So what was it that drew YOU in to DualSport or Adventure riding?
For me, it was my buddy Chaz, tossing me the keys to his Dual-Sport-ed WR450f to attend a weekend road and trail rally with my teenage son.
Now I wasn’t exactly new to off-road riding. I had had some dirt bikes and even an old KE100 “enduro” as a kid, and several street bikes over the years, but this was the first big-bore off-roader I had ridden since my brief stint as a test-rider for Cannondale back in the days of their ill-fated moto division.
Years of work responsibilities and raising kids had put recreational purchases at the bottom of my list of priorities, but this weekend changed that. I left that rally with a better relationship with my youngest child, a head full of amazing memories with friends old and new, and a huge smile on my face.
So now I’ve got to buy a new WR450, right? Hold up a sec - not only do I not trust myself to ride responsibly with that kind of power on hand, I’m not sure I want something with maintenance intervals listed in “hours”. Besides - simple and reliable are my highest priorities.
A little internet research and I began to believe the the legendary Suzuki DR-Z 400 might just be the perfect blend of all my top criteria. I had taken one for a quick ride about a year earlier, and remembered that it seemed pretty impressive, but up against the memory of that amazing weekend fling with the incredible WR, would I be disappointed if I settled for something less than a fire-breathing race-bred trail monster?
Surely someone has done a YouTube comparison, right? Well, not really. There are a couple rambling commentaries with no really helpful comparisons. Sure, there were some opinions, and even some roll-on tests or drag race vids, but I EXPECTED that the DR-Z wouldn’t hang with the WR in an all-out race environment. What I wanted to know, was how the two bikes compared in a more relaxed trail-riding role, which is what I expected to do most with my new bike.
I never did find a really good comparison, but I went ahead and bought a new DR-Z, expecting that I could sell it after a few season if I was not completely satisfied.
Then one day, after riding my new Suzuki for about six months, I had a chance to compare them myself.
** Dual Sport vs Enduro Motocross MX race bike comparison for trail riding, Marienville Penoke trail in Allegheny National Forest GoPro FPV footage MotoVLOG moto vlog interview conversation DRZ DRZ400 DR-Z400 WR400 WR400f**
Supersprox Front Sprocket 14 Tooth
Fits: 2022 SUZUKI DR-Z 400S
Part# 1246040041 | Mfg Part# CST-432-14-1
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/supersprox-front-sprocket-p
Pirelli MT21 Rallycross Dual Sport Rear Motorcycle Tire 120/90-18 (65R) Tube Type
Fits: 2022 SUZUKI DR-Z 400S
Part# 1035780005 | Mfg Part# 3989000
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/tires-and-wheels/pirelli-mt21-rallycross-dual-sport-rear-motorcycle-tire-p
Pirelli MT 21 Rallycross Motorcycle Tires
J&P Part #: DR10354 | Mfr Part #: 0341100
https://www.jpcycles.com/product/26141/pirelli-mt-21-rallycross-motorcycle-tires?redirectedKeyword=DR10354
https://fisherseats.com/
https://seatconcepts.com/
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/asher-lee/dance-with-me
License code: OYZUQ7QT00FQ5DXN