[Test Ride] ACTIVE "DR-Z4SM Motard": Seriously Boosted Road Performance!

■Text: Hiroshi Nakamura | Photos courtesy of ACTIVE | https://www.acv.co.jp/

Suzuki’s 400cc supermoto, the DR-Z4SM—which had been discontinued since 2009—is back. The demo bike built by ACTIVE based on this model was an impressive machine, featuring an exquisite suspension setup that significantly elevated the “road-oriented performance” of the supermoto.

When cornering, should you lean your foot out or your knee?!

The DR-Z4S/SM, released in 2025, stands apart from one of Suzuki’s core design philosophies: “high performance that anyone can understand.” Its 400cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-valve single-cylinder engine delivers 38 PS.In an era where manufacturers are hesitant to tout maximum power, it boasts a top-class power-to-weight ratio of 4.05 among domestic mid-displacement models.

The suspension features fully adjustable KYB units at both the front and rear, mounted on a twin-spar semi-double cradle frame. With a seat height of 890 mm, this is clearly a bike that “chooses its rider.”The price tag of 1,199,000 yen also took fans by surprise.

The demo bike built by ACTIVE is based on this DR-Z4SM, with the goal of further enhancing its authentic motard character.First, the wire-spoke wheels were replaced with GALE SPEED forged aluminum wheels. The model installed is the TYPE-X, designed for motard use. This reportedly reduced the total weight by 3 kg (including tires) for both the front and rear, making it a significant weight reduction.

Next, the suspension was upgraded with HYPERPRO front fork springs and a rear shock. This is the first area to address when enhancing the performance of a motard model—a shift from the stock setup, which is designed for ride comfort and accessibility for everyone, to a configuration that targets a more specific rider profile.The constant rising rate springs from HYPERPRO are designed to provide a soft feel when riding slowly and firm damping when riding under heavy load—a characteristic that seemed like a perfect fit for a motard.

As soon as I hit the track at SPA Nishiura Motor Park for a test ride, the solid feel of the ride was in a completely different league.Thanks to the aforementioned suspension upgrades, the ride has shifted from a previously floaty feel to one where you can clearly sense the suspension compressing and extending. It’s a controlled motion—sinking firmly and extending slowly—with effective damping.

The brakes are incredibly powerful. The GALE SPEED front cross-lock disc rotors and radial-mount calipers—which are still in the testing phase—bring the lightweight chassis to a stop. I was simply amazed by the intense stopping power.

On the track, I kept my speed moderate for street riding and quickly picked up the pace.Since the engine and exhaust are stock, the power output remains unchanged, but when riding flat-out on the circuit, the DR-Z is truly fast! When braking with the GALE SPEED setup, I made a point of applying the brakes gradually and releasing the lever little by little, keeping in mind the powerful stopping power mentioned earlier.

What I noticed during this braking was the solid vertical stiffness I felt. This is likely largely due to the performance dampers; it feels as though the powerful braking forces are being absorbed by the wheels, front fork, and performance dampers.At the same time, while it was hard to notice during full-throttle circuit riding, according to the ACTIVE staff, installing the Performance Damper reduces vibration at high RPMs.

Furthermore, the upgraded suspension seemed to have been set up specifically for my first time on the circuit today, making it much more road-sport oriented than the stock setup. Damping is effective in both compression and rebound, making it easy to control the bike’s posture—the front end dips during deceleration and lifts during acceleration.Straight-line stability has improved, and the speed at which the bike enters a lean is also more controlled.

With this handling, even those who aren’t motard experts should be able to throw the DR-Z around without fear.Even when I deliberately open the throttle wide coming out of a corner, the front-to-rear balance doesn’t break down. This is likely because, while it may not be a full-fledged road sport bike, the characteristics of the motard—a derivative of on-off models—have been enhanced to be more road-oriented.

At first, I tried cornering by leaning out and extending my inside leg, but perhaps because the handlebar width has been narrowed, it didn’t quite feel right. So, I switched to a “hang-on” style, scraping my knee against the road, and found that I could corner naturally.I should add that the secondary rear brake—a thumb brake mounted near the clutch lever—was incredibly easy to use!

Built with a sports bike in mind and tuned for track riding, this motard—the DR-Z4SM—feels amazing when riding in the hang-on style with your knees scraping the ground! I suppose this is what a custom bike with a clear purpose is all about.

GALE SPEED’s forged aluminum wheels, designed specifically for motard bikes and known as the Type-X (Cross). Sizes are 3.50-17 for the front and 4.50-17 for the rear. The price for a front-and-rear set for the DR-Z4SM is 272,800 yen.For the braking system, the rotor diameter is set to 320mm, and the opposed 4-piston calipers are radially mounted via a caliper support (exclusive to Type-X; currently under development).

The rear brake features a standard disc paired with a dual-piston caliper. To ensure road clearance during full lean, a support (under development) is used to mount the downward-facing caliper as close as possible to the swingarm.

Although the engine is stock, the water-cooled DOHC 4-valve single-cylinder engine delivers 38 hp. It offers sharp acceleration at high RPMs and delivers punchy torque. As expected, revving it up to high RPMs is the best way to bring out this engine’s true potential.

The rear tire is a Dunlop SPORTMAX Q5. To improve road grip, the stock 140/70R17 was replaced with a 150/60R17. Switching to aluminum wheels and going tubeless has improved durability and reduced weight.

The rear suspension is made by HYPERPRO. Although the photo shows a prototype, it is scheduled to be released as a fully adjustable model featuring preload and compression/rebound damping adjustment mechanisms. The spring utilizes HYPERPRO’s signature constant rising rate.

On bikes with off-road-style frame characteristics, the effects of the performance damper are clearly noticeable. It excels during hard braking on the track and provides a smooth, vibration-free ride in city traffic. The model for the DR-Z4SM is priced at 38,500 yen.

Step bars (under development) that provide a secure grip on riding shoes and boot soles. While the mounting position remains the same, the mounting angle can be adjusted in four stages, allowing the bars to rotate to accommodate a riding position suited to the rider’s physique.

For the cable clutch, we used a GALE SPEED clutch holder with an adjustable lever ratio function. A thumb brake master cylinder (52,800 yen) is also mounted beneath the grip. It offered excellent usability.

Tapered handlebar (9,900 yen) featuring a thicker clamp section and a tapered design that reduces the handlebar diameter from φ28.6 mm to φ22.2 mm. The unit installed here has a narrower width between the left and right sides compared to the stock model, and the riding position is more road-oriented to give the bike a sportier feel.Meanwhile, mounted on the handlebars is the new QSTARZ GPS lap timer. Developed specifically for motorcycles, it is significantly smaller than previous models.

The full-spec forged radial master cylinder VRC by GALE SPEED (45,100 yen) delivers a gradual yet powerful response. It features an adjustable lever ratio and comes in piston diameters of φ19, 17.5, 16, and 14 mm.The photo shows the 19mm diameter model in matte black.