Suzuki DR-Z400SM

A good motorcycle, I loved that there is a supermotard version. It is light, has a good torque output, versatile and i like its components a lot.

Sometimes i feel a lot of vibrations in high revolution regimen and I must say that it bothers me a lot.

Another thing, I would like an update, maybe with a fuel injection

Love it - easy to ride. Usable power. great handling. Very reliable.

I bought this bike after not riding for about 20 years and am nothing but pleased. Only downside is no sixth gear and very very uncomfortable seat. Other than that I have nothing negative to say about this machine.

I have now had my DR for 4 months. Firstly, lets get the moans out of the way. I have to say that I agree with some comments and you should avoid motorways and it would be great to have a 6th gear. The Dunlop tyres are not great, bit twitchy on the front on a wet road. Okay moans over.

This bike is a great laugh. It is such good fun on normal roads. The engine is bullet proof, it has never stalled and it sounds great. It handles great in the dry and for a 400 single smoto it is quick off the mark. I like the more upright position, given up the crouched over style years ago. I am getting Pirelli diablos fitted tomorrow so hopefully these will make a difference on the wet tarmac. I am putting a 150/60 on the rear.

Overall, the fun aspect of this bike makes the commute to work a real breath of fresh air. Good fun.

I had a old DRZ400 scrambler for about 4 years and it was the most reliable machine ever. Unfortunately in Dec 2008 it was stolen and I bought myself a DRZ400SM from a useless dealer in Dundee Terrace Edinburgh. What a problem bike this machine turned out to be. Two of us had two bikes both about the same age and both had the same problems. Within 6 months both rear indicators had simply fallen off their poor built brackets. We repaired these using wood screws. 6 months after buying the bike on a very cold day in Scotland I went to start the bike only to find it was totally dead. I then traced the fault to a corroded wire in the main lead from the battery and repaired it myself. The steering on my DRZ always felt really heavy and so I changed the tyres a few times but it made no difference. I then went away for 6 weeks and returned only to find the steering ceased and the rear brakes non operational. I then discovered the steering bearings had destroyed themselves due to never having been lubricated since new. The back brake has two tiny air holes in the reservoir right by the chain and these had become blocked and so stopping the fluid getting to the cylinder.

With the bearings now destroyed and the bike only a year old I took the bike back to Suzuki in Edinburgh where they were not at all interested in even hearing about the problems. I finally got them repaired at my own expense as Suzuki had no intentions of doing anything for me even though the bike was still under warranty.

While the bike was in Suzuki for new tyres I got a call from the mechanic saying he could not start the bike. I went back to the shop and switched on the kill switch on the right handlebar. A few weeks after they fitted new tyres I found the chain guide under the sprocket rather loose and realized it had been left loose by Suzuki as they would have had to loosen it off to remove the rear wheel.

Now with everything sorted on this bike it is a magical machine and a great fun bike to ride. It is fantastic riding in the mountains during the cold winters of Scotland. I would recommend it for anyone but not from Suzuki in Edinburgh.

This is a fantastic little bike, although motorway riding is a bit of a nightmare and i would agree with everyone else it could do with a sixth gear.But get this on the twistys and it becomes a totally different bike,just handles like a dream.The best thing to do with this bike is to tune it up.I've got the yoshi pipe, k&n filter, 3x3 airbox mod, dyno jet kit. When the rear tyre went i stuck pirelli diablo 150 on the back which is an excellent choice. I changed the headlight as the orignal looked stupid.Even thought this is only a 400sm it can still show some of the sportbikes up.

Good Points

good in town and fantastic on the twistys

cheap and cheerful

good for new riders

Bad points

Not so good on long journeys

small tank range

got nothing more to say than i love the dam thing back tyre life dissapointing averaging 2500 miles [dunlop sportmax] and seat uncomfartable on long journeys which eventually you get used to and small tank capacity[not much more than my previous bike 125 van van in which it shares same naff mirrors] other than that i loooooooooove it

I've got a 40 mile commute on motorways a roads and town and I've got all sorts of bikes to do it with but when the weather is rubbish the DRZ is my favourite. It'll do 95mph comfortably at below freezing(with earplugs and no headwind). It'll lean over in the wet and slides predictably at 70+ mph. It's the best way to get to work with a big stupid grin on your face. Oh and it might get you a few tickets.

Spent a lot of time looking before going for a black one,found it to be good value for money,cheap to run, easy to ride and simple to look after.Sixth gear would be nice,and the back tyre can wear quickly ,and fuel tank range is a bit poor,but for a bit of fun without too much outlay for a blast on days off,travel to work or pop to the shop

Suzuki DR-Z400SM is a good buy!

I have a Suzuki DR 2007 400SM. A little underpowered at first but I added a K&N air filter, a stage 2 jet kit, a Yoshi pipe and a 39 tooth rear sprocket. Now the bike is great fun to ride. After the original 140 rear tyre was finished I put on a Conti 160sm. Looks good but it is a little harder to slide out the rear now. Perhaps a 150 would be a better choice. Overall I would say that the 400 SM is good bang for your buck.