Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1342921
CN III ARCHIVES P118 press a button to add or subtract mileage to match a sloppy roll chart. If you went with a taller knobby tire you could use the panels correction factor to make sure the trip meter's calibration would match the larger circumfer- ence tire and match the roll chart, because getting lost in the woods is best left for unfortunate children in fairy tales. The reports, the engineering and design, plus the dedication to the sport brought the DR-Z400S out as a 2000 model. This motor- cycle, plus its off-road DR-Z400 and 400E siblings, flowed out of Suzuki dealerships and into avid rider's hands just as the DR350 models did 10 years earlier. Some enthusiasts raced them too, as did Team Suzuki's Mike Kiedrowski who captured the first-ever World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) with a Yoshimura-built DR-Z400. But the DR-Z400S was re- ally meant to be what is still is, a wonderfully balanced, rock-solid- reliable dual-purpose motorcycle. Twenty-plus years later the core of that bike remains, boosted by oc- casional updates like the inclusion of fully adjustable off-road sus- pension. A legendary motorcycle that's far more than the sum of its parts, a combination of Suzuki's American and Japanese profes- sionals who personally cared about what they were doing. In case you're wondering, the MSRP for the 2000 DR-Z400S was $5349, today it's $6899. CN DR-Z400S Timeline 2000 DR-Z400S Introduction · Compact, liquid cooled, DOHC 398cc, thumper · Damper-rod front fork with adjustable spring preload, rear shock with threaded-body spring preload and rebound damping force adjustment · Multi-function LCD instrument panels · Introduced alongside off-road DR-Z400E (electric start) and DR-Z400 (kick-start) 2002 DR-Z400S updated · To improve off-road and all-around performance, DR- Z400E model fork with fully adjustable damping force added · Headlight (and cowl) changed to improve road/trail illumination 2003 DR-Z400S updated New style cam chain tension adjuster introduced to reduce sounds and better maintain proper chain slack 2004 DR-Z400S updated · New primary drive gear and nut to increase durability · Cable routing updated to reduce sheath wear (when ridden aggressively) 2005 DR-Z400S updated · Balancer (handlebar end weight) and hardware changed to increase vibration damping effect and improve retention to the handlebar 2005 DR-Z400SM SuperMoto introduced · Street legal with DR-Z400S engine and frame 2006 DR-Z400S updated · Rear combination light (taillight) mounting and hardware changed to improve durability when ridden aggressively 2017 DR-Z400S updated · Front and rear suspension damping force adjustments changed to improve off-road and all-around performance 2018 DR-Z400S updated · Anti-cavitation plate added to front brake master cylinder (also aids cap sealing) 2019 DR-Z400S updated · PAIR (pulsed air supply to exhaust) added for emissions compliance and permits changes to carburetion for better throttle response and smoother deceleration · Exhaust header pipe changed to accommodate PAIR system routing · Carburetor deceleration enrichener added to smooth coasting and engine braking operation