Best full suspension upgrade and service - DRZ400S

APLMAN99
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Tualatin, OR, USA
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Finally got to take my new (to me) DRZ off the pavement today and it was great to be in the dirt, but I’m WAY too big for the stock suspension. I cranked the compression full stiff for riding around town and it was okay on pavement but just the choppy braking bumps on forest roads almost rattled my teeth out.

I’m bigger than the average human, about 6’5 and 290 or so. Was just going to order springs from Race Tech but willing to do whatever I need to in order to be comfortable enough to take a 6-10 day trail ride when I want to.

Anyone have recommendations and ballpark costs to have both ends done correctly?
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rjg
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9/27/2016
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CA
8/14/2021 7:49pm
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there was a website.
1
APLMAN99
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Tualatin, OR, USA
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8/15/2021 3:33pm
rjg wrote:
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there...
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there was a website.
Thanks, I’ll try to find it.

I know that there are some specialty sites just for the dual sport/adventure types, but most of those are a really PIA to read compared to the guys on here.

I didn’t want to go without the suspenders for several weeks, so I ended up getting the proper springs from Race Tech and installed those myself. Set the sag and have started trying to dial in the clickers. Obviously it’s vastly better than it was with stock springs already, but it may take me awhile to go through the compression/rebound combinations to find the best ‘compromise’ for the local trails and the pavement.

If I can’t find something that gives me the confidence that I’d like to have, I may end up sending them out for service and valving while there is snow on the ground this winter!
TeamGreen
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11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA, USA
8/21/2021 10:34am
rjg wrote:
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there...
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there was a website.
APLMAN99 wrote:
Thanks, I’ll try to find it. I know that there are some specialty sites just for the dual sport/adventure types, but most of those are a...
Thanks, I’ll try to find it.

I know that there are some specialty sites just for the dual sport/adventure types, but most of those are a really PIA to read compared to the guys on here.

I didn’t want to go without the suspenders for several weeks, so I ended up getting the proper springs from Race Tech and installed those myself. Set the sag and have started trying to dial in the clickers. Obviously it’s vastly better than it was with stock springs already, but it may take me awhile to go through the compression/rebound combinations to find the best ‘compromise’ for the local trails and the pavement.

If I can’t find something that gives me the confidence that I’d like to have, I may end up sending them out for service and valving while there is snow on the ground this winter!
I've had a few DRZs. The suspension components are pretty damn good. Springs and Oil should get ya where ya want to be.
1
APLMAN99
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12496
Joined
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Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
8/21/2021 11:22am
rjg wrote:
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there...
There is a guy that specializes in those types of motorcycles. Dont quote me on it but i think it's called bruce's suspension. I remember there was a website.
APLMAN99 wrote:
Thanks, I’ll try to find it. I know that there are some specialty sites just for the dual sport/adventure types, but most of those are a...
Thanks, I’ll try to find it.

I know that there are some specialty sites just for the dual sport/adventure types, but most of those are a really PIA to read compared to the guys on here.

I didn’t want to go without the suspenders for several weeks, so I ended up getting the proper springs from Race Tech and installed those myself. Set the sag and have started trying to dial in the clickers. Obviously it’s vastly better than it was with stock springs already, but it may take me awhile to go through the compression/rebound combinations to find the best ‘compromise’ for the local trails and the pavement.

If I can’t find something that gives me the confidence that I’d like to have, I may end up sending them out for service and valving while there is snow on the ground this winter!
TeamGreen wrote:
I've had a few DRZs. The suspension components are pretty damn good. Springs and Oil should get ya where ya want to be.
Hoping so, but if I need to get some valving done I am not opposed to it. Just don't want to miss out of some prime riding time in order to do it!!!!!!

Ride the DRZ to work at least 3 days a week. A couple of days I fiddle with the clickers and the next morning and afternoon I find a some beat to crap road to ride over just to see what it feels like, what difference the clicks made, etc. There are some mean, nearly unmaintained roads not too far off of my normal commute that I use just to see what happens when I hit this square edge hole or those stutter bumps at speed. They aren't too much different than the average fire road and while I don't think that it will get me a perfect end result, it is definitely helping to figure out what happens when I do "X".
1

The Shop

Mitchell403
Posts
2
Joined
2/27/2023
Location
brisbane, QLD, AU
4/25/2023 3:11pm Edited Date/Time 4/25/2023 3:11pm

The guys at DFX do a full fork and shock upgrade kit that I've been told works really well if your still looking at upgrading your suspension. (I know this is a while after you posted but hope it helps if your still looking to upgrade)

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