There’s a legend that goes like this: A fisherman wanted to move massive quantities of stay fish (sometimes cod) to market, and it was important that the fish remained lively and alert in the course of the journey. In the event that they didn’t, the fish would finally fade away and die, risking a lot of the fisherman’s income. The answer? A catfish. That’s proper, after the day’s catch, the fisherman would drop a single catfish within the lot, and since the catfish was a unbelievable disrupter of kinds, it will agitate the cod and preserve them transferring so that they didn’t get sedentary and waste away.
No, this isn’t a assessment about fishing. I’m right here to tell you of an inconvenient reality, since you, my pal, have develop into the cod on this saga. And when you won’t respect it simply but, we have to get you transferring and again within the sport earlier than it’s too late.
The catfish? The brand new 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4SM.
Associated: 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4S Twin-Sport Overview
Now in case you are trying on the motorbike within the images and dismissing it, pondering I ought to be speaking to anyone else, you’d be unsuitable. I’m speaking to you, the “consolation over corners, panorama over lap occasions, yawning over yelling” individual that life has contorted you into. The cod. And I’m ringing the alarm bell that now greater than ever, it’s essential seize ahold of that wild catfish and do all the pieces you may to get the blood flowing and get your previous self again.
Hear, at 55 years previous, I’m talking with expertise once I inform you that we will get you there, as a result of I simply spent the final two days engaging in precisely that, and so are you able to. Permit me to clarify.
My reincarnation began with a presentation of the DR-Z4SM’s technical particulars, a little bit lunch, then a day of road and canyon using across the motorcycling mecca that’s Temecula, California. My first thought once I rested my eyes on the 400cc supermoto was, It’s probably not aimed toward anyone my age, and I’d most likely be extra at house on the large BMW I usually roll round on for my police coaching and demonstrations. However gosh darn it, I used to be there to do a job, so I attempted to push that pondering out of my head and strategy the DR-Z with contemporary eyes and an open thoughts.
After the plain recognition that this was a street-legal supermoto bike, I glanced round some extra. I observed the instrument panel and will see it was providing some digital rider aids by way of the Suzuki Clever Experience System, however the bike simply seemed so uncooked and felt so gentle and pleasant once I sat on it, the expertise appeared irrelevant on the time. After which, one thing unusual occurred. After I toggled by varied drive (throttle-response) modes, found out all of the ABS engagement and traction management choices, a youthful Quinn appeared on my shoulder and informed me to close all of it off. And for no good motive I did simply that. I turned the traction management off, the ABS to front-wheel-only, and the throttle response to full ship. It was roughly 5 seconds later that I began to listen to the catfish transferring round in my head.
With a fast press of the beginning button, the bike fired. Boy was it quiet. And if I’m trustworthy, the marketed 38 hp at 8,000 rpm and 28 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm didn’t make my palms sweat in anticipation of an arm-socket readjustment, however then my internal baby generated a gentle 1st-gear throttle blip, lofting the entrance wheel over a pace bump within the car parking zone. And similar to {that a} large, silly smile was plastered on my face. As soon as on the onramp, I clicked by the 5-speed gearbox enroute to Mach 3 freeway speeds. The 400cc Single had sufficient energy on faucet to hustle from lane to lane, impact overtakes, and put me the place I needed to be with the opposite riders in my group. The DR-Z4SM has a prime pace of over 90 mph. Or so I’ve heard.
Gear Up: Road
Freeway speeds can really feel a bit buzzy with bikes like these, however I used to be relieved that it felt higher than anticipated. No, it wasn’t Hayabusa clean, however I used to be comfy, all issues thought-about for a 6-foot-2 man on a 340-lb supermoto at pace. I observed the 35-inch-tall seat was fairly agency and thus transferred a little bit of vibration, nevertheless it bought wider the farther again I slid and mitigated the vibes.
The KYB suspension – a compression- and rebound-adjustable inverted fork with 10.2 inches of stroke and a completely adjustable single shock with 10.8 inches of stroke – was compliant once I hit dips and imperfections at pace. Initially I assumed, since this mannequin is a supermoto, that it was going to be rock onerous on the road, nevertheless it turned out to be comfy throughout the road testing.
As soon as we dropped into the canyons, the DR-Z4SM acquired my full and undivided consideration. Now I might get to make use of this bike in the best way it was supposed: within the twisties. At this level, I began to ask questions I hadn’t requested in years. Was the suspension going to be too mushy and blow by its stroke beneath onerous braking and path adjustments? And possibly extra essential, was the entrance brake highly effective sufficient to constantly knock down full-throttle blasts with a 200-lb rider on board? Honest questions certainly.
The suspension was most likely the largest magic trick carried out by Suzuki. Resulting from good inner valving and spring charges, the KYB suspension was supple on the road but additionally managed to stay composed, with stiffer valving when the suspension started transferring by its stroke from higher load forces. Certain, each the fork and shock are adjustable, however I didn’t have to make any adjustments from the usual settings on the road or within the canyons. The suspension planted the wheels fantastically and enabled me to deal with laughing inside my helmet because the surroundings blurred previous. The catfish was waking me from my slumber, and I beloved it.
As for the brakes, they delivered fantastically. With a 2-piston Nissin caliper clamping down on a 310mm entrance rotor, I had all the pieces I wanted. As for the rear brake, I’m positive it labored simply nice, however I didn’t use it a lot, as a substitute selecting engine braking as I slowed into turns, similar to I used to when me and my mates rode Mulholland out to the PCH in highschool throughout summer season break.
The following day we had been handled to some observe blasting at K1 Circuit, a premier out of doors karting observe in Winchester. This facility provided elevation adjustments, chicanes, lengthy straights, and loads of alternatives to see what the DR-Z4SM may ship when frequent sense and self-preservation took the time off. Suzuki techs dropped my tire pressures a bit and requested if I needed any suspension changes previous to my first session. Anticipating severe forces imposed on the twin-spar body, I requested a couple of clicks to stiffen compression damping within the fork and shock, however I most likely didn’t want it.
As soon as on observe, I centered my first session on figuring out how a lot traction and brakes I had on faucet. It was confidence-inspiring to find the Dunlop Sportmax Q5A tires Suzuki spooned onto the 17-inch aluminum wheels stayed glued to the observe once I needed and broke traction solely once I employed the method to take action. And the entrance brake at observe speeds? I by no means wanted extra energy than my little index finger may muster, it didn’t fade, and really feel on the lever by no means modified, so it was a nonissue from the phrase “go.”
Actually nothing about this bike precipitated me concern or required me to rethink my strategy on the observe. I heard a couple of riders point out a little bit extreme warmth from the precise aspect of the engine, and some others niggled that the DR-Z4SM didn’t have a quickshifter, however truthfully, I didn’t discover any of that and had no struggles ripping by up and downshifts in any respect speeds and throttle positions.
Gear Up: Monitor
By the third session, I used to be drifting the again finish into turns, easily rolling again into full throttle, and completely hammering the brakes in every single place. Because of the seamless fueling and purpose-built slipper clutch system, the entries and exits felt elegant, with no chatter or hiccups to be discovered. Simply wheelies, slides, and pace.
In the previous couple of classes, I just about forgot all concerning the motorbike and simply melted my knee pucks lap after lap, yelling and laughing as I battled with different riders on the observe. This bike was so composed, all I needed to do was consider having enjoyable. I used to be deeply engaged, hyper-focused, and dwelling in a way analogous to how I’d direct it if anyone had been silly sufficient to make a feel-good after-school particular about it. Then, after a couple of lengthy wheelies down the again straight it hit me: I used to be experiencing pure pleasure, and this was the closest I’d come to the unique motorcycling nirvana that began all this craziness so a few years in the past. I’m nonetheless buzzing as I kind this.
Hear, I can preserve burning the clock rambling on about this motorbike’s unbelievable gas financial system, its spectacular valve-inspection intervals, high-performance fuel-injection system updates, on and on. However what must occur right here is that you just have to experience this rattling bike and respect the particular and pointed alternative you might have in entrance of you. The chance to wake your self up. The chance to be a little bit harmful. The chance to toggle off the mute button that one way or the other made all the pieces a bit too predictable. The chance to seize maintain of a catfish and by no means let it go.
2025 Suzuki DR-Z4SM Specs
- Base Value: $8,999
- Web site: SuzukiCycles.com
- Guarantee: 1 yr., Unltd. mill
- Engine Sort: Liquid-cooled, transverse Single, DOHC w/ 4 valves
- Displacement: 399Cc
- Bore x Stroke: 89.0 x 64.0mm
- Horsepower: 38 hp @ 8,000 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Torque: 28 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/help moist clutch
- Ultimate Drive: Chain
- Wheelbase: 57.7 in.
- Rake/Path: 26.5 levels/3.74 in.
- Seat Peak: 35.0 in.
- Moist Weight: 340 lb (manufacturing unit declare)
- Gasoline Capability: 2.3 gal.
