[eternal05]

Couldn’t resist. The dealer practically gave (yes, as in without me negotiating hard) it to me. Paid dealer invoice for it with the promise that I’d make them a few bucks in profit off parts (but still, they’re doing 25% off everything on Black Friday).

This new DR-Z400sm is a total hoot. It’s literally like riding a bicycle that goes fast when you crank the handlebar. It’s SO light that it took me literally 30 seconds to feel completely at home. Stopped at the usual parking lot and had the box down on the first try (again, because the bike is so easy to ride). I now have a second bike to offer as a heartfelt recommendation to newbies (though this one’s not so good for short people).

Anyway, here’s an obligatory pic to get things started:

[eon]

Congrats. Looks like a whole lot of fun.

Dang it, why is everyone getting new bikes apart from me. I’m turning Kawasaki green here.

[eternal05]

…they have a black one too

[CaptCrashIdaho]

GREAT BIKE. LOVE MINE.

Jealous though…like the white/barbwire look…

[eon]

Tempting, but the tiny gas tank puts me off. I need something that I can go touring on. I am really eyeing this

Slap some bags on there and I’m off to see the world! Or at least the NW part of it.

[eternal05]

But I may be copying you a bit Yours just looked like so much fun in your videos. If I hadn’t watched them, I don’t think I would have looked into the DR-Z any further.

[eternal05]

The new Versys is WAY better looking than the old one. That definitely looks like a great touring bike: many of the pros of a sportbike, but with softer ride, much more relaxed riding position, and a lot less fairing. I’m a fan.

Looking forward to seeing pics from you in the future…hopefully not too far

[JtownJJA]

they are both too tall for me. Congrats Eternal!

[eon]

Hoping to hold off till next summer but my newbikeitis keeps flaring up (reading this board does not help). Looking at my credit card statement is the painful medicine.
Anyway, thread hijack over.

[eon]

So did you trade in the Ninja? Looks like there are still 3 bikes in your garage. If they are giving away new bikes I’m thinking they are not keen on trade ins.

I met a chick on a DRZ back in March this year and it looked a great bike. She had modded the hell out of it and she said it was closer to a 600cc in terms of power. She kept up with the sportbikes on our ride to Mt St Helens. Hope you get the chance to go riding today. Looks awesome out there.

[eternal05]

I couldn’t. I wasn’t planning on jumping on the DR-Z so soon, and wasn’t ready to unload the Ninja yet. As much as I’m ready to move to a different bike, there’s a surprising amount of sentimental attachment to that little Ninja still lingering around. I still need to make a few videos as promised, so I’ll probably have it at least a few months after I graduate (so probably at least another 5-6 months from now).

I don’t know how she got it to even approach a 600cc bike, at least a sportbike anyway. It definitely has a lot of kick due to its low gearing and torquey little engine, and with 150ccs (more) and almost 100 lbs (less) on the Ninja, it’s definitely a big step up in low-end acceleration in the beginner bike department, but it’s still a 400cc single-cylinder machine. And yes, I sincerely hope I do get the chance to go riding today…better finish up my work so I can catch a block of rain-free time.

[eon]

Well, I don’t know if you can tell much from a picture but here is one I snapped of her bike. I have to say I really like the look of this bike.
(click for full size pic)

Hmmmph…I’m sitting here in a downtown high rise office block looking out at blue skies and snow capped mountains in the distance. Sadly I get paid by the hour so I need to sit here in my cubicle pretending to work for the rest of the day

[eternal05]

It’s funny. People have wildly different views on this, but I personally will have days where I don’t get squat done. It just wasn’t in the cards. I will always make up for it, but on certain days I just can’t put myself into task X. I HATE having to pretend for others’ sake, and I don’t envy you…hope the weather stays nice long enough for you to catch a ride later!

I haven’t had my bike for 24 hours yet, so I can’t say too much. Other than cosmetic changes, I notice she has aftermarket bars, front brake rotor, full exhaust, and I can’t tell, but she may also have modified or replaced her forks. The real trick with these bikes, however, is to make two basic mods: the “3×3 mod” and a re-jet, neither of which can be seen from the outside. The 3×3 mod essentially is just you taking a saw to the airbox’s intake hole. 3×3 refers to 3″ by 3″ hole; you enlarge it to allow more air flow into the airbox, which, combined with proper carb jetting, gives you a remarkable performance boost (supposedly). I’ll have to try it. Here’s a short vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtKWbs0N5lo

Kinda cool to watch even if you won’t own that bike ever. Another very common mod people seem to do with their DR-Zs is a big bore kit, usually bumping up to around 450cc or so. (A “big bore kit,” for those that don’t know, is basically just a modification to bore out the existing engine for greater displacement, but also requires that you get new cylinder heads to match the new diameter of each cylinder.). Even with all these mods, however, I don’t think many people get their DR-Zs higher than around 45hp on average or 60hp in extreme cases (i.e. with $15K worth of mods). The stock HP is around 35 (I think that’s measured at the crank, not at the wheels). In any case, even then you don’t begin to approach the 105+hp of a 600cc sportbike, though you do get pretty close to the 75hp or so of a 650cc twin like the SV650. Especially given that the DR-Z has almost 100 lbs on the SV, that 60hp might feel about the same.

Oh and also I forgot to mention that there’re fairly cheap (less than $200) aftermarket gas tanks that double the capacity of the stock tank, so if that was your only concern, Eon, you can definitely get around that. I’d imagine though that, like you said, you were looking to put bags on your next bike and make it a tourer, in which case the DR-Z is obviously not a great choice.

[CaptCrashIdaho]

Do the 3×3, do the FULL exhuast and Jet it. You’ll like it. I would offer changing the countersprocket (up 1) or the rear (Down a couple) for rev’s sake on the freeway.

Other than that you’re changing carbs, punching out the cylinder and stuff and I don’t think it’s a decent return on investment.

All my vids (so far) at http://www.youtube.com/captcrashidaho are on a DRZ with a 3×3, jets, and full exhaust, 39 tooth rear, Conti Force SM tires (cheaper than Dunnies but work great), acerbis fender, new bars…etc.

Did I mention that the DRZ is fun and easy to mod?

[eternal05]

Apart from greater performance gains, is there a reason you’re so insistent on a full system? Also, do you find the Ti (if that is what you have) to be on the loud side, or still within reason?

Finally, I imagine that changing the rear sprocket is fairly straightforward. Is there anything in particular to look for when selecting a replacement product?

[Author]

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