on my 07 drz I used to own I added a yoshi rs2, rejet and 3x3. There was defiantly a noticeable gain but i couldn't tell you exact numbers since I never put it on a dyno. This was with the stock carb.

 

If you throw in a JD jet kit in your carb along with the pipe and 3x3, it'll definitely be a nice little bump in power. It's gonna be a minimal gain, but you will definitely notice the engine breaths easier and put a tad more power to the ground. I always suggest that as a first 'mod' to a stock DRZ.

 

There are dyno sheets over at TT listing runs from stock all they way through to the crazy 470 strokers. That being said, that info can be very hard to find over there.

As others have mentioned, don't get hung up on the numbers, as none of us ride a dyno sheet at the end of the day. The mods you asked + a JD jet kit produce very noticeable gains all throughout the useable RPM range on a stock internals motor.

 

the tale of a 57hp 05 drz sm

You won't see any significant gains from anything less than exhaust/3x3/FCR carb. The DRZ is a pretty poor base for modifications - you have to dump way too much money into it to see anything significant. Those with a DRZ who want a lot more power should just sell it and get a KTM 690.

That said, if I had a DRZ, the first thing I would do is the exhaust, to make it sound less like a tractor. Beyond that, not much point in doing anything to it. This is not a slight on the DRZ - It's a fun bike that you can just ride forever. Enjoy.

Stock hp through total crazyness modding:

Run 50 is the FCR 39mm carb. The lower 3 are stock, the the basic mods you had in mind.

 

I don't understand the logic of people that say the DRZ is a poor base for modifications because it is so slow. The fact that it is so slow stock is what makes it a good candidate for modifications.
For not a lot of money you can do the 3x3 and jet kit, that will add about 10% more power. That is stupidly cheap for 10% more power. Add a full pipe (a slip on will only make more noise) and jetted to match and you may be closer to 15% more power.
No, it will never be a KTM but I don't understand why people think that every time someone who is trying to make their DRZ a little faster and more fun to ride is trying to make it into a KTM. Not everyone like wrenching on their bike.

 

For not a lot of money you can do the 3x3 and jet kit, that will add about 10% more power. That is stupidly cheap for 10% more power. Add a full pipe (a slip on will only make more noise) and jetted to match and you may be closer to 15% more power.

You're dreaming with those numbers. Reminds me of the import tuner scene where guys claim they added 20 HP by installing a fart can on their Civic.

With the 3x3 mod, exhaust and a jet kit, you get 2, maybe 3 more peak HP. Seriously, look at the chart and link I posted. There's a thousand other dyno curves out there just like it.

The DRZ is an awesome bike, a lot of fun. I've ridden a few. Just don't make it out to be something it isn't. The only reason those bikes "wake up" with the simple mods is because they are louder. Nothing wrong with that, I like loud myself.

 

Improving flow: air in and exhaust gas out will improve performance... I had a stock DRZ with MRD,3x3,& properly jetted stock carb. There was significant performance gains from as delivered stock. I didn't dyno the bike but I did take it to a 1/8th drag strip. Just by removing the silent insert in the MRD I gained .3 of a second in the drag strip run. Granted the MRD works better at high rpms and with other engine mods,but you can't go wrong with US made product. If you haven't got big bore,cams,& fcr in the future plans perhaps a Yosh pipe is better,it will give more torque and little less HP than MRD.

 

So power wise, my mods (well, when I actually get the bike, and my broken femur heals so I can ride it) are planned
Full exh
3x3/jets
eventually FCR

So would I be best suited with the MRD or the Yosh RS2/3? I doubt I will be doing the big bore, if I do its a long way away so I want what will work with the above mods best.

I will be ordering the exh and jet kit as soon as I sign the paperwork on the bike, and there is a SMALL chance I may get the FCR at the same time.


It looks like an FCR adds damn near as much power as the 3x3/jets/full exh? Can that be right? Is it THAT big of a jump?

 

The FCR does add some power, but it also adds better throttle response. That is key to making the bike feel fast. A bike with good power but poor throttle response can feel slow.
If you can get the FCR I would get it.
When I bought a DRZ I installed a carb, Yosh Ti pipe, and big bore kit within the first 100 miles. I already had the plan before I even signed the paperwork. And while it did not have the power an Aprilia, KTM, or Husky has, I was able to ride it like that for years with nothing more then oil changes. And even the oil changes were spread out. At the time I did not have the time to keep an MX based SuMo running.

 

Don't sweat it too much....... Get a good full exhaust system(stock header is the restriction),do the 3x3,& properly jet with the James Dean kit. Do the above and you will be plenty happy. FCR is nice because it is crisper throttle response than stock,but not nessissary until you at least get cams followed by big bore.

 

I am 99% sure Im going to do the mrd/3x3/fcr all at once. I made a spreadsheet last night and everything I want to do up front, including the FCR only comes out to ~1200 bucks. I figure, why spend 70 bucks on a jet kit when I am going to eventually do the carb anyway. Throttle response is a big deal to me. My YZ250F is really snappy, I don't want my day to day bike to feel like a slug comparatively. And 3-4hp is a big number for a single mod that isnt THAT expensive. Plus if I get it from Eddie it will come jetted already so all I have to do is just bolt it on and go.

 

15/42 is stock gear on sm model. True, up three teeth in rear sprocket, is same as down 1 in the front. Prolly gonna change chain and sprockets ever couple seasons anyway,so premature chain wear wont be an issue. 14 tooth countershaft sprocket is great bang for buck ($25) and came stock on E models 14/47.

 

My '07 SM came with 15/41 gearing stock. Not sure if they have changed that on the latest ones.
The one caution about changing the front sprocket often is that one of the few design weaknesses of the DRZ is the way the front sprocket and output shaft are secured. The nut holding the sprocket on does more then hold the sprocket on, it also keeps a spacer/bushing where the shaft comes out the cases tight and locates everything. Bad things happen if that nut comes loose while in use, which is why there is a standard fix of putting red loctite on that nut as I recall.
I had enough chain to swap between the 41 tooth rear that came stock and a 44 tooth rear sprocket without having to cut the chain or otherwise monkey around with it. Usually I would agree that the front is the easier swap, but on a DRZ I would swap the rear. But that is just me.

 

How much is MPG affected and how long does it take to swap out the front? I can't imagine it takes more than 15 min to swap. I could use one gear for day to day commuting and one for weekend playing.

How much can you go up on the rear before you have to go to a longer chain?

 

Not much mpg change unless you ride very spirited. I never got less than 40mpg. Not sure on chain size. Do a search on Thumper Talk in DRZ section and you should find results. Do do a quick c/s sprocket swap you will need an impact wrench to get nut off quickly.

 

So here is a question.


How will this thing feel compared to my YZ250F? My YZ is smaller, but less restricted, has the FCR already obviously stock, but also weighs 100lbs less.

I am thinking they should feel pretty close stock for stock. With the throttle response advantage going to my YZ due to the FCR.

 

SO back to my earlier question.

Stock for stock, how does a DRZ400SM compare to my YZ250F? I would think that they should feel about the same in terms of overall power, but with the 250 having a little more punch due to its having an FCR and being geared lower. I know the 400 makes more power, but I think its only puts like 4-5hp more to the wheel and the 250 only weighs like 220, vs 320.

I am thinking that overall they will feel pretty comperable.

Any thoughts? 250F MX bike VS 400SM stock?

 

I have not ridden a YZ250F. So I could be completely wrong.....
But I would think while there is only a 4 - 5 hp difference between them there is probably a larger difference in torque. So while the FCR and less weight would help the 250 the difference in torque would, at least to some extent, offset that. The 250 would likely handle much better but I think given equal riders it should avoid direct acceleration contests.
But again, I have not rode the Yamaha. I have been on the track with 250's on my DRZ, although it was not stock as mentioned before. If a 250 came by me it was because they were a better rider then I am...... And it was usually on the brakes. There is a fundamental difference between MX based SuMo's and street bike based ones. The DRZ is a street bike based one and comparing it to an MX based one, even a 250, is something of an apples to oranges comparison. But if you want to race a DRZ with your YZ250F, let's race the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8467EWzcXw&sns=em

My brother is on his stock '09 YZ250f and I'm on my '08 DRZ400E (stock FCR and airbox snorkel removed) with fmf powercore slip on.
The YZ is quicker off the mark to ride and way more fun in the tight stuff.

 

That is one of the reasons I want to do the mods, I would hate for my day to day ride to feel completely boring comparatively. I figure a few extra HP should help with that.

 

Just doing the 3x3, full exhaust and jetting is a great choice to do. The FCR doesn't add all that much more but you will get the SNAP with the FCR when the FCR is jetted correctly.

I had a DRZ and started with the pipe, jetting and 3x3 and it worked great then added the FCR and yes better and I just kept modding until it became overkill. To those who bash the DRZ, yes it is a PIG but the most fun PIG you can ride IMHO. No it doesn't even come close to my KTM but my KTM is a purpose built bike where as the DRZ is a simple fun reliable bike and yes you can go a tad nutty Modding these things to make them your own and well I do that to any bike I have .

My honest opinion on this is just do the 3x3, full pipe and jet it. I got over 50,000 miles out of mine before it went POP and well it was a .50 part that exploded my motor. Remember when you start going nuts on the Modding reliability drops off

Just my opinion on the trusty PIG :anim_peep:

 

Well here is how I look at it.

The DRZ has a couple issues.
1. Its heavy
2. The stock carb is numb feeling.

So going to an FCR, you fix number 2. which helps mask the effects of number 1. A crisper throttle makes it feel more powerful (more than it actually is), which makes it seem like its not quite as heavy.


I can afford the FCR now. Sure, I could do the jets on the stock carb, but here is the thing, I know I will always be looking forward to when I can do the FCR, which means it would probably come sooner than later. Which means the $70 or so that I spent on the jet kit, was money thrown down the toilet.
Plus, I know at some point down the road I will go bigger, either cams, or a big bore or both. And I am going to need the larger carb. Of course anything like that is easily a year or so down the road, having to buy a carb AND a bb kit, raises the cost from "ok I can afford this" to "damn I wish I could afford this" So I figure Ill get the FCR now while I can swing it.

I found out I will be off my leg (broken femur) for a few more weeks than I had expected, so is going to be mid feb till I am able to even go get my lisc and start riding this thing. So instead of looking at the money in my account and incoming money (my job is paying my paycheck since I got hurt there) and planning mods AND gear, Im just going to buy all the mods, and pick up gear as I go after. (Ill still have it all by the time I can actually ride, and if I don't, I can wear my dirt bike gear for a while)

 

Ok so here is my list of planned mods. Let me know what you think.


MRD/SSW or possibly a yosh, I want to talk to Eddie about that one as far as pros/cons
3x3 with FCR (from Eddie, so it will be jetted correctly)
Edge tail light
smaller turn signals front and rear
Skateboard wheel axle sliders (I am going to use the spitfires with the big flaming head, I like the look)
Hand guards. Something like a basic acerbis or whatever.
More powerful headlight bulb, maybe HID kit. Stock headlight assembly for now
remove the reflectors from the front fender
remove passenger foot pegs
Different mirrors. Not sure what yet.


I am also thinking about having the head pipe and maybe the muffler case from the new exh system Jet Hot coated. This will keep it looking nicer, and keep some of the heat off my legs/ass while sitting in traffic.

Also thinking of some colorful grips.


I figure that will give me a little more "my own" style, even if its a bit cookie cutter. Plus, it will be a decent bit faster than stock.

Since I am removing the front fender reflectors, I do want some reflective things on the bike, I have seen some reflective rim stripes, I am planning on doing those. Does anyone make reflective spoke covers? I was thinking black and reflective blue alternating covers. That should like up big time when a cager spots me from the side.

 

This is what i have planned for my drz in the next month...

MRD/SSW on its way as i type, 3x3, and I was thinking for agesss whether to just jet the stock carb and was up and down about it for a while untill last night i decided to jus get the fcr. I spoke to the guys that will be doing it an they said they are ordering the fcr as soon as they come back from testing the British superbikes so there ya have it. After a year riding around on a stock motor having a blast with 34 or 35hp, I will be doing the MRD, 3x3 and fcr all at once and not to ention stiffening up the rear shock! Cant wait