DR650 rear suspension upgrade

**BikingMarco** · #1 21 Jun 2011

My DR650 still has her original stock suspension which is pretty good when travelling without luggage. For touring with luggage however I find the rear suspension a bit too soft. So I’m looking for an easy and affordable way to change this. Looking through the HUBB provided many pretty complex options of rebuilding the whole shock absorber which also sounds a bit expensive.
My idea was to replace only the rear spring. The original stock Suzuki one is apparently 80kg rated. I weigh 80kg already and will add around 30kg of luggage/tools/spares. Luggage etc will be mostly at the rear of the bike and so will put some extra leverage on the suspension. Also the long range tank will add some extra fuel weight.
So if I just replace the rear spring by a 120kg rated one without replacing anything else, would that be effective or is this approach just too simple?

**Gipper** · #2 21 Jun 2011

Hi Marco,

if you change the spring without upgrading the shock, the fairly weak stock shock will still not be able to fully control the compression/rebound damping - it will still 'pogo' quite badly, it will be an improvement in that it will not sag or bottom out as readily, but it will still ride like a dog on rough pistes at speed.

theres a multitude of options to improve the shock - if you want to do some work yourself or pay someone to do it ranging from $160 - $1000 usd

Id suggest considering something in the middle if funds allow, one of the many rebuilds available or buying a kit and getting a local shock/suspension specialist to install it unless you have a good idea on what you are doing:

Suzuki DR650 Parts, Performance, & Accessories - ProCycle

DR650ProdList.htm

Suzuki DR 650 Suspension

and some info on DIY:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...ostcount=35652

I went with a Cogent rebuild, not the cheapest, but its been great, however have a real good look on the ADV rider DR650 thread and also on DRRiders for more info.

**JediMaster** · #3 21 Jun 2011

Not only a great product but a great company to deal with.

I've ridden 66k km with my Cogent now and have been very happy with it and the service I received from Rick and Joyce when I wanted it serviced prior to heading to Latin America.

I weigh 68kg butt naked and all my luggage, tools etc add up to 27kg + food, water and gas. My Safari tank holds 33l so there's a fair bit of weight there too. I chose to run a 7.6kg spring which is at the light end for the load I'm carrying but the bike rides well and is still good to ride unloaded.

Gipper is absolutely right when he says the stock damping won't be able to handle a heavier spring. The cheapest option would be to buy a spring and have a suspension technician re-valve it to suit.
The Cogent goes a step further by giving you adjustable rebound & compression damping.

Here's the link to my bike build - [url=http://shortwayround.co.uk/suzuki/]Suzuki DR650

**Mr. Ron** · #4 22 Jun 2011

+1 for Cogent!
I had my stock shock rebuilt by Rick, its easily compareable to my previous Wilburs. Rick does excellent work and communication is top notch, and far cheaper than an Ohlins.

**BikingMarco** · #5 22 Jun 2011

Thanks guys, I had a feeling that it wasn't to be as easy as just replacing a spring. Cogent sounds good but I haven't heard of them here in Australia yet. So I would go for someone local instead.

What I am looking into now is to buy a 120kg rated spring and take it to a good suspension specialist to install it and to re-valve the shock absorber. That sounds like the best option.

Thanks for your replies!

**Gipper** · #6 22 Jun 2011

Marco,

the only problem with doing the back end is, that after youve ridden it - you will want to do the front end too......

.....at least its a lot cheaper!!!

**oothef** · #7 22 Jun 2011

Don't buy anything until you've spoken to someone who knows what they are talking about with suspension, the spring you are on about getting may be totally unsuitable for a good suspension set-up. A good rear set-up will show the front up.......

**JediMaster** · #8 25 Jun 2011

These guys supplied the Gold Valves for my F650 when I was in Oz. I was riding with another Brit at the time and they revalved his DR650 shock to suit a heavier spring.
They even put us up for the night! Good people.

Shock Treatment Home Page

**BikingMarco** · #9 27 Jun 2011

Thanks for the link Jedimaster! By coincidence I arranged an appointment with the guys in Wallacia already, heard lots of good things about them! Will get a new rear spring and the rear shock re-valved.

**JediMaster** · #10 27 Jun 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikingMarco

Thanks for the link Jedimaster! By coincidence I arranged an appointment with the guys in Wallacia already, heard lots of good things about them! Will get a new rear spring and the rear shock re-valved.

Nice one! Give my regards to Terry and Jan when you visit

**Gipper** · #11 28 Jun 2011

Marco, remember to post a review on whatever set up you end up with and dont forget the front end, the back end can be controlled with throttle, the front is the most important end....especially with a big tank - maybe you can work out a deal for both ends....

Im still working on the front end of my Dr........saving up a few

tokens for some intiminators

and maybe dropping down from .50 to .48 front springs.....

Suerte Amigo!

**BikingMarco** · #12 28 Jun 2011

Yeah, no worries, I will let you know how I went.

Currently I am only planning to do the rear end (is expensive enough) because I heard opinions that the rear would be the important end to take priority. Whereas I did not like the way the rear end reacted when the bike was loaded with luggage I did not have any issues with the front end. There will be no luggage at the front part of the bike and the big tank will also not be full at all times. So I thought to save the $$$ and leave the front suspension unchanged. You reckon that's a good idea???

**Gipper** · #13 28 Jun 2011

depends how hard/fast you ride and what you need your bike to do, the fork dive is pretty bad on stock suspension even with the stock tank, throw in a larger tank, some weight and ride it quicker and its not much fun- its easy to bottom out the front end, a firmer, but well damped front end will be give a quicker/tighter turn in, be much nicer through the twisties and give much better front end confidence/grip on rougher trails.

take a similar size KTM out for a test ride or borrow one then get back on the DR........

**klaus** · #14 28 Jun 2011

Well, front suspension shouldn't be that expensive.

I got my progressive fork springs (Honda TransAlp) from Germany (Wirth)
and tell you, it really did make a difference.

**JediMaster** · #15 28 Jun 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gipper

Marco, remember to post a review on whatever set up you end up with and dont forget the front end, the back end can be controlled with throttle, the front is the most important end....especially with a big tank - maybe you can work out a deal for both ends....

Im still working on the front end of my Dr........saving up a few

tokens for some intiminators

and maybe dropping down from .50 to .48 front springs.....

Suerte Amigo!

If you get the opportunity to ride bikes fitted with intiminators and emulators before you put your hand in your pocket I'd recommend you do. They both perform quite differently and you may like one and not the other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikingMarco

Yeah, no worries, I will let you know how I went.

Currently I am only planning to do the rear end (is expensive enough) because I heard opinions that the rear would be the important end to take priority. Whereas I did not like the way the rear end reacted when the bike was loaded with luggage I did not have any issues with the front end. There will be no luggage at the front part of the bike and the big tank will also not be full at all times. So I thought to save the $$$ and leave the front suspension unchanged. You reckon that's a good idea???

At the moment the front doesn't seem too bad because the rear is bad. Once you improve the rear you'll notice the shortcomings of the front!

Springs will help a bit, emulators/intiminators will help a bit more. A DRZ front end would be luuuuuuuuvly!!!

You can do the work yourself s that will help keep the price down.

I fitted .48 springs, emulators and 10w oil. I run a 33l safari tank and Aerostich tank panniers (full of food!) so it's rather heavy for the .48 springs (I'm 68kg butt naked) but I wanted to build a bike I could take all my luggage off and go trail riding on hence the compromise.

Decisions...decisions...

Adam

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