in this review we look at Logans 2008 Suzuki DRZ400SM. We discuss why Ditched the Honda Grom in favour of the super moto and how and why super moto's might just be the funnest thing on two wheels.
@@stevefrench9496 I'm buying a DRZ tomorrow and everything Logan said, I was thinking in my mind, and know this is going to be a good buy. The bike I'm getting even has an aftermarket odometer and 17kish "unknown" miles, and I'm not even bothered by it.
I was looking for a real, comprehensive review of this bike, riders perspective, a real riders perpective. Is very hard to find good videos of riders who actualy use the thing on the twisties. Thank you very much
Hey thanks! That’s why instead of me doing the reviews I try to find people who have owned the bike for a while and talk about what other bikes they’ve owned to compare. And Logan definitely using that bike for it’s intended purpose ahah
Excellent review! As someone who began riding right around the time this bike came out--which was coincidentally the same time EFI started coming to motorcycles en-masse--it's been interesting and a little amusing to see the evolution of the conventional wisdom/group-think on carbs-vs-EFI. It's easy to forget now, but the power delivery on some of the early EFI bikes was HORRIBLE. Like, bad enough to be legitimately dangerous when coupled with a high-output motor. People swore they'd *never* own an EFI bike! Now, 20 years later, the pendulum has swung so far that you hear people totally dismissing a bike *solely* for having a carb. Yeah, all things being equal I'd rather have the hassle-free nature of (modern) EFI, too. But I've had several carbureted bikes and honestly never had much trouble with them--in the climate I live in, the way I ride, etc...the only real difference is I can live with it; your mileage may vary. The only real problem with the DR-Z is that it simply lacks any direct competition that would compel Suzuki to invest in updating it. So they don't. It's still a great bike.
Very very well put! I personally have yet to own a bike with EFI, the next few bikes on my radar are all EFI and I am curious what that experience will be like vs all h the r carb’d bikes I’ve owned
awesome video. local kelowna guy myself, and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a BC plate and the okanagan lake on the periphery. found this video while in the process of ditching my sportbike for a supermoto and this is only encouragement.
Just rode by a guy on one of these today! I've thought about getting one of these, but I'd have to choose either a DRZ or DR650. I think the 650's probably the right bike for me, as I'm more of a street bike rider, not a crazy wheelie hooligan! 😁
Just got a 2019 DRZ 400, it’s been a blast ever since. Still have it stock for now. First bike ever rode, get some upgrades next season. Have fun everybody.
It's fun stock but it definitely gets more top end with just a slip on. Can't wait to get a full exhaust. Not a fan of the 2020 model limits with California emissions BS. 😕
@ Christina Page. I wasn’t aware that the 2020 models were any different. I’m from Ca. Are the 2020 models different from U.S. and Europe or are all changed for emission standards?
I have owned at least 12 different bikes since 2001. I had a drz two bikes ago. Big mistake trading it. But guess what!? I'm back on a 2020 drz 🤤🥰 I missed it so much!
@@professorvoluck9311 you know it. Can barely get it off the stand. I put a yoshi full exhaust which is a few pounds lighter. Also I cut my seat down at the point closest to the tank. I thought about lowering it but my front forks don't have much room to come down with it
Hey another BC motovlogge here. I came here during my research for DRZ (hopeful second bike) and so far this review has been my fav! Love your style of review. Subbed
@@rangeroadmoto I'm rewatching this video a year later and now I have a DRZ just like yours. Everything you said is true and love this bike so much that I think i will never sell it!
Very cool review. I'm in Kelowna. I recognized some of those roads, or I think I do :-) Nice to run into another motovlogger from the Okanagan. I've been eyeing those DRZ400SM for a while now. I had a CRF250L for 7 years. Sold it last year. I have a CB650F which is awesome on the road, but I miss being able to get on the dirt. I figure the 400SM would be a fun road bike capable of hitting the occasional dirt trail with some Shinko 705 tires perhaps. But then again Honda now has the CRF300L coming out. Decisions :-)
I have been wanting a drz400sm for quite a while now. Gets me excited every time I see a video on one. I haven't been able to find any around my location.
Excellent video guys.. nice work. Really enjoyed watching this. The DRZ is so interesting to me, as a DR650 rider, I'm really curious about the difference and similarities.
Hey thanks man! I was honestly really tempted to talk about how the bike felt from a dr650 owner but I figured most super moto people probably don’t care. That being said it felt a lot more different than I was expecting. Mostly in size, bike felt a lot smaller, more narrow, more dirt bike ish, lighter, and so much more nimble and flickable. Engine felt smooth, way more linear in power deliveRy. Less low end oomph but it actually had a reason to rev it all the way out. Suspensiont felt stiff and very very planted. Bike just went where it was pointed without wallowing or diving first. Brakes are better and have better feel. It did feel a lot more worked on the highway and not as comfortable. Where as the dr doesn’t feel like it’s even trying going down the highway. For where I live and type of riding I do I would still have the dr650. Living where Logan does and riding like he does would definitely take the drz.
@@rangeroadmoto For sure, thanks again for such a detailed break down. That's actually the best break down I've read as a DR650 rider, very interesting. I was riding mine yesterday in the mountains with really curvy roads and was thinking about you feedback here. Riding on the highway to get out to the mountains is a breeze, just cruising with no effort in 5th. But in the turns I was imagining what the 400 would be like, probably easier and quicker to throw it around. Also, after hearing you talk about the size and nimbleness difference, I looks up the "wet" weight between the two bike ands it's significant - 366lbs vs 319lbs. 47lbs make a big difference !! Anyway thanks for chatting, take care and hope to stay in touch. Cheers.
@@modshiftmotion the engine likes to rev a bit more, the brakes are a lot better, the suspension is stiffer, the weight feels drastically lighter on road but almost equally heavy off road compared to the DR650. The drzsm is better in everyway except for traveling over 65mph. I want another drzsm even though my DR650 is set up real nice. Funnest bike I've ever owned just not as useful as the big DR.
'05 DR-Z400SM owner. Always been a Husqvarna and Husaberg supermoto guy, but after my last Husky got stolen, got a DR-Z. Zero problems with it and love it as a daily ride. Mods are Keihin carb, 3x3 and a titanium Yoshi race pipe. The bike just works. I run Dunlop tires and handling is good. Anyone reading this who is on the fence about getting one of these...just get it.
Also, pegged on the rev limiter, I am flat out at 105mph/ 169kph. Just don't turn your head sideways to look at scenery if you wear An off road helmet like me.
@@rangeroadmoto true mate... was looking for a DRZ too but the price for a one in a good shape was a bit too high😅 I felt in love with husqvarna 701SM so may this is gonna be my next Supermoto for some street cruising 🤜🤛
No one sells em once they ride em. I ended up buying brand new. Worth the money. Thankful for a year end clearance and a good amount for my trade. So much fun!
I owned a dr400sm for 3 years, then sold it. I Have to say that it is a beautiful bike to look at. The bike has many positives, but the reasons I don’t own it now are the following: 1 the bike was too tall, I’m 5’10’’ and I was on my toes at a red light. 2. It was great at under 100 kmph, but even short trips on an expressway left me holding on for dear life over 120kmph…sure the bike can do it, but it is so tall that wind gusts or transport trucks caused so much turbulence. So, if you’re over 6 ft tall, and you’re looking to commute in the city or you love country roads, it’s a cool bike and this is hard to beat.
Im trying to decide between this and the ducati 950rve, starting to lean towards this just because of maintenance and insurance cause ive already got 2 bikes 😅
@eric Weber I was honestly really tempted to talk about how the bike felt from a dr650 owner but I figured most super moto people probably don’t care. That being said it felt a lot more different than I was expecting. Mostly in size, bike felt a lot smaller, more narrow, more dirt bike ish, lighter, and so much more nimble and flickable. Engine felt smooth, way more linear in power deliveRy. Less low end oomph but it actually had a reason to rev it all the way out. Suspensiont felt stiff and very very planted. Bike just went where it was pointed without wallowing or diving first. Brakes are better and have better feel. It did feel a lot more worked on the highway and not as comfortable. Where as the dr doesn’t feel like it’s even trying going down the highway. For where I live and type of riding I do I would still have the dr650. Living where Logan does and riding like he does would definitely take the drz.
@@rangeroadmoto excellent synopsis! This confirms a lot of my expectations. I rode a DRZ once in the dirt, a long time ago. Compared it back to back to my friend’s DR350, a bike I absolutely loved riding at the time. It felt lighter, MUCH stiffer and surprisingly less compliant than the 350. It also seemed like the 350’s carburetion was cleaner off idle in particular. These could both have been attributed to the fact that the 350 was really dialed in vs. the brand-new DRZ, however. At the time, I actually preferred the 350.
“You just wanna use that torque and hammer through the gears as quick as you can” has got me absolutely in tears rn coming from a cbr1000 and just copping a new drz 😂 maybe my perception of speed is off but this is hilarious! However this bike is a blast and something you can twist back the throttle safely without having to think twice which is actually nice but if you’re coming from any super sport it’s going to feel like you’re crawling while you’re fully pinned
Great video. For me the SM motorcycle type is the best one. You can have a lot of fun till 100km/h and also be scared. I run a 2016 Kawasaki KX450F 107kg 5 speed and it is a beast, makes me feel so good and scares me each time I twist the throttle. SM bikes are motorcycles that earn your fear and respect because they are rough and tough with no BS electronics, it is all on you and that is it. If you put the "average Joe" that rides a 1000-1300cc naked bike, on a 400-500cc thumper proper SM, 80% of them will be very scared, after the first ride.
Let me ask, im looking at the DRZs. I have a 2015 KX450F and want a DRZ instead, the KX450F is a beast but is the DRZ400sm anything like it power wise or a lot less? Thanks man!
@@colbyclark2479 If you are used to the KX450F the DRZ400 will be boring for you. Also the DRZ400 feels (and is) heavier than the KX450F. The initial punch for 1 second may be the same between those two but right after that the DRZ400 shows that it has short legs. This is compared to the KX450F in mode power 1 (soft). If you put in mode power 3.....the KX450F is much more aggresive than a DRZ400 in a way that really cannot be compared. You will have fun with the DRZ400 but it will never scare you.
Nice video. I am considering the new KLX300SM from Kawasaki. I had an '01 DRZ400S that I parted with in '08. The Kawasaki with 6 speed, FI, and supposedly tubeless tires appeals to me.
@@autonomousindividual7780 that's me 45 yo riding wheelies and killin it. Then go to get gas and take off the helmet and yep it's an old man in there eyes. Lol
just bought a 2018. hoping it is all good at 1000k miles. had full fmf powerbomb, 2 tooth up in rear and relatively clean. just changed oil, realized it has the 3x3mod after removing seat. Assuming possible carb work. had to loosen exhaust cause header was touching frame but I am so frickin paranoid something is wrong with this thing. Only thing left to do is figure out if "idle" is too low as it stalls at times and/or takes forever to need a no choke. Admittedly, this is the first time dealing with a carb outside chain saws and trimmers. I have less than 2 miles on it around my neighborhood till I get the title and register it. Pray for me yall.
Got my 2009 DRZ SM 5 years ago after graduating from my first bike, a Honda CRF 230L. There will always be a DRZ in my garage. Also, I'm 5'6" and I hated the stock seat. Too tall and not comfortable. When I ride, i RIDE, 1-2 hours at a time, non-stop... I ditched the stock seat for a low-profile Seat Concepts seat and never looked back. Much more comfortable and I can put both feet down (not flat-foot though). I bought dog bones for the bike (lowering links) but ended up selling them after replacing the seat. Could've installed them and lowered the bike even more, but I didn't want to lose the ground clearance. Just a tip for the shorter riders like me. Ride safe, and I hope to see some people from the Barrie, Ontario, Canada area on their dual sports/super motos!
bro, my drz recently(last week) started having this knocking sound in the front suspension every time i go over road and car park humps. it serioulsy sound like a hammer banged against a wall. suspension oil? or is my suspension broken?
Is there oil leaking out of the fork? Either out of the bottom or out of the top onto the fork tube? If you work on your bike yourself I would take it apart and inspect it or take it to a shop. Gotta make sure it’s safe to ride!
I’d say it can definitely do it, but probably wouldn’t say it’s the best choice for long journeys specifically. Some people use them as long distance adventure bikes by changing the sprockets to a taller gearing, more comfortable seats and stuff like that will definitely help! The smaller displacement and lower power will require higher rpm on the highway than some other more traditional long distance highway bikes. Really depends on how fast you wanna go on the highway and how comfortable you want to be.
@@rangeroadmoto Thank you for such a great reply! I have one more question, this bike looks (from yt videos I've seen) to have a lot of low end torque, do you get used to it quickly or is it something that gives you adrenaline every time you ride it?
It's a fun bike. I probably won't sell it. But... It's not a great distance bike if you have straight, high-speed roads. Then it just gets annoying. High RPMs, gets pushed around in wind gusts, not a huge fuel range. But it's fun if it's twisty
Great bike i have the s with sumo and s wheels i love in France and have already been into germany Belgium switzerland ans Luxemburg twice with it and i take it to the beach once a year , you can pull third gear wheelies on it (my preferd gear to wheelie in) i have got handle bar raisers wich makes a big différence riding standing up ,bullitproof bike never lets me down
