If you’ve been paying attention to the rumors, you knew Suzuki was planning to launch an updated DR-Z400 dual sport. We told you about the new EFI-equipped machine weeks ago, and a few days back, spy shots of the new bike actually appeared in the ADVrider forum. Today, that bike was released at EICMA.
What’s new?
The new dual sport is officially called the DR-Z4S.
At time of writing (5 EST), Suzuki still hasn’t sent us any details on the machine, which is confusing, seeing as they’ve already shown off the bike online at this point, in the video below:
That’s the dual sport version of the bike. Also note there’s a new supermoto coming, same as we see currently with the current DR-Z400 version.
As far as the tech specs go, again, we haven’t been told anything officially yet, but Ben Purvis published some details at BikeSocial, and we presume they are correct.
The biggest changes are to the engine, although it is surprisingly similar to the old carbureted DR-Z400 powerplant. The new DRZ-Z4S sees bore and stroke remain at 90 mm and 62.6 mm respectively. The bike still has a five-speed gearbox, although the gossip on social media says the gear ratios are revised. A slipper clutch comes standard.
However, changes were obviously required to graft an EFI system onto the head, and to update the little 400 to meet the current Euro5+ emissions standard. The DR-Z4S gets new intake and exhaust ports and changes to the combustion chamber (resulting in a slight drop in compression), a new piston and crankcase that improve mechanical efficiency and new intake and exhaust valves. Add it all up and you have a bike that can be legally sold in the EU once more, but it sees a roughly 2-horsepower drop in muscle, to 37.5 horsepower, with max power hitting at 8,000 rpm, 500 rpm higher than the old 400. It makes 27.3 pound-feet of torque, which is roughly the same as the old model, depending whose figures you believe.
Also available in supermoto configuration, just like the previous 400. LED lights all-round are a well-worth-it upgrade.
The updated engine is supposed to run more smoothly, from the bottom end to the top. No doubt EFI helps a lot there.
The new electronics, including a ride-by-wire throttle, also allowed Suzuki to include three traction control settings and three riding modes, including a Gravel mode. Suzuki’s marketing videos show a handlebar-mounted selector for switching between modes, with an el-cheapo LCD dash showing the details you need. It also shows the modes, like the V-Strom 800DE, have alphanumeric names which makes it easy to use that budget-friendly LCD dash, but somewhat complicates things if you’re trying to remember the code words while you’re riding.
Looks similar to the old model, but a bit modernized.
ABS is standard, but according to Suzuki’s marketing video, it can be switched on or off.
The chassis is based around a new twin-spar frame. As before, the dual sport version (DR-Z4S) has a 21-18 wheelset, while the DR-Z4SM supermoto has 17-inch wheels front and back. Both machines use tubed tires.
The suspension is from Kayaba. Suzuki’s launch video showed 11.8 inches of ground clearance for the dual sport model (300 mm). The dual sport model has 11 inches of front suspension travel (280 mm) and 11.6 inches in back (296 mm). Seat height is 36.2 inches (920 mm).
The supermoto obviously sits a bit lower, with 10.2 inches of ground clearance (260 mm). Front suspension travel on this bike is 10.2 inches (260 mm), and rear suspension travel is 277 mm (10.9 inches). Seat height is 35 inches (890 mm).
Both machines come with adjustable fork and shock.
The dual sport model weighs a claimed 332 pounds (151 kilos) while the supermoto weighs a claimed 339.5 pounds (154 kilos). Suzuki’s video didn’t make clear whether those were wet weights or dry, but reports from Europe say those are curb weights.
As with other Suzuki dual sports, fuel capacity is not exactly massive, with an 8.7-liter gas tank, according to reports. That works out to 2.3 US gallons. Expect IMS et. al. to make a killing selling oversized plastic tanks for this machine.
Price tag?
Suzuki has not given us any details on the North American version of this bike yet, and Euro mags also don’t have the MSRP, it seems. However, given all the upgrades, it seems highly optimistic to expect a $7,199 MSRP, which is what the current model sells for.
