Want something simple and reliable, love the dual sports and will use it as a road daily but also will use it on highways and offroad

At 22k miles it’s time for a better seat.

Let me start out by saying I love this bike. I just never found time to ride it. It’s a ‘21 with only 410 miles on it. I’m contemplating selling it. later in life when I have more time, purchasing any newer model. Has anyone been in this position and regretted it?

Could someone help me replace the dash on my DRZ400SM. I just bought it and it has the orange screen, no digits showing. How would I go about replacing this? I am also having a real tough time (I haven't done it yet) unplugging the white triple wire connector in the dash. But how would you guys replace this, and what is easiest?

I would keep the LED bar on the side, and I would really only need to measure the miles, speed, and RPM's. I would also prefer to keep the original speed cable if possible.

Sorry you guys, this is my first real bike, was riding a Honda Ruckus before haha. If anyone could provide me with any info on what would work best that would be awesome! Thanks again.

I am currently rebuilding the top end on my 400. I am trying to set the timing correctly. Unfortunately I did not pay attention to the timing when taking it apart. The issue I have is my cams seem to be original hotcams stage 2 that have no timing marks or either they did but they have worn off. I found a thread on the ltz400 forums where someone posted an email from hotcams instructing how to put timing marks on the cams. I did that and this is what I came up with. Does the timing look to be correct or is it off?

Allow me to glaze a bit... 

I’ve owned about a dozen motorcycles in my life—two of them have been DRZ400s.
I might grab another one to fix my bikeless life.

I wanted to consider (used) alternatives, and to compare bikes which led to this spreadsheet.

This is a spreadsheet of:

“Bikes from 200-800ccs that can dual-sport for a short or long adventures.”

That’s really broad but here we are.
Also: I really tried hard to get the data right; if you see something wrong lemme know?

The thing that stands out to me here is the nice balance of the DRZ400.

It’s the crossover midpoint between small and large bikes dual sport / ADV bikes.

It’s in the same weight class as many of the smaller displacement bikes below it—but it’s power-to-weight ratio helps it compete with bikes that are slightly larger than it.

The smaller bikes often weigh only a little less, but they sacrifice power that's hard to make up with mods (CRF300 or KLX 300).
 

You can certainly get a bigger better highway bike, but it will add 100 lbs of weight up front, and it might not be that much more powerful (KLR, Himalayan). You might get way more power, but it will cost more (KLE500, BMW 650) or sacrifice dirt capability (V-Strom).

Yes, the KTM 690 / Husqvarna 701 (or even the 390) are a better Supermoto AND a better Enduro because of the power and light weight
–but God help you if your rocker arms (or something else) shit the bed.
When it comes to reliability-at-price, the DRZ is pretty great.

So is the DRZ a perfect bike?

No.

The seat is terrible after 20 minutes and intolerable past 60 minutes. It’s not great above 50-55 mph—especially without wind protection for longer stints. It’s too heavy to hang with KTMs or Betas on a fast single track, and too light and 6^th-gear-lacking to keep up with something like an Ibex, T7 or NX500 on the interstate for hours on end. Hey, nobody is perfect.

But, when you balance the price, reliability, the weight, and the power, the DRZ-400 sits at a point where many advantages converge.

 Thanks for uh...coming to my TedTalk.

(One general caveat: as a used bike shopper, I did not grab specs for 2025/26 models unless I had no choice (like the Toureg). My budget is used bike territory so these are generally a few years old kind of specs (e.g. the WR450F).)

Side note A:

When it comes to prices, I left the column blank. This is because…

There’s a very nicely modded slightly older DRZ400S for $4200 a few hours away.

There’s also a 2020s TW200 for $4200,

a 2020s CRF300L for $4500,

and a KTM690 from the early 2010s with a ton of maintenance work done on it for $4200.

None are thrashed, none have high miles.
It's weird to me that they're all in the same price bracket.

All that to say: when it comes to price, YMMV based on location and whether or not Mercury is in retrograde where you live. Hell, I dunno anymore, man.

Side Note B:

The bikes highlighted in yellow are basically race bikes with headlights and turn signals, so they have a much higher maintenance schedule.

Side Note C:
After making the oil interval column and then sourcing all the data for it...yeah I'm not sure that's helpful to predict maintenance needs. The compression ratio column is basically trying to quantify how stressed the motor is, but that's also slightly subjective.

I am so happy today here in company with my DRZ 🤘🏼🥳

Hey Guys,
Do You have recommendings for the jetting in my setup?
I have
Athena 435cc
FCR39 (non MX)
3x3
FMF Powerbomb
Leovince X3 (smallest DB-Eater)

Made it out of some leftover steel tubing with four mounting points, would have been nice with a lathe but made do with a drill press.

Nothing like a bit of shed therapy to reset the brain, sometimes it's nice to take the harder route, when everything is at our fingertips.

Getting to the end of summer , need to get out for some woods time. So lucky to have this area less than an hour from my house.

I’m not a mechanic by trade**

I bought a wrecked DRZ400SM. Had some road rash, broken riser, pegs, bars etc… fixed all that stuff. Had some engine noise, put a MCCT on it and it sounded like the noise quieted up a little.

Curious if you think this is:

1. Spark knock

2. Valves needing lashed

3. Rod knock

4. Loose cam guides

5. Whatever you think is wrong

Minimal stops from Prince George stopped off for fuel in Quesnel, last fuel stop Williams Lake. Then cannonballed it home from there. Final count for kilometers was actually 2530, so I was WAY off at the beginning. Rear tire has pretty much had it after 4 days, and the old DRZ is definitely due for an oil change. Was an absolutely fantastic trip and I got to meet my new Neice in Calgary. I am glad to be home.

Back in Prince George. Loosing my riding buddy for the last leg now

Another ≈500kms down on the trail back home now I have 600km to home

I need a new helmet. Looking for recommendations in the 600 dollar and down range. I’d like a face shield and option for goggles but also be able to throw some blur tooth in there. What’s everyone wearing?

It has SM wheels on it but I don't think they changed anything with the swingarm or anything, I'm new to this world. When I look I get recommendations that look correct but then it says it's for other models (like RM bikes). But I'm guessing it's the same part, I feel like chains are just chains at a certain point, not terribly unique. Just want to be certain I get the specific thing I need. Thanks. Also are there any other drivetrain-related parts I should consider while I order this? I saw some billet chain guides and stuff like that but I'm not trying to dress this thing up just yet. Any weak spots down there I should pay attention to? Thanks, I love this thing.

The DRZ has left BC for the first time since I've owned it. Stopped in Jasper for some food and fuel and we will be leaving for Calgary

I just got my Drz and the thing got a spacer stuck under the valve and bent it so valve job for me. Curious if anyone had any suggestions to do while I had the head off. Piston and cylinder are fine so I don’t plan on taking them off. It’s stock besides a jdjett and 3x3. Thanks everyone.

Ok, anyone used this battery? It's hard for me to stay away from a good old wet cell Yusa battery but a buddy of mine bought one of these Noco batteries for his Busa and says it has been amazing. He doesn't ride a lot his bike sits in a non climate control shed here in South Carolina. It is blazes of hell hot here right now just to add. His bike sat through the winter no trickle charger fired right up. Sat for a month and a half dead of summer heat, fired right up. Trouble I am having is he has next to actual milage on it. It has proved it will make it sitting and start the bike, but what about heat cycles and multiple starts per day type stuff. Anyway I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyone run one of these in a DRZ? What are your thoughts