Thinking about a DRZ400SM

**Silage** · 14th December 2009, 12:31

I have had the SM for over a year. Bought it for commuting mainly and a bit of gravel road riding. It is a great commuter. Light, plenty of grunt and way manoeverable - heaps of fun to ride. It might not be great for track racing but it gets to 100kph quick enough and still pulls strong up to 130 (and I have geared mine up a little). Original tyres are good but chewed out quickly. Now on Anakee to handle gravel better but are great on seal also.

The bad bits are - killer seat and small tank (10L). Partly solved by remodelling the seat.

**Morcs** · 14th December 2009, 13:36

A modded DRZ is fun. Its still light and nippy. Wheelies and stoppies become normal behaviour.
Mine topped out at over 160, but anything over 110 and the wind buffeting and front end lightness made motorway work a strain - maybe replacing the front mudguard with a stubby one would help this.

The seat murders your butt after 1 hour.

Other than that, seriously regretting trading mine.

**meteor** · 14th December 2009, 21:02

Thanks all... a black 09 is on order.. gel seat, LED rear lights & jet kit coming with it. Will do the 3X3 on day 1. Just deciding on a pipe... may go ebay USA direct. Any hoo, role on January!!!

**stig** · 14th December 2009, 22:31

Originally Posted by meteor

I'm only commuting so can't see me doin 150...certainly would make the 10k trip fast tho' lol. I've got 'proper' dirt bikes so won't be off roading it. But I do like the XT660X too. Don't think I'll find a KTM is in my 7-8 price bracket unfortunately.

I got my '06 ktm 640sm for 7.5k, they do come up.

here's another one
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-259124858.htm

the goodies on a ktm are worth the trouble to try and find one imho.

**Tony W** · 21st December 2009, 17:43

Originally Posted by meteor

Ok, let me have it, warts and all. Anyone out there had one, love it or hate it? Whats good and whats not, are they underpowered? and does the exhaust and jetting mod really do that much?... What would be better option in the 400 - 600 range? There's reviews all over the net but I'm always a bit dubious about them... who's paying the reviewer? I'm keener to get an 'unencumbered' opinion if you know what I mean. Lastly some specifics... I'm about 6ft and 90 kg's and wan't mainly to commute on arterials about 10 k's to work... on fine days!

I bought mine new in 2005 ($11k) and still own it. It's a sweet bike and so far I have done over 43,000 km. I modded the standard exhaust and airbox to give what "felt" like a 25% power increase.
A Fun bike.

**thealmightytaco** · 16th January 2010, 19:46

After much reading, including this thread (thanks for havin' it lads, forgot how awesome kiwibiker was), I put the deposit down on my black SK9 DRZ400SM this morning, after the third test ride (two last night, and the DR650E in between those rides, which was a bit thumpy and sluggish I thought, even with aftermarket pipe). Anyway, I'm gagging to pick it up on Monday, screw sportsbikes in the eye with a fishslice! On my home from work there's a corner with speedbumps immediately on exit and entry, I could take it as though they weren't even there, almost, had to wriggle with the bike as it went over but no "better not lean here" pottering like on the fixxer or my old gixxer, it just feels so stable, and solid, and awesome. And this suzukifest idea is brilliant, I'll have an $11k bike for $8k anyday! Includes ORC this year too.

And sure some of the more expensive machines might have more power, but the servicing and lack of reliability/lifetime involved to maintain that power rules them out as commuters for me, which is primarily what I need. Also, the 690sm sounds pretty sweet, but it has a rather "interesting" aesthetic to my eye (is the nicest way i can think to put it), otherwise I might be into that. So the DRZ gets a big fat vote from me, bring on Monday. WOO!

**EatOrBeEaten** · 17th January 2010, 09:23

I test rode one yesterdayup at Holeshot, considering it as my first "big" bike after getting my full. I only got a very quick spin on it and it felt so different to anything I've ever ridden before I don't think I really appreciated it! It felt like it'd be a lot of fun once I got the hang of it though.

I'd be using it to commute about 50km a day total, plus heaps of weekend weekend riding and the odd track day. It's the bike I've been thinking about most of all the bikes I've test ridden so far, but I'm not 100% sure if it's right for me...

**thealmightytaco** · 18th January 2010, 21:58

Until meteor gets in, I'll post my new DRZ experience. Picked it up after work today, with all of 1.6k's on it, my front guard had a nick on it, but before we even got to the bike Josh at Avon City told me about it and that a replacement one was on the way, to be fitted at my earliest convenience. Awesome. Isn't a terribly nasty nick but enough to make you go "hmmmm", and as Josh said it could've kind of taken the shine off the new bike vibe a bit early, but with the sweet service I'm feelin' well good about if frankly.

Anyway, took it for a 60k blat around town, running it up and down the revs for std break in procedures, engine braking through the gears etc, and damn it feels good. Josh reckoned the 2009 ones felt more powerful than the 2007 one he last rode,he couldn't tell why, whether the air box is opened up and/or carb rejetting is done std or what, but I know from breaking it in that the exhaust sounds a little bit hotter than any other stock muffler I've heard, some big fat crackles if you get the engine braking just so, I thought the number plate fell off the first time I heard it. And it felt well powerful enough to me, enough to get in into bother if I took it there, staying under half throttle till after break in though.

Other than that, I don't think I really have the experience to declare these bikes as awesome, but I'm lovin' the crap out of it, and I suspect the new models have some extra bang for their buck, so I would recommend at least a test ride of a newer model for anyone who rode one a few years ago to reach their decision on them, and for anyone contemplating a motard. MAGIC!!

**carver** · 20th January 2010, 19:33

I think they are bit bit shit, slow and they do about 125km to reserve!

**thealmightytaco** · 20th January 2010, 22:15

Gotta disagree with ya there carver, obviously I think they're awesome, is well fast enough for me (getting the nose up wouldn't be a problem if I was keen enough), and breaking it in I only got to 90kms before I hit reserve.

90kms, and 7.5L.

That's doin' crazy breakin' in accel/decel everywhere so chewin' some gas, but 7.5L is ridiculous all the same. Safari tank might happen earlier than planned.

**carver** · 21st January 2010, 20:21

haha, i had one for a while.
get a headshake at 160?

**thealmightytaco** · 21st January 2010, 21:09

Dunno, only got to 120 on the demo bike and havent tried on my one, still doin' the half throttle break in.

Better news on the gas front though, after another 90kms it was only 6L, doin the accel/decel's a bit less and getting a bit more idling in, so the gas should get better. And I started to feel the seat tonight, so a 125km limit might be for the best for now.

**meteor** · 22nd January 2010, 22:56

Originally Posted by thealmightytaco

Until meteor gets in...

I'm back.. Well picked it up yesterday, spent the afternoon replacing that tail thing with a DRC Edge kit and LCD light, took the seat strap off, next up LCD indicators with an electronic relay. I've got a dynojet kit ready for the 1000 K service just need to source a yoshi or a two brothers exhaust for it... Can anyone help there???

Anyway, with the f%$^#n rain here in AK I only managed to get out today for about 50K. Luv'd it! Nimble enough, good ride position, enough grunt to keep me happy in the traffic so far. Just running in tho'! As a commuter it'll do me fine. Seems good and stable on the cornering. I'm well happy so far!

Oh I know there's the doubters but each to their own... dredging the net shows a few that don't rate them but shitloads that absolutely luv 'em. The downside... even after only 50Ks... the seat! but easily rectified with either a gel seat or... more pies!

Cheers