Suzuki DR-Z4S 400 2026 — Specifications

Twenty years of absence. Two decades during which the lightweight trail segment saw competitors, trends, and ever-stricter emissions standards come and go. Suzuki took its time, but the return of the DR under the name DR-Z4S 400 doesn't look like a simple catalog dust-off. The Hamamatsu brand went back to the drawing board, or very nearly. Of the 398 cc single-cylinder, only the basic architecture and dry sump remain. Everything else has been redesigned to meet Euro 5+ requirements, which represents a considerable leap from the Euro 2 standard of the previous generation. The result: 38 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 37 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Two horsepower less than the late DR-Z400S, a modest tribute paid to catalytic converters and modern fuel injection. Torque, however, remains unchanged. For A2 license holders and playful single-cylinder enthusiasts alike, the promise is enticing.

What's more surprising is the electronic package. On a trail bike under 9,000 euros, you don't expect to find three engine maps, a four-level adjustable traction control with a dedicated gravel mode for off-road use, and an ABS that can be deactivated wheel by wheel. Suzuki clearly wanted to prove that mechanical simplicity could coexist with refined electronic management. The digital dashboard remains understated, perhaps too understated in fact since it omits the tachometer — a questionable choice on a machine where the rider needs to know engine speed at all times. Full LED lighting rounds out this welcome modernization.

On the chassis side, the work runs just as deep. The new steel twin-spar frame paired with a split cradle replaces the old structure and should gain rigidity without sacrificing agility. The inverted fork offers 280 mm of travel, fifteen less than the previous version but more than enough to tackle forest trails with confidence. The rear shock proves even more generous with 296 mm of travel. The Kayaba suspension is adjustable in compression and rebound, a genuine strong point. The 21/18-inch spoked wheels fitted with light-knobby tires confirm the machine's off-road vocation. At 151 kg wet and 30 cm of ground clearance, the DR-Z4S sits squarely between a road-going trail bike and a recreational enduro. The Nissin braking system with a 270 mm front disc and 240 mm rear disc gets the job done without claiming to rival the equipment found on more upmarket trail bikes.

You do need to know what you're getting into, though — or rather, what you're swinging a leg over. The seat height peaks at 920 mm, which will reserve this machine for medium to tall riders, or those willing to dab a single toe at red lights. The 8.7-liter tank also seriously limits range. No question of heading out on a rally with that capacity, and long highway stints topped out at 150 km/h aren't its playground either. The DR-Z4S is a specialist: sunken lanes, mountain trails, urban commutes where its lightness works wonders. The absence of a proper stock skid plate is also regrettable, replaced by a simple aluminum plate that barely protects the lower engine.

Against the competition, its positioning deserves consideration. What is the price of the Suzuki DR-Z4S 400 in France? Count on 8,999 euros, a price tag that puts it up against the Yamaha Ténéré 700 — admittedly more powerful but also heavier — or the Honda CRF300L, significantly cheaper but also less well-equipped. Suzuki plays an original middle card: the technologically armed lightweight trail bike. It won't suit those who want to do everything with a single motorcycle. But for the rider looking for an agile toy capable of turning any side road into adventure terrain, it ticks the right boxes. The return of the DR has the merit of existing and offering something different in a market saturated with overweight, over-equipped trail bikes.