Summary:

Yet another reason for first riders to find their true love in a dual-sport. The Suzuki DR-Z400S is a handy and surprisingly quick bike and is possibly one of our favourite dual-sports.

Engine Size: 398cc
Price (new): $7,799 CDN/$6,099 USD
Comparable bikes: Yamaha WR250X, Suzuki DR200SE, Yamaha TW200, Yamaha XT250, Honda CRF230M

Our Suzuki DR-Z2400S Review:

It really says a lot about a motorcycle when the manufacturer truly believes in it. Not sure what we mean? Suzuki made a supermoto version of the DR-Z400S. Just as Honda has made race versions of its CBR600RR, as has Yamaha with the R6 and R1, Suzuki took the plunge and made a hopped up version of the DR-Z400S.

There’s plenty of reasons why, but the bottom line here is due to one simple fact: The Suzuki DR-Z400S is one helluva bike. The 400cc engine packs plenty of power. Where other, smaller bikes may have a hard time getting going in the low RPM, the DR-Z400S just starts rolling. Popping the front tire up is easy to do, and it’s lightweight enough that even beginner riders will enjoy experimenting with the bike and testing their limits.

That’s also a bad thing, as new riders may find themselves growing overconfident due to the immense capabilities of this bike. Sure, it’s only 400cc, and yes, it only has 5 speeds, but that does not mean that it’s a “baby bike” by any means. The DR-Z400S can be ridden just as deftly off-road as it can on the road.

Riders will appreciate the abundance of low-end power, and a 10.0L tank (including reserve) means that you won’t need to stop every half an hour for fuel. Riders should be able to grab at least 250 kilometers per tank from this bike.

It is a bit pricey, coming in a few thousand more than comparable dual-sports reviewed here (Yamaha TW200, Suzuki DR200SE), but its completely justified given the capabilities of this bike.

The Bottom Line:

On road or off road, the Suzuki DR-Z400S is a very competent bike that any rider – new and experienced alike – will appreciate. New riders need to watch out initially, as the DR-Z400S packs a bit more low-end punch than you might expect.