Riding a motorcycle in New York means dealing with tight streets, big potholes and uncompromising taxi drivers. To maximize your chances of survival, you need a bike that?s compact, punchy and nimble?like a supermotard.
Add stylish to that shopping list, and you’ve just described this new custom from Brooklyn’s Jane Motorcycles. It’s based on a 2015 Suzuki DR-Z400SM, and it’s just perfect for the urban jungle of New York City.

Out the box, the DR-Z400SM doesn’t make a ton of power. But 40-or-so horses are plenty for a bike that weighs just 320 pounds fully-fueled. The Suzuki handles like a dirt bike and offers maximum smiles-for-dollars.
This one was basically new when Jane’s customer handed it over for a makeover. The brief was simple: make it leaner and lighter, and tailor it to the owner’s 6’3? frame.
The Jane Motorcycles shop is a haven for NYC riders who appreciate smart gear, strong coffee and custom motos. So the founders have an eye for what looks good.
Alex from Jane collaborated with Mark from Brooklyn Moto on this build, sharing all the fabrication, mechanical and assembly work.

Most of the redesign of the DR-Z400SM happened up top. With 17? Excel supermoto rims and adjustable suspension out of the crate, there was little need to tweak the running gear. (Even so, Alex tells us there are already plans for suspension and brake upgrades in place.)
The concept began as a good old-fashioned hand drawing, then ...