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is there a big difference in powerl? XR400 vs. DRZ400

By DAVE7373,
in DRZ400/E/S/SM

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Skydmark1

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Why do you say that? Im just curious because Im trying to talk my friend into buying so I have someone to ride with & he is looking to by a 2002 XR 400.

XR's are dinosaurs....the technology is old. Yes they are reliable and if your friend is a beginner then it's probably a great bike to start on. But if we're talking performance, the DRZ takes the cake every time. ?

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Rising Star

F350Lee

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Not even talking about my bike, a friend has a KLX400SR (crappy CV carb in CA) and he drag raced another friend of mine on an 03 XR400 bone stock..both are completely stock, at about 4000 feet on a dry lake bed.

Both race or raced AFM (pretty competitive club racing), so skill was similar, and the kawi maybe had a few bike lengths when they shut down at about 85mph.

My bike has a ton of mods, but obviously something is wrong as burned has pointed out in the past) because on a radar gun on that same lake bed I was only 3 mph faster than that same xr400.

But even taking my bike out of the equation, I think the ol XR did pretty well against the stock CA spec E model.

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hksimpson

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Having owned both in the last 6-months, I can tell you there is a huge difference on several levels. Maybe it is faster (top end) versus quicker (acceleration).

That said, my XR400 would do an easy 80 on flat ground (it was street legal and I verified this) so technically one might think my bike was faster than a CRF450 when it was not.

When you hit the base of a huge hill and you need power to not only climb but clear critical obstacles, cracking the throttle on the DRZ will do the trick every time, on the XR400 you may make it, but not with the same confidence.

When you are riding a fast section or trail at a constant or near contstant speed the power differences between bikes does not matter as much. Throw in some slow sections, stops, an variation and the gap is huge.

Yes, I knew an old guy (old means older than me and in his late 60's) that could spank just about anyone on the trails at Hollister on his XR400. Take him into some variation, then we had a chance...

So if you want to win a race on a lake bed get your XR600 or 650 and run as fast as you can. If you want to go quick, get the DRZ.

Not even talking about my bike, a friend has a KLX400SR (crappy CV carb in CA) and he drag raced another friend of mine on an 03 XR400 bone stock..both are completely stock, at about 4000 feet on a dry lake bed.

Both race or raced AFM (pretty competitive club racing), so skill was similar, and the kawi maybe had a few bike lengths when they shut down at about 85mph.

My bike has a ton of mods, but obviously something is wrong as burned has pointed out in the past) because on a radar gun on that same lake bed I was only 3 mph faster than that same xr400.

But even taking my bike out of the equation, I think the ol XR did pretty well against the stock CA spec E model.

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specialk

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I have a drz400s which I love but I wanted an XR.

2 of my friends have xr400 and another has an xr650L.

I've seen the dino comparisons between XR and DR and the DR has a little more juice. Ive ridden both and I don't feel much difference.

XR technology may be old but it works. The stock XR suspension feels much better especially for a big bastard like me 255lbs. I also Like the fact that XRs are aircooled; no radiators to break.

I like the XR and I'd be happy to own one but I like my DRZs just a little better. ?

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EM_rider

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I've ridden both and the difference IMHO is certainly not "huge". My time was on a DRZs in a variety of terrain. I've owned several XRs. The DRZ has a stronger motor, but I felt like the power difference was much more noticeable from mid to top end. Down low, there were pretty comparable.

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Bliker

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I have the DRZ400s and previously owned a 96 XR 400. My 400s can't touch the bottom end torque my XR had. I did have a pumper carb and pipe on the XR. I still miss the snap the XR had to lift the fromt end over logs. The 400s does seem to rev alot higher with most of its power on the top end.

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hksimpson

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The difference in peak horsepower bewteen a 100% stock E and XR at least 8HP (That is over 20%). With little or no tweaking on both bikes, the gap widens because of the superior carb on the DRZ400 E model (not the S).

Forget the peak power thing because you rarely crank open the throttle and hold it. For me it is time to delivery and I will admit that down low the XR has some grunt, but only if you are rolling on the throttle and have advanced warning of the need for full power. Not so great when you are on a steep hill chugging along, need to slow way down, then need to speed up to clear an overhang at the top of the trail. A pumper carb on an XR would cure this, but with that much money I could buy a pipe or maybe a big bore kit and keep the gap I started with.

Like I said earlier, I rode a modified XR400 (pipe, jetting, suspension) for years and my bone stock DRZ400E (except suspension) spanked my XR in every way. Now that it is jetted right with the airbox mod, there is no place that I would rather by than on my DRZ.

Not offend my DRZ folks here, but I think the same gap exists between the DRZ and the newer WR450 and CRF450x. We try to hold on to an illusion of how we raced one and it was close and so on, but just like the XR is old school, the DRZ is caught in the middle too. Maybe a new DRZ450 model will change all that.

To summarize:

A XR400 is not a DRZ400E

A DRZ400E is not a CRF450x

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Apprentice

HondaPilot

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The DR-z obviously has more power but that doesn't always mean that it is best bike. I have an RM 250, a CRF 450, and an XR 400. They are all really different but I like riding them all. I like to work on bikes but the XR is almost maintenance free. The other two require much more work. The other two also require more work to ride and if you don't pay attention you are going to end up on your head or worse. So bottom line if you want a low maintenance totally mellow relaxing bike to ride the XR is the choice. If you want more action and more maintenance go DR-Z.

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Bluefreak

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huge.not even in the same league.the drz is by far more powerful.

the XR4 with an HRC kit is dead even with the drz400e, I know as I even swapped bikes with my mate and we still finished in a draw... Since I did a bit to the DRZ, I now have the advantage albeit only a slight one.

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