Suzuki DR-Z250 reviews

I picked up my bike Monday this week and haven't ridden a motorbike in over 20 years (pushing late 30s). Researched bikes for about three months zoomed in for a while on KTM's 640 Adventure, Husky's TE610 and sm610, passing interest in Suzuki UNTIL I started reading user reviews. The KTM's are too heavy and expensive for a "first" bike; the Husky's have a spotty reliability record (best looking bikes of the group, though). But the more I researched, the more I realized that the Suzuki DR-Z is THE strong, reliable (very important to me) and AWESOME performer of the pack. So made my trip to the dealer, paid the guy, put on my helmet, and rode into some of the most challenging traffic in my small city. WHAT A THRILL RIDE. I expected to be a bit underwhelmed by the power - I was totally wrong. This bike rolled to 80 mph in no time at all. Handles like nothing I have ever experienced before - tight, agile, responsive, and best of all, quick. I have absolutely no regrets and got a great deal. I know it's early in my ownership, but I love this bike. I can accelerate, shift, weave, brake, and ride with confidence. I guarantee that performance has more to do with the bike than the rider, at this point. Looking forward to putting a couple thousand fun filled (and reliable!) miles on the ODO this year. Show less

After returning to motorcycling after 30 years I'm really glad I started riding again on this bike. It has plenty of spunk for a lightweight bike and it's easy to handle. I used it to practice riding "the cones course" as a prelude to taking my motorcycle license exam and was glad I did. Fifty percent of the people taking the test were riding cruisers and almost every one of them flunked the test. It seems like only those riding sport bikes or dual sports passed because of the more responsive handling aspects and smaller size of these bikes.
I was also glad I bought the Dual sport because I have plenty of legally ride-able trails in my area that I can get to by driving a short distance on asphalt. By being street legal, I don't have to load my bike into the back of my truck just to get to the trails.
The 2005 Suzuki DR-Z400S is great for short trips around town or riding the dirt roads. Great clearance and suspension that is able to handle a heavyweight like me. It's also perfect for taller riders. In fact, several of my friends that I've offered to ride the bike can't comfortably straddle the bike at a standstill. The rear suspension can be lowered, but I like it as it is because it's nice and high. One of my friends has described the seat as like sitting on a fence post. It really is uncomfortable at first and it takes some getting used to. For about the first week of owning it my butt went to sleep after about 30 minutes in the saddle. However, I must have toughened up because I don't notice it for up to an hour now. I know there are upgrade seats you can get for it, but I haven't bothered. Besides, while riding in the dirt you are standing on the pegs half the time anyway.
Even though others say it's good at 60 - 65 mph, I feel that at those speeds the bike is pretty unstable. don't let them convince you that this is a highway cruiser because it's not. Windblast from larger vehicles should definitely be considered, and it blows around pretty well on a windy day. But on the asphalt of twisty side roads, and in the dirt it's great fun.
So far I get about 110 miles on a tank of gas before I have to switch to reserve and head for a gas station. This translates to anywhere between 50 - 70 mpg depending on how hard I push this little one cylinder and on what terrain. I'm now looking for a larger, more comfortable highway bike for commuting to work. However, I'm definitely going to keep the DR-Z400S for weekend fun. Show less

I am 15 and have had this bike a little over 2 years and it has held up to some of the gnarliest crashes. I used to live in West Virginia and rode five times a week. I rode over near vertical hills, mud as sticky as syrup and rocks 2-3 feet tall! This bike is awesome for the beginning teen or learning. It has plenty of power for those long hills and great gas mileage for long trips. I would definitely recommend this bike! Show less

I was told when looking for the best dual sport on the market by Honda and Yamaha dealers that the 04 Suzuki DRZ 400s is 80/20 dirt /street and therefore the best one out for there for a majority dirt rider who occasionally needed to run on the street to buy a forgotten item while camping. I have since ridden over 2500 miles of desert, mountain and forest and it's been great. I of course have spent for stronger springs, jetting, pipe, gearing, and a new UFO rear fender assembly, engine case covers, and skid plate and to those of you thinking of buying this bike just be aware she's heavy stock (280lbs) and takes a little upper body build if you like to ride above tooling around on access roads. She really gets up and charges like a 400 should. Only one thing I can say I think the Suzuki Corp. dropped the ball on. It doesn't have a kick-start, that's right, electric only. Now I know you're thinking, "So, what's the big deal?" Well let one of those 150lb engineers try bump starting this puppy in the flats of the Mojave desert when the battery or starter decides it's time for a "Murphy Law" after a rest stop! Still, I'm a happy camper. Show less

Best dually for the green. After market pipe a must for highway speed. All and all this is the bike I wish they built 20yrs ago. I ride dirt gravel and black top, it does it all well. Some bark busters and a good slip on maybe some shorter turn signals as to not knocking 'em off in every tight woods would be a good step also. I plan to keep this ride until I'm old enough to go low and slow (i.e., cruiser). 40 isn't old. I ride a 04 model and I'm sure it will run for a long time. I feel like a kid again Show less

I wanted something to compliment my SV-650, so I bought a KLR-650. I was at the shop picking up some parts and they had a close out special on a 2003 DR-Z400S. The deal was too good to pass up. I bought the bike and once I got home it only took me 30 minutes to know I had to get rid of my KLR-650. This bike is much faster and much smoother. It is just a lot of fun to dink around on and it goes anywhere. The 60-65 mph cruising speed and 45-55 MPG make it just perfect. Show less

Fantastic dual sport! A little buzzy on the street at speed, but corners and leans like crazy even with knobbies. On the dirt it's great! That is until you ride a real dirt bike without the dreaded CV carb and big weight of the DRZ. But hey, it's a dual sport and excels at what it is designed to do. Drop a tooth on the counter sprocket & open up the air box/jet and it will turn it to a wheelie machine. Bike is so great all around, I sold my sport bike and power cruiser because I never ride them now. Show less

I loved the bike's handling in stock form but was not happy with the performance. I had many performance mods planned but after putting on a Leovince slip-on and re-jetting (not required, but I would suggest it) the bike now runs and sounds like it should. I originally used the quiet insert but it sounded to close to stock - still, a good increase in power. However, I put the loud insert in and it sounds like a healthy 4 stroke. It will now do roll on wheelies in 2nd gear and easily pull to 100. I also put on hand guards and a UFO fender to clean up the back. The one word all my sport-bike friends say after they ride it is "fun". It is also fun waiting up for them! Show less

This bike is awesome for pit bike racing. The only downfall on this bike is the suspension... It needs stiffer and longer suspension. I always bottom out in tight berms. But overall this bike Rocks! Show less

I bought a DRZ400 about a month ago. The bike runs perfectly and handles any terrain you want to tackle. It's not that bad on the street, either. I only gave the perfromance and comfort 4 stars because the stock seat is very uncomfortable and the stock tires will put you in the dirt. I replaced the seat with the gel seat and added a set of decent dirt tires and it is awesome. If you want a fun bike at a great price, I would strongly recommend it. If you're looking at getting your first bike this is a decnet choice as well. The new seat makes the bike comfortable but also makes it lower to the ground. Also, the brakes are excellent on this bike, the rear brake is pretty much all you need but in a sticky situation the front brake will stop you on a dime. Show less