Getting a Dr650se for the big trip; 1998 models, mileage and ergonomy
 

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and relatively new to the motorcycle-fever that it originates from (but I have a bad case of it none the less).

Me and my wife are planning our first long trip for 2011 and a 5 week shakedown trip in eastern europe in 2010. A significant part of these trips will be off-road (or actually really bad unpaved "roads" and tracks). We won't go looking for the worst terrain ever, but don't want to be hampered by any we come across.

I am a big guy (1.93m most of which is leg...) and my wife is rather small (1.65m), but we want the same bike. Obviously finding a bike to fit both of us (be it with modifications) is a challenge.

One of the bikes we are concidering is the Suzuki DR650SE (others are DRZ400, Yamaha xt600, honda dominator and Honda VTX600 but at present the DR650 is king of the hill) and I have a few questions about the DR650.

I read elsewhere in this forum that the DR650 is highly geared and has a small flywheel and is thus unable to ride slowly in a comfortable way. This concerns me. I am not a MX hero and certainly don't like flying over bumps and rocks at high speed. I prefer the slow and determined approach! Can this be solved by having a smaller front sprocket (and/or) a larger rear sprocket without messing up handling and fuel-economy at say 80-100 km/h?

We are looking for DRs that are in the order of 10 years old. Newer DRs are hard to come by in Europe and we have a limited budget. Elsewhere I read that 1998 dr650s have a "solid starter idler gear", whatever that is, and that it can "break through the left case half, causing significant damage and leaving the bike not drivable" it was discontinued in 1999. Should I avoid 1998 DRs even if they have lower mileage then a 1997 DR?

DRs with 8k-18k kms on the clock are available. I ride about 12k km a year so when starting our big trip the bikes will already have ridden 30-35k kms... What kind of (more or less trouble free) high mileage can I expect from a DR if I do proper maintenance?

What is the footpeg - top of saddle distance? I have rather long legs (even for my hight) and the angle between my shins and upper legs is important for riding comfort. Can the footpegs be easily lowered? (I am riding a honda XLV650 now and lowiring the pegs on that would mean a significant amount of fabrication, a severe headace and X-leggs)

I hope you can help me with these questions (and the hundreds that will follow) and look forward to seeing you on the road, somewhere!




PS

Consider a trip from the Netherlands to Singapore and back by plane... You can ride your motorcycle twice around the world and you would still not have emitted the same amout of Green House Gasses... If you take that into account, we are all GreenRiders!

Ah... found the answer to my 1998 question now I got the hang of the forum search engine in:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...comments-22435

The question remains... Is it worth taking the trouble of replacing the 1998 torque limiter with a 1997 or 2000 one for say 6000km less mileage?

best regards,

Xander

Xander,
Looks like you are giving the DR some serious thought. I am no expert on the DR, as some other members here may be - but my wife and I also own DR's, so have a little experience.
We both have 08' models, but to my knowledge, these bikes haven't changed since '96 - I could be wrong and yes, changing the gearing is the preferred option for dirt riding.
In terms of height, we have my wife's bike lowered, factory option as well as a lower gel seat. Since doing this mod, there is now a kouba link that was not available when we did our mod. Height for your wife won't be a problem.
For yourself, you could always build up your seat & lower your pegs to give you the added room.
Whatever year you get, and dependant on the mods the previous owner made, a larger tank, better seat & possibly firmer springs should definitely be considered.
Their is a wealth of knowledge here as well as advrider & thumpertalk. Enjoy prepping for your trip.
Daryll

I rode in a group of 3 DR650s last year. All 04 models, all with around 15,000km on them to start with. They now have around 45,000 each, and none show any signs of engine trouble. I didn't even need to change the valve clearance after those 30,000km. So I wouldn't be too hung up on mileage when buying a bike.

I'm 197cm and find the seat a little low, but still useable.

By the looks of it, lowering the pegs would be a major task. The mount is cast, with rubber isolating inserts.

Ben

Lowering Foot pegs on a DR650
 

Hi

To lower foot pegs on a DR650 is a simple way to improve rider comfort.

ADVrider - View Single Post - Oz / Kiwi Suzuki DR650 Adv Riders Sign in Here please

Made from 8mm thick steel sheet, easy to make or get some one to make.

Have a look at the links below there is heaps of ideas to set up DR650's

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ong-haul-23847

Oz / Kiwi Suzuki DR650 Adv Riders Sign in Here please - ADVrider

the DR650 thread - ADVrider


Cheers

ChrisB

Raising the seat, lowering the footpegs, lowering the bike for my wife, high mileage and changing the Idling Thingy Gear all seem to be resonably straight forward!

The DR650 is looking better by the minute!

Thanks guys!

Hi

I have a Suzuki 1997 XF 650 (dr 650 motor) Great bike, had for 7 years without a problem. It is worth a look at. I will be riding it through Africa in 5 weeks so hopefully it lasts.
The local suzuki dealership recomended i re torque the head before the trip as it is never normally done on the first service. I thought it was a joke as the bike has 50 000 ks on it. The 2 outside bolts were ok but the 2 internal ones torqued down approx 1/4 of a tern. it is probably worth a look at with an older DR.

Cheers Miles

I can't help you with the height thing for you but I might have some thoughts for your wife... I'm 163cm (mostly not leg) and can just touch the ground with one toe. Once moving, all bikes are the same to me and no issue, it's just when stopping it can get interesting. I have to pick my stops carefully. Also, because the sidestand is almost vertical it can be tricky to get it up. My DR is NOT lowered though because once I put luggage on, the rear compresses quite a bit and the problem goes away (cept the sidestand still being too long). Your wife has a few cm on me so I imagine she would be fine. Either way the DR650 can be lowered quite easily (at least those post 96).

As for speed/small flywheel/etc that's not going to give you any grief at all. It's a torquey little motor that will chug along from just above idle if you want. If you need to go slower use your clutch. Easy!:thumbup1:

As for the idler gear issue from: Potential problems to be aware of - Suzuki DR650 Wiki

'96 and '97 had the torque limiter gear that is designed to slip due to a preloaded slip clutch arrangement. [Suzuki] went back to this design in mid '99 after vin # X2100561 so if your Vin # predates this you should consider installing this updated item shown above." -quoted from the Keintech website.

I've done tight slow steep trail work and highway miles all with ease and not having to rev its tits off. A good choice.

DR 650 Se..
 

Hi Xander,
after good research we decided for the 650 SE for our first long trip from Alaska to Argentina. As weare now 3 month and about 23.000 kms on the road we defenetly happy with that decisson. They are both from 2000 and one has now about 45.000 kms without any significant problems (only normal maintanance).
We had exactly the same problems about hight as I'm 1.89m and my girlfriend is 1.68m but it works for both of us eventough we changed the springto WILBERS (an therefore lost the option to change hight).
Other changes made such as
- installed windshild (MRA)
- changed fuel tank (24 ltr)
- changed chain from 15-41 to 15-45, but now run 15-43 (best option for long rides with some dirt/gravel roads)
- propper brake pipes (metal)
- motorprotection plate
- propper handprotection
- higher handle bar

obviously you can spend a lot of money to prepare a bike....

We decided NOT to lower the foodpegs on mine because of space to the ground....

Between 1996 and 2000 models there is no main difference as far as I now. Saw the new 2008 modell in Kanada and only identified small differences. E.g. it looks like you cannot switch off the headlieghts anymore...

Let me know if you got further questions

Marcus