DR650 Vs DR400Z

[rok-the-boat]

The watercooled 400 is $2k more than the aircooled 650. Is it a better bike? If so, better for what? Is it faster? More powerful? Lighter? What?

[sels1]

The watercooled 400 is $2k more than the aircooled 650. Is it a better bike? If so, better for what? Is it faster? More powerful? Lighter? What?

Horses for courses. The 650 is better on the road and as a longer range adventure tourer. The 400 is a lighter, more nimble, higher tech off roader that you can make street legal. Depends on what you want. Test ride both and see what fits you best

[dino3310]

had a ride on one not long ago, pretty hot bike but i prefer the 650.
to me the 400 felt tall and skinny, more flick able, very fast low to mid range,
not my cup of tea for trips but for hot dogging and comuting its perfect plus you can have some fun on the MX tracks too.
hook up with some one on a KB ride have a swap around for a couple of hours, for me they are both awesome bikes but the 650 suits me and the way i ride.
you can modify both for more hp to.

[buggsubique]

I went through this when I was deciding too mate. Wanted a 650 for the road use but knew it would be a tank for the way I wanted to ride off road ( ie proper offroad trail riding). Only road ready E's can be made road legal. something to do with the vin. A giveaway is often the tool kit on the rear fender of SL versions.

For the mods I was going to have to do to a 650 (fork valves, exhaust...can recall what else) I was better off buying the 400. Not as tourable probably as the 650, but it does everything pretty well.

I use my 400 for everything. It blitzes down the motorway, climbs steep hills, rarks through bogs, crosses rivers, blah blah blah. The only thing Iwould like to do to it is make up a luggage system...but that's the side of riding I'm not so into.

[GaZBur]

Yep - what he said. The DR650 is NOT a dirt bike as such. I can go on the dirt but I would hate to navigate mine through logs as much as I would hate to tour long distance on the 400.

[bart]

As above. Had a straight drag against my mate on a DR650, then swapped bikes and tried again. He just beat me both times. We came to the conclusion that both bikes were exactly the same power to weight (I'm a weeeee bit heavier then him ). DRZ400 was standard but DR650 had a modified exhaust.

400 is a much better bike off road. I've been trail riding mine lately, and keeping up with most other dirt bikes (except for the real crazies). 650 is much more comfy on road.

[nallac]

as above as well.

ones a compromise in the dirt the other on the road.

[CRM]

Just out of interest (in this time of $2/litre gas) how does the fuel economy compare between the 400 and the 650?

[clint640]

At a guess I'd say that at the same pace the 400 would be a bit better, being lighter with a liquid cooled & newer design motor. My KTM 640 uses a little bit less gas than my mates DR650 at the same speed.

Clint

[limbimtimwim]

At a guess I'd say that at the same pace the 400 would be a bit better, being lighter with a liquid cooled & newer design motor. My KTM 640 uses a little bit less gas than my mates DR650 at the same speed.

Depends on the speed! Go over 110km/h on my dr-z400sm and you hit reserve at about 125km. Go about 80km/h and I think at least 200km is realistic.

[clint640]

Depends on the speed! Go over 110km/h on my dr-z400sm and you hit reserve at about 125km. Go about 80km/h and I think at least 200km is realistic.

So what does that work out to in l/100km? My mates DR650 gets around 5.2 l/100km IIRC, the 640 about 5 l/100km. Speed, load, wind etc can swing this .5 l either way of course.

I would guess that the economy on the DRZ400 would depend on the exact model too, as some have a CV carb & some have a flatslide IIRC.

Clint

[Crisis management]

Just out of interest (in this time of $2/litre gas) how does the fuel economy compare between the 400 and the 650?

DR 650:
20 km per litre if the bike is stock, 15 / 16 km per litre if has the usual mods (carb, exhaust etc)

DR400:
Absolutely no idea.

[buggsubique]

Hmmm..around 180 with road gearing and not having too much fun, but soon as you head off the seal or start ripping knobs around town then 150...

about 9-10L takn I think?? hell I don't even know what mine is. Really variable depending on fun factor. I also run 98 so I don't think about the $ of it. It's just my fun machine to inject a bit of life back into the week.

[Alpha Solo]

I love me road registered E 400.

I fitted an adventure tank and Mr C made me a rear rack so I can go anywhere and take tent etc.

Great bike, does 130 on the straight (no idea what the gearing is) solid workhorse and reliable. I've riding it down to Cromwell / Skippers / most gravel in chch

In fact I miss riding it so much (leg injury at the moment) that I went and started it up just to hear it's bark last night...

[buggsubique]

I love me road registered E 400.

I fitted an adventure tank and Mr C made me a rear rack so I can go anywhere and take tent etc.

Great bike, does 130 on the straight (no idea what the gearing is) solid workhorse and reliable. I've riding it down to Cromwell / Skippers / most gravel in chch

In fact I miss riding it so much (leg injury at the moment) that I went and started it up just to hear it's bark last night...

Got any photos of yer rack setup? That's one thing mine lacks (have a shitty ventura one which is tits). I just love mine after putting a full yosh on it - really lets the FCR work. Wish I had a bigger tank too. Molesworth carrying a 5L jerry is a bit of a pain...

Know what you mean about missing the riding. I broke my ribs over summer and then arsed off the Z in a rocky river bed - just about fell out of my skin with the pain so made the point to strip the swingarm pivot to keep me off the thing...