was very pleased that it didn’ t chug or snatch at low revs in high gears, so it’ s suitably flexible and smooth for cruisey trail speeds. I did get my bike to cough-stall a couple of times when running very low revs in first gear, but I get this on a lot of modern bikes – riding with that little bit more momentum seems to stop this happening( so maybe it’ s my defective riding technique!). Now, we didn’ t get to ride the DR-Z4S on the road, but we did on the DR-Z4SM and dare I add my voice to the many that have observed that yes, it is one sandwich short of the full picnic. On the SM I was immediately hooking that lever looking for the absent sixth gear and even on that model a comfortable cruising speed was slower than I would have liked. I suspect the best we can hope for is around 110km / h. Okay for snakey roads, but coming up a little short for motorways. And yes, it is a trail bike, I know. I just can’ t not feel that there is a‘ but’ here all the same.
THE ELECTRONICS No new bike can come without this stuff. So, there’ s a mix of staying legal, and making the best of what we have here. Dutifully I rode through all settings. Starting with the modes.‘ C’ gave such a lag to the throttle I can only imagine it’ s there for absolute beginners, but it was no good for technical trail work, the delay in response being too slow to be able to correct slides in the dirt.‘ B’ is better, but I’ m going with‘ A’ all day long. On traction control, I couldn’ t find that 1 nor 2 were of any use on the trails – they’ re probably there for road use.‘ G’ for Gravel was good though, and for superslippery going, or where you were so tired you could do with a helping hand, then it look the load off. But again, for an experienced rider true satisfaction lies with‘ TC off’. And the ABS? Full on – for road use only. Rear off – perfectly fine, especially if you’ re the sort that’ s had one too many front end washouts from panic braking, and the front brake felt surprisingly strong and consistent on the loose stuff with the ABS doing a fine job. But again overall‘ ABS off’ felt best. I appreciated the feel and strength of both brakes( by Nissin) and the feedback was more than OK to feel safe with doing it all yourself, as some of us have done for decades.
THE SUSPENSION Suzuki has done a great job of packaging what is very nearly full-length enduro suspension and retaining a not-too-tall seat height of 920mm. Maybe the latter
52 KIWI RIDER