DRZ400s highway riding with stock gearing? OK? Top speed? THANKS!

[setagehtta]

Will a 400s with stock gearing (and stock "deathwing" tires) be okay for highway use? Any headshake at highspeeds? Top speed?

If anyone has any feedback, I would be a happy camper!

:nworthy:

[simon@vic]

you will be fine on the hightway.

[sonorawfo]

What do you wiegh???. at 175lbs I find the DRZ a little unstable, but no headshake,Note; the wind blows me around a bit. The few times I've been on the highway. (which around here is a 2 lane mountain road), I've run about 75 to 80MPH, If you are riding a freeway I don't know!!. Maybe greybeard could give you better info, I know he's ridin the freeway with his bike. ?

[Knopey]

My 'E' top speed is 82mph (calibrated Trailtech - 89mph shown on stock speedo) with stock 14/47 gearing and knobby tyres.

'S' top speed seems to get close to 100mph indicated with the stock 15/44 & trailwings ?

[Morewatts]

55 MPH is smooth and stable, at 65 I start to feel it become "light" but not too bad.

70-75 it starts to feel like it's easier to get blown sideways by larger cars and trucks. It also starts to "pick lines", any little crack or groove in the asphalt that runs the same direction I'm going will just suck me right along with it. Thats not too bad except they usually are headed slowly into another lane. 80-85 its totally gripping the tank with knees and hanging on tight. Little changes in wind speed or asphalt effect me a lot at this speed. It feels a little shaky and then I start to wonder- "what does it feel like right before it goes into an un-redeemable headshake that will make this my last ride ever?" Then I back off to about 68 mph.

Seems like the fastest "safest" I can get out of my set-up w/ Deathwings.

Would also like to know if there are any warning signs right before it goes postal on ya ?

[Erik Marquez]

760 miles on a 03 DRZ 400S, many of those on freeway. 65-85 no issues. I weigh 165, the wind will push a little at upper leagal speeds. Have to pay strict attention when ridding that fast, but it is not that big a deal. Top speed so far has been 94, might do more, but not much.

[mdlifcrisis]

I run 15/45. Run on the highway occasionally(until I find a trail..then its off I go!)an cruise around 65/70 w/ no problem. Just be alert..keep your hands on the bars! ?

Headshake can be minimized with suspension set-up

[onoffroad2000]

Seems I'm the only one still using (and bying)the deathwings but they soot my need quite well,just enough grip on the dirt and are great on the street.I ride alot on 2 lane state routes and even some four lane and have no problems top speed is about 98mph indecated.Never noticed anything bad happening, If it starts headshake move forward on the seat just a little and grip the tank with your knees. Just watch out for johnny law ? and the big suv's.

[Quebwolf]

With the stock TrailWing tires, at 100 mph indicated, it is 94 mph on a GPS. Sometimes it shakes, sometimes not, however it's never unmanageable.

I've installed a small windshield, 8 inches high, 11 inches wide, fixed to the triple clamp, and that did not influence the stability, even in strong winds. ?

[rookie517]

i like to ride with the death-wing on the street.

it handle very well, only when i go up till around 130km/h, my front start to wobble. ?

[sonorawfo]

Just a note on headshake!. If you do get some headshake, keep the trottle on and drag the rear brake, that should straighten you right out. ?

[kawidual]

I have 8500 miles on my 03. First 6k mainly street on the deathwings, nice tire

for the road. I got it up to 106 speedo indicated top speed. I get a little headshake

around 85 but it will settle down if you shift your weight. I didnt get any shake

when I had 50lbs of gear on my bike.

You may want to go to a 15/42 or 41 if your going to do it all the time, I think its

a little too much stress on the motor to do 85 all day with 15/44.

[Zukdriver]

Morewatts got it right. It's not really a high speed highway kind of bike.

[AussieE]

CRIKEY who's got time to look at the speedo went doing 90 miles an hour plus on a dirt bike on the highway, these deathwings must be good on the road, the best I got out of my "E" with with 14/47 mich m12 up front and a dun739 on the rear(I know their not for highway use but you gota try these things)was 139km/s down hill, big wind up, slip streaming my older but smaller brother I pulled out passed him held it there for a while then backed off and had my own little nerves brakedown, few got away with it ?.I usually only stil to the back roads on my way to the scub(woods).

Ian

[Drew_Seattle_DRZ400s]

I had mine to 105mph (indicated)on the open road with stock gearing, airbox mod, FMF can & 150/27.5 jetting. I was on the Trail Wings at the time and I believe my top speed was drag-induced and not because I was hitting the rev limiter. (At least it didnt' feel like the limiter.)

[viverrid]

...I think its a little too much stress on the motor to do 85 all day with 15/44.

I think if you are going to be doing 85 all day on the pavement, you should be riding a different bike. "Can" do it and "should" do it are 2 different things. Get a V-strom (1000cc) or at least a 650 for riding like that.

-Vince

[sonorawfo]

Just my opinion, if you want to haul ass on the sreet maybe this is not the bike you need???. Most people buy these bikes for offroad use with, I think?, the ability to use a little pavement here and there. Note; I may use the bike to go to work now and again but mainly I want the street legal thing to tie trails together on long D/S rides. ?

[kawidual]

The DRZ or KLX splits lanes better then any street bike Ive ridden, and Im 50 miles from

some of the best riding, both street 50mph sweepers and great offroad in the same day on the same tire, throw in 2nd & 3rd gear country road twisties, and you can do 90+

on the same tires for short periods on the freeway, with stock S gearing...

All im trying to say is this bike with good DS tires will let you ride 1000 a month with

200 a month or so offroad all day long to and from your house...

With a second set of rims & tires Id still rather have this then a street bike.

We all have differrent ideas of what our bike can do for us.?

Id rather buy a second set of rims & tires then a street bike... ?

[GreenDRZ]

I'm still breaking mine in, but the trails are all down the highway, and I have to use it. I'm all stock. The half throtle restriction keeps the top speed down to 65-70, and I'm plenty scared thank you! The tires are plenty grippy, especially in the twisties ?, but the bike is too light and softly suspended to feel realy stable at high speeds. Plus, that poor little engine is designed as a dirt bike engine, and all this super grip and high speeds can't be good for it in the long run, it just wasn't designed for this. I'm kinda upset. I had a KLR 650, that was much better on the highway, and I wanted a more "dirt bike", without having to get a truck. Well, I got a dirt bike. I could have gotten a marginally better dirt bike if I got the dirt only version, wich probably have been OK, since I'm gonna have to get a truck any way! The Trail Wings are comming off this afternoon. The trails areound here are just too much a mix of sand mud, loam, roots rocks and hardpack for those tires. They won't hook up to wheelie off road, and I slid down a sandy embankment and had a hell of a time getting out of the pit. Streetbikes are for the streed, dirt bikes are for the dirt. This thing is a dirt bike, no matter what the 2-stroker, superlight, MX crowd tells you.

[Stillonit]

yes it does a very slow headshake sometimes at topend speed.Ihis headwobble is very minor. great bike for ripping around.None better!!

sure you can go drz650 but do you want the extra weight and less handling and still be winding it out on the freeway.If you are going to be on hiway more than an hour or two get a bmw ds. man I love those bikes for street and it can mix it up on the trail somewhat but don't expect it to keep up with my drz ?