2023 Suzuki DR-Z400SM - Test Ride Review

[@maxwell9734]

Nice review. Well done, you covered mostly everything. I bought one new, last year, 2022 . You kept mentioning the 'Soft Suspension' ~ the suspension is Fully Adjustable, front and rear. For street riding you want it soft. I've pulled off the spark arrestor and it sounds much better. Plus, it seems to like that.. feels punchier. It gets 85 -100 miles on a full tank of gas. I just reset the Tripmeter each time I fill up and I always know how much I have left.. The drz doesn't really 'Need' the airbox mod and hollow exhaust.. it does just great without all that stuff.. I have three thousand miles on mine and I have changed oil twice, tightened up the chain twice... Replaced the mirrors and added handguards.. That's It! It's frikin bulletproof! Everyone complains about the seat, O don't mind it, it doesn't really bother me.. If I'm riding all day, I usually stop a few times and I'm off the bike, although if you stay on it for over an hour, it does start to give you a wedgie! Otherwise, I wouldn't change anything else about it. Straight Stock does just fine. Freeway riding on the Drz isn't that bad, but like you said, you do feel the wind. Get a good helmet. Semi-trucks are a little frightening, but I stay far away from them! Don't do much interstate highways.. just county roads and city streets.

[@reaperalpha8536]

My drz400s feels like a dirtbike, love it. Great bike. Why is this bike ban in certain places???

[@MrWolf2212]

Probably has to do with emissions standards

[@slips1111]

Bought this bike a few months ago as a total novice and it's been awesome to learn on. At 6'4 and 220lbs it was important to have a taller bike and it's been a blast. Lightweight, with enough pull or power to experience a bit of throttle but not too much that I'd get in trouble. It does feel soft (esp at 220lbs) for the street but I can adjust that. I'll probably convert it to trails in a year or two once I'm a bit more experienced.

[@mikevondebag]

Sadly they're never going to really update anything on the DRZ 400SM but the price tag and the color.

[@jumper5029]

I hope they never change it, go buy something else if you don't like it , I love everything about this bike

[@redryder1146]

Yeah, it would be nice if they could give it fuel injection at least

[@jumper5029]

@@redryder1146 main reason I bought it cause it had a carburator

[@Farley1173]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

[@94SexyStang]

if they upgrade anything else, the price will go WAY up like the Crf450.

[@T.J.Caldwell318]

I love that blue. I got the same engine in my LTZ400, I got Pro Circuit exhaust and the right jetting and it has great power all over, low end to top end and sounds great

[@88Heckenlively]

Great bike. I had an early 2000s 400s and it was a wheelie machine from stop light to stop light. It would do 90 + all day long. Only thing that killed it was a 10 day trip through the Rubicon - mostly my fault tho.

[@dustin829]

I am about to buy a new one of these. To me the super moto aspect of it kills it. If you want smooth wheels and fun get an MT09 to absolutely RIP. I plan to keep street legal dirt tires on mine so when I get bored at a light i can just cut through the grass and jump out into the next road lol

[@MyNameIsTimIThink]

I just picked up this exact bike a month or so ago at a dealer in north Carolina for $5k brand new. An absolute steal. Its so good man

[@emilddburgos2724]

What dealer is this?

[@MyNameIsTimIThink]

@emilddburgos2724 i don't remember what it's called. Its the only one in mount airy

[@emilddburgos2724]

@@MyNameIsTimIThink you got a 2023 or 2024?

[@MyNameIsTimIThink]

@emilddburgos2724 its a 2023. I think it had been there awhile that's why I got such a deal on it. Which is weird cuz up here in roanone va the dealership i normally go to got 3 of them in like 6 months and they were sold by the time I got off work. Every time

[@Cosmic-Anomoly]

"BOLD NEW GRAPHICS!"

[@adamjohnson517]

I bought a new 2023 drz400sm in the same color and I love it. Got exhaust system coming and jet kit in hand. Gonna change it out and see how it runs

[@Icantthinkofausername-q4i]

How's it run?

[@Ivaj666]

How is run ?

[@giniolamy]

Why do you wanna waste 🗑 your money 💰 on all that for?

[@texastruth9752]

@@giniolamy Because they can! Its a DRZ.....KLX 300s have little to no A/M support.

[@giniolamy]

​@@texastruth9752no cuz you have money to waste it's your money you do what you want

[@tylercraig6627]

I’m 5’7, can flat foot most 600 sport bikes, how much bigger is this and would I be comfortable on it?!

[@DB-sd3cw]

You're gonna be on one foot at stops for sure. If you're cool with resting on one leg at stops and launch off with it, you'll be fine.

[@tylercraig6627]

@@DB-sd3cw that’s what I figured I jus live in a hilly town so would prolly be a lil tougher fs

[@Bibby723]

@@tylercraig6627 you’ll 100p be fine fine bro trust hill or no hill

[@tylercraig6627]

@@Bibby723 Ight bet

[@roybatty2030]

Wish the DRZ was still available in UK, great dual sport bike, old reliable tech

[@simonh1791]

When did it stop? I want one for my first big bike (test in june) i see alot of used ones still around

[@roybatty2030]

@@simonh1791 I think they stopped selling them in UK about 2007 but there’s always plenty of used ones on the market. Hope you find a nice one and enjoy it.

[@jamaicanjjason]

What’s the top speed on this bike?

[@Partnerthedog]

95mph, I’ve hit 93 on mine personally. It’s not fun to cruise above 70mph though, 65 is comfy. I usually accelerate to the low 80s before I let off because it doesn’t have much power left

[@giniolamy]

Looks like my 2023 klx 300sm 👍🏾

[@OgYukon]

I looking at dual sports/supermotos, but I might end up doing a lot of Highway riding (1 hour commute)I have always wanted the drz but what other bikes would you suggest

[@maxwell9734]

Go test ride a few different bikes. Talk to the mechanic at the dealership. ( Not the salesman) ask him about cost on servicing the bike. Ask him if he thinks it's a good bike for you, ... don't ask the salesman anything, unless you know them 'Personally,' they'll tell you Anything! Prepare to spend the entire day, just test riding One Bike. Wait a few days and test ride a different one.. check out several different variations of what you want.. then, you'll have a good feeling about what you need. I like the Drz' . It's frikin bulletproof. Easy to service myself and so much fun to ride. Easy to load and unload, by myself.. I just bought a 22' new, last year. I love it!

[@OgYukon]

@@maxwell9734 yeah i have wanted a drz for 10 years now, so that’s what im gonna get. I’m buying used so just gotta save up the 3k

[@maxwell9734]

@@OgYukon if it's got high mileage, check the sprockets for slop.. 'chainware' is a good clue. Start it up, COLD. And, see if it wants to run. If not, .. look for one that hasn't been abused. If you buy junk, you'll soon have the price of a new one, thrown into it, and it will still be junk. Not to mention the time spent working on it, when you could of been riding.. ya' know? There's a bunch out there that's been ripped on, and never serviced properly.

[@OgYukon]

@@maxwell9734 what’s considered high Mileage? And thanks for the advice. I’ll probably stick to a s model not a super moto

[@maxwell9734]

@@OgYukon well, depends on the year... How many miles per year? If you can figure that out. Something else to consider, had it been 'Sitting' for years? That's even worse! The S model is cool, too.

[@neilarvinalcantaramasangca3068]

have gear indicator..??

[@machupikachu1085]

Nope. You won't need one on the street tho. 1st is for 10ish, 2nd is for 20ish, 30 is for 30ish, 4th is for 40ish, and 5th is for anything over 50. Simples. 🙃

[@ryanwilliams4270]

Reminds me of when I bought my new DRZ... 20 years ago lol. It still is old reliable tech for a decent price but it doesn't have any of the grin factor. My 690E has 80whp and will do 120. Had a 500exc with 70whp that would also do 120. The issue with the DRZ is you still get that crusty old biker that is like "it's just a dirt bike" and you have to deal with it. With a KTM, you shatter his ego when you destroy him; and there is still an entire realm of off-road for which the bike was designed. Never become a crusty old biker.

[@jaymartin5434]

They are very uncomfortable the seat is like a two by four. And they definitely aren't a highway bike ..and if you are going to do twisties you must put your weight forward because front end is super light . And will slide out from under you.. they are only good for the road if its an sm . Thry don't sell a tire for the sm that is good for both dirt and pavement .. i would recommend the on off version if you are living in the country where there are plenty of dirt roads .

[@machupikachu1085]

You just gotta be creative with your dirt tire choices on the SM version. For dirt, I'm running an MT21 rear - on the front. It sticks like velcro in the dirt. Corners like a Vmax on the street lol.

[@giniolamy]

His right, the seat 💺 isn't comfortable the seat on the KlX seat is more comfortable

[@AmoneyC]

Kawasaki build quality is no where close however

[@christiannunez4622]

Whats the difference... Maybe the color 😂😂

[@jamessouthworth1699]

I love the bike but the Price kills it

[@94SexyStang]

The price is the selling point of these bikes, Suzuki has ZERO competition, that's why they sell good........Once they upgrade to 6 spd and Fuel Injection, the bike instantly goes Way over $10k like the Crf450 and other competitors.

[@jamessouthworth1699]

@@94SexyStang LOL they can keep their 450 CC for 10 grand.

[@rickstrandberg6398]

Love how the riders drop the TARD part out, you could have sv650 😂😂😅 tard!

[@travelinben1966]

Hoping Suzuki will transition to fuel injection for this class next year.

[@94SexyStang]

Doubt it....Suzuki has Zero competition in this price range for supermoto, why would they ruin something that is still selling. Honestly they would be shooting themselves in the foot if they upgraded the bike, it would create a bunch of hype, bla bla, yes, but once the honeymoon phase is over, they're stuck with the reality of now fiercely competing with Every other major brand in an already Tight tug of war.....the price tag would Majorly increase like their competitors too.....and Suzuki hasn't exactly been competitive in a long time, they've pulled out their Cars from America, haven't won a MotoGP in a long time....they've kind of turned into a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" company. Nothing wrong with that, but Suzuki doesn't quite have the stage presence as Honda and KTM these days.

[@travelinben1966]

@@94SexyStang All great points.Thank you.👍

[@bigbadvicHo]

Reason why I haven’t bought one.

[@travelinben1966]

@@bigbadvicHo Me either.

[@bigbadvicHo]

@@travelinben1966 I’m watching bike videos daily and it’s not good lol. I might just get the 2024 DR-Z or MT09 tbh. Idk I just want a bike lol

[@andrewjestice6055]

😂this guy whine to much it’s a dirt bike it’s not supposed to be smooth it’s built for dirt if you want smooth buy a motorcycle

[@JacobLambeCarGuy]

One very important question is do you know JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR?