I am considering buying a DRZ400E (I REALLY want that electric starter) in a month or so, but I am curious about how well the bike can handle B-level motocross? I ride mostly hare-scrambles, but I do ride motocross every now and then. The WR seems to work fine in both, has anyone done both on their DRZ? Is the suspension too soft for motocross?

Roger Little
'99 WR400

rlittle, at our motox track it's pretty
natural terrain, alot of rolling hills, sandy
some big man made doubles, but nothing sharp
or drastic, like a outdoor nationals track.
I weigh 178 and I have added 15ml oil in the forks have the comp.slickers at 13 on front
and 3 more on comp in rear. seems to work
very well and plush. it works well on some
of the bigger doubles 35-40 ft, but I have
bottomed out a few times when not landing
evenly. Those forks are from the 96 RM 250
rated very well. so with a little work I
think you can get them dialed in for motox
now the shock seems a little harsher when it bottoms, so some revalving is probally necessary, but I will see what happens after
the race season gets going in a few more weeks, just practice now. but I hate to change much since it works soooo good on the
trails.

lets be realistic here.

I would think the motocross track is where you DON'T want the DRZ! It is set up as an awesome trail/woods bike. But, it's too biggest short-comings are going to show up on the track: 1) Suspension 2) Weight

Sure the suspension can be tweaked to do anything you want and it can do moto. But so can an XR600 suspension. so can an XR650L. So can a KLR650 if your real desparate. But, is that really what you want to ride on a motocross track?
If you want a great all-around bike that's awesome in the woods but that you can occasionally take to the track, the DRZ is the best choice if you fiddle with the fork.
If you want a fast bike that can go moto or trail and everything in between with no suspension mods but you realize is more of a handful as things get tighter and tighter, go WR400.
If you want a stricktly track bike but just have to have a 4 stroke, go YZ426 or KTM400 or KTM520 if you can find one.
If light weight is your biggest priority, don't go with any of the above and go 2 stroke.
Unless of course you just have to get that electric start (which I can certainly understand because I got one) but my buddies WR starts with one or two kicks everytime. And, your height (DRZ is shorter than the Yamahas) and financial goals (DRZ is cheaper) can change some of the priorities.

I got the DRZ because I ride it around town, to work, on nasty tight rocky rooty trails, on the highway and will once every blue moon go play on the local track and I'm not that tall. It's the perfect bike for all that. and did I mention the magic button?

[This message has been edited by Mark (edited 04-10-2000).]

Mark, I think you didn't read what he was saying. He says mainly hare scrambles, and
occasional motoX. We all can't afford two
bikes so we choose the bike that will do
the best in several classes in the order of
our personnal taste or skills. In rlittle and my case, the DRZ is best.
Now if you say you mainly motoX or high speed
terrain race but occasional trail or enduro.
then yes, the WR would be a better choice.
Bottm line is the DRZ will be motocrossed after some adjustments and fine tuning, by
a bunch of guys who also love to woods ride.

Gosh! i have my forks at 7 or 8 out right now for the woods AND have added 15ml of oil!!
i will be building and riding an MX track in next few weeks. i'll keep you posted.

compressions clickers going in more!! i can't wait to rail some berms and out-accellerate a few 2-smokes, he,he, he

really i think the bike could do VERY WELL on an MX track......with mods.....suspension stiffening and overall bike lightening.
i thinks it's turning, cornering, accelleration will make up for the jumping.

Speaking of jumping, this thing is well balanced and feels so damm light, I can't believe it weighs what they are saying.
Really I had a 89 WR250 that weighed 225
and the DRZ feels so much better and
lighter in the air. I think it's gonna surprise alot of people showing up at MX
tracks.I agree on one point the WR's did well
on MX because of thier stiff suspension,
but I think on the tighter tracks the DRZ will out corner it and have better handling.

I'm finally gonna get a dirtbike.

My dilemma - It needs to work on a trail (mostly) and on the track. I race a gsxr750 on the track, so I'm not worried about power. That said, the YZ/WR 426 would be overkill for me since I am 150lbs. I don't want a big air bike, just something that won't break in half if I come up short. Aaron Yates Mx's on a DRZ...what do you think? Should I get one? Would a WR250F be better for my weight?

Thanks,
Louis

I raced a moto last year after a season of woods riding my DRZ with occasional trips to the MX track. The only mod I'd done at that point was drilling my exhaust. The bike is the absolute best woods bike I've ever ridden, but suspension was way too soft for moto. This winter I put in 46kg springs in the forks, ProCircuit T-4 system and jetting changes. Really woke the bike up. I'm sore today, but I put 78 miles on at the track on saturday and the bike is very competative to what I would guess at a mid pack B level. A better B rider could do better, but I was getting passed by some B's and passing others. 2 and four stroke. My suspension is still soft for big hits on the track, but not unstable like it was last fall. I do feel that the bike is better at speed on the trails now too. I can hammer trail whoop sections harder and with more control than I could last year. The trails by my house are still snowed in (rampart range) so I won't be absolutely sure till I can ride them hard. I have to agree with the chat here though, that pipe is loud. I rode with a motoX converted DRZ saturday that had the yosh ti set up. Pro circuit was louder. The pipe did give me the extra whop to clear some obstacles that I was unable to get over last year. Overall I'm very pleased with my mods.
P.S. I'm working on a custom quiet core/Krizzman style spark arrestor to make this pipe a little more politically correct. We'll see what happens.

Good Luck,

Mark Jacobson

Bought the Drz for this exact reason! Raced a couple motos last year in 25 plus C. The bike did O.K. but really needs to be revalved for any serious racing, the only drawback is this will probably take away from the bikes unbeatable trail characteristics! P.S. I did stall the bike coming out of a whoop section once, I pulled the clutch in, pushed the magic button and off I went before anyone could pass me!!!

I plan on using my DRZ in the 35+ class at the mx track very shortly. I will probably keep using it unless my wife gets interested in mx, at which point we will probably pick up a lighter purpose-built closed course race bike and share it on Sundays since we won't be racing in the same classes.

Right now she's on the fence about racing, although I think once she sees other women doing it, she'll be right into it. District 17 seems to support a lot of women's mx these days.

Jon

Thanks for the replys...I love my GSXR750 and figured the DRZ may be the next best thing. I'd hate to have to kickstart the 750...that magic button really beckons me. And an FYI...I read on the Suzuki site that you can add kickstart to the DRZ-E and keep electric start...cool

Louis