XR600E. Rode one all over south America. It's a budget bike. Very simple.. Will do ANYTHING.. A bit lighter than the DR so I believe . More 'trail' than the DR650. However it's got crap budget suspension and it doesn't like going over 65mph.

DR650SE (post 96). Never owned one but travelled with people with them.. Faster on the road and engine has a balancer making it smoother.. A bit heavier though. Also a great bike.

I think I'd rather have the DR650SE if those were the only choice.


Given the choice in that 'range' though...

I'd have a Honda XR650L....

Oh, I do...... :mchappy:

I'm getting confused, its an age thing :helpsmilie:

Crossing S. America on your XT is certainly gives major cred for the strength and reliability of the bike. :thumbup1:
I think both bikes (DR and XT) are basic budget bikes. The difference is that the DR650SE got a total, 100% re-make in 1996. Oddly, the "new" DR had less HP than previous gen, but was a bit lighter weight and MUCH stronger (new frame).

Most important up grade the DR got was the Suzuki SACS Air/Oil cooling system, developed for their racing GSXR's of that era. I have never heard of a DR650SE overheating or sustaining damage from heat or oil break down. The Oil cooler on the DR is mounted out of the way with a factory guard protecting it. The system provides two oil pumps, one specifically to squirt oil jets up under the piston to cool the head. IT WORKS! :thumbup1:

The balancer equipped DR is quite smooth for a big single. You can easily cruise comfortably at 75 mph ... for 10 hours a day in required. Done it. The motor is "loafing" at that RPM.
Top speed is about 95 to 100 mph.

The XT's, AFAIK, never got major upgrades since 1990 or so. They are simply air cooled (don't think they have an oil cooler??). The XT-E was discontinued in 2004. Importation to US of the XT600E stopped in '95 (I think?) I rode one in Baja in the late 80's and found it better than the '87 Honda XL600R I was on. (more stable, easier in deep sand)

The DR650SE is actually lighter weight than the XT600E ... at least according to supplied OEM DRY weight figures.

Suzuki list DR650SE at 324 lbs.DRY (147 kgs.) the XT is listed at 343 lbs. (155 kgs.) The XT weights vary year to year, most list it heavier if you go back into the 1990's. True wet weight of the DR650SE is 367 lbs.(166 kgs) with full 3.4 US gal. tank. True wet weight of XT? Dunno ... but thinking it's very close to the DR?

Couple other things that put the DR out front of the XT are Forks and swing arm. The KYB 43mm damper rod fork on the DR have potential. But it's BIG size means it's not half bad just swapping in heavier springs. Mine has Race Tech emulators and is stellar.

Same with the swing arm. The BIG beefy ALU swing arm on the DR means good handling both ON and OFF road. Better stability, traction and durability. Not sure if XT swing arm is steel or ALU ??? ... but it looks quite spindly compared to DR Alu swing arm ... clearly from an earlier time.

The DR is not free of some problems. The big one is the rare failure of 3rd gear, which can take out the whole motor. This is rare but has happened.
(about 1% of bikes) Wheel bearings also need to be watched. That's about it.

Like any bike it needs suspension help. Also needs a "real" seat and better lighting. Wheels are strong as Hell, frame and sub frame too with very few documented failures. Many thousands of DR's out there NOW with over 50,000 miles and climbing.

Aftermarket support is now stronger than ever for this bike. Used bike prices have risen but good used, low mileage examples ... from 2004 to 2010 can be found in the $3000 to $4000 USD range. Not bad really.

Typical set up for DR650 for travel:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...0/DSCN0364.jpg

no worries as long as you can ride a bike you are still in good health

Originally Posted by kentfallen http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s/viewpost.gif
The Yamaha XT600 is THE most widely used budget RTW trial bike on earth. Anyone who states otherwise is talking kak

So nice to see my langauge being used on the otherside of the ball

Cheers boere!

Old XT's rule, must give the DR some credit

I have riden a xt600 RTW and traveled with DRs they are both strong reliable bikes. Basically it's down to were you live and what is available . Just get the best condition low mile bike you can and they will both do the job

I am going to angree with you.You are right!

I search for an XT and a DR here in Greece.I find a lot of XTs but only 4-5 DRs.
A lot of parts here in my country for the XT but not much for the DR.
So, i choose to buy an XT.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...distance-40838

thread started by me on 14 Feb 2009.

We are very close komsi, and nearly have the same market.

I also decided to buy an XT600E (2003)

Just fit my alu cases to get an idea how the xt is gonna look like!

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psca66b05d.jpg

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psc284c406.jpg

I think is ok!

Without trying to sound like the harbinger of doom... I think like most other people (me included), who have fitted big cases to small dirt bikes; you will end up regretting it.. And eventually swapping them for smaller, lighter soft bags.

The bikes are just too small and the weight too unbalanced for such luggage. They handle like utter crap on the road and off-road, an utter nightmare. Especially on a bike like the XT600 which has VERY poor quality suspension to start with.

Add the fact that you've just added two massive wind break sails to the side of a 38bhp bike and now you're riding an old donkey.

I recommend filling them up (realistically) and then adding the rest of your luggage and testing it properly.. Then beg, borrow or steal some soft bags and try again. Maybe you will get on just fine with them. Best to know now then on your trip.

I put £1000 of Metal Mules on my XT600E... They didn't last long. Replaced with £100 soft bags which were better in EVERY way.


Anyway... Just my 2p worth. Not trying to start a hard Vs soft debate.. doh

Ted i have thinking a lot to go with soft panniers but my budget is not to much....I have a lot of time in front so i wil search for a second hand soft-bags or something cheaper!

It's true. Ted has it spot on. :thumbup1:
Not only will the bike handle poorly ... but of more concern is the extra stress on the rear sub frame. I've not owned an XT ... so not sure how robust the XT sub frames are. I do know they are designed to carry a pillion, so it's not like a dirt bike ... Still, over time and rough roads something is likely to break. :eek3:

Your mounting racks can crack (where they attach to frame or sub frame) or the sub frame itself can crack. This is a very common problem for overland riders using big hard ALU bags. Even the mighty BMW GS can break racks and sub frames.

The XT is a small and light bike, I doubt the sub frame will last long over rough terrain carrying a full load in big ALU boxes. Constant hammering is very tough on loaded ALU boxes and racks.

Weigh your mounting racks and hardware, and weigh the empty boxes .. you may be surprised at the weight. I'm guessing around 20 kgs. all up?
Soft bags weigh almost nothing and some set ups need no racks.
(like Giant Loop)

I went through this on my DR650. With hard bags on the handling was scary. I was able to help the poor handling some by up grading suspension. But still ... off road the bike was HARD to keep in control on anything technical.

Once I got rid of my hard bags and went to soft ... bike handling was transformed for the good ... much nicer to ride both ON and OFF road. bier

On a budget... Can't beat these.

https://www.silvermans.co.uk/tabid/6...0/Default.aspx

Did me all over Africa. Not waterproof but easy to put gear in cheap waterproof bags.

They're GREAT.

Ted

mollydog, you are right!!

Ted, thank you for your link...Looks very nice...And for the waterproof issue i already have the short 40l Ortlieb bags so everything inside stays dry....:thumbup1:

If you look on eBay you can buy draper small waterproof roll bags. Like small ortliebs for about 7 quid each

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