DR650 to South America
 

I had a DR650 back in the UK in the mid 90s which I thought was a good base for an overlander - until some Fu*$%# stole it...

So 15 years later I picked up a used 2009 with 6000kms on the clock in Edmonton, Alberta and bought it home this Summer, where Ive been busy in the garage for the last 4 months upgrading and modifying it to do a trip 2up with the wife to South America.

I have been drooling over the 650 V Stroms in the motorcycle dealers in Calgary, lots of room for 2up, but at twice the price of the used DR650 before any mods I decided to stick with the DR.

Yes its a bit cramped 2up, but its simplicity and the increasing amount of gear around to turn it into a decent overlander works for me.

Ive been picking up plenty of ideas over the last few years, since I had to sell the KTM 640 Adventure in the UK before I came to Canada - from the DR650 riders here and on ADV Rider, especially JediMaster, Mollydog, Blackbeast, Beddhist to name but a few.

Ive put .50 front springs on and an 8.1 rear with a Cogent Dynamics rebuild on the shock, Safari tank and Happy Trails panniers and top box - I was toying with using soft panniers again that I used on the KTM, but my Ortilebs dont have enough volume for 2up riding.

Ive also put on a Vapor digital speedo, tach and engine temperature sensor which so far has been pretty good and a Centech relay controlled fuse box mounted over the airbox for power outlets on the bars and in the top box, gps power, heated grips, heated jacket (wifes) etc etc.

I will take some more photos before I head out now its finished.

Check out some photos:

Suzuki DR650 pictures by GippersTravels - Photobucket

So now that the bike is ready its time to hit the road again, back on 2 wheels again after a 4 year break. The bike is loaded up and the Trip South Starts Tommorow, however its starting to get a bit chilly here in Banff, its going to be -7 Celsius (ish) in the morning and we had some snow the other day....

Lisa and I are attempting to do a Blog on this trip:

Gippers Travels

I am riding solo to Panama, shipping to Colombia, then Lisa flies in -we have 3 months to head as far South as we can before she has to be back at work, so we are flexible on what is acheivable in that time.

I will try to update the Blog as and when I get Internet access.

See you guys on the Road.....

Hey Grif & Lisa,
Bike is looking awesome. Looking forward to meeting up on the road.
Ride safe
Daryll

Hey Daryll,

Thanks mate, Lisa and I are enjoying your Blog, photos and great vid clips - keep 'em coming and enjoy yourselves !!!

hope to catch up with you both - is there anything you guys need bringing down ?

Email sent.
Daryll

Thoughts on the DR650 for our trip
 

So a few months on, our South America trip is pretty much at its end.I am sat in a Hotel in Cartagena, Colombia sorting out flying the bike to Miami and heading home to Canada. After currently 17500kms in South America for 3 months, a few thoughts on using the DR650 for a 2up trip.

1) If you are much bigger than us, find another bike, Im 180lb and 5'10, Lisa is 110lb and 5'6. if you are much bigger/taller than this then Id forget the DR and pick a bike with a longer seat and more room. It was tight on the bike with 2 of us, Lisa used an Air Hawk seat on the Corbin, to give her a bit more room behind and I mounted the top box as far back as I could, still it was tight though.

2) The DR's gearing is a compromise, standard gearing for 1st and 2nd gear is too tall. I used a 14 tooth front sprocket for all the trip apart from using the Chilean highways/motorways when I used the 15 tooth sprocket. Even with the 14, 1st and 2nd gear are too tall, on steep pistes and in the cities you have to slip the clutch more than you should (especially 2up)and you loose the tall 5th for the highway - in 5th gear 100 kmh is about 4500 rpm on the 14 tooth.
The DR has got the grunt to pull the tall 5th, but what it really needs is a 6 speed box with a nice deep 1st gear and a lazy 6th. swapping sprockets all the time is a PITA.

3) If you are looking for a cheaper bike to do a trip on then you cant beat a DR. I paid $5000 for a used 2009 bike in Canada and spent a few grand on turning it into what I needed for this trip - apart from say a KLR the DR is the best value for the money compared to V or parallel twin.

4) Its simple and tough, air/oil cooled, the bike has had 2 bad accidents on this trip, its been down on an asphalt highway in Canada at 110 kmh and cartwheeled. I rebuilt it for $600, and a guy pulled out in front of me in Barranquilla last week and the bike ended up under the front wheel of the truck. I thought it would be wrecked, but a few tweeks and a couple of parts and its going fine again.

5)Stock suspension sucks. I used a Cogent Dynamics rebuild on the shock and an 8.1 eibach spring - its been fantastic, its taken 2up with loaded HT panniers and top box on some fairly bad pistes and done everything Ive asked it to. The fronts have got .50 eibach springs in, they are a little harsh even with the safari tank full, I might try some emulators or intiminators in the future. The 8.1 is a compromise on the rear, if you are heavier than us then go with the 8.4 eibach.

6) power output from alternator/generator is weak. I fitted the DR with Symtec heated grips for me and a Gebrings temp controller for Lisa's heated jacket and gloves. The alternator can only keep up with all 3 on if the revs are above 4000, under that and things get chilly.

7) brakes. The single front disc is a bit feeble, I fitted a steel braided hose and it made them much better, but for 2up loaded riding they are just adequate.

8) 21 in front wheel - a definite plus especially on the gnarlier pistes and generally handy for potholes and getting over tall kerb stones on the way into hostels!

9) Safari tank. able to carry a lot of gas - tough and the transparent tank is the way to go, piss poor turning circle though, on anything tight and technical or a u turn on a narrow piste, you have to think through your line and make sure you have enough room.

Thats mostly what comes to mind currently, if the DR had a 6 speed box, and ABS it would be bloody great, as it is, its a capable tough bike with some limitations.

Id like to try a DL650 V Strom for a similar trip (without the accidents!) to compare......

hmmm next trip.......


If we look cold in this photo its because it was about 4 C and shortly after it pissed with rain.....:)
http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/IMG_0243.jpg

Good writeup, lots of useful info. How is servicing on the road? How is it is to clean the air filter, change oil, check and adjust valve clearances? Do you need to take half the bike apart, take off the tank or are these easy enough? Did they use shims in the valves?
And what is the consumption like? Petrol, oil, chain, tyres...

Good luck with your next trip!
Zoltan

Sounds like a great trip but I would never consider the DR650 for a two up trip. For solo, I found it to be the perfect little overlander. I had a 20L tank which was fine for 99% of the time as didn't fancy the huge Safari tank. I took people on the back of it now and then struggled for space just going across town so you did well to do SA 2-up on it!

Oil changes & valves are very easy on the DR, no need for shims. Air filter is again easy to clean. Just need to remove tank/side panels.

I was getting around 20km/L on average, sometimes more, sometimes less. The IMS 20L clear tank is a good option with a Corbin seat. I would usually go around 300-350kms between fills. Make sure you get a locking filler cap on the tank as I had some stuff put in there in Asia.

As space was at a premium 2up, I couldnt carry many spares or service items, so I used a Scotts stainless steel reusable oil filter in conjunction with a magnetic sump plug. I dont think that is filters as good as a paper filter, but probably its 90% as good - just wash it out in soapy water and dry it out in the sun.
I dropped the service interval to between 4-5000 kms or just changed the oil whenever I found some decent stuff. I used Castrol Syntec 10-40 car oil in Bolivia as I couldnt find any dedicated bike oil - made sure it was not an 'energy saving' oil with friction modifiers - the bike ran fine on it.

As Mike says valves are very easy, takes 10-15 minutes to get the tank off, pull a plug and find TDC.
Chain has got about 27,000 kms on it, (525) with another 4-5000 left. I havent gone too mad lubing it every day as it only has to get me home and then it will be replaced. I will fit a Scottoiler to the bike when I get homeand Id recommend this for anyone on a long trip, I was going to pick one up in the USA on my way South but never made it there!

fuel consumption was good, the 30 litre Safari tank actually holds 35 litres, and as Mike, I get between 4-5L/100 km, best was 340 kms on 12 litres - just under 4 L/100 km 2up! - range of around 600km to reserve - depending on altitude and wind direction!

I started the trip on TKC 80's, the rear was changed at 8500 kms and could have got another 1500 out of it. The front lasted 14000 kms and as I had run it at low pressures in Patagonia it had cupped quite badly. good grip 2 up though when aired down on sandy pistes - and solid on asphalt.

front was changed to a Pirelli MT60, good all rounder and cheap - $51 fitted in Lima.
Rear TKC was changed to a 'Duro' in Chile - not bad grip on asphalt, not so good in mud and the tread blocks have cut up badly from low pressure work - something that the TKC did not do. now has just under 10,000 kms on it and it is completey shagged.

Dr
 

let us know how your shipping experience went and if you are in SE Florida email me and we will meet if you have some time for diner or other libation.:thumbup1:

From another Brit
 

Hi Gipper/Grif,

I've been sporadically reading posts up here on H.U. and noticed your posts from time to time. Great info mate.
Are you back in Banff now?
If so, how about a pint sometime? I'm hoping to get a DR650 this year to fettle up and drag over Russia in 2013 with my older Brother from Devon.

Kindest regards

Nevil

Great info. There is not much against the dr650 so...

Yeah, you're about right with the chain life, cleaning it every other day I got 30,000kms out of mine before it started getting slack and needing adjusting too often. Luckily I hit Greece at that point so getting a replacement chain was easy.

Hendi,

Im looking at flying the bike from Barranquilla to Miami - arriving at the beginning of next week. Would be good to meet up for a beer, If it works out I will give you a call.

After the old boy pulled out in front of me in Barranquilla last week, I arrived a day too late in Cartagena for the earlier ship and the next one doesnt arrive in Miami until the 19/20 Mar - which would give me 2/3 days to ride 4000 kms to Phoenix- where I meet up with my ride home to Canada!!!

Nevil,

Im still in Colombia, I will drop you an email when i get home to Banff in a few weeks, good trip you did up North, I was at Nakusp last year too with the missus, lots of good people and a great weekend. The bikes going to be parked up until the snow melts, so we will have to drink some beer too!bier


keep the comments and questions coming......

Hi Grif,

Will you be going to the HU meeting this year too? I haven't registered yet but hope to make it. Your blog's interesting mate. Need to talk with you about the DR when you get back for sure.....take your time though and soak up the sun as it's still thick snow all over the Bow Valley!
Drop us a line when you can at nevilstravels@gmail.com if you like ......looking forward to that pint for sure.
Hope all the flights and shipping go according to plan.

Kindest regards

Nevil
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