As a European rider, it's great to see the DR-Z resurrected. The original DR-Z400 was discontinued in Europe in about 2008 because it couldn't meet Euro 3 emission regulations. You Americans should count yourself lucky that they've still been available in the US for the past 15 years. 7:30 "...why are we going down...?" (Torque.) The fact that the new model will be avaliable in Europe and meets the highly stringent Euro 5+ rules is your answer (and also the reason for the EFI). You can't maintain the same bore (90 x 62.6mm) and expect to go from pre-Euro 3 to Euro 5+ without sacrificing a little power. The fact that the old and new figures are so close is frankly quite surprising. 5:33 Yes, in an ideal world Suzuki would have bored out the DR to 500cc (or more) to compensate for the power loss, but this is Suzuki we're talking about. Why design a completly new motor when the old one can be tweaked for a few more years? Suzuki obviously decided that there was a market for the DR in all Euro 5 countries but it wouldn't make economic sense for them to have two separate production lines for one model. So, unfortunately for the US, that's what you get. Fortunately for Europe, we get something that's been missing for 15 years! PS you Americans also had the Kawasaki KLR650 for 15 mire years than us, so count your blessings!
Why don't you just mail yourself one? That's what we did when we wanted GT-Rs that were only sold in Japan. Guess you just didn't want one badly enough.
Much of that lower power and more weight comes from meeting Euro5 emissions standards, I suspect. As the the lack of 6th, as long as they fixed the spread 5 is fine. It has the torque to pull a wider ratio.
I don't think i will ever understand the need for rider modes. When I learned to ride motorcycles in the 1960's , you controlled the motorcycle with the throttle, clutch and brakes. Have people these days forgotten how to do that or have they just fallen for the sales pitch that you have to have this technology even if it means paying more for a motorcycle that does no more than a properly controlled motorcycle ? The human brain was capable of controlling vehicles without driver/rider aids years ago so, are the manufacturers trying to dumb us down to make us part with more money than necessary ?
On slow bikes it‘s completely unnecessary, I agree, but on bikes with 130+ hp it makes the bike more versatile. Sometimes I just want to be able to cut some of the insane power with a more relaxed throttle map
@@lateknights1 In most countries do you really need in excess of 100 bhp ? My 650cc puts out around 85 bhp which is more than enough for legal speeds etc in the UK. Pulling away from a standing start gets me to 60mph in around 4 seconds, not that I make a habit of doing that. I have done touring trips on my bike 2 up with camping gear and never felt that I needed more power or rider aids. As I said before, it is the manufacturers trying to find ways to make us part with our hard earned cash. Hence the fact that my bike is a 2012 model and I feel no need to upgrade as current bike serves all of my needs.
@@lateknights1People been changing throttle tubes on bikes for decades because they way a snapper throttle. Now you don’t need to do that. Even on my GSX-8S I go back and forth because sometimes I want the snapper throttle and sometimes I want a more relaxed throttle. I don’t see the issue with having the option. If they gonna make it throttle by wire they might as well slap some modes on it.
@@Jim-nm1en People average 80-90mph on the highway where I live. I absolutely appreciate having 140hp for those that accelerate when I'm passing them at 90mph.
I think they nailed it. It's still pretty simple and if the price stays close to the same, it will still be the best dual sport for the money. I don't see the need for a 6 speed on a dual sport. I don't want to ride the interstate on any dual sport. If I'm going to ride on the interstate, I'm getting a Vstrom 800 DE. That said, I'm going to keep my 2014 DRZ 400 and save up for the Vstrom.
Certain states have higher speed limits even on 2 lane country roads, and a lot of times you have to take those in order to get to trails. The 6th gear helps.
@@Motoboo_Marine USA is but one country of around 200 in this world. Suzuki isn't making decisions on what's best for their bikes on what a handful of American consumers in a select few states want. That's such a niche market it's not worth their consideration.
Missed the light adventure market with the 5-speed. I regularly ride a 690 200 plus miles on the road at an 80mph cruising speed and can hang with the 300s in the trail.
@@captainwin6333 then why do Honda's dual sports have six gears? KTMs have six gears. Kawi's 230 and 300 have six gears. Pretty much every newly developed dual sport has six gears minus the KLR650 and I'm pretty sure that was only to keep costs down, but that motor is big enough to not necessitate it as much.
Heavier, basically same hp, still a 5 speed, harder/more expensive to tune, and will definitely cost more. But hey it’s efi… you know, I won’t have to pull a choke knob on cold days and hurt my fingers 😅
Who's video's got a spicier like/dislike ratio? I bet it's mine. At least you're like the DRZ guy and obviously know stuff. I only had supermotos for the last few years and don't know nothing.
And you are totally missing the fact that Suzuki has made a way better tuned frame and way better suspension. Too hung up on the fact it has 5 gears. You realize that other markets need abs and some need tc. like here in NZ And Suzuki was awesome how they let you turn that all off, mostly. You call out the weight but fail to see it's mostly gained in the exhaust which 80% of people will change anyway. Thank euro for that not Suzuki. Saying a EFI bike is harder to tune is a boomer thing to say, yes I agree more expensive. The throttle body is larger diameter than even to good pumper carb that came out on the previous DRZ. Depending on the other components like the injector it may pump out some good hp and torque. Plus the 5 speed box! So hung up on the no 6 gears. If you can't utilise a 5 speed in a 400 single then you just suck at riding. If you want to ride everywhere at 75mph on the highway then just get a g a y boomer Harley. Suzuki has changed the ratios anyway, I will he happy with the more robust 5 gears. All the negativity about the bike without actually riding one is stupid. Glass half empty, armchair garbage actually.
Ha..... Welcome to middle age boys "back in my day them drzs were carberatoramated!" My gut tells me that a lot of the weaknesses of the new model will be moddable.... Shit can the abs modules, shit can the undoubtedly heavy stock exhaust, get a tuner to run better, and change the sprockets to your liking. I agree that the lack of a 6th gear was a bit of a shock, but as some one said above, if you are looking to munch highway miles, a DRZ may be the wrong bike. Also: even if the new model is "expensive" I feel pretty confident it will end up considerably cheaper (and probably more reliable) than a KTM 690.
We are at a unique time where you can decide whether you want to buy a brand new outgoing drz400s for $7200 and spend $2000 installing an ACT wide ratio gearset, save 13lbs in weight without all the electronics, or spend $9200 (rumored ballpark MSRP) on a new drz4s which likely have the new wide ratio gear. Its a tough call, but it really comes down to whether the 13lbs is worth the fuel economy gain (47mpg vs 67mpg) and new suspension. None of us really care about traction control or any of that crap.
@@9.5to1 not clear that the 13lbs gained is mostly in the exhaust. ABS pressure regulator modules are heavy, weighing 4-5lbs. Gut feeling says the weight breakdown is likely +5lbs exhaust +4lbs ABS +1lbs ecu with heatsinks +0.5 lbs throttle body servo +2lbs engine changes +2lbs frame changes +1lbs clutch assist technology - 2lbs 0.3 gal less fuel ~ +13lbs, of course give or take a pound for each item... I'm thinking exhaust mod removing the cat might only save 5lbs and the other things probably cant be removed that easily for the bike to still operate. But agreed on your point, its only about 10lbs more and its annoying it didnt go in the other direction but not a deal breaker - the other changes are welcome and its still the lightest highway capable dual sport out there by far.
You're right, but as someone in Europe it's still exciting to see a Japanese dualsport and supermoto, because the only other one we get is the CRF300L and rally.
I just bought a DR650. I love the 5 speed. What good is another gear? You get to shift more? I sold a Z1000 not long before I bought the DR650. The Z1000 gearbox sucked. The ratios were too close together. High gear was too low. Glad I bought the DR650, no water pump, no fuel pump, easy valve clearance checks, and easy quick valve clearance adjustment if needed.
Tired of negativity and how everything sucks before you even get to see it. DRZ isn't meant for 60+ mph 6th gear speeds. It will use the 5 speeds for torque.
What Suzuki designed it for & what owners will use it for are 2 different things. Here in Australia the DR-Z is a very popular platform & most owners use it as their do everything bike & it can be a long ride from the city to get to some dirt roads or tracks. It's also very popular for doing The Big Lap (15,000 ish Km or 9320 miles) around Australia. A 5 speed in those situations gets real old real fast.
@@ADingoTookMyDasco How is it the designers fault if ppl use the product for things it was not supposed to do? That reasoning is so flawed... Old DR-Zs are old DR-Zs and new ones are new ones. Just get another bike if the new one doesn't fit your needs. There will be enough ppl who will like the new one and use it as intended.
Or maybe when suzuki redesigned the motor they could have just put another cog in the motor and put an end to one of the biggest complaints about the bike.
@@piribusignitus1520 Suzuki has had 24 years of hundreds of thousands of owners complaining that the DR-Z needed a 6th gear. And when they had the opportunity to redesign the motor & gearbox, Suzuki chose to ignore adding the extra gear. So, yes it is entirely Suzuki's fault for not listening to their customers for the last 24 years.
I think my 2006 DRzs just got more valuable. My mods are better than the new changes. Wider foot pegs, bar risers, JD 3 inch carburetor mod, fender delete, gel seat and 80 dirt 20 street tires. Why didn't they just lighten it up and add a sixth gear?
When all the patent drawings were discovered back in September, which generated a lot of chatter about a new DRZ, I contacted my local dealer and said I want on a waiting list. They said it’s not likely Suzuki will change the DRZ, so do you want to buy a DR-Z 400S when the 2025 comes out?” I said, “No, I don’t want another of what I already have, I want a new model, if it happens”. They were still skeptical when I went into the showroom about two weeks later. I emailed them at 5:30am Tuesday morning when I saw the all new DR-Z4S. They called me when they opened I put a deposit on a gray one.
What people don't understand about why the new DRZ4S is so disappointing is because Suzuki did not meaningfully improve the CAPABILITY of the bike at its core. As I prior DRZ owner, I loved that bike. It was simple, reliable, inexpensive, and super fun. However, it was always compromised and like many others I eventually found better. The close ratio 5 speed was the biggest drawback and the main reason many (including me) move on. You could put sprockets that made it good on the road, or ones that made it good offroad, but not really both. It can be the difference between your hands going numb on the highway or not having enough low-speed traction to go up a tricky hill offroad. It really matters. It is so well known in the DRZ community that people joke about getting the '6th gear upgrade' when they go buy a different bike. The EFI will hopefully be nice and was long overdue. I also think with tuning the new bike should be more powerful than the old (36mm carb to 42mm TB), but Suzuki really missed a HUGE number of prior or current DRZ owners who never wanted modes or TC, and certainly not more weight. It seems like they were not listening to us at all. Here's to hoping Suzuki at least put wider ratios on the DRZ4S transmission, but based on what I've seen I'm doubtful...
Thank you for expounding on that point so eloquently and effectively. I for one decided to keep my older DR350 with the wide range 6-speed transmission.
Agree. I owned two DRZs before going orange (KTM 530 EXC). My focus is dual-sport and the DRZ needed more displacement for a bit more grunt, EFI, 6-speeds, 3+ gallon tank, and a general freshening.
I might be alone on this... I own a 08 DRZ S that ive put 15,000 miles over about 7 years of riding now and i am absolutely stoked for this new model. maybe Im wrong tho.
I'm not trying to yuck your yum. If you're pumped for it, that's awesome, and I'd say go for it. It's just not what I was hoping to see from an upgraded DRZ
I cant wait to get one. The only reason i dont have a DRZ400 is because i didnt want to deal with a carb. living at sea level and traveling to ride at 13000 ft i didnt want to deal with jets and tuning just to ride. i would have been happy if they ONLY added efi so everything else is icing on the cake for me. City commuting and trails is all i will use it for. It will almost never see a freeway.
A 450 with a 6 speed would have been nice. I've had a 2002 DRZ since 2006. It has served me well. It's survived a swim in the river when it ate some water. (video of that nightmare is on my channel) The DRZ still has a sort of cult following. I prefer mine for an all day fire road ride far more than my KTM 450 EXC-F. The KTM vibrates and gets annoying after a few hours. I can ride 10-12 hours on my DRZ and never get annoyed with it.
It's really gonna depend on the pricing, but I think both the SM and the dual sport are gonna sell well, mainly because it's the only choice if you want a Japanese bike. I guess there's also the CRF300L for dual sports, but for street legal sumos, KTM and Duc are currently the only options. But yes, ride modes are stupid.
Suzuki drastically raised MSRP for their "new" Katana and Hayabusa when they came out, raising the prices a few $1000 over the older bargain priced Hayabusa and Gsx-s 1000 (Katana is basically a Decepticon Gsx-s.) Curious to see how they price this refreshed DR-z
The biggest hot-take I'm hearing is talking about the power specs. This bike almost held the same stock specs, with 2024 emissions standards. Similar to the CRF450RL, we're gonna see mods to flash the ECU, throw a pipe on and easily see a 10-20% bump in power.
Own a DRZ400SM, at highway speeds is not the point. The hardest thing to do on my DRZ400SM is ride on grave at slow speeds. Backroads to the grave is fun and skill building. Throttle is crazy touchy. This makes the part of my rides in the grave, clinching. These are the most beautiful parts of my rides. They made this new bike for me. Less clinching, more soaking in the views. No one will say it is less fun to ride...No one.
I think in order to meet euro 5 emissions they had to restrict the new model on the exhaust side and fueling side to keep it legal. I think that means there are huge gains to be made with an ecu tune/intake/full exhaust to make it into a beast. I feel like it has a bit better tuning potential in this new setup. Just my thoughts on the matter but I could be wrong!
@@spitescorner The changes allow Suzuki to sell the new Drz in all markets. Currently you can't buy a brand new carbureted Drz400s or SM in the EU or Australia.
I think your conversions are, understandably, a little wonky. Australian RRP's are out the door, including all taxes & registration. Take them away & the $10,490 RRP for the current DR-Z400E becomes around $8,590 dollarydoos ($5,673 USD). The DR-Z4S & DR-Z4SM aren't due here until July-Sept 2025, so we won't have pricing for a while, but with the KLR650 currently starting at $11,263 ride away I'd expect Suzuki to price the DR-Z4S at around $11,500 RRP or around $9,400 dollarydoos before taxes ($6,208 USD). And you can probably blame us Aussies for the specs. Our emissions standards are aligned with the EU, with Euro 6d coming into effect on the 15th December, and ABS has been mandatory on all motorcycles for a couple of years. With over 50% of our annual motorcycle sales being of the off road persuasion it's a big market for Suzuki to ignore.
Owner of a 23 KLX300sm which I absolutely love and modded the hell out of to try and squeeze a couple more ponies out of but honestly the lack of fuel injection is the only real reason I didn’t go with the DRZ back in 22
I've gone back and forth on carbs. Now that my VMax is jetted right, they're really not that much of headache versus EFI. I just need to crank it twice.
I’m really excited for the new DRZ as it’s not been available in the UK for my whole riding career. And there’s no other out of the box SMs in this class. Really depends on the pricing, but a cheap, japanese SM with the reliability and quality would be really tempting.
I actually like the styling, rider modes and traction control over a weight loss program and a 6th gear are incredibly stupid though. I dont even feel like it needed much in the way of power just a slight bore increase and fuel injection to get to mid 40's hp would have been plenty.
They did one thing people asked for and made everything else worse. Ive always been lead to believe efi can normally be tuned to make a more power when all else is the same but they lost power and torque. What the hell?
Looks nice but I don't like the headlight. It should be round or square to pay tribute to the old Yamaha off-road bikes and give it a bit of a modern retro look.
I kept my DRZ from 2006 to 2020. I've owned many bikes along side it like KTMs and CRFs etc.. the only true complaint I had with the bike was the 5-speed. It was the chief complaint since the Thumper Talk Forums of 2001... I did the 470 stroke and bore, head, 41mm fcr, did the ACT wide-ratio gearset... all the things. When i bought a '21 690E, the DRZ was sold. The DRZ was my first road bike as a teenager so i held it close. It was a heartbreak to not see the 6th gear. Well looks like im gonna pick up a '25 390 Adventure R and a set of SM wheels. Thanks KTM.
As a DRZ owner i have mixed feelings. That diagram of the engine tells me that may have changes the spread of the gesrs. I think that would make a really decent difference. however the fact that its heavier kinda kills that. I certainly wont be selling my 2011 for the new one.
I agree with all these points but at the end of the day we’re getting a new DRZ so that’s cool. I like the fact it has fuel injection, switchable ABS and a slipper clutch which makes it even more beginner friendly but all the other tech is pretty useless Should be a great bike with a full exhaust and a tune and I’d probably try and swap out that headlight for something more retro or typical dirt bike looking 👀
Cool for the European market that lost the Drz in 2008 due to emissions but I’m not a fan. I’ll keep my 23 SM. As for maintenance on the Drz, Suzuki recommends 3500 miles oil change but anyone who rides their bike hard changes it 2 or 3x more often than that.
Suzuki reasoned that people might pay $1000 extra for the updates and FI, but wouldn’t pay the $2k+ it would take for the 6 speed transmission. That makes sense to me, I do hope they were able to revise the ratios a bit.
I can’t even believe this is what they came up with either. They should have punched it up to 450/500cc and added a 6th gear. I see zero need for traction control on a DRZ400. No need for ABS either.
I think it'll succeed just by virtue of it being the only "middleweight" SuMo. The KLX is slow and cheap, the Ducati and KTM are fast and expensive, the DRZ splits the difference. It'll sell, just probably not to DRZ riders.
It will be good fun with a flash and a pipe n filter . Love the looks. Also its a Suzuki and it will see heavy discounts . Owned the orignal SM factory new when it came out. Im excited
Kawasaki just added EFI and ABS though. Everything else was basically the same. The DRZ has EFI, ABS, TC, Rider modes, and more. I can't see them keeping the price the same.
@@spitescorner Yeah, unlikely but who knows. EFI and switchable ABS are nice changes but having the TC and rider modes on a 35hp bike is a bit of an overkill. They will probably love it in Europe though as it is everything compliant now
If I am shopping for new RDZ motorcycle I would definitely wait to see the new one before going for DRZ400. I understand the disappointment of 7 more kilos (not sure what is this in pounds), and the 5 gear transmission, but honestly if everything else is good this will not be a deal breaker for me. First this 5 gears could be geared differently so you have longer 5th which usually you don't use on the trail which could resolve the highway issue without needing 6th gear. And as far as I see some of the gears are in yellow on the picture ;) So there is still hope to be better. Next is the weight. If you change the exhaust this could rip off some kilos and then I would say if it cares it's weight lower it could be still as good as the old in terms of weight. Yes someone will tell it was already heavy and we wanted it lighter. Lets wait the price first :) If it is 2K lower than CRF450RF this already would mean for me that this is the better bike. If we stop thinking about this for a second we can see that it has lower better mileage. It has 2 sparkplugs which means even more reliable. It has clutch assist. All these things didn't make you happy ? :) Not to mention that we in Quebec have those weird no sense bikes categories for 400cc and under, more than 400cc and then super sport. The annual prise for motorcycle varies accordingly. it is roughly 200 CAD less for 400cc and less category compared with over 400cc. It is not a lot but if you have more bikes starts to be important :). So I am happy for example that they kept 400cc. Perhaps would be great if next few years they expand the category with DR-Z5 or so. Who knows. All am saying is that it is too early to get disappointed. Need to test ride and feel.
I think once you uncork the new model with your basic intake, exhaust, and tune, it will be more inline with what people were expecting. That being said, it sucks we can't just buy that. Even if it meant going up to a 450 or 500 on the same frame.
I saw some of this on the horizon a few years back, changes to emmisions and safety laws... I picked up one of the last DR650's and DRZ400SM of the old line fresh off the last shipment of them to NZ back in 2020ish. I was wanting them for their low tech... so if they had been this new version, whilst stuff like ABS wouldn't have straight up prevented my purchases, I may have looked elsewhere.
I dont care about the DRZ but that intro is hillarious 😂😂 But i do like the Suzuki gsx8r great handling bike. Best affordable sporttouring bike out there. The only negative is the ugly front. The comfort, handling is so great
Sounds ass.....where is my 4in line with a lower engine map like Honda did on the modern cbr650r?? A bored out 750 and tuned down for much more lower torque and done! V config engines sounds like the Gator I drive at work ...I just can't .😅
I'm not disappointed that I bought a new 400s summer of 23. The one big thing on my wish list is for sure the fuel injection, followed by a 6th gear. But with less clearance, less suspension travel and more weight, I'm happy to stick with the old school model a while longer. On top of that, I like to keep things simple. I don't want all that tech and emissions crap on my 90% of the time off road bike that I'm beating the hell out of. Edit: I had bad info, ground clearance looks to have stayed the same spec.
I wish suzuki would do an experiment. Sell both and let us decide which we would rather have. Either lowtech or new school. The answer is still dr650 for a sumo build or dual sport for me.
I'm not sure where you go that people are exited for it, but every DRZ group I'm in is pretty let down. An extra gear at the same weight would have been awesome, but nope, we basically get a heavier bike for probably more money.
I don't know. I bought a CRF450L a couple years ago. If the DRZ-4S was out then, I'd probably have gone with the Suzuki. I didn't want the DRZ-400 because I wanted fuel injection. I got a CRF450L instead. I can live with the extra oil changes and all that, and it's worth it for the performance over the KLX300 and XT250 it replaced. Now that I have the CRF450L, I wouldn't replace it with the new DRZ. I think there are folks coming up from the CRF300L or KLX300, who want the long maintenance intervals and general reliability of those bikes, but with a bit more grunt. For dual sport use (not enduro or single track use) it's going to be just fine. It's something between the CRF/KLX 300s and the big Japanese thumpers like the KLR650. And who knows? Maybe they widened the gear ratios in the 5-speed. The DRZ-400 hasn't been able to be sold in some European countries because it's carbureted or doesn't have ABS, and maybe some countries require traction control. It's a bike for the world, not just us in the USA. We could have kept the old version, but Suzuki couldn't sell it hardly anywhere else.
I think suzuki knows they are the first to actually go for this market of budget friendly 400cc dual sport... they know the next 3 big manufacturers will copy and make it better... this is just to steal the initial sales for those that been waiting and cant wait any longer. the patient ones will benefit from the response with the klx400.. CRF400L and WR450R
I'm holding out for the 2025 WR700F SuperMoto, although the specs and price are sparse. Hopefully in the LOW 300 Lb range with a price in the 9's, low 10's.
I don’t like all around bikes that are excellent at nothing. I want a YZ250 2 stroke for the woods, a R1 for the track and street and the Vmax1700 for a cruise.
I don't see it as a complete fail. hell, I thought the last one was a complete fail after my DR350 and that took a while to make it what it should be. Unfortunately emmisions added weight and complexity and corporate budget did not allow for an all new motor with 6 gears. Still think a certain part of the market will love it. something new anyways.
Especially us Europeans are celebrating because we don't get 90% of the dual sport bikes you guys get, no KLR, no DRZ, no KLX and TW and probably many I am forgetting. The only small bore dual sport is the CRF300 from Honda. Getting any kind of dual sport in that segment is a huge win for us. The biggest complaint about the CRF300 is the lack of power and the terrible suspension and the DRZ seems to be better in both aspects.
Maybe Suzuki just want to resurface and tell everyone that know that they're still alive and will be back. Hopefully they'll upgrade their DRZs and other bikes seriously next year
It's all you can have and still keep being in same categories price wise and title wise, and Noone even tested it, or ridden it, and then to have this huge judgment, don't make sense to me! Seems to me like suzuki made a lot of the changes that people have recommended, so i applaud suzuki for listening!!
These decisions aren’t made in the engineering room, they are made in the accounting room. I’d imagine more people complain about outdated tech than a 6-speed transmission. TFT, TC modules, computers to run the EFI are all things that can be used cross-platform and help increase the bottom line. A different transmission isn’t going to help a motorcycle pass Euro6 regulations on a single cylinder engine…which was likely a very hard thing to accomplish. Suzuki did very well with DRZ sales and I suspect, they will price it in a way that helps them maintain their sales goals. Now I have no skin in the game. Out of the 36 motorcycles I’ve owned, one was a Suzuki and it will be the last one. A large chunk of the people who complained about their DRZ will be running to the dealership to upgrade theirs to the new one. Then they will go home and complain on the internet because that’s what we do these days. If the lack of a 6-speed transmission puts you off, look elsewhere. Go get that 450RL and throw a set of Warp6 rims on along with a Tokyo Mods ECU. That’s what I did and I loved that bike.
6th gear would be nice but all you have to do now is tune it with an exhaust and the power should be higher and smoother than the old model. The styling is ok to me. Kind of a downgrade in that department but not bad.
Yeah but tuning an EFI bike requires a pipe and a flash which is like $1000 all in if you're lucky. Back in the day you could tune a DRZ with one slip on, a knife and $50 worth of jets.
A world bike to sell more bikes. Not a DRZ for the DRZ community, so forget the sixth gear and more power. All of the things that I see with this are to do with emissions and safety - to enable the bike to be sold in Europe. The 398cc size is no mistake either - falling into a certain bracket for insurance and road user charges.
Once set up properly for off road drz will get it done it handles trails like a champ. Iit not a husky or ktm but its a hella lotta fun bike. I come from a expert level motocross background do id say im qaulified to know what a good handling dirt bike is. U cant ride your 2 smoker 300 to the trails either. I hate loading up to go trail riding. Rather ride to trailhead
I don't care about the 6 gear if gear spacing is good. My crf250l has a 6 gear that does nothing. Literally nothing. Also if i look at the market, what else should i get? Yeah, a lot of things are coming out but I'm surely not wanna buy a ktm. If honda or Yamaha gives us something well i will consider it but right now the only buyable things are this and the mystical tuareg 450.
Lack of a 6-speed in this day and age is TRULY a LETDOWN. I don't care the justification. And all the gimmicks is going to put it up there in price... Their website says 333lb for the dual-duty model which compares favorably with Honda's CRF300L Rally, with 33% less displacement. The FI is the thing that we always wanted.
They said they revised the transmission. From what I have heard they have not announced anything regarding the gear ratios. 5 speeds is fine if you have the torque and the proper spread. The problem is the drz has a narrow ratio 5 speed. A good example is my husqvarna fe350s. Has 6 speeds....I'm in 6th by 45 mph on the road and it only gets buzzier from there. Not to mention the drz4s is not designed for cruising at 70+ mph. But if they didn't fix the spread, then it is all for naught.
That would be because the FE is based on a competition motor. The DRZ isn't. I had a 5 speed gen 3 KLR and it was horrible on the highway. I felt like my eyes were vibrating out of my head. I don't see a way in which putting rider modes on the bike was cheaper than putting a 6th gear in the box.
@@spitescornerThat was my point about the FE: if you have an engine that makes power in a specific band, then you need more gears to keep it in that range. But it hits 6th gear by 45 mph and is vibrating bad enough to make your hands start tingling at 60 mph (not well counter balanced to save weight)...And I'm planning to get ride of that one. The DRZ motor is torquier. It can handle fewer gears with a wider spread- Suzuki's issue is they made the 5 speed ratios too narrow like Honda did with the xr650l. If they fix that here then it wouldn't be an issue for me. For reference, I also ride a dr650. Its 5 speed has wider ratios. I would like a 6th gear for lower RPM cruising at 70-75 mph; but the current 5 allows me to do everything from bushwhacking to cruising 65-70 mph comfortably with power to spare and no problems with vibration. I've never ridden a klr so I have no idea what their ride is like. I think all of the electronics (FI, ABS, etc) comes from them having to meet Euro5 standards. Thanks for all of the good content.
I'm OK with the 5 speed if they spread them out a bit to make 5th taller. Have not heard for sure yet what the changes to the gearbox are, still hoping. They should have bumped it to about 440 cc's to make up the lost power. And yeah, rider modes on this are dumb.
@@spitescorner I guess you're still in the closet. Sorry, I didn't mean to out you. You should be proud of it though, it's 2024. Nothing to be ashamed of. Using reddit phrases on youtube, that's another story...
Maybe at the crank, but you also have to remember you'll need an exhaust and a tune. With the old one, all you needed was a knife, a slip on and a $50 jet kit.
@spitescorner yes it was cheaper to mod the old bike, it was carbureted. Jet kits are $75 and nobody did slip ons on that bike, a full Yoshi is $700-800. New one will require a flash ($300ish) and aftermarket full exhaust, so yes it will cost more. Welcome to world of EFI.
@@spitescorner most of those bikes that I see have a Yoshi or MRD, all full systems. Stock header is tiny/ugly. I just hope it runs ok. Many newer single cylinder bikes run like crap because of the emissions restrictions, and it'll probably be 6-12 months after release before anyone has a flash or ECU for it.
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As a European rider, it's great to see the DR-Z resurrected. The original DR-Z400 was discontinued in Europe in about 2008 because it couldn't meet Euro 3 emission regulations. You Americans should count yourself lucky that they've still been available in the US for the past 15 years.
7:30 "...why are we going down...?" (Torque.) The fact that the new model will be avaliable in Europe and meets the highly stringent Euro 5+ rules is your answer (and also the reason for the EFI). You can't maintain the same bore (90 x 62.6mm) and expect to go from pre-Euro 3 to Euro 5+ without sacrificing a little power. The fact that the old and new figures are so close is frankly quite surprising.
5:33 Yes, in an ideal world Suzuki would have bored out the DR to 500cc (or more) to compensate for the power loss, but this is Suzuki we're talking about. Why design a completly new motor when the old one can be tweaked for a few more years? Suzuki obviously decided that there was a market for the DR in all Euro 5 countries but it wouldn't make economic sense for them to have two separate production lines for one model. So, unfortunately for the US, that's what you get. Fortunately for Europe, we get something that's been missing for 15 years!
PS you Americans also had the Kawasaki KLR650 for 15 mire years than us, so count your blessings!
Finally someone that knows that the US is not the only country in the world!
Yeah count yourself lucky hundreds of thousands have died from pollution. Way to go Darwin.
@@McGrezzive DITTO!
This is a very good take. This is one of the only cheaper sumos we can buy new, in Europe. Ktm is like 13k
Why don't you just mail yourself one? That's what we did when we wanted GT-Rs that were only sold in Japan. Guess you just didn't want one badly enough.
Everyone wanted a 6th gear and they said f*ck you.
That was the number one issue I had with mine. It was gasping for air on the highway in Texas
@@spitescorner change sprockets, and voila
@@ragimundvonwallat8961 Sure, but then you have less torque.
Is there any confirmation that the ratio spread is the same? The wr450 was 5 speed for a very long time and it had a tall 5th.
@@justletmecomment6453 forget it they dont understand gearing
100% agree. Less power, more weight, a bunch of unnecessary tech and no sixth gear. No thanks. I'll keep my 2024 DRZ400s
Much of that lower power and more weight comes from meeting Euro5 emissions standards, I suspect. As the the lack of 6th, as long as they fixed the spread 5 is fine. It has the torque to pull a wider ratio.
@@TommyNitro Your mom pulls a wider ratio.
I don't think i will ever understand the need for rider modes. When I learned to ride motorcycles in the 1960's , you controlled the motorcycle with the throttle, clutch and brakes. Have people these days forgotten how to do that or have they just fallen for the sales pitch that you have to have this technology even if it means paying more for a motorcycle that does no more than a properly controlled motorcycle ? The human brain was capable of controlling vehicles without driver/rider aids years ago so, are the manufacturers trying to dumb us down to make us part with more money than necessary ?
On slow bikes it‘s completely unnecessary, I agree, but on bikes with 130+ hp it makes the bike more versatile. Sometimes I just want to be able to cut some of the insane power with a more relaxed throttle map
@@lateknights1 In most countries do you really need in excess of 100 bhp ? My 650cc puts out around 85 bhp which is more than enough for legal speeds etc in the UK. Pulling away from a standing start gets me to 60mph in around 4 seconds, not that I make a habit of doing that. I have done touring trips on my bike 2 up with camping gear and never felt that I needed more power or rider aids. As I said before, it is the manufacturers trying to find ways to make us part with our hard earned cash. Hence the fact that my bike is a 2012 model and I feel no need to upgrade as current bike serves all of my needs.
@@lateknights1People been changing throttle tubes on bikes for decades because they way a snapper throttle. Now you don’t need to do that. Even on my GSX-8S I go back and forth because sometimes I want the snapper throttle and sometimes I want a more relaxed throttle.
I don’t see the issue with having the option. If they gonna make it throttle by wire they might as well slap some modes on it.
@@Jim-nm1en People average 80-90mph on the highway where I live. I absolutely appreciate having 140hp for those that accelerate when I'm passing them at 90mph.
In the 60s nobody cared if you died, look at the cars from this era, coffins on wheels.
I think they nailed it. It's still pretty simple and if the price stays close to the same, it will still be the best dual sport for the money. I don't see the need for a 6 speed on a dual sport. I don't want to ride the interstate on any dual sport. If I'm going to ride on the interstate, I'm getting a Vstrom 800 DE. That said, I'm going to keep my 2014 DRZ 400 and save up for the Vstrom.
Certain states have higher speed limits even on 2 lane country roads, and a lot of times you have to take those in order to get to trails. The 6th gear helps.
@@Motoboo_Marine USA is but one country of around 200 in this world. Suzuki isn't making decisions on what's best for their bikes on what a handful of American consumers in a select few states want. That's such a niche market it's not worth their consideration.
@@captainwin6333 lol the USA is a niche market. That's a first.
Missed the light adventure market with the 5-speed. I regularly ride a 690 200 plus miles on the road at an 80mph cruising speed and can hang with the 300s in the trail.
@@captainwin6333 then why do Honda's dual sports have six gears? KTMs have six gears. Kawi's 230 and 300 have six gears. Pretty much every newly developed dual sport has six gears minus the KLR650 and I'm pretty sure that was only to keep costs down, but that motor is big enough to not necessitate it as much.
Heavier, basically same hp, still a 5 speed, harder/more expensive to tune, and will definitely cost more. But hey it’s efi… you know, I won’t have to pull a choke knob on cold days and hurt my fingers 😅
Who's video's got a spicier like/dislike ratio? I bet it's mine. At least you're like the DRZ guy and obviously know stuff. I only had supermotos for the last few years and don't know nothing.
And you are totally missing the fact that Suzuki has made a way better tuned frame and way better suspension. Too hung up on the fact it has 5 gears.
You realize that other markets need abs and some need tc. like here in NZ
And Suzuki was awesome how they let you turn that all off, mostly.
You call out the weight but fail to see it's mostly gained in the exhaust which 80% of people will change anyway. Thank euro for that not Suzuki.
Saying a EFI bike is harder to tune is a boomer thing to say, yes I agree more expensive.
The throttle body is larger diameter than even to good pumper carb that came out on the previous DRZ. Depending on the other components like the injector it may pump out some good hp and torque.
Plus the 5 speed box! So hung up on the no 6 gears. If you can't utilise a 5 speed in a 400 single then you just suck at riding. If you want to ride everywhere at 75mph on the highway then just get a g a y boomer Harley. Suzuki has changed the ratios anyway, I will he happy with the more robust 5 gears.
All the negativity about the bike without actually riding one is stupid.
Glass half empty, armchair garbage actually.
Ha.....
Welcome to middle age boys "back in my day them drzs were carberatoramated!"
My gut tells me that a lot of the weaknesses of the new model will be moddable.... Shit can the abs modules, shit can the undoubtedly heavy stock exhaust, get a tuner to run better, and change the sprockets to your liking. I agree that the lack of a 6th gear was a bit of a shock, but as some one said above, if you are looking to munch highway miles, a DRZ may be the wrong bike.
Also: even if the new model is "expensive" I feel pretty confident it will end up considerably cheaper (and probably more reliable) than a KTM 690.
We are at a unique time where you can decide whether you want to buy a brand new outgoing drz400s for $7200 and spend $2000 installing an ACT wide ratio gearset, save 13lbs in weight without all the electronics, or spend $9200 (rumored ballpark MSRP) on a new drz4s which likely have the new wide ratio gear. Its a tough call, but it really comes down to whether the 13lbs is worth the fuel economy gain (47mpg vs 67mpg) and new suspension. None of us really care about traction control or any of that crap.
@@9.5to1 not clear that the 13lbs gained is mostly in the exhaust. ABS pressure regulator modules are heavy, weighing 4-5lbs. Gut feeling says the weight breakdown is likely +5lbs exhaust +4lbs ABS +1lbs ecu with heatsinks +0.5 lbs throttle body servo +2lbs engine changes +2lbs frame changes +1lbs clutch assist technology - 2lbs 0.3 gal less fuel ~ +13lbs, of course give or take a pound for each item...
I'm thinking exhaust mod removing the cat might only save 5lbs and the other things probably cant be removed that easily for the bike to still operate. But agreed on your point, its only about 10lbs more and its annoying it didnt go in the other direction but not a deal breaker - the other changes are welcome and its still the lightest highway capable dual sport out there by far.
You're right, but as someone in Europe it's still exciting to see a Japanese dualsport and supermoto, because the only other one we get is the CRF300L and rally.
I just bought a DR650. I love the 5 speed. What good is another gear? You get to shift more? I sold a Z1000 not long before I bought the DR650. The Z1000 gearbox sucked. The ratios were too close together. High gear was too low. Glad I bought the DR650, no water pump, no fuel pump, easy valve clearance checks, and easy quick valve clearance adjustment if needed.
Tired of negativity and how everything sucks before you even get to see it. DRZ isn't meant for 60+ mph 6th gear speeds. It will use the 5 speeds for torque.
What Suzuki designed it for & what owners will use it for are 2 different things. Here in Australia the DR-Z is a very popular platform & most owners use it as their do everything bike & it can be a long ride from the city to get to some dirt roads or tracks. It's also very popular for doing The Big Lap (15,000 ish Km or 9320 miles) around Australia. A 5 speed in those situations gets real old real fast.
@@ADingoTookMyDasco How is it the designers fault if ppl use the product for things it was not supposed to do? That reasoning is so flawed... Old DR-Zs are old DR-Zs and new ones are new ones. Just get another bike if the new one doesn't fit your needs. There will be enough ppl who will like the new one and use it as intended.
Or maybe when suzuki redesigned the motor they could have just put another cog in the motor and put an end to one of the biggest complaints about the bike.
@@spitescorner Maybe the 4th and 5th gear ratios were changed?
@@piribusignitus1520 Suzuki has had 24 years of hundreds of thousands of owners complaining that the DR-Z needed a 6th gear. And when they had the opportunity to redesign the motor & gearbox, Suzuki chose to ignore adding the extra gear. So, yes it is entirely Suzuki's fault for not listening to their customers for the last 24 years.
I'm just happy that we're (probably) getting DRZs here in SEA Mexico.
I think my 2006 DRzs just got more valuable.
My mods are better than the new changes.
Wider foot pegs, bar risers, JD 3 inch carburetor mod, fender delete, gel seat and 80 dirt 20 street tires.
Why didn't they just lighten it up and add a sixth gear?
As a Germanen we are just happy to have the drz back in europ.
When all the patent drawings were discovered back in September, which generated a lot of chatter about a new DRZ, I contacted my local dealer and said I want on a waiting list. They said it’s not likely Suzuki will change the DRZ, so do you want to buy a DR-Z 400S when the 2025 comes out?” I said, “No, I don’t want another of what I already have, I want a new model, if it happens”. They were still skeptical when I went into the showroom about two weeks later.
I emailed them at 5:30am Tuesday morning when I saw the all new DR-Z4S. They called me when they opened I put a deposit on a gray one.
What people don't understand about why the new DRZ4S is so disappointing is because Suzuki did not meaningfully improve the CAPABILITY of the bike at its core. As I prior DRZ owner, I loved that bike. It was simple, reliable, inexpensive, and super fun. However, it was always compromised and like many others I eventually found better. The close ratio 5 speed was the biggest drawback and the main reason many (including me) move on. You could put sprockets that made it good on the road, or ones that made it good offroad, but not really both. It can be the difference between your hands going numb on the highway or not having enough low-speed traction to go up a tricky hill offroad. It really matters. It is so well known in the DRZ community that people joke about getting the '6th gear upgrade' when they go buy a different bike.
The EFI will hopefully be nice and was long overdue. I also think with tuning the new bike should be more powerful than the old (36mm carb to 42mm TB), but Suzuki really missed a HUGE number of prior or current DRZ owners who never wanted modes or TC, and certainly not more weight. It seems like they were not listening to us at all.
Here's to hoping Suzuki at least put wider ratios on the DRZ4S transmission, but based on what I've seen I'm doubtful...
That's what I'm saying, just in less words. They made a DRZ for people who never road a DRZ
Thank you for expounding on that point so eloquently and effectively. I for one decided to keep my older DR350 with the wide range 6-speed transmission.
and the new headlight's ugly too.
Agree. I owned two DRZs before going orange (KTM 530 EXC). My focus is dual-sport and the DRZ needed more displacement for a bit more grunt, EFI, 6-speeds, 3+ gallon tank, and a general freshening.
I was excited, super excited, and then I saw it gained like 20 pounds. Simply said, that is a huge miss.
Just put helium in the tires instead of air, makes it like 15 lbs lighter and you stay in the air longer on jumps.
I might be alone on this... I own a 08 DRZ S that ive put 15,000 miles over about 7 years of riding now and i am absolutely stoked for this new model. maybe Im wrong tho.
I'm not trying to yuck your yum. If you're pumped for it, that's awesome, and I'd say go for it. It's just not what I was hoping to see from an upgraded DRZ
Yes, you are wrong.
I cant wait to get one. The only reason i dont have a DRZ400 is because i didnt want to deal with a carb. living at sea level and traveling to ride at 13000 ft i didnt want to deal with jets and tuning just to ride. i would have been happy if they ONLY added efi so everything else is icing on the cake for me. City commuting and trails is all i will use it for. It will almost never see a freeway.
A 450 with a 6 speed would have been nice. I've had a 2002 DRZ since 2006. It has served me well. It's survived a swim in the river when it ate some water. (video of that nightmare is on my channel)
The DRZ still has a sort of cult following. I prefer mine for an all day fire road ride far more than my KTM 450 EXC-F. The KTM vibrates and gets annoying after a few hours. I can ride 10-12 hours on my DRZ and never get annoyed with it.
I’m super excited the drz is finally coming back to europe. It has been almost 20 years. Gonna get one next year!
It's really gonna depend on the pricing, but I think both the SM and the dual sport are gonna sell well, mainly because it's the only choice if you want a Japanese bike. I guess there's also the CRF300L for dual sports, but for street legal sumos, KTM and Duc are currently the only options.
But yes, ride modes are stupid.
The KLX300 is a good option too.
Suzuki drastically raised MSRP for their "new" Katana and Hayabusa when they came out, raising the prices a few $1000 over the older bargain priced Hayabusa and Gsx-s 1000 (Katana is basically a Decepticon Gsx-s.)
Curious to see how they price this refreshed DR-z
@@haneymoto which was never sold here, and they stoped selling the 250 over 10 years ago
The biggest hot-take I'm hearing is talking about the power specs. This bike almost held the same stock specs, with 2024 emissions standards. Similar to the CRF450RL, we're gonna see mods to flash the ECU, throw a pipe on and easily see a 10-20% bump in power.
Own a DRZ400SM, at highway speeds is not the point. The hardest thing to do on my DRZ400SM is ride on grave at slow speeds. Backroads to the grave is fun and skill building. Throttle is crazy touchy. This makes the part of my rides in the grave, clinching. These are the most beautiful parts of my rides. They made this new bike for me. Less clinching, more soaking in the views. No one will say it is less fun to ride...No one.
I’m totally with you. Bold new plastics. Nothing else. No risks taken. This is not the way to fight back against the Chinese and Indian innovation
I think in order to meet euro 5 emissions they had to restrict the new model on the exhaust side and fueling side to keep it legal. I think that means there are huge gains to be made with an ecu tune/intake/full exhaust to make it into a beast. I feel like it has a bit better tuning potential in this new setup. Just my thoughts on the matter but I could be wrong!
I see older DRZ's around all the time. theyre everywhere. I also dont see the point except to be able to sell it in the European market.
Yeah, there's some places where you can't buy them anymore so that makes sense.
@@spitescorner The changes allow Suzuki to sell the new Drz in all markets. Currently you can't buy a brand new carbureted Drz400s or SM in the EU or Australia.
I think your conversions are, understandably, a little wonky. Australian RRP's are out the door, including all taxes & registration. Take them away & the $10,490 RRP for the current DR-Z400E becomes around $8,590 dollarydoos ($5,673 USD). The DR-Z4S & DR-Z4SM aren't due here until July-Sept 2025, so we won't have pricing for a while, but with the KLR650 currently starting at $11,263 ride away I'd expect Suzuki to price the DR-Z4S at around $11,500 RRP or around $9,400 dollarydoos before taxes ($6,208 USD).
And you can probably blame us Aussies for the specs. Our emissions standards are aligned with the EU, with Euro 6d coming into effect on the 15th December, and ABS has been mandatory on all motorcycles for a couple of years. With over 50% of our annual motorcycle sales being of the off road persuasion it's a big market for Suzuki to ignore.
Omg poor you...don't let fuxking Bruxelles rule your policies as well. It's all a scam to rape you out of your money.
Owner of a 23 KLX300sm which I absolutely love and modded the hell out of to try and squeeze a couple more ponies out of but honestly the lack of fuel injection is the only real reason I didn’t go with the DRZ back in 22
I've gone back and forth on carbs. Now that my VMax is jetted right, they're really not that much of headache versus EFI. I just need to crank it twice.
Honestly, as long as the ECU can be flashed, I’d see the motor being able to make the same or more power than a modded DRZ 400
The DRZ actually makes alot of sense with this configuration. It's not a speed or hp focused bike at all.
They're trying to compete with the CRF300L for the female market.
@@salazam 🤣🤣🤣
I’m really excited for the new DRZ as it’s not been available in the UK for my whole riding career. And there’s no other out of the box SMs in this class. Really depends on the pricing, but a cheap, japanese SM with the reliability and quality would be really tempting.
I actually like the styling, rider modes and traction control over a weight loss program and a 6th gear are incredibly stupid though. I dont even feel like it needed much in the way of power just a slight bore increase and fuel injection to get to mid 40's hp would have been plenty.
They did one thing people asked for and made everything else worse. Ive always been lead to believe efi can normally be tuned to make a more power when all else is the same but they lost power and torque. What the hell?
@@niospartan emissions emissions emissions
Looks nice but I don't like the headlight. It should be round or square to pay tribute to the old Yamaha off-road bikes and give it a bit of a modern retro look.
I'm hopeful. I kinda played up the potential negativity in my video but I'm legit excited about it and can't wait to try it.
I'll still try it, and I'm open to being wrong. I just remember how my DRZ felt, and the changes don't make sense to me.
I kept my DRZ from 2006 to 2020. I've owned many bikes along side it like KTMs and CRFs etc.. the only true complaint I had with the bike was the 5-speed. It was the chief complaint since the Thumper Talk Forums of 2001... I did the 470 stroke and bore, head, 41mm fcr, did the ACT wide-ratio gearset... all the things. When i bought a '21 690E, the DRZ was sold. The DRZ was my first road bike as a teenager so i held it close. It was a heartbreak to not see the 6th gear. Well looks like im gonna pick up a '25 390 Adventure R and a set of SM wheels. Thanks KTM.
16 sm owner white with blue wheels. I was so excited til i found the specs. Relief i don't have to tell my wife i'm buyin another bike i guess. 🤷♂️
I was super excited to see the SM with that color, was thinking about moving my reserve from another to that but then I saw the 5 gears, like what
As a DRZ owner i have mixed feelings. That diagram of the engine tells me that may have changes the spread of the gesrs. I think that would make a really decent difference. however the fact that its heavier kinda kills that. I certainly wont be selling my 2011 for the new one.
I agree with all these points but at the end of the day we’re getting a new DRZ so that’s cool. I like the fact it has fuel injection, switchable ABS and a slipper clutch which makes it even more beginner friendly but all the other tech is pretty useless
Should be a great bike with a full exhaust and a tune and I’d probably try and swap out that headlight for something more retro or typical dirt bike looking 👀
Cool for the European market that lost the Drz in 2008 due to emissions but I’m not a fan. I’ll keep my 23 SM. As for maintenance on the Drz, Suzuki recommends 3500 miles oil change but anyone who rides their bike hard changes it 2 or 3x more often than that.
Suzuki reasoned that people might pay $1000 extra for the updates and FI, but wouldn’t pay the $2k+ it would take for the 6 speed transmission. That makes sense to me, I do hope they were able to revise the ratios a bit.
As long as it doesn't eat cams like someone else's is ok to me.
The 690 does not have a cam issue that I'm aware of. It's just the Ptwins.
I can’t even believe this is what they came up with either. They should have punched it up to 450/500cc and added a 6th gear. I see zero need for traction control on a DRZ400. No need for ABS either.
Looking forward to seeing it. Seems like a nice cheaper alternative to Ducati’s 698.
I think it'll succeed just by virtue of it being the only "middleweight" SuMo. The KLX is slow and cheap, the Ducati and KTM are fast and expensive, the DRZ splits the difference. It'll sell, just probably not to DRZ riders.
It will be good fun with a flash and a pipe n filter . Love the looks. Also its a Suzuki and it will see heavy discounts . Owned the orignal SM factory new when it came out. Im excited
I'm just here to say that listening to the Tuono has me shopping for one now. Thanks. 😖😑
Rider modes on bikes under 650cc are pointless tbh. And not having a bit more power and torque,and still being a 5 speed, is disappointing
Quite.
Could be actually a win if they keep the old price like Kawasaki did with the 3rd gen KLR
Kawasaki just added EFI and ABS though. Everything else was basically the same. The DRZ has EFI, ABS, TC, Rider modes, and more. I can't see them keeping the price the same.
@@spitescorner Yeah, unlikely but who knows. EFI and switchable ABS are nice changes but having the TC and rider modes on a 35hp bike is a bit of an overkill. They will probably love it in Europe though as it is everything compliant now
If I am shopping for new RDZ motorcycle I would definitely wait to see the new one before going for DRZ400. I understand the disappointment of 7 more kilos (not sure what is this in pounds), and the 5 gear transmission, but honestly if everything else is good this will not be a deal breaker for me. First this 5 gears could be geared differently so you have longer 5th which usually you don't use on the trail which could resolve the highway issue without needing 6th gear. And as far as I see some of the gears are in yellow on the picture ;) So there is still hope to be better. Next is the weight. If you change the exhaust this could rip off some kilos and then I would say if it cares it's weight lower it could be still as good as the old in terms of weight. Yes someone will tell it was already heavy and we wanted it lighter. Lets wait the price first :) If it is 2K lower than CRF450RF this already would mean for me that this is the better bike. If we stop thinking about this for a second we can see that it has lower better mileage. It has 2 sparkplugs which means even more reliable. It has clutch assist. All these things didn't make you happy ? :) Not to mention that we in Quebec have those weird no sense bikes categories for 400cc and under, more than 400cc and then super sport. The annual prise for motorcycle varies accordingly. it is roughly 200 CAD less for 400cc and less category compared with over 400cc. It is not a lot but if you have more bikes starts to be important :). So I am happy for example that they kept 400cc. Perhaps would be great if next few years they expand the category with DR-Z5 or so. Who knows. All am saying is that it is too early to get disappointed. Need to test ride and feel.
Can’t disagree with anything you said sir
Spot on
6 speed lacking sucks but this SM still is a welcome resurrection.
I think once you uncork the new model with your basic intake, exhaust, and tune, it will be more inline with what people were expecting. That being said, it sucks we can't just buy that. Even if it meant going up to a 450 or 500 on the same frame.
It's like the KLX kit for the KLR carb. They choke them out to meet emissions!!!
Meeting Euro 5? standards for new DR-Z. It will be wide open for mapping mods. And exhaust options
The old model was Aussie $10,500. I bet the new bike will be at least 13K. You can pick up a new GasGas supermoto for about 14K here.
I love my 08' 690 SM!
Next, the GS500F with TC and ABS. Ok, sure, why not? Right?
I saw some of this on the horizon a few years back, changes to emmisions and safety laws...
I picked up one of the last DR650's and DRZ400SM of the old line fresh off the last shipment of them to NZ back in 2020ish.
I was wanting them for their low tech... so if they had been this new version, whilst stuff like ABS wouldn't have straight up prevented my purchases, I may have looked elsewhere.
I dont care about the DRZ but that intro is hillarious 😂😂
But i do like the Suzuki gsx8r great handling bike. Best affordable sporttouring bike out there. The only negative is the ugly front. The comfort, handling is so great
Sounds ass.....where is my 4in line with a lower engine map like Honda did on the modern cbr650r??
A bored out 750 and tuned down for much more lower torque and done!
V config engines sounds like the Gator I drive at work ...I just can't .😅
I'm not disappointed that I bought a new 400s summer of 23. The one big thing on my wish list is for sure the fuel injection, followed by a 6th gear. But with less clearance, less suspension travel and more weight, I'm happy to stick with the old school model a while longer. On top of that, I like to keep things simple. I don't want all that tech and emissions crap on my 90% of the time off road bike that I'm beating the hell out of.
Edit: I had bad info, ground clearance looks to have stayed the same spec.
Yeah, but the SM's rotor got smaller so it won't brake as well. It feels like the right call is to get a 24 before they're all gone.
It's exactly what they did with the KLR, not sure why anyone is surprised.
Yet people still buy that overweight underpowered slug (yes I owned one).
I did too, but the real win of the KLR was that it was dirt cheap so the value proposition was high. Somehow I don't see this being as cheap.
@@spitescorner Im sure its going to be priced at a point that it being a 450 with a six speed should have been included. Can you say Ibex 450MT?
how is it even possible to make a DRZ heaver
The bike makes some sense. They did enough to be able to sell it in Europe again, which means they will make more money.
I wish suzuki would do an experiment. Sell both and let us decide which we would rather have. Either lowtech or new school. The answer is still dr650 for a sumo build or dual sport for me.
My theory is suzuki will release "bold new 6th gear gearing" after about 4 years. haha
The graphic shows two pairs of gears are different, maybe the ratios have been widened?
I'm not sure where you go that people are exited for it, but every DRZ group I'm in is pretty let down. An extra gear at the same weight would have been awesome, but nope, we basically get a heavier bike for probably more money.
Those new ti valves are going to last about 100 hours.
I was hoping they would have just added Efi and upgraded the suspension. All those electronics are big turn off.
Price is everything on this model.
I don't know. I bought a CRF450L a couple years ago. If the DRZ-4S was out then, I'd probably have gone with the Suzuki. I didn't want the DRZ-400 because I wanted fuel injection. I got a CRF450L instead. I can live with the extra oil changes and all that, and it's worth it for the performance over the KLX300 and XT250 it replaced. Now that I have the CRF450L, I wouldn't replace it with the new DRZ. I think there are folks coming up from the CRF300L or KLX300, who want the long maintenance intervals and general reliability of those bikes, but with a bit more grunt. For dual sport use (not enduro or single track use) it's going to be just fine. It's something between the CRF/KLX 300s and the big Japanese thumpers like the KLR650. And who knows? Maybe they widened the gear ratios in the 5-speed.
The DRZ-400 hasn't been able to be sold in some European countries because it's carbureted or doesn't have ABS, and maybe some countries require traction control. It's a bike for the world, not just us in the USA. We could have kept the old version, but Suzuki couldn't sell it hardly anywhere else.
Kawasaki didn't change the gear enough on the KLR to overcome it's highway woes. I doubt that Suzuki will take the time.
I think suzuki knows they are the first to actually go for this market of budget friendly 400cc dual sport... they know the next 3 big manufacturers will copy and make it better... this is just to steal the initial sales for those that been waiting and cant wait any longer. the patient ones will benefit from the response with the klx400.. CRF400L and WR450R
I'm holding out for the 2025 WR700F SuperMoto, although the specs and price are sparse. Hopefully in the LOW 300 Lb range with a price in the 9's, low 10's.
That's the first I've heard about a 700cc dual sport from Yamaha.
Waiting to hear the gear ratio specs ... everything else about the bike screams BUY ME NOW!
I don’t like all around bikes that are excellent at nothing. I want a YZ250 2 stroke for the woods, a R1 for the track and street and the Vmax1700 for a cruise.
For all those calling on Honda and Suzuki to update their air cooled 650s, let this release serve as a warning - be careful what you wish for 😂
AGREED....😢
HONDA... Leave the 650L Alone.
SUZUKI... Leave the DR650 Alone.
🙏
I don't see it as a complete fail. hell, I thought the last one was a complete fail after my DR350 and that took a while to make it what it should be. Unfortunately emmisions added weight and complexity and corporate budget did not allow for an all new motor with 6 gears. Still think a certain part of the market will love it. something new anyways.
Especially us Europeans are celebrating because we don't get 90% of the dual sport bikes you guys get, no KLR, no DRZ, no KLX and TW and probably many I am forgetting. The only small bore dual sport is the CRF300 from Honda. Getting any kind of dual sport in that segment is a huge win for us. The biggest complaint about the CRF300 is the lack of power and the terrible suspension and the DRZ seems to be better in both aspects.
just buy a used one why you need brand new
Maybe Suzuki just want to resurface and tell everyone that know that they're still alive and will be back. Hopefully they'll upgrade their DRZs and other bikes seriously next year
It's all you can have and still keep being in same categories price wise and title wise, and Noone even tested it, or ridden it, and then to have this huge judgment, don't make sense to me!
Seems to me like suzuki made a lot of the changes that people have recommended, so i applaud suzuki for listening!!
38hp?? That's simply not enough. I used to have a Husky 511 & it smoked DRz's
These decisions aren’t made in the engineering room, they are made in the accounting room. I’d imagine more people complain about outdated tech than a 6-speed transmission. TFT, TC modules, computers to run the EFI are all things that can be used cross-platform and help increase the bottom line. A different transmission isn’t going to help a motorcycle pass Euro6 regulations on a single cylinder engine…which was likely a very hard thing to accomplish.
Suzuki did very well with DRZ sales and I suspect, they will price it in a way that helps them maintain their sales goals.
Now I have no skin in the game. Out of the 36 motorcycles I’ve owned, one was a Suzuki and it will be the last one. A large chunk of the people who complained about their DRZ will be running to the dealership to upgrade theirs to the new one. Then they will go home and complain on the internet because that’s what we do these days.
If the lack of a 6-speed transmission puts you off, look elsewhere. Go get that 450RL and throw a set of Warp6 rims on along with a Tokyo Mods ECU. That’s what I did and I loved that bike.
Casually calls 90s bikes very very old....crys a little inside
It's more the fact that it has almost 75,000 miles on the clock that makes it old, not the year.
6th gear would be nice but all you have to do now is tune it with an exhaust and the power should be higher and smoother than the old model. The styling is ok to me. Kind of a downgrade in that department but not bad.
Yeah but tuning an EFI bike requires a pipe and a flash which is like $1000 all in if you're lucky. Back in the day you could tune a DRZ with one slip on, a knife and $50 worth of jets.
It seems like a way to over price a already over priced bike. I'd prefer the okd one. Maybe they'll pleasantly surprise us on price though
Good news is the market will be flooded with old ones because of all the plebs who want something shiny.
A world bike to sell more bikes. Not a DRZ for the DRZ community, so forget the sixth gear and more power. All of the things that I see with this are to do with emissions and safety - to enable the bike to be sold in Europe. The 398cc size is no mistake either - falling into a certain bracket for insurance and road user charges.
Real bold statements based on a spec sheet
Once set up properly for off road drz will get it done it handles trails like a champ. Iit not a husky or ktm but its a hella lotta fun bike. I come from a expert level motocross background do id say im qaulified to know what a good handling dirt bike is. U cant ride your 2 smoker 300 to the trails either. I hate loading up to go trail riding. Rather ride to trailhead
6 minutes before anything relevant was said? Glad you think we have unlimited time.
I don't care about the 6 gear if gear spacing is good. My crf250l has a 6 gear that does nothing. Literally nothing. Also if i look at the market, what else should i get? Yeah, a lot of things are coming out but I'm surely not wanna buy a ktm. If honda or Yamaha gives us something well i will consider it but right now the only buyable things are this and the mystical tuareg 450.
Suzuki refuses to innovate. The biggest thing they've done in 20 years is the new Hayabusa. They make honda look like space x.
A choked to death Euro5 bike, no thanks, Gen2 is still the best
Infamy. The Yamaha 700 and another single go ride by wire in 2025. Spare me. Isn't that like remastering The Beatles in auto-tune?
Lack of a 6-speed in this day and age is TRULY a LETDOWN. I don't care the justification. And all the gimmicks is going to put it up there in price...
Their website says 333lb for the dual-duty model which compares favorably with Honda's CRF300L Rally, with 33% less displacement. The FI is the thing that we always wanted.
They said they revised the transmission. From what I have heard they have not announced anything regarding the gear ratios. 5 speeds is fine if you have the torque and the proper spread. The problem is the drz has a narrow ratio 5 speed.
A good example is my husqvarna fe350s. Has 6 speeds....I'm in 6th by 45 mph on the road and it only gets buzzier from there.
Not to mention the drz4s is not designed for cruising at 70+ mph. But if they didn't fix the spread, then it is all for naught.
All this tech is to meet European regs.
That would be because the FE is based on a competition motor. The DRZ isn't. I had a 5 speed gen 3 KLR and it was horrible on the highway. I felt like my eyes were vibrating out of my head. I don't see a way in which putting rider modes on the bike was cheaper than putting a 6th gear in the box.
@@spitescornerThat was my point about the FE: if you have an engine that makes power in a specific band, then you need more gears to keep it in that range. But it hits 6th gear by 45 mph and is vibrating bad enough to make your hands start tingling at 60 mph (not well counter balanced to save weight)...And I'm planning to get ride of that one.
The DRZ motor is torquier. It can handle fewer gears with a wider spread- Suzuki's issue is they made the 5 speed ratios too narrow like Honda did with the xr650l. If they fix that here then it wouldn't be an issue for me.
For reference, I also ride a dr650. Its 5 speed has wider ratios. I would like a 6th gear for lower RPM cruising at 70-75 mph; but the current 5 allows me to do everything from bushwhacking to cruising 65-70 mph comfortably with power to spare and no problems with vibration.
I've never ridden a klr so I have no idea what their ride is like.
I think all of the electronics (FI, ABS, etc) comes from them having to meet Euro5 standards.
Thanks for all of the good content.
I'm OK with the 5 speed if they spread them out a bit to make 5th taller. Have not heard for sure yet what the changes to the gearbox are, still hoping. They should have bumped it to about 440 cc's to make up the lost power. And yeah, rider modes on this are dumb.
the fact it comes in pink should tell you all you need to know
ahem
GUUUUAAAAYYYYYYY
I have a pink guitar. I'd buy a pink DRZ. That bike is all about wild colors.
@@spitescorner Yeah but you're gay. It's different for straight guys.
Yup, that's me. All married to a woman and stuff. Get your head out of your ass and go touch grass dude.
@@spitescorner I guess you're still in the closet. Sorry, I didn't mean to out you. You should be proud of it though, it's 2024. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Using reddit phrases on youtube, that's another story...
@@spitescorner That's cool, you're still in the closet. Sorry if I outed you. Pretty obvious though...
So you are telling me that my harley davidson actually makes more power than something? Haha
Il love it! 37hp is more than enough to do almost anything.
Very corked up too, it'll get 45 ish with proper mods.
Maybe at the crank, but you also have to remember you'll need an exhaust and a tune. With the old one, all you needed was a knife, a slip on and a $50 jet kit.
@spitescorner yes it was cheaper to mod the old bike, it was carbureted. Jet kits are $75 and nobody did slip ons on that bike, a full Yoshi is $700-800. New one will require a flash ($300ish) and aftermarket full exhaust, so yes it will cost more. Welcome to world of EFI.
I had a slip on. It cost me like $300 from Delkevic.
@@spitescorner most of those bikes that I see have a Yoshi or MRD, all full systems. Stock header is tiny/ugly. I just hope it runs ok. Many newer single cylinder bikes run like crap because of the emissions restrictions, and it'll probably be 6-12 months after release before anyone has a flash or ECU for it.