i have just go back into biking after quite a long layoff and have bought myself one of the old oilcooled gsxrs,but having ridden it around a bit i find it a bit uncomfortable on my wrists,
so i have been looking in to getting myself a supermotard, to be exact a drz400 which has been tricked up into a supermotard, what i want to know is can anyone give me some advice, or tell me the pros and cons of living with a supermotard???
i.e will i get bored with the lack of power or acceleration,but taking int consideration that i mainly ride around town or in the urban enviroment?
Hey Streetgang. I have a DRZ 400, and whilst it’s not currently in supermoto form, I am actively in the process of making it so. Here’s my comments:
Pros:
Very comfortable
Very light
Very cheap
Very good fun
Cons:
Poor tank range (70 miles)
Poor top speed (~90mph depending on gearing)
It WILL make you a bit of a hooligan, how much depends on your personality. At the minimum you will find yourself riding over kerbs, pavements, bushes, dirt tracks and any other obstacle, at the maximum it’ll make you a complete stunt-monkey, pulling monster wheelies everywhere (they are amazing stunt bikes).
My DRZ is a second-bike, I use it for shorter rides where I want to have simple fun, without worrying about the other, costlier bike being parked up somewhere. I personally couldn’t have it as a primary bike, as the lack of top-end speed would most likely put a damper on things, but this bike is not to be underestimate, it is INCREDIBLY versitile, and hugely fun. It’s exceptionally cheap to run and insure, will never let you down and can put a lot of sportsbikers to shame through town (and scooters, it has the turning circle of one). Overtaking sportsbikers, on one wheel, when it’s snowing is not to be underestimated, it is sooooooo cool.
The riding position is very comfortable, as your back is straight and the bars high. It’s also very tough, you can drop this bike and not even notice, especially when kitted out with Acerbis metal-braced hand guards. Revenge on white-van-mans wing mirrors is sweet, at times.
Suzuki make a DRZ 400 SM version of the bike now, which means you can get a fully kitted out supermoto version of the bike from the dealer. They also happen to be available in an extremely attractive black/silver paint scheme. I want one.
You can get around most short-comings, such as the poor tank-range by fitting a larger capacity, after-market item and the gearing can be lengthened to make it better at higher speeds. I think the easiest way to get an idea of whether or not this is for you, is to book a test-ride on the SM model at a dealership.
You can pick up a ~2001 enduro model for about £2500, then spend £500-700 converting it to supermoto. I don’t know how much the 2005 SM version is.
thanks for the info jay … the cons are pretty much what i thought of i.e lack of top end speed
but i am going to keep my old gsxr as i think it will eventually apperciate in value. and i can use it for longer motorway trips,
but i have taken the leap and bought myself a drz supermoto today!!!
it was orginally a std drz in off road trim but someone has fitted excel wheels, wavy discs,braided hoses, ohlins spring’s in the front forks and a enduro trim back end
just have to think of a way to tell the wife when she gets home from work!!!
well the streetgang household has calmed down, it’s been an ‘interesting’ night but a trip to marks spencer food hall and the florist seems to have done the trick!!!
i am picking the bike up on friday after work, so depending on the weather i’ll try to get some pictures up then, or i might be out to play on it!!!
Nice one streetgang, I think a supermoto and sports bike are a great combo, especially as I’ve got them. You’ll love it, I found I wasn’t to sure about it till I got it out of town and found out what it can do.
Top tip: if you want to loose the big mirors as they are not cool/vibrate can’t see anything, whatever. Whip them off and stick some blind spot mirros on the bars, nice and tidy.
It’s a slip-on, so it’s the can and the link-pipe. It doesn’t include the headers. It cost about £280 and is the best thing I have bought for the DRZ, it’s loud, but not too loud, it just sounds badass. There’s no rejetting required either. It makes the engine breath better, releasing what feels like a few ponies, improving pick-up from the bottom-end.
Unfortunately my **** of a neighbour damaged it not too long ago, grr.
well what can i say the drz is a very diffrent riding experience to all the other bikes i’ve owned
after getting used to the engine charateristics, it’s a right laugh around town, cant belive how much easier it is to ride in an urban area, when you havnt got your nose buried into the clocks!
you can actually sit up and look at whats going on!!!
and the brakes! this must have the best brake set up that i have ever used!
cant wait to get my self a new pipe and try to liberate a few extra bhp!! + make it a bit louder!!!
Ah, it looks beautiful Streetgang! I’m really glad for you, it’s a great bike. I would ditch the mirrors though, they slow the bike down, believe it or not, and as you’re upright, it’s so easy to just turn to look behind you. Riding these bikes in town is so easy, isn’t it!?
I think they are better than scooters, as they’re faster, turn on a sixpence, and have way more style/agression Cezar won’t like me say that though, hehe.
A pipe will make a big difference for sure, though I’m left wondering why anyone would want to sell this bike in the first place! They’re the sort of bikes you keep for years, until they go bang, as they’re so reliable and versitile. Also, I wish my DRZ looked this tidy, it’s so clean!
well ihave to say i would like a litle bit more f***off power away from the lights,
i bought the bike from west london suzuki and the guy before me had only done 1800miles in nearly two years, so the bike is only just broken in, but that ‘braking’ caliper is the bolloks!
the mirrors have got to come off but belive it or not since moving out from my parents place the only tool i own is a leatherman!!!
It’s hardly been used! Get down to Halfords and buy up their Professional range of tools, every man should have a big box of tools, it makes you feel complete
did it take you a while to adjust your riding style? i.e with the engine only being a single?
mine seems to make a sort of splutering, juddering, noise/feel then it sort of clears itself and it pulls away very strongly, is that usual for this type or is something wrong with mine?
No, it’s not normal, it should pull cleanly from the bottom. If it’s been standing around for a while, things could be gummed up, so it could well be worth servicing the carbs, making sure the fuel is all new, the fuel filter clean, that the air-filter is clean and properly lubricated, and that the spark plug is good, and things like this. They’re simple engines though, very little goes wrong with them, and with a Haynes manual, you can do anything in your front-room with them, partner-permitting
Riding wise, it didn’t take time to adjust, but it did take time to learn to have absolute confidence to ride the tits off it everywhere. I had help from Rod though, who’s been riding these bikes for donkies. He’s taken me off-road and let me fall about a lot and get used to abusing the bike.
