Hello "jondoe" and the others,

we wrote two posts (and other with us) on the excellent Suzuki DR 650 SE on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000004.html explaining our experiences with these bikes.
We wanted to find a good e-start replacement for our beloved XT 500's (139 kg empty) for travelling a second time overland from Belgium to India and back.
I made a list of tech specs of all types of bikes which seemed suitable for us - emphasis was on weight (dry or full) mainly, and a bit on HP. Of course also seat height, price and years they were built were added.
After these first scans, I started collecting reports on several bikes from all kinds of magazines here and abroad, and from the internet, looking at reliability, handling, etc. And sure, we also had many looks and a few rides on the real things. XT 600 E's (156 kg empty), Dominators (152 kg empty), Transalps (191 kg empty), KLRs (168 kg empty), an XL 600 LM (155 kg empty), and I even had a proper look at my trusty 1986 R 80 G/S PD (186 kg empty) - I tested the latter thoroughly in Tunesia and found it instantly too heavy.
Availability of special parts like a big tank was also important.
As for seat height : a whole lot of things can be done to lower any bike. Cutting down the seat itself is a first, lowering the front forks through the "T-piece" (sorry, don't know its name in English), making longer cushion rods, and if necessary : getting a lower rear suspension. All bearing in mind that a loaded bike is lower anyhow. And lots of testing and getting professional advise too.

My last doubts were between the DR 350 (130 kg empty), the 400 (132 kg empty) and the 650 SE (147 kg empty - this last generation DR was about 10 kgs lighter and also lower then the older models). The 400 was too new, no big tanks were available (yet ?), and water cooled (a minus in my opinion because of extra mechanical bits that can break). The 350 was finally dropped because we thought it would be too slow (and boring) for the looooooooooong distances in Turkey and Iran, but I still think it's an excellent overland bike.

Now, after our last journey in 2002 for 6,5 months, I would still prefer an even lighter bike. We were stuck quite a few times because of the bike's weight. We're both very very happy with our choice but a post like http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000016.html makes me doubt again. How about 50 kgs lighter with the same punch ? (and the same solidity and reliability)

Like many people before me wrote : travelling can be done on ANY bike as long as you yourself feel good on it. I've seen pictures of a Pan European and an R1 on jungle mud roads, of a 50 cc postman's bike along Australia's Gun Barrel Road. A scooter passed us on one of the harshest parts in Ladakh going to Pangong Tso, and we saw fifty Indian bikers two-up (!) on Honda Hero's, Bajaj and Pulsars, all 100-125 cc Indian bikes on the Manali-Leh road...

Good luck with the testing and the final choice.
Trui

------------------
Iris and Trui
2 belgian women, often travelling on motorbikes (now on DR650SE's)
2nd overland from home to Northern India and back, April-October 2002

__________________
Iris and Trui
2 belgian women, often travelling on motorbikes (now on DR650SE\'s)
2nd overland from home to Northern India and back, April-October 2002