The Triumph is a piece of cake to work on and pretty bullet proof (although the silencers would give an XT one a run for it's money in a rusting race). In 4 years I've had one breakdown, a rubbed through cable under the tank. Took about three hours to find and three minutes to fix! One advantage of the Scrambler or DR over the Bonneville Black is not having to take the silencers off to change a tyre. That said, I can change a rear flat in about 20 minutes, so I'm happy. The Bonnevilles have 6000 mile service intervals which is useful.

Is the DR watercooled? After my experience with the BMW F650 in the desert I'll be staying aircooled until they ban them!

In terms of performance, it's very similar to an R80GS (I borrowed on for a week to kill that hankering). Both the R80 and Triumph in my experience are superior to the XT600E (I had that for just over a year) on the road or two up. I never tried a DR, but suspect all trail style bikes have some road issues. Off road, I'm sure the XT (or DR) would be superior eventually, but in terms of getting places I always made it through in a time I was happy with on all three bikes.

I went for the Triumph over getting an R80GS of my own for the simple reason I wouldn't pay £3000 for a twenty year old 50,000 mile bike when I could get one at zero miles for £5000 (and a ****ed salesman made an insane offer on the XT). The BM's service intervals were a factor and as an en ex-Ural owner I was (probably unjustly) put off by carb balancing and push rod adjustment, I prefer my Japanese style shims (which you never touch) and carb block (ditto). I was selling the XT due to the pillion seat and motorway/high wind performance with the experience that something more road styled will get everywhere I wanted to go so long as the right tyres fit.

Andy

Obviously I do not have huge experience with non-Europe long distance travels, thou I ride bikes for 15 years I can not say anything about other 2 choices, but my few cents about 650 and 800 DRs, mostly technical for what it worth.
I personally can not agree with one of opinions - DR650 will not do just everything DR800 do with same ease as well as DR800 will not do everything DR650 will with same ease. Weight/engine is a key to both scenarios.
Well set up DR800 will have almost same fuel consumption as 650. And DR800 have 24 liter tank. But still 650 will use marginally less fuel.
DR800 will be more of hard work in tight offroad than 650.
DR650 is quite less comfortable in long hauls than 800.
Seats just do not compare at all, size and riding position on big DR let you fall asleep while riding. A bit hard-ish seat.
Not much of wind trouble (of course comparing to 650).
On pavement 800 extra ccs allow you to cruise 140 kmph quite easily and even overtake hitting top speed of 160-165 kmph even loaded and with passenger or cruise with up to 120 kmph for whole day almost non-stop.
Off motorway DR650 will be easier in really tight twisty bits (weight, size).

For luggage capacity - well, DR800 won't notice 50 kg on the back DR650 will, but not critical I think.
However, the most valid point is spare parts availability. Obviously DR650 would be easier on that when it comes to global approach. In Europe (all WE) parts for DR800 is totally no problem (any dealer of Suzuki and quite few stock parts shops will sell you parts for DR800), but other countries - can not tell.
I am a bit biased ending my own tests with buying DR800 as company to my sportbike and loving that bike more and more every day, specially after some offroad experiences, but I also had few test drives on both customized and stock 650s so I am trying to be objective. Also I would recommend to get SR43 (post-92) DR800 as per reasons mentioned in my reply in this tread:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-750-big-29350


one more thing - to answer - DR800 not watercooled, it is air/oil cooled.

YouTube - triumph scrambler in africa chapter 6 KENYA
YouTube - Triumph Scrambler in Africa chapter 5 Ethiopia

I've always fancied a 'DR big', can't quite put my finger on it but a single that size must have some pretty addictive low-end torque!

The problem with having a really 'fun' amount of torque to play with is it will encourage you to ride like a hooligan and eat your way through chains, sprockets, tyres, skin etc

i bought a drbig several years ago (now in the process of being supermoto'd) and it is the best fun ive had. people do say the electrics are a bit dodgy (ive had no probs) and it is quite heavy. BUT it goes well, brakes are good, is manageable offroad (not had luggage on it) looks heaps better than the bm gs copies and makes me smile. decent suspension, ground clearance and good riding position too. get to know your lokal suzuki dealer and theyle post you parts. you may want a metal bash plate though. and some tank protectors. i personally think the triumph is not off road orientated enough for africa (judging by the roads i took.) buy what your heart desires and it will work. whatever.