makeover drz-400s

[jvicars]

I have a 2002 drz 400s I love to ride. I want to make it over more for adv touring. I currently has moto sport panniers, dunlop 606, clark 3.9 gallon tank, 44 rear sprocket. I use it for 20% woods, 20 % dirt roads and 60 % street. I want suggestions on making it a better sport touring machine. My ideas are:

41 rear sprocket
less agressive tires
corbin seat

Ideas?

[holycaveman]

Sounds like a nice bike!

Also it seems like you are going in the right direction.

Maybe a windscreen of some type

Throttle lock?

The foam type grips


suspension revalve for plush street riding and you won't even know your on a drz

[ekaphoto]

Dirtbagz makes baggage racks for the DR-Z

For inexpensive tires look at the IRC GP110. Better than deathwings offroad,good on road, cheap, but last.

Pro moto billet rack.

Oh yea, this thread is worthless without pics.

[robodave]

Leave the rear sprocket alone and drop one tooth in the front for off-road. Use the stock for touring. Add bar risers fron dirtly.com. 1" risers will be the best addition to your bike.The comfort level goes way up. They are also cheap. ($34.95). If you are like me, and have a short inseam, check out Kouba link for a set of lowering links. They really help, but you need to update your rear spring to a spring from a 400E (I got mine off E-bay for $25 bucks or Norm Kouba can get you a new one for a $100.00 bucks.) As far as tires go, stay away from full knobbies at the rear. Go with a trials type tire or go with a Kenda 50/50. Full pressure for the street and run them at 12 to 14 psi off-road. I had a MT-21 front and rear, but used them up quickly on the street. I also have a 50/50 tire on the front and swap it out on Dual sport events. A jet kit with a finger use fuel mix screw is a huge help also. I also have a Moose number plate bag $20.00 buckes. You can keep all of your personal stuff right in front of you. A moose or any fender bag for tire bars, air and tube.

But, the besty secret of all is this: LUCAS OIL TREATMENT....I have 8,500 miles on my 400s, by adding two to three ounces to your oil when you change it will make your bike shift like a dream. It works so well you'll want to put some on your wheaties. Just a couple of weeks ago, my neighbor was out on his old Ducati single, and was complaining that his bike would not shift from third to second or second to first for that matter. I put some LUCAS oil treatment in it and he was off. Thirty minuets later he was back, a big grin on his face. He said" I wish I had this stuff with my old Brit bikes, this thing shifts like a dream".

Good luck, and keep us posted.

P.S. My Buddy has his DR set up with hard bags like yours...It works really well with these features.

[robodave]

[RiverRat]

I'd switch to kenda 270s or even a deathwing. Try the corbin seat as the gel and stock are poor for comfort. I use the dirtbags, backpack front/rear fender packs and the dirtbag number plate bag for storage. Leave the stock sprockets.

I'm going to switch out the kenda for a mt21 for better offroad performance.

[SScratch]

I know I've posted this before but it's the best shot I have with all the bags on.


Deathwings are crap and the MT21's didn't last long. I went through both sets of tires in less than 5k miles. Next up are D606's to run the Six Days of Michigan next month.

[Granitesun]

SScratch, tell us about that setup, it looks good. What size Ortleibs? What rack behind them? Is that a Helen 2 Wheels bag? What size? Rack under it?

Thanks!

[Kiko]

Just returned from 2500 mile/10 day trip into Mexico (mountains, desert, autopista, & off-road) on an 03 KLX400R (DRZ400E).

Assuming you have done the required upgrades such as MCCT, good skid plate, Clarke tank, & case savers, etc.;
Here is a short list of must haves:

Renazco seat, padded bicycle shorts, & Anti-Monkey butt powder
Vista grip cruise control
Grip foam donut rings
Acerbis rally pro guards - if going off road
Kolpin spare 1.25 tank - E needs premium and it is not always readily available in Mexico if traveling secondary roads
ROK straps - get long ones cuz they don't stretch much
Cycoactive number bag - great for papers, cell, dictionary
Maier windshield (Cee Bailey also makes one) - I needed to bend bars to fit and extend

What I would do different:
Install fan on rad - my bike overheated and boiled in city traffic and at military checkpoints

Bring along an extra upper chain roller guide - No parts in Mexico

Most other riders think the springs are too soft; The bike is designed for a lot of travel, I had to adjust the pre-load all the way and it still ate the upper chain roller guide. I think I would try to travel with less weight on next trip rather than mess with suspension setup.

15/44 gearing worked for me fine. IRC GPZ110 tires ok also.

I'm not going around the world, but the above works for a 10 day trip or so. Outside of that you need to do something with suspension if you plan on more than 50 lbs of luggage on the rear.
Good luck,

[blackbirdzach]

scratch, that looks great! I just picked up an 03 at the motorcycle auction yesterday and plan on riding it everytime my darn XR650 goes in the shop.

[kkahlm]

I am also thinking about improving my DRZ in adventure riding area. I rode 200 miles on the DRZ today and I think the Corbin seat is moving to the top of the list. I got 60 MPG, which makes me happy, so once I put on the larger tank I should get better than 200 miles on a tank which will be nice.

Has anyone had any problems with the corbin seat and the clarke tank?

I am also thinking about swapping the front sprocket to make it run a little smoother at highway speeds. I am hoping this will help in the 45 MPH range where the bike is really spinning in 4th and lugging in 5th. Does anyone run a 15 tooth on the 400S and if so does it seem to help at highway speeds?

I know a lot of people on here are running the Kenda 270s. How many miles are you getting on a set?

[dirtypumpkin]

The S comes stock with 15/44. There are some guys that went 16
up front but you have to lose the case saver.

Ive tried a variety of combinations and like 15/47 for most of my riding.
Ill drop to a 14 or 13 up front sometimes for dirt specific weekends, etc.
15/41 was a little too much for me, for a lot of slab Id say its ok.
I like the powerband 15/47 offers for the twisties and local street stuff.

Originally Posted by kkahlm

I am also thinking about swapping the front sprocket to make it run a little smoother at highway speeds. I am hoping this will help in the 45 MPH range where the bike is really spinning in 4th and lugging in 5th. Does anyone run a 15 tooth on the 400S and if so does it seem to help at highway speeds?

[SScratch]

Originally Posted by Granitesun

SScratch, tell us about that setup, it looks good. What size Ortleibs? What rack behind them? Is that a Helen 2 Wheels bag? What size? Rack under it?

Thanks!

I posted some of those answers in this thread: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...light=SScratch

The Ortleib Dry Saddlebags came from Aerostitch, the duffel bag came from REI for about $20.