Okay guys. I got this from our Suzuki rep who HAS RIDDEN the bike. First of all the smaller carb. that everyone has been yapping about on here saying that it hurts power obviously doesn't know much about engine basics. The smaller the carb. the more torque. The bigger the carb. the more horsepower. Unless you are drag racing only, you don't want a bigger carb.{excluding the Hondas}. This bike is not aimed at the 400EX. It is aimed to the Raptor and DS. The rep. who HAS RIDDEN the bike says that when he and a handful of other reps. were invited to see the bike Suzuki had a 400EX,Raptor,DS,Cannondale,and a Mojave there for comparison.{Beats the hell out of me why they had a Mojave with those bikes!} He says that the Suzuki,Raptor, and DS all ran about the same in their drag races although he says no one there was taking any data. The engine is not a "detuned" version of the dirtbike but rather a "retuned" version. Much the same way Yamaha did using the engine from the Euro bike for use in the Raptor. Also note that the DRZ engine in the dirtbike is an engine that fits somewhere in between the XR400 and a YZF426[Closer to the Yamaha]. My rep also tells me that Yoshimura, who helped develope the DRZ engine, was heavily involved in creating the quad engine, so you can bet your Quadracer that it wouldn't be surprising move if they hopped it up internally rather than "detune" it. I say this because, and this is just a rumor in Suzuki, the DRZ engine will get more horsepower in 2003. The SAME model year designated for the LTZ400. So, just thought I would share what I know with you guys. If I hear anything else, You guys will be the first to know.

 

i wonder what the odds are of them having one of them at the seattle international motorcycle show? the show is the last weekend of november i believe... it'd definitely help the hype

 

Knowsalot thanks for the info. Did they say how the suzuki handled compared to the others ,as this bike looks like it will deliver the goods in the handling department. The other day i was looking through a yosimura catalog and was drooling at the hop up kits they have for the drz400 dirt bike, because they where involved in the quad engine this can only mean the same kits should be out for the quad, cant wait......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Thanks for the info!

The suzuki is getting closer and closer to my garage!!!

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]
You make me soooo happy WISE ONE. I'm itchi8n to get my greasy little paws on this bad boy. I'm gettin sick of all these people bashing the Zuke. My beleif is it's gonna be great. Thanks for the info to back that up.

You spoke of the drag results. how bout some more info. How'd it handle (bumps, turns, Comfort)

Tell me did it eat the cRaptor, only comprable or not even close??????

I'm like a Drooling Dog here. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

Sorry about leaving out the handling part guys. He said that all the guys there felt that the Raptor and the LTZ felt about the same in ergonomics and handling. I will also say that my rep is unfortunatly more of a street guy than an off roader. So I didn't ask him how HE thought it handled. We are on teir list for getting some of the first one released next spring, so when we get it you can bet that crate is gonna come apart like a Lion in a cardboard box. And I will let you guys know what I think, but I think the magazines will be getting theirs in January if not before.

 

Sounds like a nice quad, I can't wait to beat one with my 15 year old 250R. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I really hope Suzuki did a better job with the Z400 than Yamaha did with the Raptor. If they did it right, the Z400 will be eating EXs and Raptors for lunch. If so it will kill 400EX sales, and mabey we'll get a CRF450 quad from Honda.

 

One important thing I left out guys. Your Suzuki dealer has got about a five minute video clip of this machine in action. Ours play day in and day out. Has attracted more attention to our TV than the Raptor video a few years back. To the 250R guy, Don't look for a quad version of the CRF450. That motor has been a flop in the bike so far. However, DO look for a quad using a version of the XR650 engine. I'm not some kind of super dealer or anything, but I've got connections you would drool over. The TRX650 Sporttrax DOES exist in Honda headquarter's R&D. Definetly look for some type of new sportquad from Honda next fall. They have a different tread pattern tire being built starting next spring in the same sizes that come on the 400EX. That comes from a vendor! Not me!

 

Hey Eddie. I guess I didn't even have to tell you that since you were the first guys to see it. I rarely pay much attention to who's posting on here. Next time you guys are in, I'll tell you more about the Honda bike.

 

thanks for the info on the new honda!! However, somehow i am not believing that the CRF450 is a flop. even the "unbiased" magazines have nothing but good things to say about it! in what way is it "flopping?"