DR650 desert riding
 

Hi guys
We are in Dakhla heading down Mauritania and after many pistes and some desert riding I feel like one the DR is sometime a bit hot (no temps gages just feeling) not over heating either and since we are heading south and soon will be in Mali pistes I was wondering if any one had a suggestion to keep them run cooler. (Oil is 20/50)

The DR650 is quite resistant to over heating. Of course, it can feel and "smell" HOT at times ... but very few cases of failure due to overheating.

But of course ... you should try to keep moving, keep air flow passing over engine and through oil cooler ... and let your bikes cool off once in a while if you've been riding in very deep sand in high temps. Deep sand will over heat ANY bike.

But realize the DR650 is EXCEPTIONAL in this regard, very tough, well engineered engine. I've never heard of a DR650 failing for over heating in about 10 years living with and following this bike. It's a good one! :thumbup1:

Another key factor (IMO) for survival long term for the DR650 is the use of HIGH QUALITY Synthetic oil.

It's a fact that quality Synthetic moto oil offers better protection in high heat, less loss of viscosity, will not break down as soon as conventional mineral oils.
Be sure to NOT use Synthetic for cars that contain "friction modifiers", which can cause your clutch to slip. So oils that say "Improved fuel economy" or some such, should be avoided.

I have no idea what oil you may have access to in Mauritania, but do the best you can, and if riding in severe off road conditions in high heat (over 40C) then try to change oil every 2500 km. (normally would be 6K km.) ... or even more frequently if using conventional car oil.

bier

Hi HendiKaf,

I don't know your carb and air box opening setup. I also assume you rejetted your bikes before leaving home and they ran great (no lean mixture)

A possible reason for a bike to feel like it is running hot is that jetting may start to be too much on the rich side.

1) bike was jetted rich from the beginning for good performance
2) add an air filter that may have too much oil on it after cleaning
3) add dust on air filter from riding in desert
4) add higher ambiant temperature than the one at which the carb was setup

And you get a bike running a lot richer and the engine start running hotter. You may even smell something is burning if jetting is way too rich.

I would clean the air filter, oil it and remove any oil excess.
Then from there you can fine tune the fuel screw and needle height with tin washers.

One thing I do when I rejet a bike for traveling is that I cut some openings on the air box. But i tape some off them and rejet the bike. Then later on the trip I can fine tune to a certain degree the jetting by removing some tape to make the bike run leaner or add tape for richer.

I had temperature sensors on my DR650. I could see the engine temperature rise as my air filter was getting clog with too much dirt.

Hope this help,
Patrick
PS: if you are going to Senegal, there is another thread about oil change options.

Dr
 

Thanks guys
As far as jetting I think I am OK and the box been open already I sure can feel safe on that side. I will be in Mauritania tomorrow so if I am not happy with the oil quality I will wait until Dakar.
Not to push anyone toward the DR but what a great bike it is , from the European Hwy to the trail and sandy pist the bikes do work well and even my wife is able to ride safely on her loaded DR ( lower it was a very good move)