I totally get it. I own a DRZ400 and love it. However, a few days ago I was given the chance to test-ride a 450 EXC-F. And it was a REVELATION. It was my first time on a KTM 4 stroke, and it was pure BLISS. Incredible handling, suspension, lightness, and overall ride quality. A dream bike, my unicorn, if you will. I'm definitely also making the switch soon, but I wanna get really good with the DRZ first. Cheers.
I love my DRZ400 as you know Si, and your overview is absolutely spot on! The SM really doesn't have the right legs for offload use. I just love the reliability, low maintenance and downright willingness of the bike to want and do every kind of road/trail I throw at it. Shiplo
Absolutely. I really should buy an E or S, as I loved my old DRZ, but with 6 other bikes in the garage already, I'll just have to look back with fond memories!
Absolutely. I wonder what the future holds for the DRZ400, given the new Euro 5 regs. Either it will disappear, or Suzuki will revamp it, in which case we might see a new improved version here in the UK
@@SongsFromTheSaddle Euro5 is only for us poor Europeans as far as I am aware? America/ Australia have their own standards and will continue to have them for now, with exciting new stickers/ graphics stuck to an otherwise ancient bike :). A fuel injected modern version would be nice, but by the time they ad on all the gubbins - it's going to get a lot heavier (than it already is!).
I own both the DRZ E and SM. And now also a KTM 450 excf. In Australia,, the DRZ's are still sold new (2024). But I will sell both DRZ's. The KTM just does everything better. My son and I have our KTM's set up as motard's (roadlegal). The only thing the DRZ has over the KTM is service intervals. And 10hrs services aren't that bad..... My son does them😅.
Well, of course each of your 2 specialized bikes will be better in their respective habitat than the do-it-all DRZ. The problem is, what to do when you need to travel both highway miles and off-road equally, like when riding TET.
I totally get it. I own a DRZ400 and love it. However, a few days ago I was given the chance to test-ride a 450 EXC-F. And it was a REVELATION. It was my first time on a KTM 4 stroke, and it was pure BLISS. Incredible handling, suspension, lightness, and overall ride quality. A dream bike, my unicorn, if you will. I'm definitely also making the switch soon, but I wanna get really good with the DRZ first. Cheers.
I love my DRZ400 as you know Si, and your overview is absolutely spot on! The SM really doesn't have the right legs for offload use. I just love the reliability, low maintenance and downright willingness of the bike to want and do every kind of road/trail I throw at it. Shiplo
Absolutely. I really should buy an E or S, as I loved my old DRZ, but with 6 other bikes in the garage already, I'll just have to look back with fond memories!
@@SongsFromTheSaddle it's a real shame Suzuki pulled the DRZ from the UK market all those years ago, USA and Australia still get to buy them new!
Absolutely. I wonder what the future holds for the DRZ400, given the new Euro 5 regs. Either it will disappear, or Suzuki will revamp it, in which case we might see a new improved version here in the UK
@@SongsFromTheSaddle Euro5 is only for us poor Europeans as far as I am aware? America/ Australia have their own standards and will continue to have them for now, with exciting new stickers/ graphics stuck to an otherwise ancient bike :). A fuel injected modern version would be nice, but by the time they ad on all the gubbins - it's going to get a lot heavier (than it already is!).
I own both the DRZ E and SM. And now also a KTM 450 excf. In Australia,, the DRZ's are still sold new (2024). But I will sell both DRZ's. The KTM just does everything better. My son and I have our KTM's set up as motard's (roadlegal). The only thing the DRZ has over the KTM is service intervals. And 10hrs services aren't that bad..... My son does them😅.
Well, of course each of your 2 specialized bikes will be better in their respective habitat than the do-it-all DRZ. The problem is, what to do when you need to travel both highway miles and off-road equally, like when riding TET.
I'll be riding several thousand miles of the TET this summer, so I'll make some videos of how I have changed my KTM set up for this and how I get on.