drz400s review

[Jeff Walker]

> I'm close to pulling the old KLR apart to get the springs swapped. Is it > possible to compress the progressive with C-clamps or am I asking for a > hospital visit? I finally found a couple of local guys with mechanical > knowledge and a shop I can work in but they're Harley guys so I'm not so > sure the C-clamp idea is a sound one. I don't mind taking it to a shop to > swap but the more I can do myself the better I feel. >

I haven't personally worked with the rear spring, but I know that you should use the proper tool to do it. Like with McPherson struts, with out a proper spring compressor and the smarts to use it, that spring could quite literally kill you. Might be something worth paying someone else to do. Jeff

[Eric Jasniewicz]

Good 1. Awesome! 2. Light 3. Great power, linear powerband, no peaks or valleys 4. Great suspenders 5. Brakes are very good. Some people have mushiness in the rear, I don't. (no comments please) 6. Seat is painful. No Corbin available and Corbin said they have no immediate plans, but I ordered a Suzuki gel seat for $143. I think this only comes in yellow/black, so you blue guys are screwed! 7. Cute LCD dash, but for some reason, no tach? 8. Got it up to 99mph 9. Rock solid bike 10. Rear subframe has mystery unused bolt holes ideal for Arne/Tim/Mike racks! Bad 1. Why no sixth gear? Really could use it for onroad riding. 2. Seat painful 3. Extremely notchy shifting, very difficult to find neutral at a stop Suzuki has a number of accessories available: 1. gel seat (getting one) $140 2. rear rack and toolkit relocator kit (getting one) $140 3. carbon fiber engine guards $145 4. carbon fiber frame guards $89 5. carbon fiber front rotor guard $89 6. carbon fiber chain guard 7. carbon fiber fork wrap protector for lowers $45 Anyone have comments on the use of carbon fiber for heavy duty protection? I know one company made a frame for a Ducati 916 out of the stuff, but do you think it can take a beating from a large rock? Also, can y'all please go to http://www.corbin.com/new/reqform.html and request that they make a seat for the DRZ.