I was a 37 year old that had been road racing non stop from the age of 17. I had the bike for a few months, sold it because it wasn’t “fast”. Because I owned a used motorcycle shop, I kept finding them at good prices and I would ride them a lot while they were in inventory. Eventually I figured out an SM was worth a lot more in parts than it was whole, I think I parted out 10 or 12. In I think ‘07 I bought a Husky 510 SMR because it was cheaper than modifying a DRZ and was a LOT lighter and it was “fast” (to keep things in perspective, I raced a K5 GSXR 1000 at the time and thought it was “kinda peppy”). It was also a terrible street bike. I’m 53 this year with all the damage a life of high risk activities rewards you with. I picked up a beautiful 6300 mile ‘05 SM this morning with all the nice things already done (ti yosh, 3x3, extra crash protection and a decent seat) for a nice price. I am extremely pleased to even find one, since COVID they are vapor ware, let alone a particularly cherry one owned by someone that was in his 50s when it was new. In summation: just age.

Nobody realizes that if Suzuki re-designs the DRZ400, the EPA may regard it as a new bike. Thus requiring it to conform to more strict emissions regulations. It's the same reason Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki have not re-designed the 650 dual sports in decades. They're grandfathered in. Having to meet new emissions regulations will cost more money. Yea, you may get your 6 speed, fuel injection, aluminum frame, etc...maybe it'll even become a drz450! But if you think all the upgrades and updates will not yield a price hike, your naive.

I was you - last year. I finally gave in and got a new 2018 sm. Everything you say is true, I've got a yosh pipe, 3+3, jet kit and voila-so much better than stock. Also traded brake lines, huge difference in feedback and control. Just give in, the frame is not noticeable, carbs are cool as you point out, even the 5th gear is ok now that I've had one. the only thing I will be adding is a TOP gear indicator, I seem to try and grab 6th all the time. Sure, an aluminum framed fuel injected 450motor(RMZ) with 6 gears would be the bomb....but its not there for now and you correctly identify that all the competition that has these, still fall just short of the DR package.One last thing, I got a new one because I couldn't bring myself to pay so close to the new price for used ones. I convinced myself to get the new because the re-sale will always be good.

i had a DRZsm(loved it) but couldn’t take it everywhere, sold it, bought a fz07(thought i could make it into a supermoto , sold it and just got the husky 701- it is everything you want and more. bike is awesome. i would agree with you but to go to a 450/500cc , the 701 single is well worth the extra $$ .

Been thinking about this for years dude nothing compares to the old drz400e and xr400r the reliability and the simplicity is amazing

AMERICANS: “We want a quality modern dual sport for a reasonable price!” MANUFACTURERS: “And here we have the Kawasaki Z125 PRO...... ‘PRO’ is short for ‘professional’ snazzy, huh?”

I've done 23,000 km on my DRZ sm, 10,000km of road with 21" 18" KTM wheels I bought and 13,000km on road screaming up and down twisty winding ranges and I've only had to shim the valves and a new timing chain. The sm is great as a trail bike and a fun road bike. Takes me about half an hour to change the wheels.

Pfffft joke is on you, I am a Husky FE 501 owner, I can go 800 miles before checking valves! HA Yeah looking for another bike to keep the hours of the husky now :(

JAPAN, please hear this man!

Dont complain about no power untill you ride a 50cc 4 speed moped like me 👉😎👉

I love this video. This is like the 7th time I've watched it. Great video, your content rocks.

I've got a 2002 drz s fitted with road tyres. Its handling. Manoeuvering, height and reliability make it a brilliant commuting bike through heavy traffic. I've put 41,000 miles on it and apart from the stator the engine has been totally reliable. And this bike is used daily through out the year in England. Downsides The brakes size due to road salt. The wheel bearing collars wear but stainless steal one are available. All in all a great motorcycle

It ALWAYS hurts to add more electronics. Your definition of technology makes me sad. Mechanical systems are technology, and reliable mechanics are not a feature for dualsports, it needs to be THE main feature. And the old, trusty, KLRs and DRZs have it.

Don't understand the bs about KTM reliability and maintenance intervals. I think there is a lot of people that treat their bike like their lawn mower, never clean it, never change the oil, never replace the air filter and expect it to last. Those people are best suit to owning lawnmower like bikes that they use up and replace after a couple of years.  I've owned a 690r, awesome bike and put 15k on it using it as an off road and rally bike. Did a few multi day trips (there are numerous rack options - guess those that say otherwise have never owned a 690) It was extremely reliable despite the hard use it saw in sand, mud, swamp, woods rocks etc. Not as nimble as a dirt bike but hell I rode it to a good finish in a 600 mile 1 day off road rally with some very tough conditions. Took us 17hrs to get through. The wiring harness does need to be better protected if you are going to bury the bike in mud and water on a regular basis but the two known areas are easy to get to and wrap better as a preventative maintenance effort.  Sold the 690 and got a 500exc as a better and more off road oriented bike. Dead reliable with 13k on it 90% in the dirt, rocks, single track and even took it on a 800 mile 4 day off road trip with all the camping gear I needed. Maintenance intervals amount to oil changes and occasional valve checks to confirm yet once again that after 250+hrs of use they haven't moved.  Not knocking the DRZ, KLR, WR etc just saying the KTM/Husky is a viable option, Beta as well though dealer support is a bit thin this side of the pond.

About ten years ago I bought a super clean DR650S with low miles for about $3000. Super reliable motor with very little maintenance. Then a year later bought a set of SM wheels and tires. I had a blast on it while I owned it but I always like the look of the DRZ400SM better.

incredibly accurate video. I'm in the exact same position of wanting one really bad but you see what you can get for a similar price, makes it hard to make the purchase.