I currently own a 2000 DRZ400 kick start model and my riding buddy has a 2001 400 EXC, so I get to ride both. Orginally planned to get the DRZ as light as possible, Ti pipe, drop the lights, but found the Yoshi pipe too loud and the power all wrong for deep woods riding and the wieght thing not as big an issue as I thought, I wish I'd gotten the electric start. The KTM is a great bike, lighter, slimmer, better components and that e button is a godsend when you are stuck on a snotty hill if you stall the engine. The KTM does take a lot more maintenance than the DRZ, oil changes are a major, two filters instead of one and you should change it more often. Brakes aren't as good and bleeding them is a constant pain, shock collars crack, jetting is more critical and it does sound more "loose" than the DRZ. Bottom line is if you want a racer/fast woods bike, cost isn't a problem and you can find one, go with the KTM. If you want a comfy, easy to maintain, reasonably priced trail bike, go with the DRZ.