Suzuki’s DR-Z Supermoto Is Back, But Is It Better? | 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4SM First Ride - video Dailymotion

Cycle World

Suzuki’s new 2025 DR-Z4SM revives the brand’s legendary supermoto with a refined engine, updated chassis, and modern electronics. Priced at $8,999, the DR-Z4SM slots between entry-level bikes like the Kawasaki KLX300SM and big-bore options like the GasGas SM 700, offering a middle ground of performance, comfort, and approachability. With sharp handling, improved throttle response, traction control, ABS, and plenty of low-end torque, it’s equally at home commuting in the city, ripping through canyons, or sliding around a kart track. In this review, we test whether Suzuki’s newest supermoto has what it takes to become the best sub-$10K street supermoto on the market.  Check out the story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/suzuki-dr-z4sm-review/  Become a Channel Partner: https://octanemedia.co/home/become-an-advertiser/  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CLI74xvMBFLDOC1tQaCOQ Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/ Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld

Transcript

00:00We're back at the office after riding the new Suzuki DRZ4SM for two days both on track

00:06and on the pavement. We got the exclusive opportunity to ride the new K1 circuit

00:11in Southern California. First and probably the last motorcycles to ever circulate that track.

00:16Pretty cool experience. So let's jump into it. Last year at EICMA, Suzuki announced the new

00:21DRZ4SM and it would be the replacement for the long-standing DRZ400SM. Suzuki's motivation to

00:27develop a new DRZ stemmed from emissions worldwide. In 2024 a still carbureted DRZ400SM could only be

00:36sold in North America. For Suzuki to sell DRZs globally engine updates were needed but they

00:41didn't just update the engine they updated the chassis suspension and added an electronics package.

00:46We were super impressed by the DRZ4S when we rode the dual sport earlier this year. After throwing a

00:51leg over the supermoto we were quickly reminded of just how good this platform is. The new DRZ4SM

00:57utilizes the same engine architecture as the previous bike. It's a 398 cc single but a lot

01:03has been updated internally. New cylinder head, reshaped intake ports, new camshaft profiles,

01:09and dual spark plugs, and of course fuel injection. It now has a 42 millimeter throttle body with a 10

01:15hole injector and all of this has been done for emission requirements but also to increase torque

01:21throughout the entire rev range. Despite a bunch of engine updates throughout the DRZ still has a

01:26five-speed transmission however Suzuki did update most of the gears to increase strength and the

01:32final gearing on the supermodal is a little bit taller than the dual sport. The new engine is noticeably

01:36more refined than the previous mill. It's got sharper throttle response, more low end torque, and more

01:42over rev. This engine still likes to be ridden in the low and mid range however Suzuki did increase the

01:48top end power on this bike and that's definitely noticeable. Connecting corners out on the pavement

01:53and on the supermodal track we could run the bike up to the rev limiter and not lose too much forward

01:58drive where the previous engine really didn't like to be revved up past the mid range. Spinning the

02:04engine up towards the rev limiter will increase vibration most noticeably through the handlebars and

02:09foot pegs. One thing the DRZ4SM does not have is a quick shifter and Suzuki does not offer one as an

02:15accessory. It would be really nice to have a quick shifter on this bike especially riding it on the

02:19go-kart track because you have to shift this bike quite a lot being a more low to mid range engine

02:25and at times you have to shift mid corner or coming off of a corner and so it'd be nice to just be able

02:30to kick that shifter and not have to chop the throttle or pull in the clutch to grab your next shift.

02:35The DRZ4SM comes with Suzuki's clutch assist system. This is a slipper assist clutch which makes it easy for

02:41pulling away from a light and also it reduces rear wheel hop when coming into a corner and grabbing a

02:47lot of downshifts. Switching between the available drive modes A, B and C makes a noticeable difference

02:52to the engine characteristic. All three modes produce the same peak power but it's how they make that power

02:58how the bike accelerates. A is the most aggressive super sharp throttle response B is less aggressive but

03:04still has a very strong mid range and C is the most diluted it's kind of like a rain mode very soft off bottom

03:11but then produces max horsepower at high rpm. Riders have the choice between three levels of traction

03:17control two being the most intrusive one being less intrusive and then G which is a dedicated sport

03:23traction control system that's going to be great for riding hard on a go-kart track or a twisty mountain

03:29road. In dry conditions with a grippy Dunlop Sport Max rear tire traction control wasn't much of an issue

03:35we spent most of our time with TC disabled. The only time I noticed traction control intervention

03:40was when dropping the clutch to pop a wheelie. Switchable ABS allows the rider to choose between

03:45two different settings two active at both wheels one only active at the front wheel it is a little

03:51bit disappointing that you can't fully disable ABS on the front wheel on a supermoto because it'd be nice

03:57to do no stoppies and stuff like that i mean it's kind of a hooligan bike this bike is used a lot in the

04:02stunt rider scene so it's a little bit disappointing especially knowing the fact that the dual sport

04:07the drz4s can have abs disabled completely on the front wheel a new steel perimeter frame replaces

04:15the outgoing steel backbone frame but just like the previous bike the new drz4sm houses the engine oil

04:22in the frame with a dry sump lubrication system and just like before it uses an aluminum bolt-on

04:27subframe and an aluminum swing arm but both have been updated for the new model the drz4sm and the

04:34dual sport variant use the same suspension components provided by kyb but the supermoto has

04:39specific tuning and a little bit less suspension travel with 10.2 inches up front and 10.9 at the

04:45rear a set of 17 inch lace spoked wheels is fitted with dunlop sport max q a5 tires braking system

04:52includes a 310 millimeter disc with a dual piston caliper up front and at the rear is a 240 millimeter disc

04:59with a single piston caliper the chassis is agile and the suspension offers a great balance of comfort

05:05and support the bike rides light and changes direction very easily and at 125 pounds about

05:11five foot eight inches the suzuki drz4sm is very manageable in the initial part of the stroke the

05:16suspension is supple and comfortable over road imperfections but as the speeds increase it has

05:22tons of hold up and doesn't become squishy or wallowy when you're pushing the pace getting hard on the front

05:27brake on corner entry the fork doesn't have excessive dive so it stays up in the stroke and then on

05:33corner exit you grab a handful of throttle and the shock stays very composed it doesn't become overwhelmed

05:38from corner entry to corner exit the suspension and chassis stays composed even at a sporty pace

05:44shedding speed for an upcoming corner the front brake doesn't have a super strong initial bite

05:49or a lot of stopping power getting very deep into the lever stroke will slow the bike down but on the

05:54kart track as my speeds increased i found myself having to brake sooner and sooner to ensure that

06:00i didn't blow the corner the drz4sm uses a tapered aluminum handlebar that's similar to the dual sport

06:06but it sits slightly lower and is equally as comfortable the seat is 17 millimeters wider than the previous

06:12bike seat height is 35 inches which is slightly reduced in the dual sports due to suspension differences

06:18and fuel capacity is identical at 2.3 gallons but the supermoto is seven pounds heavier at 340 pounds

06:25due to bigger tires bigger wheels and a larger front disc ergonomics are upright and neutral the reach to

06:31the handlebar is comfortable and the cockpit is spacious but despite being updated the seat is still

06:37firm and narrow and not very comfortable over long mileage a new bike deserves a new look and the drz4sm

06:44receives all new body work full led lighting and it's available in two colors gray or white for

06:508999 suzuki's drz4sm offers a blend of performance approachability comfort and refinement that's unique to

06:59the class but it's hard to ignore that suzuki's gsx as is just 250 dollars more just like the dual sport version

07:07the drz4sm slots right into the middle of its segment has enough power to entertain a chassis that's fun when the road

07:14gets twisty in just the right amount of modern tech at the end of the day this is a fun capable street

07:19legal supermoto with a sporty edge and that's a wrap on our 2025 suzuki drz4sm review if you enjoyed

07:27the video hit the like button comment subscribe and thanks for watching

Suzuki’s DR-Z Supermoto Is Back, But Is It Better? | 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4SM First Ride

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