The One Bike That Excels At Both Weekend Fun And Daily Riding
In the past, manufacturers were quite happy to give us a host of specialized motorcycles, all able to do one thing particularly well. This strategy worked pretty well. Selling more than one bike to a customer obviously doesn’t harm profits, and owning more than one motorcycle is an attractive option for any enthusiast that can afford it. Unfortunately, most of us can no longer afford to own more than one bike, and there is currently a growing demand for more versatile motorcycles.
The Rebirth Of The Lightweight Supermoto
On the face of it, putting street tires on a lightweight dual-sport bike may seem a little odd to the outside observer. But anyone who has owned one of these smaller-capacity dual-sport bikes will attest to the fact that they can be pretty fun to ride on a tighter mountain road. While their dirt-bike-derived chassis and soft suspension setups don’t aid handling, they are extremely light and flickable.
A set of 17-inch wheels with street tires and a firmer suspension is all you really need to transform them into genuinely fun little motorcycles. This concept caught on back in the early 00s, then almost disappeared up until recently. Some new players arrived on the scene somewhat unexpectedly, and this demanded a response from one of the manufacturers that has been around since the very beginning.
The Suzuki DRZ-4SM Is More Versatile Than One Might Think
MSRP: $8,999
Traditionally, fun bikes are not usually all that practical. But in the case of the DR-Z4SM, pragmatism actually comes first, before the fun. It offers a reliable, economical single, and, like any supermoto, is based on a dual-sport for comfortable ergonomics. It is an ideal sort of commuter bike, yet also has a wild side. One of the biggest differences between this and its archaic predecessor is its fully adjustable suspension, which certainly takes its canyon carving potential to another level.
A Brand New Fuel-Injected Single-Cylinder Engine Is Present
Power: 38 Horsepower
The fact that we need to highlight the fact that Suzuki finally gave the bike fuel injection is somewhat comical. It only serves to underscore just how long it has been since this platform has been given the time of day. The lump also has new internals and a ride-by-wire throttle, but in an effort to meet global emissions restrictions, it actually ended up making slightly less power than the outgoing model (albeit only two horsepower less), and that wasn’t the only thing that got people talking.
There’s No 6th Gear, Though
We can only imagine that it was a financial decision to leave the old 5-speed transmission in place. While this might be forgivable on the dual-sport model, it really is a bit of an oversight for supermoto riders. Anyone coming off another street bike with six gears will constantly be shifting up into nothing. It is obviously something you will eventually get used to, but it does make the bike stand out, for the wrong reasons. Which is a shame, because this only serves to detract from what is an otherwise impressive package.
A Host Of Modern Features Bring The DR-Z Into The 21st Century
It is no exaggeration that the DR-Z400 was stuck in the 90s, but the latest update has well and truly brought the bike into the 21st century. The fact that it now has a ride-by-wire throttle allows for ride modes, but that is not the most interesting addition. It also gets adjustable traction control and switchable ABS. The fact that all these safety features are present opens the bike up to new riders, and the fact that everything can be turned off gives more experienced riders the freedom to have a little fun under the right conditions.
As much as the addition of modern tech is welcome, it certainly is not the model’s key point of difference. It now has fully adjustable KYB-supplied suspension at both the front and rear. This is a huge point of difference, and is actually what you would be paying for if you were to choose this over any of the cheaper bikes. The new suspension and all the tech add a little weight (at 340 pounds, the DR-Z4SM is still a very light motorcycle), but it is the base price that is most affected.
The Cost Of Admission Is Rather High
Ever since it came out, we have all been trying to figure out exactly who the DR-Z4SM is for. While approachable in terms of performance, its seat height of 35 inches will feel a little intimidating for anyone under 6 feet tall. It also costs more than anyone really expected it would, and $9k is far more than most new riders are willing to pay. You certainly could make an argument for this being the kind of bike you buy once and keep forever.
But we can’t help but feel that this is a niche model that exists for a particular kind of rider. It is not and can never be a competition-level supermoto. That is not what it was designed for. It was designed, at least as far as we can tell, for more experienced riders who want something they can trust to handle the daily commute, and the odd canyon run over the weekend with minimal maintenance requirements.
All the alternatives are either more powerful and far more expensive to both own and run, or cheap, cheerful, and gutless. The KTM 390 SMC R might be the one exception, but the main reason it is so affordable is that it makes use of a slightly heavier street bike chassis. It is also a KTM, and that comes with its own set of peculiarities.
What you get with the DR-Z4SM is a kind of “Goldilocks” model that sits right in the middle of the supermoto market. It backs up respectable performance with a dynamic, adjustable chassis setup, Japanese reliability, and street bike service intervals. For the precious few out there looking for something like this, it is the perfect motorcycle, and Suzuki is apparently not shy about charging for it.
Source: Suzuki Cycles
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