The Suzuki DR-Z400S keeps chugging along, returning unchanged for 2022, except for a $100 price increase. The 2022 Suzuki DR-Z400S is a venerable dual-sport motorcycle in its 23rd year, flourishing in changing times without evolving.
Although EFI is now the norm, the DR-Z400S continues to have the motor’s 398cc combustion chamber fed by a 36mm Mikuni BSR carburetor. There’s a vacuum-style petcock that you switch to reserve should you run the 2.6-gallon fuel tank down. On chilly mornings, you’ll need to use the manually actuated choke. Don’t worry, you do get electric start and liquid-cooling as part of the DOHC package.
The dual-sport legend has nearly fully adjustable suspension, with a cartridge-style conventional fork and linkage-assisted shock. The only damping adjustment missing is rebound damping on the shock. Suspended wheel travel exceeds 11 inches at both ends.
Street-friendly Bridgestone Trail Wing tires are mounted on wire-spoke wheels with aluminum rims—a genre-standard 21-/18-inch combo.
Although the 2022 Suzuki DR-Z400S won’t keep up with the modern, highly dirt-oriented dual-sport motorcycles available today, it is quite capable on pavement, including the freeway. If you’re not interested in riding at race speeds in the dirt, the DR-Z will get you pretty much anywhere you want to go.
We have tested the Suzuki DR-Z400S
2022 Suzuki DR-Z400S Specs
ENGINE
- Type: Four-stroke single
- Displacement: 398cc
- Bore x stroke: 90.0 x 62.6 mm
- Compression ratio: 11.3:1
- Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 valves
- Fueling: 36mm Mikuni BSR carburetor
- Cooling: Liquid
- Lubrication: Dry sump
- Transmission: 5-speed
- Final drive: RK 520 KZO O-ring chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Chromoly backbone design w/ bolt-on aluminum subframe
- Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable 49mm cartridge-style fork; 11.3 inches
- Rear suspension: Linkage-assisted, spring-preload and compression-damping adjustable shock; 11.6 inches
- Wheels: Wire spoke w/ aluminum rims
- Front wheel: 21 x 1.60
- Rear wheel: 18 x 2.15
- Front tire: 80/100 x 21; Bridgestone Trail Wing 41
- Rear tire 120/90 x 18; Bridgestone Trail Wing 42
- Front brake: 250mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper
- Rear brake: 220mm disc w/ single-piston caliper
- ABS: None
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 58.5 inches
- Rake: 27.1 degrees
- Trail: 4.2 inches
- Seat height: 36.8 inches
- Ground clearance: 11.8 inches
- Fuel tank capacity: 2.6 gallons
- Curb weight: 317 pounds
- Colors: Solid Iron Gray/Solid Black
2022 Suzuki DR-Z400S Price: $6999 MSRP
