2026 Suzuki DR-Z4S long term review - pros, cons and common mods︱Cross Training Adventure

Our Suzuki DR-Z4S long term review! When it was first announced, fans of the original DRZ400 started complaining. It's too expensive. It's too heavy. We don't want fuel injection. Why is there no sixth gear? I must admit our group had the same thoughts prior to riding the updated Suzuki but we were pleasantly surprised. This Suzuki DR-Z4S long term review is from a dual-sport and adventure perspective. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. First? The updates compared to the old DRZ400. The big price drop in Australia to $13790 (ride away) makes it a lot more tempting too. Have you ridden the DRZS? Do you own one? What do you think? What mods have you made? Let us know in the comments. A lot of these are quite minor changes. Many riders modified their old DRZ400 models for adventure riding. There were almost no changes for an incredible 25 years and then all these changes were made in 2025. The DRZ4S is no exception. Common mods? So who should buy the DRZS? This spectrum should help. We think it's perfectly placed as a dual-sport motorbike. If you want something a bit more enduro-oriented, there's the CRF450RL if you don't mind the very frequent oil changes and trying to fix issues it has with its fuel injection. There are two things that stood out for us. The engine response is very lively now compared to the old model. And the KYB suspension is a big improvement. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. Comparing dyno charts reveals a bit more or less torque at various RPM for the old and new models. But you can feel the difference when riding. The fuel injection provides an instant punch of power that is even evident in top gear. But it's still smooth. If you have ridden a stock Honda CRF450RL you will know how jerky fuel injection can be. And likely to stall. But Suzuki have mapped the ECU really well. What did we like about the Suzuki DR-Z4S? Let's start with the engine. We left it in 'A' mode for maximum response and power for every ride. The front wheel is very keen to lift when accelerating hard in first and second gear! But the B and C modes tame that response well for less experienced riders. The Suzuki DR-Z4S fuel economy is better with the fuel injection too. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The new KYB suspension compared to the old DRZ400. The Suzuki DR-Z4S finally gets upside-down forks. The overly soft suspension of the old DRZ400 was a common complaint. We think the beauty of the DRZS is it bridges that gap between enduro and adventure riding so well. And thankfully the Suzuki has retained its bulletproof nature despite all the updates last year. Typical dual-sport riding achieved around 65 to 80 mpg, 25 to 33 km/L. Typical mods are remove the airbox snorkel, reflash the ECU, further airbox mods then a full aftermarket exhaust system. Our riders varied from 80 to 92 kg and loved the new suspension setup. Very plush. If you pick up the pace it still handles the terrain very well. We got the Suzuki airborne over some little jumps and it was fine. Suzuki DR-Z4S handling and electronics. Some good news for DRZ400 owners. Common modifications. Some owners want more power. It feels stable and planted at highway speeds. It's nimble for commuting and riding around town. Potential issues with the Suzuki DRZ4S? The wet weight of 152kg. Does it matter that the DRZS has gained a bit of weight? If you will do a lot of off-road riding? Yes. But everywhere else you either won't notice the weight or it can even be an advantage on the highway. The Suzuki DRZ4S price. There was a price increase compared to the old model but it has already been discounted quite a lot. In Australia the ride-away price is $13790, around the same as the Honda CRF450RL. In the USA the Suzuki is around USD2000 cheaper than the Honda. No sixth gear on the Suzuki DRZ4S. This is a common complaint. If you are leaning toward adventure riding then the heavier Kove or KTM 390 might suit you better. The dual-sport nature of the Suzuki is strong. Some insist Suzuki should fit a sixth gear. Others think a wide-ratio five speed gearbox is fine. I've had quite a few Japanese motorbikes with only five gears and usually I've been quite happy with them. There was a factory recall for loose rear brake reservoir screws on 2025 models. When you look at the dyno charts you can see you need to spend a lot of money to get substantial gains. Our suggestion? Don't make any changes for at least a few months, or ideally during your warranty period. We think it's a great punchy engine as is. Any 2026 models should be fine. INDEX 0:31 What changed? 0:57 What we liked 3:20 Potential issues 5:13 Common mods 6:54 Will it suit you? #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #drz4s