How to set up a DRZ 400

[Paul FaheyMember]

Hi All

A friend of mine has just purchased a second hand drz400, i think it is a 07 model. We took him for ride around the back of Lake Cathie on the weekend in some nice single trail. Being his first time he was a little slow and it overheated boiling water into the overflow.
The bike appears stock except for a yoshi pipe. I believe it also was jetted for a high flow air filter (not sure of the impact of this) but the original air filter has been oiled and re-installed.
He took it out again on Sunday in more open terrain and it boiled again.

I have not read about the drz400 as a bike subject to overheating. Is it a common issue? Is there a fan that can be fitted? Can you recommend where to source the fan?

Any other general suggestions to a new rider/new owner of a DRZ would be appreciated.

Thanks
Unit

[Adam RodgersMember]

Unit,

Any bike can boil but usually DRZ’s are one of the last to go in a group. Get your mate to check his coolant mix ratio (might as well flush it while he’s at it) and put a new radiator cap on. A 50 / 50 mix and a 105 kpa cap lifts the boiling point to around 137 degrees. Thumpertalk have a good section on DRZ issues to keep an eye on too

Adam.

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

if you read the specs, they reccomend nearly straight coolant which Boony an I both run and they dont boil. My only overheating problem arose when early on I used the same coolant mix as my car uses. Now in even long tight singles in summer heat I have no probs.

[Brendon CarreMember]

+ 1 for a new rad cap!!

[Nick JacksonMember]

I have straight coolant too and never boiled ,

has he got radiator gaurds fitted ? Some brands restrict air flow !

[glennMember]

replace the cap and renew the coolant with a good quality one and then take it for a ride, I always wonder why other bikes boil and minwe doesnt in the tight stuff, I just put it down to rider ability,,, :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

Boony

[GregMember]

Boony wrote:

replace the cap and renew the coolant with a good quality one and then take it for a ride, I always wonder why other bikes boil and minwe doesnt in the tight stuff, I just put it down to rider ability,,, :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

Boony

I have seen you ride Boony it’s not good ability if thats the case Couldnt drive ducks to water :laugh: :laugh:

Run the bike to operating temp, take the cap of and make sure there are no large bubbles all the time. Fit a new cab 1.3 or 1.6 bar, new coolant nothing fancy just good coolant. Wash your radiator out carefully from the back the the front. Don’t let the bike idle for any period of time at a hold up on the trail.

Good luck

[Gary BloxsomeMember]

Sorry but I’m not much help here. My DRZ is just over 12 months old and has done 3500K’s. I’ve never seen coolant in my over flow bottle. I do check the coolant from time to time and the level is just above the fins. Maybe I’m just a sissy and don’t ride it hard enough to get hot.

Gaz

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

Mine is an ’07 model and I didn’t see coolant in the overflow for nearly 12 months after I bought it, I was actually starting to think it was just for show. I have done about 15,000km including some very tight singles on it where we did only about 30km in about 2.5 hours with only a few stops and never had a boiling issue. I run a 50/50 mix of coolant and water.
I would agree with replacing the cap and also making sure the fins aren’t blocked.
Good luck with it

[Paul FaheyMember]

Hi Obtrs

Thanks for the replies. This is the guy’s first bike and he was quite concerned that the bike was overheating. Never mind the panic when he dumped it in a couple of puddles and bogged it deep in a monster rut.

Your advice will be appreciated by the owner and i hope he will join up and say thanks.

Unit

[RyanMember]

hey mate,

Ive got an 07 model too, ive notice the coolant is full at the start of a ride, it expands with heat and flows into overflow, then gets sucked back into radiator. I havent had any drams with the bike, so it could be normal. Just throwing it out there.

Cheers

Ryno

[Paul FaheyMember]

Hi Rino

Problem was the coolant was boiling into the overflow bottle. It was hard work for the owner on the day and he was slow. The guy was brand new to the bike. Probably giving the clutch a good work out as well. I havent riden with him since but he has worked on fresh coolant at a much higher ratio so we will see what happens in due course and i will post again.

Unit

[RyanMember]

sweet, i dont know if mine boils into the overflow becuase i dont pay enough attention. hopefully mine isnt overheating. Im keen to see if the coolant change makes a difference.

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