I had an opportunity to ride with a nice guy I met who has a drz400 - no disrespect to him his skill level is just about above mine. So we get to a stretch of open road, and I blow past him at 70 mph.. I am toying with him passing him over and over.. until I reach 90 mph GPS.. then we hit the trails.. same thing.. I am accellerating better, we stop and he looks depressed. We talk about the bike and when he learns I did work to the head he smiles as if relieved.. (he was going to buy a klx but got a drz). Made me feel proud of the bike.. it really kicked a drz400 in the teeth.

I am sure we could tune up a drz to be a monster too.. but its nice to know that THIS klx is a small monster

 

Was the DRZ400 properly tuned yet and broke in? (I bet he is going to fine tune that ride now!) I would feel abit frustrated with that as well.

Good to hear that you think your ride is still a small monster.

 

I pulled up beside a DRZ-400SM last night at a red light.

Should have talked to the guy, he just gave me thumbs up, and I turned the corner at the light because I was headed home.

Would like to see how much power a DRZ has compared to my little KLX.

 

My friend that i ride with all the time has a drz-400. On the street he's quicker off the line but in the woods its more so even. I might even have an edge on him offroad, but i like to think that's my skill, haha.

And by the way his drz is stock and my klx just has a pipe/ re-jet.

 

His DRZ has baffle removed and it is jetted. I still smoked him (sorry tyler), but yes I did.

 

I have one of each. 09 KLX 351 BB with carb, FMF PB, Q4 and lowered 1.5". Off road I run 12/42 on road 15/42.

06 400 DRZ, jet kit, 3X3 air box mod and Baja tail light[LED]. Lowered 2". Off road 13 and a 15 on. Exhaust is stock

KLX seems a bit better off road[brake slides great any one else notice this?].
KLX quicker off idle[carb?] DRZ pulls harder. Both bikes have Cycra bark busters and Kenda DOT knobies. DRZ feels heavier [is] Pert much a toss~up. I'm short and old and like the KLX best. Both are better than my 02 KTM 520 on road, off road not so much.

Your thoughts on this may differ.

 

Were going to put a pumper carb in his drz and see what happens then.. I bet that will wake up that drz400.. I have heard some crazy numbers like people getting 45 hp out of them

 

I'm sure you guys speak of the DRZ(S) model (dula sport) not the DRZ(E) model (enduro.)
There a quite a few differences between the two, an FCR pumper carb and higher compression head among others. Not chalk and cheese but not apples for apples either,

 

Hi West Oz, as far as I know there is three base gaskets for the DRZs with the S getting the thick one. I was going to put on the FCR and open up the exhaust but then if I want to go faster I will take the KTM.

As far as I know the "E" carb is not just a bolt on.

 

A tuned KLX with a big bore kit will generally beat a stock DRZ, feels more nimble & initial acceleration is better .

I have riden a couple of DRZ's here in Thailand with loud pipes & badly jetted carbs, which aren't very impressive!

My view of the DRZ400sm in Thailand is a little biased, as 90% of them on Phuket are rentals with cheap crappy old tires & the riders don't know the roads or their bikes well enough to give me any problems. A properly tuned DRZ with an experienced rider is whole different ball game on the road IMO (very quick & handle very well)