I'm on it!
 

Well, despite appearances (XT Girl and all that) I have NOT sold the DR600 and my loyalty will always be with it!

Sooo -- I will take on board your suggestions Mollydog -- i like the idea of pictures.. and products.. and keep going with this.

Watch this space.

M

Prepping a pair of DR650's - useful link here
 

Hi everyone

After reading this post and many others through ADV etc, I recently finished prepping 2 DR650's for the big SOuth America trip in 2009.

the trip is on THE WRONG WAY DOWN

but if you just want to have a look at the prep and parts purchased for the bike to do it, you can go to:

DR650prep

Hope this is of use to any of you thinking of doing the same! Happy travels

I will add a post match commentary once finsihed on bits I wish I had done and bits I shouldn't have bothered with.

Cheers,
Barney

I'm installing a safari tank over the holidays, thanks for the heat resistance tubing tip.
Rellay nice website you have as well.:thumbup1:

You may have seen my DR650 prep thread? Too bad, it's deleted!
:scooter::scooter::thumbup1:

Stuck for parts and can't find the correct forum
 

Hi, my name is Bert and I am from sunny?!?! Glasgow in Scotland . I am in need of a camshaft and both cam rocker arms for mr 1990/91 dr650rs but can't seem to find a source. I think( know ) this isn't the correct part to postthis but I am round the world ready after I get these parts. All paperwork and prep done , offthrough middle east to vietnam and back through Russia and home. Any ideas where I can getthese parts would be more than appreciated. Cheers. Bert

Strange, can your local Suzi dealer not order them? Failing that try contacting Stefan at Hessler RT Online-Shop . Email stefan {at} hessler-motorsport dot de He's the self-proclaimed DR expert in Germany and I have bought many bits off him. Customs and postage might be a killer, though.

Cheers,
Peter.

Cheers good sir, topsite.
I can see the budget vanishing rapidly. ;)
Bert

corbin seat
 

what is a Corbin seat and its purpose ???

There's a good explanation here: Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories | How it Works! | 800-538-7035

Comfort and weight saving, I think is the predominant reason for using it.

Xtgirl,

While the Corbin Seat is much more comfortable it probably weighs 3 times as much as the stock seat!
Not nitpicking but I don't think you would want to spread bad info!

When I bought my stock DR650SE, I was nearly in tears during my first long day (500kms), it was SO uncomfortable. I'm about 6'1" and the seat totally killed my ass, my lower back was aching etc. I thought about selling it after that ride!

After a bit of thought, I put on high Renthal bars to solve the sore back issue, Corbin seat which is a lot wider than the original and the 20L IMS tank which gives an easy 350ish kms before you really need to fill up again (mine usually got 20kms/L), a huge improvement over the original 13L tank. Plus a cheap 2nd hand $20 bash plate. Sorted. I could then ride long days with no problems at all. The Corbin isn't so much about weight as I think it is a bit heavier than the original however the DR is so much lighter than my 1150GS so I didn't really notice.

One point to note if you're using Andy Strapz panniers is than one of the straps goes across the top of the seat and you can end up partly sitting on it which gets pretty uncomfortable on a long day/high temps however a bit of sheepskin would no doubt sort this.

Acerbis offers a 6.6 gallon fuel tank for '92 and older 1992-1995 DRs. I wanted more capacity than the IMS 5 gallon model, and couldn't see spending $550 for the Aqualine 8 gallon model.

First, the physical differences between the stock tank and the Acerbis model:
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...92_7WhRo-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...92_7WhRo-M.jpg

http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...56_LBxxx-M.jpg


We needed a few modifications to make it fit my 2008 model.

The turn signals are in the way of the tank well before full-lock of the handlebars, so I switched the mounting brackets to opposite sides, and then reversed them. This moved the lights up and forward a bit.
http://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...61_goTNW-M.jpg
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...61_goTNW-M.jpg

Spacers had to me made for the support bolt that runs across the frame tube. It helps to have a friend with a lathe who isn't afraid to use it.
http://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...37_QXvDy-M.jpg
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...37_QXvDy-M.jpg

http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...73_NoB93-M.jpg
The spacers replaced a pile of washers and other kludgy bits.
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...76_CcbRi-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...76_CcbRi-M.jpg

Oil cooler and crash guard: The oil cooler has to move forward a few inches. The mounting tab was easily bent by hand. The cooler guard will take more work.

Oil cooler moved forward slightly; also cut out a section of the oil cooler guard.
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/ph...67_DF7Dz-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...39_BP9pH-M.jpg

Fortunately, 1/2" mild steel tubing fits perfectly inside the tubing used for the stock guard. Using a tubing cutter and a bender, I pieced together a new bracket that not only fits around the tank, but provides a little more coverage than the stocker.
Mock-up:
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...03_QmEJ8-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...03_QmEJ8-M.jpg

Another angle:
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...26_WnmKb-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...26_WnmKb-M.jpg

Brazed and painted (sadly, my skills are lacking in both areas):
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...28_qiXmw-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...28_qiXmw-M.jpg

The angle of the tank doesn't quite match the angle of the seat, so I cut off the forward section of the pan:
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...89_PgiAt-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...89_PgiAt-M.jpg

...and the rear flange of the Acerbis tank is quite a bit thicker than the stocker -- so some tough love with a Dremel tool and a heat gun brings it into shape:
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...58_pMffk-M.jpg
(NOTE: Yes, that is a hole in the center of the rear flange of the tank [above]. We had a discussion about whether that flange was solid or hollow, because if solid it would open up more mounting possibilities. Turns out -- it's hollow. The hole was a test and easily patched.)

And now the seat foam gets some attention. After this pic was taken I leveled off the front of the foam and cleaned up the sides up front. An angle grinder used LIGHTLY makes a great foam sculpting tool.
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...53_SMqdh-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...53_SMqdh-M.jpg

The Acerbis tank has two petcocks, and comes with a length of fuel hose and a cheesy plastic tee -- I replaced it with a barbed brass tee.

Result
http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...79_YjXjk-M.jpghttp://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...79_YjXjk-M.jpg

http://seanf.smugmug.com/Not-about-t...45_jVu6q-M.jpg

http://www.schoolbushomestead.com/No...45_jVu6q-M.jpg
Cheers,
Sean

Nice, vvveeerrryyy nice.

Cheers bloke,

Nigel in NZ

I my opinion do NOT do the carburetor mods. Just enlarge the air intake for high altitude cruising.
The carburetor mods require BOTH a high flow exhaust and a high flow airfilter like the K&N filter to work properly.

The K&N airfilter is NOT suitable for serious offroad - high dust type riding as it is quite a coarse filter.

I have the carburetor mods with normal airfilter and stock exhaust and the fuel consumsion is about 25% more than my buddys bike which is stock.

Stock jetting is suitable for up to at least 5000m and in fact I would not worry about any re-jetting while riding on this planet.

Just my 2 bobs worth (and advise is for touring and NOT racing :-)

Also the DR is one of the most suitable touring bikes if you want to have some offroad fun.

K