Can the DRZ400 Handle the Highway
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- Опубліковано 23 кві 2020
- I often get asked if the DRZ400 is a bike that can be ridden on the highway. In this video I answer that question by hopping on the highway and showing you.
#motovlog #drz400sm #highway
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ua-cam.com/users/r2rmoto?sub...
How I make my videos:
2019 DRZ400SM
Main Camera - GoPro Hero 7 black
Backup Camera - GoPro Hero 5 black
Mic - Purple Panda Mic
Telesin ND Filters
Bell Qualifier Helmet
Editing Software - DaVinci Resolve 16 - Авто та транспорт
For DRZ400S model, try this to get more top end (90MPH), 75MPH easy with this set up on the highway. Leave the stock gearing for both the front chain gear and the rear sprocket. Change the front fender to the SM front fender which is a lot smaller to drastically reduce the speed wobbles (the big front fender is what is causing the speed wobbles due to catching so much wind when you hit 70MPH+) change the rear tire to a 120/100/18 DOT which will is a bigger tire. Its a dirt tire, its loud up to 60MPH due to road noise, but after 60MPH you wont hear any road noise with speeds over 60MPH. You wont believe how much you reduced your RPM at 75-80MPH. Its a game changer for sure. Muti shops said that tire size wouldn’t fit because its to big, but it absolutely does fit. It will increase your ride height so you will
need to be a taller guy for this set up. This is just a suggestion and what I did to my DRZ. I didn’t want to change the stock angle of my chain, so this is why I went to a bigger rear tire.
ah that "thought I had another gear" moment
Just drove a 2001 drz400 from San Diego to Arlington WA, with stock gearing and aggressive tires was able to stay around 60+-5 the whole time. You definitely fight the high wind areas though
I run my SM with a 16t upfront and a 36t in the rear. It cruzes at highway speeds and low rpms no problem. 1st gear is still perfectly fine for street and gravel roads. I wouldn't recommend this gearing for technical riding tho. I typically don't shift to 5th till I get above 60mph. Top speed is around ~102mph(gps)/ ~109mph(indicated). It does 75mph effortlessly now without screaming.
Edit: After switching to a fcr41/mrd/k&n/and opening up the air box I'm just over 42hp and top speed is around 112mph (gps)
Hi man, I’m really looking into buying a DRZ 400, but I was wondering: how many rpm are you running with the 16t and 36t while riding 60 mph and 80 mph?
I am planning to go on a roadtrip to Scandinavia and therefore I will be riding for multiple hours. Doing that constantly at 5 or 6000 rpm isn’t really what I’m looking for.
@@theanarchist2746 I'm not sure off the top of my head but it's definitely not buzzy. It's nice and chill at those speeds. When I get a chance I'll report back. One thing to keep in mind is weight, I'm 160lbs and don't ride with luggage or packs. So if you have a bunch of gear it might struggle at those speeds with too low of rpm.
@@ntme9 good to know, I think I’m around 200 pounds (I’m 86kg). However after watching this video I feel like I have to go for a 650 to make this trip, the DRZ is extremely light, almost like a real dirt bike which is fantastic. But i think it’s just really designed for lower speeds and off-road work, which is what I’ll be using it for mostly. Thanks for the info!
@@theanarchist2746 no problem 👍
I also was looking into getting a DRZ-400SM I was wondering how much gas can it hold and whether or not it’s possible to put a fuel indicator on the bike.
I hear people talk about the wind on the highway but I hear a lot of people have toured with this bike, so I’m scratching my head on what to do. I want a reasonably priced supermoto that can do highways but I would like to be able to be on the highway with good gas mileage as well.
Good, informative video. Thanks bro!
I fitted an ACT gear set to my DRZ400E model (road legal in Oz) with 14/47 sprockets. In effect 5th gear is now an overdrive ratio. The bike has a 28L Safari fuel tank fitted and a small windscreen. The bike pulls well at 70 mph and will go faster , but that is the maximum speed limit in some States. My local speed limit is 60 mph and the bike feels as if it is not revving sufficiently hard at that speed. The DRZ gets blown around in the wind , especially with our triple trailer trucks. I guess it is the low weight and most of it up high that unsettles it.
Oh man 18 wheelers.
Even in my Jeep, that soft top just catches wind like a parachute! Truckers can push you around for sure, kinda scary lol
just bought a drz400. i love it but i noticed cars just flying past me. now i could pass them up im sure if i went top speed but this bike i think isnt heavy enough to withstand the winds when going so fast. i felt like a strong wind could knock me over. its a great bike for commuting but certainly not long travel. 650 is id say a standard bike if u wanna be going down the highway fast with not many issues in terms of speed or wind
After owning Drz 400sm for 2 years I truly believe this is the only downfall of this bike. I changed the rear sprocket to 39 tooth which helped temporarily. Bottom line it’s only a 400 and never meant to be going 80mph. The perfect place for SM is the twisties and the street.
Applies to ALL Super Moto’s, regardless of displacement. Trying to shoot a geometry that has a large component of motocross DNA down the highway is a stiff compromise at best.
I absolutely freakin rip mine on the freeways everyday.
This was a useful video, thanks! Have you ever been up a steep mountain road with it? How did it do?
How did you mount your GoPro on the left mirror bracket??? Please send me the parts you purchased, I’ve been struggling for a front mount on my DRZ
What kind of helmet do you use to record also do you like the mirrors that you have on your bike can you see well with them
Great video! I love my 400sm, but riding it in the wind is miserable. I've never been beaten up so bad on a bike. It's like flying a kite. Super bummed too, because I was all ready to sell my Vmax and have just one bike for everything, but the Dr.Z is just too light for highway use. Will a windscreen help, or just make it a bigger sail?
This is a great video!
Thanks dude!
Switching from 1200 Sportster, the gearing is set for 70-75mph cruising and gets kinda smooth. It's kinda weird switching between both, the Drz400 feels like it's screaming and way too vibratyy even at 60-65. Still an awesome bike though, guess I'll just put some knobby tires on it an load it up on my truck.
Drz rips it up 😎✌
Does it need a steering stabilizer?
My daily ride is a DR-Z...I ride, pegged at the rev limiter at 105mph. It WILL handle the beating....yeah, wind sucks. I wear an off road helmet with goggles, don't turn your head sideways. Other than that, great bike. My bike: 3x3 mod, Keihin race carb, full titanium Yoshi exhaust. This bike is solid for daily beating.
Same. About 103 topped out. Off-road helmet and goggles with the sun shield removed. Sucks on a windy day, but tucking helps tons as well as having a shorter front fender and being loose in your grip on the bars. 3x3 mod on mine with mrd shorty exhaust. Stock carb and gearing.
what mirrors do you have
Yeah, I'd keep it around 65 if I were going to ride for more than a few miles even though it will do 75. Kinda hard on knobby tires anyway. The DR650 would be the bike for 50/50 trail/road adventures but the DRZ will definitely do it at 65, give or take a few mph with short bursts over 70. Great all around bike.
I have a 2022 drz400sm, i switched to 16 / 39 and man did that make a difference! I stay pinned damn near the whole time on the freeway doing anywhere from 90-98 and its still less vibration and noise than stock spocket at like 75mph
I drove mine from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and back. Semis were annoying.
I agree, it gets wobbly on the highway; sort of scary. Yes it will do 65-70, but thats not an ideal situation. Its an around town bike, no more than 60 mph
I personally love hitting 65-70mph riding down back roads, but I agree with you that the drz is more of an around the town bike. Urban exploration > speed when it comes to the drz.
@@R2Rmoto damn was hoping drz would be good commuter too. maybe a mt-07 might be better
I have a 20 with tkc80 on it and cruise around 75moh n do that daily
@@kushpaladin fursure better I did the exact same thing got the drz not good for highway I’m a smaller human so I get blown around a lot 6ft 150 pounds and speedwobbles get a lil sketchy and constant high speed on freeway perfect back ways to work more fun best for off road and the twists and wheelies around town
@@Ogbongrip420 road my 22 400sm drz an hour back home after getting it. And lemme say going 75+ to stay in traffic is not it I felt the littlest speed wobbles I managed them but I’m like wow and hour to go! Definitely not a highway bike like my 07 gsxr 600 but i love it for the streets and back roads
39T in the rear and it's much better on the freeway rpm wise. Still enough power on local streets too especially if jetted and pipe. It'll do freeway ok but in LA people go about 80-85 and sometimes more with less traffic especially after covid (angry psychos need to slow down doing 90 down the twisty 110...dumbasses). At those speeds tough to stay up but if you learn to chill out and not need to pass everyone it's plenty doable.
Thank you, you saved me money, I need a bike for Highway also....
I wish it wasn't, but this bike is brutal on the highway.😪
Hey random question but what kind of microphone setup are you using to talk and hear so clearly? really looking to start recording and riding this year please let me know
I use the Purple Panda mic going into the GoPro adaptor to capture my audio. And then in post I try to mess with the audio a bit to lower the clipping and wind noise
This is not an interstate (65/75 mph) bike. It is a great highway (state 2 lane roads).
I just rode a total of 550 kilometers (342 miles) highway riding with my DR400sm on a single day yesterday. Its stock bike with just Hotcams stage 2 camshaft and JD jetting upgrades. Average speed I dared to go was 90-100 kmh (56-62 mph) due to frequent high winds. Many sport bikes and cars casually flying past me by. Can it handle highway? Yes it can. But this bike is never meant to go long or frequent touring due it is not resistant to winds, the supermoto's narrow seat design (my ass and upper back thighs sore like mad even with Seat Concept installed) or going at speed 120 kmh constant or above (75 mph)
It seems The wind wasn’t a factor at all. A windshield would make it even better!
I'm 260 I know I'm asking alot out of my little drz. But I can do 70 on the highway. I ride from braintree to boston which is 10 to 15 miles. So it's not that bad I tend to stay on surface streets and my bike is fine. I dont push it on the highway. 2009 drz400sm
Hello.
I have a drz as well.
I live in abington.
I'm always up for trail or dirt riding with other dualsporters if your around.
Anyway cool to see someone so close posting on UA-cam.
Safe driving
@@jamiecorbett7200 313 willard street quincy is where i work its Biondis service station cmon by get some gas and we cancshoot the shit. Im there 6 days a week. 10 to 2 saturdays
@@tommyboston1453 will do as some point.
Thanks for responding
@@jamiecorbett7200 always riding always around
Mine laughs at cruising 70 MPH in the freeway, but that's the highest comfort zone she could go. Though, I generally cruise at 80 MPH.
Our roads highways here are 100 kilometres per hour max or 62 mph, would the bike be good and comfortable at riding for a couple of hours on the highway at 62mph?
I made a 4 hour trip going about 65-85 mph, so I think you would be fine
Dude I love my drz when I’m doing 65-70 on hill roads and twisties it feels like nothing... but last weekend I hit the highway for the first time and it was super windy, I just let it scream for a bit and I was doing 88 and holding on for dear life, the wind gusts were moving me every 5 seconds. I feel like cruising at 70 on a day that’s not windy would be comfortable, all though the higher sounding revs just naturally start to feel like it’s a bad thing to do. I don’t know if it is or not🤷🏽♂️. Don’t ever need to get on the highway either way.
100% agree, on a non windy day cruising at 65+ is no problem at all. Those wind gusts are brutal.
Dyno Dyno what’s your gearing? Mine does pretty solid with 16 / 38 gearing allowing for lower revs, with plenty of power.
MexiChriS completely stock gearing and everything else on the bike.
I bought a 2014 400sm and it must be regeared because I can go 85 fairly easily in 5th but I’m not sure
the stock speedos are off by +5mph.
Dude just get an 883 or 1200 sportster and problem stops! Used sportster 3500 bucks with no miles
Gearing is a big thing. Especially those concerned about their engine rev’s. Wind is wind, there are plenty of other bikes similar or lighter traveling on highway / freeways. So more like rider control and comfort level. Definitely will feel that wind forcing itself around our bikes though... anyways I’ve got my gearing at 16 / 38 if I remember correctly.
How does the bike ride since you've changed the gearing?
R2Rmoto honestly it felt truly amazing, but once I upgrade to that FCR carb it really felt alive. My brother has a big bore kit, but stock carb w/gearing changed. He commutes to Los Angeles on the freeway a lot with no problems, even before the big bore kit, pure joy from the start. Gearing is key + other little tunes along the way of doable.
Better than I thought actually!!.........I've ridden some REAL turds!........this bike is totally fine compared to those.
Where did you get your mirrors?
I got them from soloracer.com just search for mirrors
As a DRZ owner, I disagree that this bike can "easily" do 90mph on the highway. I can do 75 when I want to... but I don't like doing that for long. Can confirm, however, that wind is a worthy adversary at highway speeds on this thing... but she'll never do 90 on stock sprockets.
@@Username-2 Interesting! Thx for the reply. I weigh about the same. Mine is a drz400s... wonder if the supermoto has some differences that justify at 10-15mph difference? I wouldn't be surprised if the exhaust helped... 15mph is still a considerable gap! I'll have to ressearch that. Did you do the 3x3 mod, too?
Rider weight might be the biggest factor. I was confused with people's comments. I regularly do 90 on the highway and have topped it out at about 103. I weigh about 170 though. Stock gearing with 3x3 mod, rejetted and mrd shorty exhaust.
@@73N5H1 stock speedos are off about +5mph tho.
😍
14mph is a windy day?? haha man who are you people, this bike does just fine on the highway unless winds are like 40mph, in which case any bike will feel the wind. Throw a smaller rear sprocket, bigger fuel tank, comfier seat, more aggressive tires, and you have a fully capable adventure/touring bike
just made a 11 hours trip 70-90 mph, highway-small roads. My arse hurts like hell but the rest is fine. I really need a better seat :-P
@@tegowner what year bike and mods
@@madbroindustries I had an '05, full yosh rs2, fcr carb, michelin pp2ct, geared a tad longer but I can't remember the # of teeth for both sprockets. Sold it and got a 09 vstrom 650
Longest trip I've done is a regular 2 hour trip at about 90 the whole way. You get used to the wind, but if it's a windy day, it definitely sucks more. Just tuck more.
I have a pair of those mirrors but they are 2 of the same side. (came with the bike) What is the name/model information so I can buy a complete pair?
They are the bikemaster bar end mirrors. I got them from soloracer.com
@@R2Rmoto Thank you VERY, VERY much.
@@CEEPMDEE No problem!
Yooo that’s Bowie I live there u pulled into my middle school parking lot OMG
I have never seen you around man 😯😯
who makes your mirrors
They are the BikeMaster Bar End Mirrors. I have a video about them on the channel
Ik someone that hit 101 on a drz on the highway for bit lol. I only hit 85 I don’t wanna go faster.
I know what you mean. I recently did a top speed video where I hit 102, but I wouldn't want to sit at that speed for long.
I've hit 103 (108 on the speedo, but it's about 5mph off on the sm), but that's on a day with no wind. Will do 100 any day, but not fun for long distances at all. Anything above 80 on this bike sucks due to lack of a windshield.
How many miles on the bike now?
Just under 2k
I will commute to work and back. 18min to work but on the way back home there is always traffic on the highway .. so this bike would be ok?
The Speed limit is also at max 100KM
You should be totally fine commuting on the DRZ. It can easily handle that speed/milage on the highway
@@R2Rmoto thanks mate
@@R2Rmoto
Wish they had an all black bike 😀 Im 36 I feel it's for younger rider's
@@TRK-xs8gk I think the 2017 or 18 model was all black/grey with yellow accents. But as far as age goes, I have a buddy who's in his 50s and rides a drz and has a blast on it. Also, I would consider 36 still to be in the range of younger riders
@@R2Rmoto fair enough appreciate the feedback cheers
If you dont like dogs and the drz there is something wrong with you. Im not saying its the best bike or the fastest but if you can really ride the dam thing you cant help but have fun on it and they can take a beating for years and many miles of abuse. I got 30k miles drzsm NOTHING but change the oil. 80 mph on hwy for hours at a time wheelie ever time I let the clutch out.Ride it hard off road . burnt 15 sets of tires plum up. Valves still in tolerance doesnt burn oil. I grin ever time I start it.
I am thinking about a DRZSM for work commutes and fun of course. 20 minutes maybe highway. Do you have stock gearing and no issues? And is the bike itself stock no mods? Thanks for your time
@@pdruryiii plain stock
@@pdruryiii I tried different gearing. You lose too much acceleration. In the end I concluded that stock gearing really is the best for this bike. 20k miles on mine also at 80+ on the highway for hours at a time.
On my drz anything above 70-75 is a little uncomfortable because the wind really does push you around and it isn’t a comfortable or enjoyable ride. For short distances it’s manageable, but if your looking for something highway stable or longer rides get a DR-650. Otherwise get used to riding at 60-65 on the highway lol
Yeah in short bursts the bike can be fun on the highway. I took it out this weekend to try to get a top speed and hit about 93 before the wind started to push me around and made me slow down.
I've done hundreds of miles on the highway on mine, just lean forward more to combat the wind and keep your hands loose and grip with your legs to avoid any wobble.
Not in America for Australia you’re pining it at 150
Is this NJ?
Nope, its MD
They sell highway gears for the drz400
That changes it for street riding right?
What would the trade-off be? Less torque?
Yea I watched this video b4 I ended up buying the drz. Love the fucking bike but I will say highway driving does suck. The highways by my are 45mph n every one is doin 80. Bike can do 70 comfy but anything more than that feel like to much to do it for more than 10 minutes
Our DRZ can 💀😂😂
5:18 he meant right lane 😂😂
who is even asking theese questions? :D Its so abvious that drz is not meant to go highway all day long... if u like to ride on highways get a prorper highway machine. Drz shines in other situations :)
Yes I do it everyday lol
bro, I had a hawk 250 that did fine in the highway. Unless you plan on speeding. The drz400 can hit 100mph. lose weight maybe?
there’s no way😭😭 i just buaght my 2018 400 an i haven’t seen the speedo go over 70
i way maybe 140
Drz400sm can do 100, that's about it's limit though. I weigh 170 for reference.
If you still live around the area text me back I ride my bike there all the time but I need some help with my drz
I still live kinda near that area but I don't get out much anymore due to work
@@R2Rmoto yeah I feel you on that. Hey if you have time to help a Drz brother I would love to send you a video of my bike and any suggestions would be great
Most highways in the US are 55. Interstate & bypasses are 65 / 75. This bike is not designed to run interstates & bypasses.
It’s only 400cc. It’s a sport bike not a cruiser.
it's a dirt bike not a sport bike wtf
It's not a dirt bike or a sport bike. It's a dual sport. You're each close in your own way though
@@bryandavid192 it's not a dual sport either, it's a supermoto. Closer than the other two guys...
@@73N5H1 fair enough
Just regeared mine to 15/39.
How do you like it?
R2Rmoto definitely worth it. The stock chain works but it’s close to being too long. It will work until I need another chain. I think it needs a 110. I read online where some say that you have to slip the clutch a lot in first gear but I don’t really notice it anymore than stock. I do have the 3x3 mod with the fc carb. Having had a lot of motorcycles in the past few years, I intentionally bought this bike knowing what it is and what I will be using it for which is occasionally hitting some backroads and commuting to work occasionally.
@@johnhancock1855 Thanks for heads up, I'll have to look into changing my gearing in the future
R2Rmoto it definitely helps a little with the revs on the top end.
I’m at 15/39 on my 2014 and I like it. The 15/41 stock had it yelling a bit much at highway speeds.
If your doing a video , at least ride the bike legal , you are NOT stopping at STOP sign you are rolling thru !
we don't know if that sign was for him, they could have put that sign up for anybody.