DRZ400E vibration?

**dmoo1790** · 12th February 2010, 21:06

To any DRZ400E/S/SM owners out there: Do you get serious vibration through the bars at 90+ kph? It's so bad on my bike that my hands start to go numb after a while. I haven't done a test at high revs and low speed yet so I'm not sure if it's engine or tyres. I'm still running a knobbie front and a semi-knobbie rear tyre. The bike only has 600 km on it so far. Still running in.

**meteor** · 12th February 2010, 21:21

My DR250 was the same until I put street tyres on it then was smooth as. But any dirt bike above 90kmh will have you hanging on tighter I spose and with even semi knoblies... vibration/shudder would be the norm.

**JATZ** · 12th February 2010, 21:37

You sure this is the bike for you ?
this is the second bleat thread you've posted

**Taz** · 12th February 2010, 21:50

Nopt sure about DRZ vibes but my KTM525exc is very smooth on the road.

**dmoo1790** · 12th February 2010, 21:51

Originally Posted by JATZ

You sure this is the bike for you ?
this is the second bleat thread you've posted

Well, if you recall, the first "bleat" thread I posted uncovered the fact that DRZ400E's are horribly restricted from the factory.

And this thread is just an attempt to figure out whether my bike is unusually buzzy.

Time will tell if this bike is ideal for me. I wanted something relatively light and capable of doing everything and cheap. Impossible I know but I think the DRZ is the best compromise.

**dmoo1790** · 12th February 2010, 21:51

Originally Posted by JATZ

You sure this is the bike for you ?
this is the second bleat thread you've posted

Well, if you recall, the first "bleat" thread I posted uncovered the fact that DRZ400E's are horribly restricted from the factory.

And this thread is just an attempt to figure out whether my bike is unusually buzzy.

Time will tell if this bike is ideal for me. I wanted something relatively light and capable of doing everything and cheap. Impossible I know but I think the DRZ is the best compromise.

**JATZ** · 12th February 2010, 21:57

Originally Posted by dmoo1790

Well, if you recall, the first "bleat" thread I posted uncovered the fact that DRZ400E's are horribly restricted from the factory.

And this thread is just an attempt to figure out whether my bike is unusually buzzy.

Time will tell if this bike is ideal for me. I wanted something relatively light and capable of doing everything and cheap. Impossible I know but I think the DRZ is the best compromise.

O.K. p'raps bleat was the wrong word, I've only ridden one DRZ and didn't find it buzzy at all.
Any hooo..... vibranators will reduce vibration, or stickin lead shot in the bars or silicon, so I'm told

**bart** · 12th February 2010, 22:23

The DRZ is a dirt bike first, and a road or SM second. If comparing the DRZ to a road bike, (or even a fireblade), you will be disappointed doing long road miles. The DRZ is based on a reasonably light, robust, off road machine. No namby pamby, rubber mounted, air bagged, counter ballanced, rubber cush drive bullshit here. Enjoy it for the rugged, nimble, weapon that it is.

Oh....and to answer your question....they do vibrate a wee bit.

**warewolf** · 13th February 2010, 08:24

Thumpers tend to be worse when new, but get smoother as they are run in.

A DR-Z400 isn't capable of serious vibration, is it? Try a 640

**JATZ** · 13th February 2010, 08:40

Originally Posted by warewolf

Thumpers tend to be worse when new, but get smoother as they are run in.

A DR-Z400 isn't capable of serious vibration, is it? Try a 640

Noooooo........ try MINE !! 750 single

**NordieBoy** · 13th February 2010, 10:14

Originally Posted by JATZ

Noooooo........ try MINE !! 750 single

That's just the crap forks.

**dmoo1790** · 13th February 2010, 11:15

Originally Posted by bart

The DRZ is a dirt bike first, and a road or SM second. If comparing the DRZ to a road bike, (or even a fireblade), you will be disappointed doing long road miles. The DRZ is based on a reasonably light, robust, off road machine. No namby pamby, rubber mounted, air bagged, counter ballanced, rubber cush drive bullshit here. Enjoy it for the rugged, nimble, weapon that it is.

Oh....and to answer your question....they do vibrate a wee bit.

Yep. I have confirmed it's engine vibration. I guess that's why the SM has rubber mounted bars. Funny you should mention cush drive. I've owned 2 XR500A's (twin shock) and on both of these the front sprocket ate a groove into the gearbox output shaft. I guess it was badly designed but a cush drive would have stopped that from happening. Yes, I know you pay a weight penalty for a cush drive. I don't recall (it's a long time ago) the XR vibrating as badly as the DRZ either. I rode the XR from Wellington to Fielding once so it would have been flat out in top for long stretches and I'm sure I would recall numb hands but I don't. I do vividly recall riding on a constant lean due to the cross winds north of Levin. Maybe the DRZ will get smoother with age as warewolf says.

**dmoo1790** · 13th February 2010, 11:17

And the DRZ _does_ have a balancer or at least one is shown in the Clymer manual I have.

**dmoo1790** · 13th February 2010, 11:20

Originally Posted by warewolf

Thumpers tend to be worse when new, but get smoother as they are run in.

A DR-Z400 isn't capable of serious vibration, is it? Try a 640

It's not the size that matters. :-) The DRZ vibes are high frequency. I've had some old singles and recent twins which vibrated a bit but none caused my hands to go numb like the DRZ.

**bart** · 13th February 2010, 11:29

Originally Posted by dmoo1790

It's not the size that matters. :-) The DRZ vibes are high frequency. I've had some old singles and recent twins which vibrated a bit but none caused my hands to go numb like the DRZ.

My hands would go numb on the DRZ after a couple of hours of riding. Similar happens on my DR650, but perhaps not to the same extent.