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Suzuki DR-Z400E Review |
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Suzuki DR-Z400E Review |
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-- Suzuki DR-Z400E Review -
Page 1 / Page 2 -- By Trevor Hedge  Braking hardware consists of a 250mm disc at the front and a 220mm
disc at the rear which work well enough but could provide a little
more feel at the lever.A 935mm seat height is tall but par for the course in the enduro market with long travel suspension and 315mm of ground clearance. It could be problematic for those that have the dual disadvantage of short legs and little off-road experience. Ergonomically the DR-Z is a one size fits all style of affair and riders will want to experiment with the bar position and perhaps different style bends of bars to feel best at home. Some riders find that bar risers under the mounts help them to feel comfortable. Nice and wide footpegs provide good purchase and a fully featured enduro style speedometer with dual tripmeters and distance countdown functions to help with off-road navigation. The omission of any style of handguards or barkbusters on the DR-Z is a major oversight. When exploring some overgrown tight single trail I lost count of the amount of times the clutch or brake levers were snagged by branches which made for some heart stopping moments that I could have done without. Clearly, as it comes out of the box the DR-Z400E is not perfect. But what it does offer is an unrivalled blend of performance and practicality and it is that jack of all trades, but master of none, style of character that has made it such a firm favourite in the Australian market. The DR-Z400E is LAMS legal in those states that have enacted the power to weight restrictions for learners rather than the blanket 250cc restriction. A first time bike buyer could do little wrong in choosing a DR-Z400E as their first mount as it has the reliability to serve as a commuter during the week, and the ability to provide plenty of thrills as a dirt trail blaster during the weekend. The DR-Z is truly Mr Versatile. Specs – Suzuki DR-Z400E Engine – 398cc, liquid cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder Transmission – Five speed manual, chain final drive Seat Height – 935mm Wet Weight – 138kg Fuel Capacity – 10 litres (including 2.3 litre reserve) Average Consumption on test – 6 litres per 100km Range – 165km Warranty – 12 months, unlimited kilometres Price – Expect to pay just under $9000 (Can be had for as little as $8000 when on special) |
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