Suzuki Dirt Bike reviews

This is an excellent bike, however, for the last 1,200 of the 8,200 miles, it's developed an annoying screaming noise coming from the front end. The dealership I bought it from cannot find the problem. They've checked wheel bearings, brakes, tires, etc. I thought it could've been the speedometer cable but apparently it's electronic. Several things have been done to rule out wind noise, also given it's sporatic nature. Does anyone have a clue what this could be? Show less

I picked up this gem as a leftover model from 2008 in 2012 for 5k. All in all the bike is probably one of the best if not the best all-around bikes you can get. I've outridden Goldwings and Harleys on this thing with no problems and for being just a 650 it hauls my fat self around fast and nimble. Other than a few issues concerning the fuel system, one of which was already fixed by ASK(fuel gauge wasn't working due to sitting in old gas) and the gas tank not venting (will be contacting them tomorrow), I have zero complaints with the bike. Other than that, it can possibly roll off of the kickstand (tried twice with me but caught it both times) and the lack of aftermarket parts for it. Show less

I have been riding since I was a kid and have owned too many bikes over the years and I have to say that Suzuki is a quality product. I recently purchased this bike and instantly fell in love with it. I was looking for a dual sport that would favor dirt riding more than street but be able to get to the trails without a problem. The DR-Z400E fits the bill. The previous owner outfitted this machine with everything that I could ever want which makes it an amazing desert bike but at a low cost. I will keep this one for a long time. Show less

I can't comment on the reliability, since I just got it, but I can tell you that I have ridden all brands and sizes of motorcycles since I was 14 yrs old...36 years ago, and this is the nicest handling cruiser I have ever ridden (handles like a sports bike). The 650cc has plenty of power, and I felt instantly comfortable, turns are a breeze. I take issue with others who say this is a "Beginner Bike". I am no beginner, I am an older rider with serious arthritic issues. Any excess weight on a bike is just something I don't need. I can back, park, turn, maneuver this S40 with no assistance. and cruise 75 mph. on the highway, effortlessly, and turns are no problem. It's just dang fun to ride!!!!! Seriously, I chose this bike over a Harley Dyna and am glad I did. My only complaint is the popping noise the big single piston engine makes upon down shifting. The sound may go away with time I'm told. It doesn't hurt anything, I'm assured, or I could change the exhaust. Suzuki really should take care of this problem. I called the dealership and found out it's very common, and not just with Suzuki, other makes do it, too. But I say, Suzuki! Fix it and make this The Perfect Bike!! Show less

Mine's a C50C I turned into a C50CT. I bought this bike in '07 new. I had carburated bikes before but this is my first bike with the combination I wanted - fuel injection, water cooled, shaft drive and Mag rims/tubeless tires. The only problem I have ever had is a small brake issue after swapping to a new set of rubber and turn signal lenses coming apart. Both are small issues barely mentionable. This bike has never failed to start, never stalled on downshift, nothing. I also purchased it with intentions of moving up in a couple of years and since decided it's all I will need. The aftermarket Mustang seat will make my butt numb after a while but I am used to it now. I will get a tingle in my feet and hands after a while at 80 mph. but I'm used to that, also. There's plenty of power for me 2-up and fuel economy in the mid 40's. I love this bike's fuel injection and would not have a bike without it now. I trust it enough to make a cross country trip on it soon and not think twice. It is a great bike for the price - I'm satisfied. Show less

Well I've been looking at the Bandit for some time now and finally bought one. What a machine. I've had many bikes and I seem to circle back to the inline 4s. The riding comfort is not bad as far as the stock seat is concerned but the windshield needs to be replaced. I ordered the OEM touring screen which should improve things a little. I heard that the stock screen was terrible but I didn't think it was that bad as others have said. I think just a slightly taller screen would suit me well. I changed the oil when I got home. I like to change the oil right away (36 miles) not at 600 like the book says to. There is way too much fine metal in the oil that the filter misses in that short period of time. Read the "Motorman" site to see what I mean. I don't break in the motor like he suggests but I do see his point regarding the oil. Anyway I'm glad to get the bike and if you are thinking of getting one, don't hesitate. It's a fine machine. Show less

I haven't ridden in 27 years. I looked for a bike that fit what I needed. This bike is a great cruiser. I haven't added anything to it yet but am sure I will. The guys at the dealership were great and easy to work with. Ride on all!!! Show less

This is the first bike I have ever full-out owned. Everything else has been family or friend or borrowed, etc. I've financed it, and let me tell you, I was nervous. I wanted a 125 dirt bike to learn on, yet I drooled over GiSXRs and the great sexy Hayabusa might. I worried that my friends with Harleys would "laugh" at my little 400. I worried about my ability to take it to the next level and become an official on-road rider. This bike has not let me down. It has been great! It has enough power to scare you on day one, but you soon get comfy with it and it is really a nice balance. It is more than enough for the dirt or the trails. Most of my experience has been fairly flat desert riding, but I'm yearning for some hill-country trails. It handles super at high speeds off-road. It eats up the bumps and jumps. On-road it handles beautifully until about 75 mph. After that it starts to wobble a little but it's not at all unstable, just the source of my -4 for quality. It's not a German or Italian bike. Every little piece was not machined by a magical elf. There is some play here and there and some mold marks, but hey, I also didn't pay German or Italian money! I knew what I was buying and have no complaints. It's merely an honest expression of fact. It is very light so it will take some definite wind damage when it blows. Riding 30 feet of the back of tractor trailer at 65 mph. is a blast on a dry sunny day! It's terror on a rainy night! Although the wind does blow you a bit, it is light enough to easily correct. It's not for old men, but not too difficult to tolerate either. Also, the seat is not cosmic comfort. That is definitely not for old men. Aftermarket seats are available. Your mileage may vary! For a local commute, it's no biggie. On the trail, you're standing a lot anyways. But I would not take a ride to Austin on this thing, without additional padding! I have not truly topped it out, but from the looks of it, it might make 100 mph., in stock form. But it is very happy at 60-85 mph. which is more than enough for commuting and letting loose a little after work! At about 88 mph. the power just kind of stops and it inches up to at least 96 mph. I felt like it had a few more mph., but I was running low on runway! It is not a bike you buy for speed. You buy it for versatility. It's a bit of a Swiss Army Knife of bikes. Having and riding a bike already gives you this terrific sense of freedom, but this literally double that sense! Now you can go off-road for fun or crash avoidance, and you can easily cut the median in a construction or traffic jam situation. Try that on a GSXR-1000 and see if you don't end up buying a mirror and a fairing?! This bike is tall! I don't know how close to record-tall, but it is freaking tall! I have managed to drop it five times in the first two weeks, but none the second two weeks. My drops we're all stationary or stopping-starting: once I hesitated at the top of a small steep incline, stalled it (my fault for not clutching) and was not able to catch footing to stabilize it for restart before it was heading for the ground. I did something real similar on the same obstacle a few minutes later. It chug chug chugs real deep, but when it finally does stall, it's a hair sooner than the engine sound would have you expect and POOF! it's out like a light. I always just feel like it's got a few more RPMs until stall, then BANG! 317 lbs. is a light motorcycle but a heavy dirtbike! Just let it go down! Hold the bars straight to protect the mirrors and clutch/brake but just let it go on down. It is so tall, you won't get the leverage to stop it, you'll just hurt your back. It's no biggie. Nothing harmed. The tank is skinny. Nothing hangs off that can be damaged. No real fairings. It has a nice ding to the bar-ends and a scratch on the the rear axle-end, but mostly just to my pride! Another drop was in my front yard. It is so tall that trying to turn it around on your toes is just stupid. Get off and walk it right quick. It will save you from hearing the neighbors laughter! Another drop was in my garage, I just noobed and forgot the kickstand. I barely made this mistake, I caught what I did almost immediately, like at 5 degress of tip, but at such a height, all I could do was sing 40 words of praise to myself as it fell excruciatingly slow to the floor! It's a long way down! I did order the Kouba Link DRZ-2 lowering dogbones for the suspension to drop it 1 1/4 inches ($70 direct). However, by the time it arrived in the mail, I agreed with all the service techs and experienced riders, I no longer wanted to lower it. I had gotten used to it and it was kind of cool. The kickstand is so massively stable that I mount the bike from the peg while it is still parked. The dirt-bike suspension settles several inches lower than it sits when unloaded, and everything suddenly feels fine. don't let a one minute sit in the showroom scare you away from this bike, you get used to its height quickly. But also, when you buy it, just go ahead and drop it on the ground right there. Just tell everyone around that that is what you intend to do and drop the thing, because you will drop it! Just get it over with! The only other negative I can think of is the gas tank. 2.6 gallons is freakin' small, but 65 mpg. is awesome. I'm getting more like 45-50 because I can't stop winding it out and riding it in less than optimal conditions, but it still beats the heck out of a big V-Twin or a 4cyl sport bike on fuel economy. Do not buy a 250 street bike. They are just too small for the freeway. They're great for learning or for a parade, but terrible for commuting. I bought this as a balanced alternative to a bike I couldn't afford and a bike I was afraid I would feel underwhelmed by. I have not been let down. I have disclosed a lot of negatives here, but that's human nature. Ultimately, I love this bike! It's really a great efficient commuter, and if you're feeling frisky, you can pull a U-wey and go back and explore that dirt lane into the brush you passed back there. You've got time on the way home, right? Options are awesome! If you are thinking about this being a best-of-both-worlds option, it is! I really love this bike and don't regret buying for a second! Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps! Show less

This is my third bike and I have yet to find anything that could be considered a fault. It's reliable, comfortable, strong and good looking. If only I had time to ride it more! Show less

I was riding an XR80 for three years and out grew it in skill and size. So I found a used DRZ125L for $600 that was blown up. I rebuilt it for around $150 with a Wisco piston kit. The kit increased the compression to 11:1. After it was done the bike was so fun to ride I ran three tanks in a week. It was slow due to the extremely restrictive exhaust and intake. After a KX100 carb, Pro-Tec exhaust and air box mods, this bike had enough power to get into 5th gear up hill. The only other thing I didn't like was the stock fork springs because they were way to soft. I am an agressive rider so if you are just trail riding they are perfect. Show less