Thanks for the great summation/comparison regards E, S and SM DRZ's. You are correct ... my E pinged on Baja gas a bit. We brought octane booster.

Is the geometry of the SM model exactly the same as the S? If not, then this could be the reason for poor handling. :confused1:

Rebound failure in forks could have been a failed rubber valve seal or ...?

I've read some of your ride reports ... mostly when you were riding F650 and DR650. Could you offer a comparison between your DRZ-SM and your previous DR650?

You've probably already done this ... could you post a link where it might be?

bier

I don't know the ins and outs of Geometry, but if the SM is designed to have 17' wheels on, and you then put 18/21 wheels on, and also, the SM has USD forks, surely this all adds up to many factors affecting handling..

I think the correct answer is.................73 :smartass::tt2:

Inspired
 

After spending many hours trawling the internet and this website looking for the best machine to take me to cape town via west Africa (from the uk) and the DRZ looks like a pretty good bet.

Lightweight is the way!

big thanks to dave for long post r/e mods, not very good at mechanics currently but I've got a good 6-9 months to buy and mod up a DRZ.

Wish me luck guys.

This is of my first post of many I am sure!