The DR-Z400 thread

[rigley]

I'm a big fan of being comfortable when riding, it maintains the fun factor. I ride all year round and find that through winter, grip warmers are essential especially when going over the Main Divide passes in temperatures around or below 0. Cold hands suck, frostbite sucks even more. The pic below is one of many trips I have done in the cold/snow, this one was over 10 hours riding through snow all the way from Lake Kaniere to my doorstep in Chch. I was kitted in the right gear and my grip heaters kept my hands toasty warm all the way, the ride was outstanding, Arthurs Pass is a stunning place when laced in snow.

Stopping just out of Otira to fit the snow chains to get up and over through to Arthurs Pass

+1

The only way to go, just planning another Dusty Butt trip over 5 days over June, heated grips and proper winter gear is high on the list, great pics m8

[Night Falcon]

I'm a big fan of being comfortable when riding, it maintains the fun factor. I ride all year round and find that through winter, grip warmers are essential especially when going over the Main Divide passes in temperatures around or below 0. Cold hands suck, frostbite sucks even more. The pic below is one of many trips I have done in the cold/snow, this one was over 10 hours riding through snow all the way from Lake Kaniere to my doorstep in Chch. I was kitted in the right gear and my grip heaters kept my hands toasty warm all the way, the ride was outstanding, Arthurs Pass is a stunning place when laced in snow.

Thats hardcore adventure riding ADVGD, you southern boys are ledgends think if I was riding in those conditions I'd almost be tempted to give HG's a crack, as well as heated seat, heated helmet, heated jacket, pants....can ya get heated boots

[pomgolian]

+ 1 coming from the land of bad weather heated grips are great if you want to ride all day in shite weather, one of those heated vests are also very cool - keep your core and hands warm and its so much more enjoyable no matter what the weather.

Cool pics ADVGD have you ever been stuck in bad weather ?do you carry a SPOT or EPERB ?

[ADVGD]

Cool pics ADVGD have you ever been stuck in bad weather ?do you carry a SPOT or EPERB ?

Cheers mate. The snow chains allow me to get through some fairly deep snow and icy conditions however I don't lose sight of NZ's unpredictable and often fierce weather around the High Country, if I do get caught out my normal kit includes a -30 degree C sleeping bag/sleeping gear, cooking gear, extra food, a range of supplies, extensive toolkit, bike spares plus a PLB.

Those snow pics were from this trip

This trip was a West Coast ride of Chch and NADS lads, heavy rain overnight and swollen rivers made for a challenge to get out of Big River.

[irsh]

Hi guys
can anyone help me out here . i am having power issues with my 96 drz 400 . basically power drops off just about every time i really need it ..then kicks back in and tries to f**k me off the bike .normally happens when entering a river or powering over mounds on the beach etc ..it can back fire at times when the power comes back on . i had it looked at by a mechanic and he cleaned out the carb and jets etc but it's still occurring .Sorry my mechanical knowledge is limited ..does it sound like anything familiar ?

[rigley]

Hi guys
can anyone help me out here . i am having power issues with my 96 drz 400 . basically power drops off just about every time i really need it ..then kicks back in and tries to f**k me off the bike .normally happens when entering a river or powering over mounds on the beach etc ..it can back fire at times when the power comes back on . i had it looked at by a mechanic and he cleaned out the carb and jets etc but it's still occurring .Sorry my mechanical knowledge is limited ..does it sound like anything familiar ?

Are you sure your bike is 96? Anyway, if it stalls and back fires when going through river crossing try looking at the carb breather pipes, some people splice the pipes just after the carbs and put in a "T", route a new piece of pipe for each into the air box, or alternatively just route the pipes from the carb up the underside of the fuel tank. Both seem to stop the stalling/ misfire problem when doing river crossings, not sure what else might going on when you go over beach mounds?

[NordieBoy]

Short on the spark lead or leading to the coil?

[irsh]

Are you sure your bike is 96? Anyway, if it stalls and back fires when going through river crossing try looking at the carb breather pipes, some people splice the pipes just after the carbs and put in a "T", route a new piece of pipe for each into the air box, or alternatively just route the pipes from the carb up the underside of the fuel tank. Both seem to stop the stalling/ misfire problem when doing river crossings, not sure what else might going on when you go over beach mounds?

Sorry meant 06 drz.
was doing the same on hill climbs or when say trying to power out of a dip ...like i said when ever i really need the power ...at one stage though while say climbing a track and holding a steady throttle it would just come on and off constantly ..must have made funny viewing seeing me buck back and forth up a hill . to remedy it i would pull the clutch in and give it a good rev which will work temporarily .

Yeh nordie boy some one else said it could be a spark issue ...would a knew plug sort that . i'm ordering one anyway !

[Night Falcon]

Sorry meant 06 drz.
was doing the same on hill climbs or when say trying to power out of a dip ...like i said when ever i really need the power ...at one stage though while say climbing a track and holding a steady throttle it would just come on and off constantly ..must have made funny viewing seeing me buck back and forth up a hill . to remedy it i would pull the clutch in and give it a good rev which will work temporarily .

Yeh nordie boy some one else said it could be a spark issue ...would a knew plug sort that . i'm ordering one anyway !

check your plug lead has good connections at both ends (plug and coil)

[sAsLEX]

Check all the breather tubes, I had some similar issues and cleared quite a collection of spooge and gunge out of them and all is now good. Just shoved some cable ties up from the end and wiggled about with a little solvent to clear them. Also rerouted 2 of the 4 to up near the headstock.


What sort of price should I look for selling an 06 in reasonable condition in Auckland?

[topo]

It's your sidestand cutout switch, either add a heavy spring or do what everyone else does and cut it out of the loom and join the wires together for happy motoring (use a bungey cord to hold the sidestand up on a test ride too check before making any changes).

[NordieBoy]

It's your sidestand cutout switch, either add a heavy spring or do what everyone else does and cut it out of the loom and join the wires together for happy motoring (use a bungey cord to hold the sidestand up on a test ride too check before making any changes).

Who are you again?

The face is familiar but I can't pick the nose...

[topo]

Who are you again?

The face is familiar but I can't pick the nose...

hmmmmm yeah, wife/baby/new job/dead bike will do that to you occasionally - not to mention bigger things on the horizon DAKAR BABY YEAH

[rigley]

hmmmmm yeah, wife/baby/new job/dead bike will do that to you occasionally - not to mention bigger things on the horizon DAKAR BABY YEAH

Good to hear you are still out there!

[rigley]

SM = Supermotard (pretty common, sortcore, tin tank, road legal)
S = Supermotard with 21 inch front (rare in NZ, tin tank, gutless, crap suspension)
E = Enduro (plastic tank and all the good bits)

But the sub type is:

E offroad = (all the fruit)
E onroad = (all the fruit plus road legal, bigger headlight with dip, indicators, fancy speedo thing, tool bag, passenger pegs, roadyish tyres)

I wouldn't touch the SM or S. E onroad is the only way to go.

As for oil....cooking will do.

Just a quick question about my E offroad version, used on the road with an on road kit, should it have a radiator fan for road/ slow trail use? Just trying to get to the bottom of a stator problem, I'm on the second in 5 months!

I do have a second question, is there anyone who makes a good light weight pannier rack system for the E version? Was thinking of fitting Wolfman Expedition series bags to them.

Cheers