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.....

Attached Images

 

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca