P102
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 SUZUKI DR-Z4SM
Suzuki has tried to reduce
the impact of not having a sixth
gear by giving the 4SM a smaller
rear sprocket for taller gearing
(41 teeth compared to the 4S's
43 teeth, although both use the
same 15-tooth front sprocket),
but the lack of sixth gear is still
a glaring omission from Suzuki's
engineers.
As for the clutch, it is now a
slip-and-assist type that uses
Suzuki's Clutch Assist System
(SCAS) for a light lever pull. Per
-
formance junkies will note there's
no
quickshifter, nor the option
of upgrading to one in Suzuki's
aftermarket catalog.
As such, the engine's go is
transmitted to the tire using the
same five-speed transmission
as before, and this proved to be
one of the bike's major flaws
when we conducted freeway
riding or any riding north of 60
mph for that matter, as the revs
felt too high and a lack of top-
end acceleration hurt the SM's
potential. Oh, and we can't even
tell you what revs we were doing
at 60 mph because there's no
rev counter on the 4SM's dash.
Increased low-down torque
was the aim of the game with
the new 4SM, making it a more
rideable proposition for general
street riding and traffic-light
GPs. Interestingly, Suzuki claims
the new motor has a reduc
-
tion of mechanical losses by
20
percent at 8000 rpm, which
shouldn't be too hard to achieve
given the previous motor can
trace its heritage back to 2005.
Die-hard fans of the DR-Z
range have been howling for a
sixth gear for a long time, but
Suzuki decided against it, citing
weight and manufacturing-cost
concerns.
White does look rather fetching
for the 4SM. Check out the little
luggage rack on the back as part of
the Suzuki accessory catalog.
