Riders Preferred Membership
Shop by Vehicle
Track Order
Contact Us
Today, Suzuki opened pre-orders for its highly anticipated DR-Z4S and DR-Z4SM. The two models originally debuted at EICMA 2024, but Suzuki omitted one critical detail: pricing. After three long months, the brand finally revealed that both the dual-sport and supermoto models will retail for $8,999.
You read that right. Nearly nine big ones. Now, the only question left is whether the DR-Zs stand a chance at that price point.
The markup
The $8,999 MSRP isn’t all too surprising. After all, the 2024 DR-Z400S and DR-Z400SM started at $7,199 and $7,899, respectively. Given the platform’s upgrades — which include fuel injection, ride-by-wire throttle, an updated frame, new suspension, and modern electronics — a price hike seems justified. There’s just one fly in the ointment: its rivals.
At $5,449 and $5,849, Kawasaki’s KLX300 and KLX300SM are $3,550 and $3,150 less than the Suzukis (respectively). Of course, the Kawis are lower-spec models. A slight price gap is to be expected. However, the direct competition is just as stiff. KTM’s all-new 390 Enduro R and 390 SMC R will each come to the market with a $5,499 asking price. That’s a $3,500 difference. Justifying that upcharge won’t be as easy for the Hamamatsu firm.
All that is assuming that customers will limit their cross-shopping to small-capacity models. In the DR-Z4S’s case, a Honda XR650L costs just $6,999, a Kawasaki KLR650 is $6,899, and Suzuki’s own DR650S will run you $7,199. All three are much older designs, but they’re much more affordable, too. The 4S's $8,999 MSRP isn’t too far from ADV territory, either. As Mister Zack Courts pointed out, you can buy a thoroughly modern and capable Honda Transalp for $1,000 more, at $9,999.
The landscape is similar for the DR-Z4SM. There's less direct competition in the supermoto category, though the KTM 390 SMC R mentioned above is an obvious competitor. Riders who aren't limiting themselves to a supermoto and just want a sporty street bike can pick up a Kawasaki Z650 for $7,249, a Yamaha MT-07 for $8,599, or a Triumph Trident 660 for $8,595. Even Suzuki’s GSX-8S is just $210 more than the 4SM, at $9,209.
With all that said, MSRPs and spec charts don’t tell the full story. Before we can do that, the DR-Z4S and DR-Z4SM will need to arrive in showrooms. That will happen in April for the former and May for the latter. Common Tread hopes to ride both bikes around the same time.
The long-awaited redesign of the popular DR-Z models created a lot of buzz. The test will be whether that interest level stays high once they're released into the market against some stiff, lower priced competition.
| 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4S | 2025 Suzuki DR-Z4SM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $8,999 | |
| Engine | 398 cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve, single | |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Five-speed, chain | |
| Claimed horsepower | 37.5 @ 8,000 rpm | |
| Claimed torque | 27.9 foot-pounds @ 6,500 rpm | |
| Frame | Twin-spar steel | |
| Front suspension | KYB inverted fork, adjustable for compression and rebound damping; 11.0 inches of travel | KYB inverted fork, adjustable for compression and rebound damping; 10.2 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | KYB shock, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping; 11.6 inches of travel | KYB shock, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping; 10.9 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Single 270 mm disc with ABS | Single 310 mm disc with ABS |
| Rear brake | Single 240 mm disc with ABS | |
| Rake, trail | 27.5 degrees, 4.29 inches | 26.5 degrees, 3.74 inches |
| Wheelbase | 58.9 inches | 57.7 inches |
| Seat height | 36.2 inches | 35.0 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 2.3 gallons | |
| Tires | IRC GP-410, 18/100-21 front, 120/80-18 rear | Dunlop Sportmax Q5A, 120/70R17 front, 140/70R17 rear |
| Claimed weight | 333 pounds | 340 pounds |
| Available | April | May |
| Warranty | 12 months | |
| More info | suzukicycles.com | suzukicycles.com |
Image Gallery
