Suzuki DR600 Dakar anyone have one?

[trying59]

Anyone have Suzuki DR600 Dakar . An 86 show up where I live for 1400 bucks in good condition. Are they are good bike for touring around at? what the handle bar virbation like?? Bad point of it and the good? thanks for the help.

[navalarchitect]

At 24 years old how good a bike is is much more a function of how its been looked after than its original features, so its hard to give much meaningful advice. I had a DR600 for awhile about 8 years ago and remember it as a very good solid bike with no issues - I certainly don't remember vibration being worse (or better) than any of the other large singles. If you are interested in it the only way to find out what it's like is to take it for an extended ride and decide if its for you. Likewise with the price you quote could be good value if it is sound - equally it might easily be worth virtually nothing (however cosmetically perfect it is) if it needs engine work, tyres, chains, brakes etc..

Sorry I can't give you any more specific advice - older bikes are definately a case of "buyer beware". Having said that, there are plenty of bargains out there - a lot of people seem to think any bike more than 10 years old or with more than 50,000km on the clock is worn out whereas if they have had a caring owner this is far from the truth. I buy all my bikes at about that age / mileage and then typically put another 50,000 km on them in two years before changing them again - and with the exception of a certain non-Japanese brand (OK it was BMW - twice) never had any serious problems or breakdowns that couldn't be fixed at the side of the road.

Happy searching.

[Steve Pickford]

It's expensive for a 24 year old bike that's not a "classic" of any kind.

I bought an '86 DR600 in late 1992 for £800 with 16,000 miles on the clocks. I turned in to a Supermoto using RGV250 rear wheel with 1100EFE forks, FZR600 front wheel, EXUP disc & GSX-R caliper. I cover about 48,000 miles on the bike. They're reliable & quite easy to work. Pretty smooth due to twin balancer shafts. They can use oil at higher rpms like al big singles do. Screw & locknut valve clearances make life easy.

Couple of major issues I had:
1. Splines wore away on the gearbox output shaft &
2. Kickstart shaft snapped

Both required a full engine strip & rebuild which I did myself, replaced camchain & balancer chain while I was in there.

My conrod also snapped around the big-end, it hoked up on the front balancer shaft & came out through the front of the engine. Another engine was the only solution.

Good bikes but at £1,400, it needs to be mint & low mileage.

[Ebbs15]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickford

It's expensive for a 24 year old bike that's not a "classic" of any kind.

I bought an '86 DR600 in late 1992 for £800 with 16,000 miles on the clocks. I turned in to a Supermoto using RGV250 rear wheel with 1100EFE forks, FZR600 front wheel, EXUP disc & GSX-R caliper. I cover about 48,000 miles on the bike. They're reliable & quite easy to work. Pretty smooth due to twin balancer shafts. They can use oil at higher rpms like al big singles do. Screw & locknut valve clearances make life easy.

Couple of major issues I had:
1. Splines wore away on the gearbox output shaft &
2. Kickstart shaft snapped

Both required a full engine strip & rebuild which I did myself, replaced camchain & balancer chain while I was in there.

My conrod also snapped around the big-end, it hoked up on the front balancer shaft & came out through the front of the engine. Another engine was the only solution.

Good bikes but at £1,400, it needs to be mint & low mileage.

he's in Canada... so I imagine it's half that, with the exchange rate... :idk:

[Steve Pickford]

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

he's in Canada... so I imagine it's half that, with the exchange rate... :idk:

Just checking you were paying attention....

$1,400 Canadian is about £700, so a fair price.

[trying59]

thanks yep canadain hay. gas is 1.18 L today just to depress you guys over there.

[Ebbs15]

and it's what... .64L down here

hearing all the people bitch down here about gas annoys me, we may commute further but 1, that's a choice, and 2. it's a damn CHOICE!

[farqhuar]

Originally Posted by trying59

thanks yep canadain hay. gas is 1.18 L today just to depress you guys over there.

Hmm, that's about the same as it is here downunder.

When I lived in Ontario in the early '90s fuel was around 15% cheaper in Canada so it looks like you guys have caught up.

[Gipper]

If your in Alberta, you dont pay HST (harmonised sales tax) - gas is about 90c Canadian/litre here...

If the Dr600 has low kms and its been well maintained maybe - whos been servicing it ?

give it a good look over - bearings will need replacing if its not been maintained.