SUZUKI: DR-Z4S/M

Alan Dowds reports…

There were plenty of famous guests wandering around Birmingham NEC at Motorcycle Live last month, and we half expected to see Marty McFly and Doc Brown on the Suzuki stand. Because it was back to the future for the Japanese brand, which unveiled the new DR-Z4S and SM at the show. The neat, lightweight supermoto and dirt bike are a 2025 take on one of the great little Suzukis from 20 years ago – the DR-Z400S and SM.

The original DR-Z was a high-performance machine for its day, but the 40bhp 398cc DOHC motor was fed by an old-school carburettor, and it didn’t survive tightening Euro emissions rules, going off sale in the UK and the EU in 2007 without any replacement (though it remained on sale in other global markets). Fast-forward a couple of decades, and the market is going crazy for small-bore, well-priced lightweight bikes, and Suzuki’s brought back a whole re-engineered DR-Z for a whole new generation.

Suzuki says the engine is all-new – but it’s extremely similar to the original DOHC four-valve lump, with the same bore and stroke, crankcase layout and five-speed box has gone unheeded, sadly). The overhaul needed to meet Euro 5+ emissions regs has been comprehensive enough, though.

As well as the obligatory ride-by-wire fuel injection with 42mm throttle body, O2 sensors and emissions gubbins all round, there’s a new piston, redesigned cylinder head with flatter combustion chamber, and new titanium intake/sodium-cooled steel exhaust valves.

Cams are altered, there’s a new dual-plug ignition setup, and both the airbox and exhaust system are all-new. Peak power is 37bhp – not bad, but a whole three ponies less than you got 20 years ago. Progress!

The DR-Z chassis follows a similar path, which is to say the same basic set up as before, but with a modernised take. There’s a steel tube frame with KYB USD front forks and rear monoshock, and wire-spoked wheels.

Here’s the big difference between the S dirtbike and SM supermoto: the S has a 21” front and 18” rear wheel, with IRC dirt rubber, while the SM gets 17” rims both ends, and grippy Dunlop Sportmax Q5A road tyres in 120/70 17 and 140/70 17 fitments.

Back in 2005, the only electronics on a DR-Z was a tiny calculator-spec LCD display. Now you get loads more, including probably superfluous traction control, switchable ABS and rider power modes, together with LED lighting and a much bigger (but still retro monochrome) LCD dash. There is no word on the price as we went to press, but expect a decent tag when they arrive in the summer.