Federal Moto have the Midas touch. The builds coming out of their Chicago workshop are sharp-edged, compact and big hits with our readers.
But sometimes, success can be a double-edged sword. After releasing ?The Sunshine State of Mind? SR500 in 2016, Federal were bombarded with requests for a replica build. ?But there?s no fun in building the same bike twice,? says lead builder Mike Müller. ?We love the support, but we also want our clients to have a one-of-a-kind bike.?

So Federal generally suggest to their clients that they build another one-of-a-kind bike. ?Just as thumpy, just as wheelie-enabled, and just as awesome!?
That?s what happened with ?Big Suzie,? a DR-Z400 commissioned by a local Chicago-based client. ?He?s a father of two, a businessman and city livin?,? says Mike. ?He grew up on Honda CRs, Suzuki RMs and Yamaha YZs in the early 90s.?
Federal?s client wanted a dependable city thumper with the Federal touch: a bike that he could take for an occasional romp if the setting was right.
Mike knew right away what bike to use: the tried-and-tested DR-Z400 platform, launched at the turn of the century. As a major bonus, the street-legal DR-Z400S variant has electric start?a must-have upgrade from the SR500 platform used for ?Sunshine.?

The slim Suzuki also has CDI ignition, a 21-inch front wheel, and good Showa suspension: 49mm adjustable forks, and a shock adjustable for high- and low-speed compression, as well as rebound damping.
With agreement on the 200...