DR 750 as an overland bike
 

I am looking at buying a DR 750, which I would like to use as an overland bike. The main reason is the fact that I can buy it for about £700. I know nothing about these bikes. Used to have a GS1150 but sold it as it was too expensive, and I was scared of dropping it in the gravel, or getting it stolen.

I cant find any info about these bikes. There dont even seem to be any posts on this page. Do they make an ok overland bike? Do they have any typical problems. If I need spare parts, is it possible to get them.

Am I potentially buying a lemon, that I wont be able to get rid of? Why is it so hard to find info about them?

any info would be very helpful

Hi.
I had a DR750 powered WASP outfit a few years ago,which i bought as a non-runner.When i stripped the motor,there were lots of nasty lookig metal bits in the bottom,and the oil pump drive gear had shattered.On full insteption the cause of all the trouble was found to be the starter reduction gear had broken up and bits had found their way in between the drive teeth of the oil pump,causing it to break up aswell(hence no oil pressure).Now there's no oil pressure warning device on the DR750,so the owner had just carried on oblivious until the damage had already been done.The oil starvation damage was limited to the head really,in particular where the camshaft runs in the alloy head bearing journals,which had got a bit chewed up.Anyway,i found a guy in Norfolk who races the Tigcraft singles,powered by DR800 motors who had loads of knowlage and more importantly spares for the 750.He said this was a well known fault with the 750 as the starter gears were one-piece cast iron and just could'nt take the beating of turning over thet huge piston! The remedy arrived as a complete 800 starter gear set,starter,starter gear casing,and a 750 cam to replect the chewed one.The 800 starter gear is made up of several thin hardened plates riveted together which will never break he said.After the rebuild everything ran as if it had come from the factory,and i used it for 2 years in classic trials before selling it.As far as i know it's still going strong now.
So the answer is,if you're planning to go RTW i would reccomend this as a precaution first.The only other comment i'll make about it is that it had a very healthy appetite for back tyres! The most i ever got out of one was 900 miles (nine-hundred) though this may have been due to the sidecar.
That's my tu'pennyworth if it can be of any use.

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Just going for a short ride on my bike....

Thanks for that. I have now bought the bike. First problem so far is the battery is completely shot. (was bone dry). Have added some water and it started, but Im not sure for how much longer.
Went to order a new battery, the one that the DR 750 is supposed to take (according to the manual in the bike shop) is not the one that the bike has in it at the moment. (terminals on opposite sides).

Does it actually matter what battery I buy provided the terminals are on the correct side (assuming it will fit in the battery box obviously)?

Any clues as to why there is a discrepancy between what the bike has now and what it should alegedly have?

No it won't matter much but get the very highest output(Ah) you can fit in there.If you can find out who your local VARTA guy is,i'd reccomend going along there and investing in one of their new "gel-filled" batteries.These come as a dry battery with a special fluid pack included,and when you add the fluid stuff,after a few moments it turns to jelly.They are then totally maintainance free(no topping up ever),and ideal for trail bikes as if you do have a "moment" and the bike is on it's side for a little while,the battery won't leak.They also recon it will last longer too.I've got these batteries in 2 of my bikes(BMW R65 and XL600LMF) and there seems to be more ooomph in the starter since fitting these.If you can't find anyone near you,PM me and i'll email you my local guy's number and address so you can get one sent to you.If you look on the side of the old battery there should be a number or code.This is the referance number for the battery,and should enable you to get a replacement of the same size.
Jon

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Just going for a short ride on my bike....

What Jon describes here sounds exactly like the infamous 'Engine Grenade' some DR650SE's suffered. I strongly recommend you change the starter gear for the limited slip clutch gear.