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/1539081
Ride Impression A supermoto between traffic lights is one of motorcycling's great joys, and here the 4SM delivers beautifully. The 4SM is perfectly designed as an inner- city zip-around bike and one that will happily carve your local twisty with the best of them—if you keep your riding to those areas, the 4SM is hard to fault. Baseline suspension settings are extremely soft, and if you want to get out there for a rip, you'll definitely want to jack up the rear preload and stiffen the fork. The good news is that the 4SM responds to a few clicks on the clickers here and there, which bodes well for the overall quality of the KYB suspenders. The 4SM is very light on its feet thanks to the surprisingly competent Dunlop Sportmax Q5A. Compared to the Michelin units found on the KTM 390 SMC R, the Dunlops have a more tactile feel thanks to being slightly softer in their carcass. All this means it's easier to feel what the Suzuki is doing under - neath you. Regardless of the missing quickshifter, the 4SM still gets a big upgrade in the elec- tronics department with the fitment of the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.). This includes the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS) and the Suzuki Traction Control Sys - tem (STCS), which features the same G (Grav- el) mode as on the 4S but with a different level of slip (i.e., more electronic intervention). And, like the orange archrivals from Austria, the 4S now has ABS that can be turned off on the rear, but being a street model, it is always engaged on the front wheel. The bones of the 4SM have also been drastically altered. Gone is the steel tube single cradle frame; in its place sits an all- new, twin-spar steel design with the engine's oil now in the frame. Suzuki is claiming a 9.3 percent increase in torsional rigidity with the new chassis, with suspension now inverted 46mm KYB forks up front (adjustable for compression and rebound) and a fully adjustable KYB mono - shock out back. Wheel travel has gone up 0.8 inches up front and 0.7 inches at the rear. Braking hasn't changed in the Nissin twin- piston caliper gripping a 310mm disc up front and a single-piston caliper stopping a 240mm piston at the rear. And although the wheels haven't changed, Suzuki has fitted the 4SM with Dunlop's Sportmax Q5A rubber. (Above) The 4SM now gets three adjustable ride modes (although you really don't need them on a sub- 40-horsepower street bike), switchable ABS and traction control. (Below) The new engine knocks out just under 40 horsepower at the crank, so expect early 30s at the tire. P104 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 SUZUKI DR-Z4SM