|
By: Jason Giacchino
2009 Suzuki LTZ400 Quadsport
The Z Gets its
First Full Makeover
LT-Z400 Yellow |
We'll come right out and say it--we've always
been partial to the
Suzuki LTZ400 and with good
reason. After all, if we could somehow go back
in time to around the turn of the century, we
would discover a very interesting series of
developments in the world of sport/ performance
ATVs. After a decade of having absolutely
nothing to do with quad racing at the OEM level,
suddenly the manufacturers began testing the
proverbial waters once more. Beginning with
Honda's success in the TRX400EX, models like the
Bombardier DS650 and Yamaha Raptor 660 began
trickling into recreation areas and racetracks
all across the nation. Riding on this wave of
enthusiasm, 2002 would find but another sport
performance entry (released as an early '03) in
the Suzuki LTZ 400 Quadsport; a name derived
from the 230cc sport four-stroke from a decade
earlier.
In truth, it wasn't much of a gamble for
Suzuki as the motor platform was adopted from
their popular DRZ400 motorcycle line. Proven
durable, reliable, and plenty quick (with the
potential for near unlimited hop-ups) it was a
sure-fire choice to the ATV scene. Consumers
were delighted to finally receive a machine with
current technology and sport intention right
from the factory and showed their approval with
their checkbooks. Before long tracks and riding
parks were littered with LTZ400s (and their
clone, the Kawasaki KFX400), aftermarket and
hop-up companies began producing boat loads of
performance modifications, and a cult following
of Internet users began to assemble. Throughout
the years Suzuki has made modest improvements to
the model upgrading such items as the stock
suspension package and various odds and ends
(among which includes the ever-popular bold new
graphics treatment) while focusing the lion's
share of their R&D efforts on the very quad
credited as having been inspired directly from
the Z, the LTR450.
What's New
 |
For 2009, the Z400 finally receives her first
major overhaul and while some may say that it
was long in coming, hordes of loyal enthusiasts
wonder why Suzuki would bother to fix what isn't
broken. The first observation to report from a
physical standpoint on the new model is that
Suzuki's engineers obviously had the LTR450 in
mind for inspiration when laying out the look of
the new Z. It's nearly identical both in photos
and in person. Our testers joked that the
easiest way to determine which is which is to
glance at the muffler as the 450 is
center-mounted while the 400 is askew to the
right. Other visual cues include the shape and
position of the front shock reservoirs and a
handy little sticker on the front left fender to
indicate the model.
However, after spending some time on the new
Z, the changes undeniably run far more than skin
deep. Beginning with the machine's stance,
Suzuki addressed criticisms that the LTZ400 was
a bit tall and narrow. By moving the bars 5mm
lower and 10mm forward, the 2009 feels much more
confidence inspiring like its bigger brother.
The caster, camber, wheelbase, and width of the
front end have been changed as well (to add an
inch total over 2008). By cutting a new taper on
the rear axel, Suzuki was able to stiffen up the
rear as well. The suspension is still fully
adjustable/ piggyback reservoir equipped (8.5
inches front travel/ 9.1 in the rear) although
even these units have gotten a makeover. In an
effort to make the travel curve more progressive
(see: stiffer for big hits) the shocks were "revalved"
and the springs swapped out. Suzuki claims the
new damping curve will allow the suspension to
react to smaller bumps more sensitively then
ramp up to stiffen when the shock suddenly finds
itself in trouble.
The chassis was modified as well to coincide
with the newly more aggressive theme as Suzuki
increased tube thickness at many of the
structural members to increase rigidity and
durability. The rear master cylinder and brake
pivot have been relocated for the sake of
handling perfection. Even the seat loses some of
its trail-friendly comfort in an effort to mimic
the shape and feel of the LTR450 (note the
T-shaped rear section: a staple among the Quadracer heritage). Fortunately the foam is
still a slightly softer stock than that used on
the LTR and one all-day epic is all it will take
for you to thank Suzuki for the consideration!
Finally, the Z400 now receives the adjustable
front brake lever like the 450R.
The engine wasn't overlooked either and
perhaps the biggest news is that the Z400
receives the fuel injection system that the LTR
has boasted since its introduction in 2006. It
also receives a new cam profile, altered intake
port (and cam timing), and redesigned exhaust
pipe/ muffler combo. All of these changes are
said to have been implemented to increase the
low-to mid range of the powerband as torque has
become one of the most craved elements of the
modern four-stroke race engine.
Page 1
2
3
|
