DR800 vs XT600
 

How do they compare? Anyone ever owned both of these bikes? I heard the DR800 vibrates even more than the XT?

My bike is an XT600 but a friend of mine is thinking about getting a DR800 and we will be riding long distance together.

Both bikes are great tough work horses. The DR better on road due to bigger engine capacity & the XT offroad due to it's lighter weight both however will crossover with no real issues, tyres/luggage etc..... for me it would be the DR, but others here are die hard XT fans & there is no turning them. It's really up to you guys. I reckon you should both bring the 2 bikes & you'll have no problems. let me know how you're both getting on.


Robs.

check out this section of forum and also "Which bike" section. There is plenty of info on DR there. I have DR and tried XT. DR does not vibrate more. DR is ultrasmooth somewhere between 70 and 100 kmph because of 2 counterbalancing shafts. If DR - get SR43 model rather than 750 or 800 SR42 - details in posts I mentioned.

I must fully agree with post by Robzombie. Both are fine tough bikes, with differences dictated by what each bike was meant for. I made my choice for DR and happy with it.

Hi
I think the problem may be getting parts for the DR800 they have not been built for quite a while ( i could be wrong) and were not a common bike, i think, but the XTs can still be found just about ever where. Skip

Just FYI. In case it helps...
DR750 was made since 1988-89, DR800 SR42 was made till end 1991, DR800 SR43 was made till end 1997.
Spare parts are available from Suzuki dealers in Europe and (I could be wrong here) Canada at least. Also quite few online shops sell parts with worldwide shipment. Also there is specialized website/shop in Germany for tuning and rallying of DR and consumables (bearings, seals etc.).
I heard also that in Latin America DRs are "supported". In US DR is rare grey import beast. Same in Africa.
Obviously DR not supported as widely as XT.

In Western Europe XTs 600 is not really that common or popular, XT-Es and XTs 660 more, but worldwide I can only guess XT family is better supplied than DR. Probably XT experts can advice if there is still difference in level of support between XT600, XT600E, XT660 etc. etc.