There is already a possible date: 2025. If that’s the case, we could see this Suzuki model by the end of this year. The exciting hypothesis comes directly from Japan, where colleagues from Young Machine published a representation of a plausible DR-Z 4S, the successor of the glorious DRZ 400. According to the Japanese journalists – who, it is worth mentioning, sometimes make even fanciful suggestions – Suzuki is working on the comeback of a single-cylinder motorcycle with a DOHC four-valve engine with about 40 hp and a weight of less than 150 kg. The visual would be quite traditional for a non-specialized enduro, but at the same time decidedly more modern than the previous DR-Z. The mechanical design, on the other hand, seems – at least in the rendering – quite similar to the old engine that was produced in Japan until a few years ago. Therefore, it is worth, in our opinion, to make a quick analysis of what the DR-Z was, in order to understand what it could be tomorrow.
The last “dual sport” of the 90s
“The new DRZ is such a versatile motorcycle that it is precisely offered to the public in a range of configurations to cover the entire road enduro sector (S version), enduro racing, supermotard (E version), and above all, the sector of total and guaranteed fun!” At the time, it took 6,300 euros to put the DRZ in the garage for the S version and 7,500 euros for the E version, which had dual wheel homologation and could also mount 17″ wheels (instead of the 21″-18″) and easily transform with the special kit distributed by Valenti that included road tires and safety brakes.
The DR-Z was officially born at the end of the millennium, but it derived from the DR 350, which was born ten years earlier in 1990. It was an easy and versatile enduro that is still highly appreciated by enthusiasts today, thirty years later, also because it was one of the protagonists of the cult film ‘Mondoenduro’. The “Zeta” was its evolution in all aspects, starting with the single-cylinder engine that now had liquid cooling, but it arrived at a time when enduro motorcycles were no longer as popular. However, it created a niche for itself because, like the previous series, it was easy, but at the same time it was decidedly more modern without exaggeration and had the right amount of power to entertain the more experienced and not scare the less experienced.
In the enduro version, it became one of the favorite motorcycles for those who wanted to do more trips and enduro (at that time, adventure was not talked about) and in the motard version, it was one of the chosen ones for those who approached and did not want to exaggerate as much as having a reliable and always predictable motorcycle. Many, in short, mourned its premature death, as they say in these cases, which came in 2007 and much later for our Japanese friends. The last specimens found here were registered in 2009. So much so that, to this day, it continues to be highly sought after in the second-hand market, even with requests that are sometimes difficult to justify. But you know it’s the law of the market.
The DR-Z had 40 horsepower and weighed only 137 kg dry, it had a carburetor, electric start, and a six-speed gearbox. The position was typical of enduro motorcycles, but it was a little more comfortable than the specialized ones and allowed for some transfer. In short, it was one of those essential motorcycles that many currently lament.
