The 17 inch wheels and tyres is the most obvious but there are a few more differences between the DRZ400E and DRZ400SM.
The bikes are basically the same but the SM has a de-tuned version of the E motor, why they de-tune it for the road I don’t know.
The SM has milder cams, a thicker base gasket for less engine compression, a CV carby instead of the flat slide and a smaller header pipe.
The E also gets better suspension. The SM gets an inverted fork which at first would seem better but they are very basic forks with only preload adjustment and NO compression or rebound adjusters.
The SM shock has preload adjustment and low speed compression only and no rebound adjustment. The E has high and low speed compression and rebound. The SM also has less travel front and rear. All up the suspension on the E is far better than the SM.
The rear swing arms are also different, not sure if they are different lengths but the rear wheel adjusters are different.
I personally think if you want a motard DRZ400 your better of converting an E than buying the SM. All you need for the E is the 17 inch wheels and bigger brake then you end up with more power and better suspension then a standard SM.
To get a SM up to E spec would cost a shitload more and the SM is more expensive of the show room floor to start with.
