In his video from the world launch of the Suzuki DR-Z4S, Llel Pavey( Brake Magazine on YouTube) reviewed this exciting new trail bike through the prism of several paradoxes. For me, after this European launch I’ m desperately trying to resolve my assessment while dealing with, instead, several internal conflicts. It comes with age. Half my brain is comparing the new DR-Z4S with the old DR-Z400S( and its competitors) of my younger years some 25 years ago. The other half is comparing the DR-Z4S to its contemporary competitors. And those two comparisons don’ t produce the same result. The only way I’ ve resolved this is by facing up to the present day reality: the past is in the past.
Maybe I should explain myself. This is what it essentially comes down to: 2001 DR-Z400S: 40hp, 132kg dry weight( add 10-litres of fuel, say + 7kg, that’ s 139kg wet). 2025 DR-Z4S: 38hp, 151kg wet. Now you can go +/-5% or more on those measures given those are claimed numbers not independent measured weights, but you can’ t argue with facts: the 2025 bike has less power and weighs more. It’ s going to take some kind of suspension of all the laws of physics to create a positive advantage from that. It doesn’ t help that I personally had a DR-Z400E as a KR long termer back in 2001, which was even lighter than the S model. So, I’ m like a lot of older trail riders who lived through the good
44 KIWI RIDER