Oregon Dealer Builds The Suzuki Dual Sport Bike You’ve Been Waiting For – News Release
Sold out of Suzuki dual sport models and tired of turning away customers looking for a new DR-Z400S, the staff at Fun Country Power Sports and DualSport Outlet in The Dalles, OR needed dual sport inventory and didn’t want to wait until the 2011 models arrived at the end of the year. They started looking for alternatives and found the answer right out back in the new unit warehouse in the form of several leftover DR-Z400SM supermotos.
With a couple of changes to the 400SM including a matching front wheel built with a 19” Excel rim/stock Suzuki hub/Buchanan stainless spoke kit combination, and Shinko 705 dual sport radials in the popular 110/90-19 & 150/70-17 sizes, the end result is the dual sport bike riders have been asking Suzuki to build for years: one with a water-cooled, dual overhead cam powerplant, race quality suspension, reasonable seat height, premium wheels, and beefy radial rubber, all available at the DRZ-400SM MSRP. According to Alec Erland, the shop GM, “buyers can purchase a supermoto kit that includes the original 17” front wheel and Dunlop radials for only $499.00, which is a no-brainer for anyone who’s priced a supermoto conversion.”
Response has been extremely positive, to say the least.
Additional Background & Details:
The DR-Z400SM is essentially the same bike as the 400S with the exception of 17” Excel rims and street radials in place of the S model’s 18”/21” hoops and streetable knobbies. It also got a huge upgrade in front and suspension technology when Suzuki chose to fit the inverted front end from the RM-Z450 race bike in place of the S model’s conventional unit. It also features an oversize 320mm front rotor that offers big stopping power. While the 400SM is a real blast to ride on the street, the 17” front wheel limits the bike’s fun factor once the tarmac turns to gravel.
Fun Country Power Sports is a multi-line dealer located in the heart of some of the finest dual sport riding in the country, and as a result, sells a lot of Suzuki DR-Z400S models, as well as dual sports from Honda and Beta.
DualSport Outlet specializes in online sales of dual sport and adventure touring parts, gear and apparel.
