Okay, so I’ve been messing around with my Suzuki DR400 for a while now, and one thing that always bugged me was how heavy it felt, especially when I’m trying to maneuver it around tight trails or load it onto my truck. So, I decided to get to the bottom of this whole weight thing and see what I could do about it.
Getting Started: The Weigh-In
First things first, I needed to know the actual weight I was dealing with. I grabbed my trusty bathroom scale – yeah, I know, not exactly high-tech, but it does the job. I put one wheel on the scale and one on the same level * I do the same thing with another wheel.
Then sum up the two data.
Breaking it Down
After I got the total weight, I thought, “Okay, where’s all this weight coming from?” Started looking at the different parts of the bike:
- The Exhaust: That stock exhaust is a beast! It’s heavy and bulky.
- The Battery: Lead-acid batteries are pretty hefty.
- Wheels and Tires:Depends on my choice.
- Other Stuff: Things like the passenger pegs, mirrors, and even the stock toolkit add up.
Shedding Some Pounds
Now for the fun part – making the bike lighter! This is what I did:
- Exhaust Swap: I found a used aftermarket exhaust that was way lighter than the stock one. Bolted that thing on and immediately felt a difference.
- Battery Upgrade: Switched to a lithium battery. Super light, and it cranks the engine over faster too.
- Wheels and Tires: I’m trying to find a new one.
- Removed Unnecessary Parts: Took off the passenger pegs (I mostly ride solo anyway), ditched the heavy stock mirrors for some lighter ones, and got a smaller toolkit.
Every little bit helps, and after doing all this, the bike definitely felt more nimble and easier to handle.
The Results
So, after all that work, did it make a difference? Heck yeah! The bike feels lighter on the trails, easier to pick up after a (let’s be honest, inevitable) tip-over, and it’s even a bit easier to load onto the truck. I haven’t done a super precise weigh-in after all the changes, but the difference is noticeable, and that’s what matters to me.
It’s all about making the bike work better for me and the way I ride. And hey, if I can shave off a few pounds and make my life a little easier, that’s a win in my book!
