Thinking on getting a DRZ400S...

Hello people, im Mike from CA, and i need some advise . hows the 2011 DRZ400S?? any concern? i didnt rode in a while (5yrs) and now is time to ride again!! i used to do a lot of mx then a crashed and stop riding. (broken back). so now im looking the DRZ, i will ride 60%street 40% dirt.
Let me know what u think..
Thanks

Hey, I know you're a long way from Kansas....no, I guess that would be me. I'm a NH civilized redneck. I just happen to live in NY now on 2 years. I've had a 2002 zzr1200,2006 fz1,two klr's(06.08),crf 230,crf250x,kx80,pw80,04 xr250,86 xl250r,08 versys, and now ride a 2001 honda xr650l. And yes, I've crashed every one, at least once......my newest ride is getting better. Put on bark-busters,fat bars,stage 2 jet,air mod,clarke 4.7,took off the 45 rear sprocket and went with a 48 with a 15 front. tigging a skid pan and going to build racks.

dude, I love the bike, but the butt doesn't. I hope you put on a gel pad or something.

DRZ400's are good bikes, if you are going to be doing more pavement then dirt, maybe think about the 650's. The bigger thumpers are more at home on the highway. Just keep in mind, you can set up almost any bike to the way you ride. Lots of info on the inter web to help with your question . Research is what brought me to buying my 09' DR650se. I love it but it took a little cash to get it were it is now, and i still am not done. But what ever you get, it will be a blast !

OH, welcome !

so what set up do u recommend??

Well that depends on what kind of bike you get. When I got the DR it was ok but had realy soft suspention and sh!tty tires. first thing I did was start stripping all the little things off like reflectors, rear sub fender, ect. Then came some switch modifications. Those were basicly free mods. Then I spent some money on some tires, exaust, and carb modifications. Went with a smaller front sprocket and then this spring I re-sprung the front forks and the rear shock. Next will be re-valveing the suspention.

You can buy a bike and just ride it how it is, but I am one that loves the farkles. If you are going to use it for comuting, stuff that comes to mind would be a good set of tires for your style of ridding, rear rack and/or bag for cargo, ect.

Here is my mods posted on my TT garage. This is most of what I have done. http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/garage.php?do=viewvehicle&vid=20735

if u do the carb modification u have to upgrade also the exhaust?? and what set of tire do u used??
thanks for all your help!!!

most of the time you can get away with just shimming the needle when you install exaust. If you mod the airbox then a re-jet is in order. The exaust is generaly not restrictive with a un-modded airbox even if it is a factory one. The air box is the most restrictive. If you do a airbox mod, I would also recomend a exaust then, more air in, more air out. I know this goes for the DRZ and the DR.

These bikes are set up lean from the factory to get them past smog here. There are also performance mods you can do to the carbs to get more responce out of them also, and/or switch to a pumper carb of some sort.

Its all confuseing at first, but it will cometo you.

Friend I will be riding with has one - it is nice and low to the ground seat-wise; I cna flat foot it easily. Very nicely built.
My KTM - I am on the toes!

Welcome to the forum!

I picked up the 2011 DRZ400 a few months back, and friggen love the thing. I've had a few other dualsports in the past, mostly XT's, but I must say, the DRZ is a pleasure. With a few cheap mods, you will be more than happy!

Good luck with whatever you buy. And have fun!

-Denny