Reviews

2021 Suzuki DR-Z400SM MC Commute Review

A review of Suzuki’s tough and street-legal supermoto in the 2021 DR-Z400SM.

Updated: January 19, 2021

Budget-minded riders that want to have urban fun, without breaking the bank will appreciate Suzuki’s DR-Z400SM. Built around Suzuki’s tried-and-true DR-Z dual-sport bike, the SM version trades its dual-purpose off-road setup for a road going configuration for those who want to slice through traffic and carve corners on the weekend. In this episode of MC Commute we swing a leg over Suzuki’s purposely retro street-legal supermoto. Tune-in and see what it’s like to ride.

Suzuki continues to offer its affordable $7,499 DR-Z400SM street-legal supermoto bike for US consumption.Adam Waheed

2021 Suzuki DR-Z400SM Technical Specifications And Price

PRICE	$7,499 as tested
ENGINE	398cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled single; 4-valve
BORE x STROKE	90.0 x 62.6mm
COMPRESSION RATIO	11.3:1
FUEL DELIVERY	Mikuni BSR36 carburetor
CLUTCH	Wet multiplate; cable actuation
TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE	5-speed/chain
FRAME	Steel
FRONT SUSPENSION	49mm inverted Showa fork, compression and rebound damping adjustable; 10.2 in. travel
REAR SUSPENSION	Hydraulic Showa shock, spring preload, compression, and rebound damping adjustable; 10.9 in. travel
FRONT BRAKE	Axial-mount 2-piston caliper, floating 300mm disc
REAR BRAKE	1-piston caliper, 240mm disc
WHEELS, FRONT/REAR	Die-cast aluminum; 17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 4.5 in.
TIRES, FRONT/REAR	Dunlop Sportmax D208; 120/70-17 / 140/70-17
RAKE/TRAIL	26.2°/3.7 in.
WHEELBASE	57.5 in.
SEAT HEIGHT	35.0 in.
FUEL CAPACITY	2.6 gal.
WET WEIGHT	322 lb.
WARRANTY	1-year, unlimited-mileage limited warranty
AVAILABLE	Now
CONTACT	suzukicycles.com

The DR-Z400SM is powered by Suzuki’s tried and true 398cc liquid-cooled single. The engine is good for 32-horsepower at the rear Dunlop.Adam Waheed

Purposefully retro. The Suzuki DR-Z400SM isn’t trying to be retro. It is by design having been released in the early 2000s as a street-legal supermoto.Adam Waheed

The DR-Z400SM trades a 21/18-inch wheel combo for a set of 17-inch Excel wheels. The wheels have tubes and are shod with Dunlop’s Sportmax D208 supermoto rubber.Adam Waheed

The DR-Z400SM offers a lower seat height versus the DR-Z400S. There are also passenger pegs so you can bring a friend along for the ride.Adam Waheed

The DR-Z400SM also gets a larger diameter front brake to help slow the 322-pound bike from a top speed of just over 90 mph.Adam Waheed

Simple and reliable. Compared to other manufacturer’s big-displacement singles, the DR-Z offers a stretched maintenance schedule with recommended oil service every 4,000 miles.Adam Waheed

Those looking for an affordable retro-themed urban motorcycle will do well with the 2021 Suzuki DR-Z400SM.Adam Waheed

Simple LCD instrumentation keeps tabs on the DR-Z’s vitals. Riders can recalibrate the speedometer/odometer function based on larger (or smaller) circumference of aftermarket tires.Adam Waheed