Suzuki draws on its own success in the dual-sport category with the 2023 DR-Z400S. This bike represents a natural evolution from the DR350 that kicked off Suzuki's foray into bikes built for off-road work and dual-surface adventures. It's literally more akin to a dirt bike with turn signals and stealth-knobby hoops that will perform well on both hard and soft surfaces.
A 398 cc thumper delivers tractable power fairly low in the range, just the thing for off-road work. The top-shelf, long-stroke suspension guarantees a tolerance for the roughest of terrains.
The original dual sport came in the form of the DR350 first launched in 1990 and would see production until 2001. Early models came with kick-start only but were replaced in 1994 by a push button-start feature. The DR-Z400 has been around for a couple of decades now, so you know there's a winning formula here.
2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S
- 21-Inch Front Wheel
- Mikuni™ carburetor
- Long-Stroke, Fully-Adjustable Suspension
- LCD Instrumentation
- Narrow Frame
- Model: DR-Z400S
- Engine:: 398 cc single-cylinder
- Power Output: 39 HP
- Torque: 29 LB-FT
- Transmission: 5-Speed
- MSRP: $7,099
- Capable Platform
- Powerful Engine For The Bracket
- Good Suspension Travel And Adjustments
- Very Tall
- Price Is At Top Of The Bracket
- Low-Tech
2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S Performance And Capability
Suzuki powers its DR-Z400S with a compact, 398 cc engine that's water-cooled for emissions control, thermal stamina even under harsh conditions, and rider comfort due to the reduced heat wash at stops and dead-slow speeds. Plus, it has an electric fan on a thermostat for forced cooling as necessary.
Dual over-head cams time the four-valve head with large, 36 mm intake poppets and 29 mm exhaust, along with a low-resistance, six-liter airbox and 36 mm Mikuni™ carburetor, for efficient natural induction. The 2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S produces a claimed 39 horsepower and 29 pound-feet of torque.
Bore and stroke mic out at 90 mm and 62.6 mm respectively, for an 11.3-to-1 compression ratio. That'll prefer at least mid-grade gas, especially since it has an old-fashioned soup can instead of fuel injection to meter the dinosaur juice.
A standard wet clutch couples engine power to the five-speed transmission with a chain-type final drive. DR-Z400S top speed is 94 mph.
Engine & Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
Engine | Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC |
Displacement | 398cc |
Bore x Stroke | 90 mm x 62.6 mm |
Compression | 11.3:1 |
Power | 39 HP |
Torque | 29 LB-FT |
Fuel System | Mikuni™ 36 mm carburetor |
Final Drive | Chain, RK520KZ0, 112 links |
Clutch | Wet multi-plate |
Gearbox | 5-speed constant mesh |
Design
The DR-Z400S wears its off-road chops on its sleeve with its tall suspension, high ground clearance, and dirt bike-like proportions. It starts with the high-mount front fender that fits snugly up against the bottom tripleclamp to accommodate the front fork stroke.
A squared-off halogen headlight rides in a small housing topped by a number plate-style flyscreen to reinforce its competitive roots. This detail picked up by the side covers also leaves room for a large racing I.D. number if necessary.
The solo saddle rides 36.8 inches high, a necessary evil for that rough-terrain capability, but one that is sure to tax all but the tallest riders. It rides up over the fuel tank and extends aft quite a bit as well, so you have room to shift your weight significantly front-to-back for the more technical activities.
Instead of a pillion pad, the DR-Z400S carries a small toolkit for minor repairs and adjustments in the field. Street-legal lighting and a short mudguard complete the gear in the rear, with all lighting mounted high, well out of harm's way, along with the muffler, to ward off damage from a terrain strike.
Suzuki DR-Z400S Specs | |
|---|---|
Length | 90.9 in |
Width | 34.4 in |
Height | 48.8 in |
Seat Height | 36.9 in |
Wheelbase | 58.5 in |
Ground Clearance | 11.8 in |
Fuel Capacity | 317 lb |
Curb Weight | 2.6 gals |
Chassis
Tubular chrome-molybdenum steel makes up the framework of the DR-Z400S. It has a solo-downtube/single-cradle design that supports the engine rather than using it as part of the framing itself, with a small skid plate to protect the engine cases from terrain strikes.
One interesting aspect of this frame, parts of the frame itself acts as the oil tank for the engine to slim down the build as much as possible. Those members become radiators of sorts due to their high surface area and low volume.
Right-way-up forks float the front end on 11.3 inches of travel with long, bellow-type gaiters to protect the swept area of the inner fork tube and its associated seal from damage. The front comes with the full trinity of tweaks, while out back it has compression damping and preload adjustments only. The unprotected exhaust header mounts fairly high to keep it safe while also having it well-exposed to the incoming cooling air stream.
Laced wheels boost its off-road chops with a terrain-busting 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear, and come ready for rim-lock use if you want to mount hoops with more aggressive treads. Braking falls to a single, 250 mm front disc and twin-pot caliper, with a 220 mm disc and single-piston anchor out back.
Chassis & Suspension | |
|---|---|
Frame | Thin chrome-moly steel |
Front Suspension/ Travel | Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped, adjustable damping force/ 11.3 in |
Rear Suspension/ Travel | Link type, coil spring, oil damped, adjustable spring preload and damping force/ 11.6 in |
Rake | 27° 10' |
Trail | 4.21 in |
Front Wheel | New blacked-out spoked aluminum |
Rear Wheel | New blacked-out spoked aluminum |
Front Tire | 80/100-21 M/C 51P, tube type |
Rear Tire | 120/90-18 M/C 65P, tube type |
Front Brake | 250 mm disc, single rotor |
Rear Brake | 220 mm disc, single rotor |
2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S Price And Availability
The 2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S costs $7,099. You can choose between the traditional Champion Yellow No. 2 with blue graphics, or the Solid Black colorways with yellow graphics.
Pricing & Features | |
|---|---|
Features | LCD instrumentation, Halogen lighting |
Warranty | 12-Month Limited Warranty |
Colors | |
└ 2016 | Solid Black/Solid Iron Gray |
└ 2017 | Solid Special White No. 2, Solid Iron Gray |
└ 2018, 2019 | Solid Special White No. 2 |
└ 2020 | Solid Black |
└ 2021, 2022 | Solid Iron Gray/ Solid Black |
└ 2023 | Champion Yellow No. 2, Solid Black |
Price | |
└ 2016, 2017 | $6,599 |
└ 2018 | $6,699 |
└ 2019 | $6,749 |
└ 2020 | $6,799 |
└ 2021 | $6,899 |
└ 2022 | $6,999 |
└ 2023 | $7,099 |
Competitors
Suzuki has plenty of competition from close aboard. Longtime domestic foes Yamaha and Kawasaki both have models that are close enough in comparison to share the same slice of the market.
Yamaha low balls the power delivery with a smaller, 249 cc powerplant in the XT250 that puts out 19 ponies and 14 pounds o' grunt, and has only the obligatory spring-preload out back and 8.9/7.1 inches of travel at the front and rear respectively. This lesser performance is also less expensive at only $5,299, but it's a lot less bike at the end of the day.
Kawasaki also has a viable entry with its KLX 300 dual-sport model. Suspension is closer with 10 inches of travel up front and 9.1 out back, but only has adjustable compression damping up front. Out back, it has 9.1 inches of travel along with adjustable rebound damping and spring preload.
The 292 cc engine produces 33 horses and 21 pounds of grunt (est) to also fall short with less of a price buffer at $5,899 to start. Again, it's a matter of how much bike for the buck, and again Suzuki comes out on top for now.
He Said
“Suzuki has a real go-anywhere bike on its hands here. Even with the street knobbies, it has good performance on soft surfaces and rough terrain. You can ride on the blacktop to and from your stomping grounds, but this bike really shines once the black turns to brown.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,
“This isn't comfortable as a street bike, so it's less of a commuter and more of a fun-in-the-dirt bike. Heading up the road to get to the trailhead is fine, but you'll want a gel seat if your trips are longer than that.”
“That aside, it's a nice bike. It's a bit tall for us height-challenged folks, but that is unavoidable when you want that high ground clearance and long-stroke suspension which is fully adjustable front and rear.”
“The 21-inch front wheel tells you, yeah, it wants to be in the dirt. It's a fun bike. Sure it's not very high-tech with its LCD instrumentation, halogens, and carburetor, but it's a dual sport meant to be off-road. The only other thing I could wish for when I'm out in the woods would be a kickstarter.”
FAQ
Q: Is the Suzuki DR-Z400S street legal?
The DR-Z400S has the mirrors, required lighting, and tag holder to satisfy traffic regulations to make the DR-Z400S street legal.
Q: How much does a Suzuki DR-Z400 cost?
MSRP for the 2023 DR-Z400S is $7,099. The more street-oriented DR-Z400SM starts at $7,799.
Q: What is the difference between the DR-Z400S and the DR-Z400SM?
The chief difference between Suzuki's off-road DR-Z400S and the street-oriented DR-Z400SM is in the front forks. The SM has inverted forks which, in turn, improves handling.
Q: How fast does a Suzuki DR-Z400 go?
The DR-Z400 top speed is 94 MPH. According to data collected by zeroto60times.com, the DR-Z400SM handles zero-to-60 in 4.5 seconds.
Q: How much horsepower does a Suzuki DR-Z400S have?
The liquid-cooled 398 cc engine in the DR-Z400S produces a claimed 39 horsepower and 29 pound-feet of torque.