ok firstly my use for the bike is dual sport/desert riding/ long dis tours/enduro. so the S model is my thought. mods; i will put a 17lt safari tank(which i can get in black, blue and yellow). a 4.5lt black tail tank. i will custom build my own racks for soft panniers/tail bags, aluminum bash plate(joys of being a mech fitter), tyres

i am looking at a DRZ 400 and really like the look of the black SM its cheaper than the E and you get the RM450 inverted forks. a bigger front disc

things you dont get on a SM:
kick starter - can be retro fited
off road rims/tyres - swap for off road rims tyres

with the bigger wheels you would gain the mm's and compare to the E's 315mm ground clearance and seat height.

now i realise there is a diff between the E and S models as far as subframes and carbs go. so which model does the SM follow? the E or the S.

so i get
USD RM450 forks a bigger front disc, and a better looking black DR (no offence) for $600 more than the S model. and $200 less than the E model.

any thoughts....

As ever, you want 3 different bikes to meet your requirements.

Never owned one of these, but there are plenty of comments about them in various threads and posts in here.

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Dave

i realize that

obviously the 400E would not be suited for long distance riding and the 400S would be not the best for enduro
no such bike gets 5 stars in everything

The SM uses the S model engine. As well as the different carb the E model had different cams, a higher compression ratio and different exhaust.
Are E models still available where you are? And is it the proper E with the Keihin slide carb? Just asking cos they dropped them from the range a couple of years ago in europe.

yeah for sure they're still selling them in australia.

would the E model be suitable to ride long distance? obviously it doesnt have the fuel economy the S does.

would it handle riding tthe hi-way of 800kms

You've already provided the answer to your last question, here:-


I reckon these bikes, and others such as the DR650, are still for sale in Oz because you don't have the European rules (yet!) for emissions.

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Dave