Suzuki DR-Z400S

Suzuki DR-Z400S. Great overall dual-sport bike, well built & laid out. My only gripe is w/the hellishly hard, uncomfortable seat! I had read several reviews/complaints from other owners, but I thought they were just being sissies. After 2 months in the saddle, I realized they were speaking God's truth. Even after replacing it with factory suzuki gel-seat, little improvement was noticed.

I bought a new Suzuki 400S as it had an electric start unlike the E model, which is a lot more off road focused. The S as a machine to do occasional very light weight off roading is probably OK, but I wouldn't expect too much of it from a handling point of view. The suspension is poor and needs work for off road, even with a sump guard on the water pump is extremely vulnerable to side impact (broke 2) but the oddest thing about the bike is its seat. Why would anyone make an off road bike which has a seat angle that lies downward toward the back of the bike? As soon as you have any mud etc on you on acceleration you find yourself sitting on the rear mudguard trying to hang on!

Fine as a commuter and maybe the odd simple forestry road, avoid if you go off road more than very occasionally; much better dual purpose kit out there for that.

Suzuki DR-Z400S is a tall bike because of the good off road gound clearance , but at 6' it is not a problem for me. I bought the bike for off road riding since I already have a Suzuki V-Strom DL-1000 for daily riding and long rides in the curves. The tires are only really good for street use.