is it wrong?

yeah if i get it will have 4 bikes if dont sell the sv. TL not exactly most fuel friendly for the commute, yamaha xj600 would be ok just bit boring for the 40miles! and the the trusty*cough* sv650

Originally Posted by Magnum

If you want to do offroad stuff on it, then you can buy a set of the enduro version wheels, but its not a case of just swapping the wheels, the brake heights are different but it can be done.

I'd be very interested in more detail on this if you know exactly how it should be done...

I've looked into it with the XT660, but you do it the other way round. You buy the XT660R enduro version, a set of XT660X supermoto wheels and a replacement 'R' brake disk. Fit the smaller 'R' brake disk to the 'X' wheels and remove a small plastic fender extender style mudguard and the wheels and disk bolt straight in. Then you can change from 'R' to 'X' within 1/2 hour. It's also recommended you upgrade the forks with preload spacers they are too soft for a supermoto, but apparantly thats a good mod for an 'R' anyway. You end up with one of these....



I asked the Suzuki dealer in Edinburgh about converting the DRZ as that was what I originally wanted to do, but they said the front axles were different so the SM wheels won't bolt into the Enduro forks. If this is wrong I'd be dead pleased as a DRZ is much lighter and more suited to green laning than the XT.

Originally Posted by ad53ggz

still looking what is people opinion on using the drz to commute say 40miles (80 miles round trip?) not sure if i am aloud to have 4bikes in the garage yet? so may trade in the sv?

You'll find the seat a bit hard, need to get some padded cycling shorts. TBH thats not what the DRZ has in mind, in 40 miles of open Scottish roads you'd soon get tired of a lack of power as well. It doesn't have the same potential for a quick 90mph blat past a long line of traffic as the other bikes in your collection.

Originally Posted by ad53ggz

yamaha xj600 would be ok just bit boring for the 40miles

Well if you ask me you've already got your commuting bike! If your not going to use it for commuting get it on ebay, because it has no other uses and so why do you have it?

Keep your other bikes nice and clean and ready for fun, and make the divvy do the job it was built for! You can always jump on one of the other bikes on a sunny morning if you're a bit bored.

Go for it, they are great fun, not the comfiest of seats as has been said but they can be modified easily enough

ok went looking today and i have ended up very very confused and was wondering if you lot could help. Went into an offroad dealer and they have a new DRZ 400 in say they got it in last week has the 09 stickers on. (had a look but i wouldnt be able to tell the difference between the 08 &09 stickers). However there is more it appears this is the E? version i think? PLastic fuel tank, knobbly tyres, 2 inch higher suspension, no indicators rwu forks instead of usd ones, no speedo just the odometer?? I thought they stopped making them? As i say i am confused now? After advice on here seems the e is the one to go for as can always put the sm wheels on etc but i thought they stopped doing them? help

I commute my sv650 curvy about three times a week in good weather along the A406. I only learnt to ride in the middle of this year so I'm a 44yr old novice.

I also have ridden an 08 drz-400sm and it is like riding a bicycle in comparison. Speed isn't an issue as you can't go that fast on these roads, but it is extremely light, very easy to manouvre, but ultimately lacks a bit of poke.

Personally I would be torn between them, but the sv wins with a touch more power. I suspect a Ducati 696 sits nicely between them both with decent power, but a more upright riding postion than the sv. Of course the 696 costs £££ and the DRZ are certainly excellent value for money.

I think the decision has to come to personal preference, and the roads you use.

any one any idea on my previous post though? and what about its use on the road with no indicators etc etc cheers

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

I'd be very interested in more detail on this if you know exactly how it should be done...

I really have no idea, i just heard it could be done.
However, a good place to start looking would be http://www.thumpertalk.com/ which is an american based forum but it does have some british members and a dedicated section for the DRZ400. I'm sure you could find your answer on there.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

they only come in the supermoto version now

Originally Posted by ad53ggz

ok went looking today and i have ended up very very confused and was wondering if you lot could help. Went into an offroad dealer and they have a new DRZ 400 in say they got it in last week.... PLastic fuel tank, knobbly tyres, 2 inch higher suspension, no indicators rwu forks instead of usd ones, no speedo just the odometer?? I thought they stopped making them?

Yep, you have me confused too. I'm only going by what Saltire told me and I could easily be wrong as I didn't research it any further (and whilst Saltire should know better than us, they are still human and not all knowing super-beings either!).

I'm now off to google the 'E' version and see what I find. I'll post up what I find.

Which dealer did you go into? Also worth checking if the one you saw was road legal!

I specifically asked Saltire about the possibility of buying an enduro version and doing a supermoto conversion. I was told the enduro version was no longer on sale and that a supermoto conversion wasn't possible anyway. I'm not surprised by this because as you rightly say the two use different forks, so I wouldn't necessarily expect the SM wheels to be a straight bolt-in to the normal 'E' forks.

An SM conversion, even if it was possible, wouldn't be as good as a genuine SM because of lack of USD forks, better brakes, etc.

I specifically looked for a bike all where this could be done and end up with a supermoto, off roader and commuter all in one bike, with only a quick wheel swap necessary after the conversion was completed. The XT660 was the answer, but the only one's I managed to get confirmed that the rear swingarm was the same was the 2004-2006 bikes. This isn't to say the 2007 swingarm is different, just that I don't know, it's something I'd need to get confirmed if I wanted to buy a 2007 bike. Also I forgot to post above that the speedo cable needs moved to the outside of the forks to accommodate the wider tyre.

Originally Posted by Magnum

the brake heights are different but it can be done.

Originally Posted by ad53ggz

After advice on here seems the e is the one to go for as can always put the sm wheels on

Originally Posted by Magnum

I really have no idea, i just heard it could be done

Don't rush out and buy a bike based upon advice you get on a forum. None of us are all knowing super-beings and all of us could easily be wrong about something. It's as good as speaking to a drunk old man in the pub. . Ask the experts and do your own research.

The US Suzuki website has a DRZ400S which it says is a "road legal" DRZ400E. It also has the DRZ400SM.

The UK website only has the SM.

The French website doesn't have either.

So what Saltire told me is probably correct about the Enduro version no longer being on sale, though Suzuki clearly still make them, you'd probably have to import one from a country that has them on sale or buy secondhand. I suspect the one you saw in the off road dealer was not road legal. Could you make it road legal? I have no idea but this may help http://www.motostrano.com/sucokistle.html

As for what Saltire told me about conversion, that may be the case for the Supermoto to Enduro conversion, but look at these http://www.motostrano.com/sucoki.html for converting the other way round. Best check they would fit a UK spec bike though and enquire about shipping costs to UK (or if you are confident look at what parts you need and buy on ebay!).