DR650SE Index Topic #4- SUSPENSION/CHASSIS

[plugeye]

economy:
heavier PS shock spring from a member
fresh shock oil & nitrogen charge
for the forks, added 1 1/4"? pre load & fresh ATF oil

[kalsop]

Originally Posted by plugeye

economy:
heavier PS shock spring from a member
fresh shock oil & nitrogen charge
for the forks, added 1 1/4"? pre load & fresh ATF oil

I have a question regarding hard braking front end dive and a slight pull to the left on a stock Dr I just purchased. It's an 09 un-molested stock bike. I owned one previously and I know it is weakly sprung in the front I also had performed fork and shock up grades on it, ebach straight gauge springs and emulaters. I can't remember if this is nomal for the stock set up or what. Could the fork tubes be slightly tweeked in the triple or what. Thanks in advance

[Jay]

Snowy,

You have provided much entertainment and quality build information for us all. Thanks.

One thing that keeps me wondering is the talk of replacing DR forks with RMZ or DRZ or KTM forks. Can you give us a concise list of the changes that are necessary to do these swaps. For instance, for DRZ to DR will the triple tree just swap across without mods to the frame bearings? What about for RMZ and KTM. I guess I am looking for an idea about the extent of mods that are needed for each. Are there some years that are better? I would attempt a swap if things just bolt together but I don't really have the means to do machining or welding.

I believe you also have a DR350S. I have the same question for a DRZ to DR350S.

Originally Posted by Snowy

I tried the Gold valves and upgraded springs. I thought they were great at the time.

I looked at a couple of guys bikes that had DRZ 400 forks with heavier springs and revalving. To tell the truth, the DRZ option still appeals to me. I have another DR (my sons bike that I have inherited along with the loan due to his newly arrived daughter) with the upgraded standard forks. I'm going to start using it to ride to work soon, so I might end up doing some modifications.

For my trail riding DR I decided to go with the RMZ suspension swap.

I chose the RMZ because I wanted motoX suspension travel and the adjustability. I have to say, it was worth swapping just to be able to adjust the compression and rebound front and rear.

Using all the RMZ parts unmodified was the tough decision. I wanted to make it so I could buy stuff straight off the shelf. So that meant modifying the frame to take the rear end. The first cut is the hardest. After that failure drives you forward.

For my standard DR I'm thinking of concentrating on getting it sorted using all genuine Suzuki parts, and keeping it looking as standard as I can. So I'm thinking DRZ swap. It will also keep it closer to standard height.

Ebay is my friend.

[ER70S-2]

Thanks to Basketcase:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...ostcount=35299

My stock forks (full extension) are 35 1/4" from the fork cap to the axle centerline. Factory lowered should be 33 3/4".
Metric: stock; 89.5cm: lowered; 85.7cm

Stock fork spring spacer: 37mm diameter (1.465") - 40mm tall (1.58")

The stock DR shock is 455mm long with 128mm travel. (info from another inmate)
Stock rear spring rate is 6.5kg/mm

Stock shock preload:
10.0" (253.5mm) Softest
9.7" (247.5mm) Standard
9.4" (238.5mm) Stiffest

Stock links are 4.5" center to center (115mm)

Added:
For fork oil I measure 19.1 oz and pour it in each leg (565ml), per the manual. It's easier than the (compress fork with spring out and measure down 6.5"). When I had the forks apart I drilled and tapped each fork cap, 1/8 NPT. Always use a cutting oil when tapping alum, WD-40 works fine.

Ignore the fork being slipped up in the triple, it's just an experiment.


Then I use one of these with a zip tie loose enough to slide up-n-down. Now I can adjust my oil level without disassembly, which came in handy when I put a 320mm rotor on the front. The brake works so much better that the fork dive with .45 Eibachs, was too much for my liking. Stock oil level is 16-1/8" (forks fully extended, with springs and caps installed), I added 20ml and ended up at 14-7/8". That's 1 1/4" or 5/8" per 10ml. You don't even have to move your handi-bars, way better than removing the springs and collapsing the forks everytime you want to experiment with oil levels.

Motion Pro P/N: 08-0121:


Ignore the oil bubble:

[abmwrydr]

Some info on mounting RMZ forks to a DR650 can be found here:
http://hawkeye.ualr.edu/~ltjones/sho...rkinstall.html

[Krusty ...]

ElkElama Suspension (http://www.elkasuspension.com/) now offers a rear shock for the DR650.


TheFrenchCanadian shared his review of it, and how it stacks up against the Cogent- http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...ostcount=45699

[71tr]

The front end of a YZ426 will also fit up nicely to the DR frame. There are three major challenges with converting to usd forks; the triple, front axle and brake caliper. And three less demanding items; speedo, headlight and ignition switch.

Surprisingly the DR triple stem is larger in diameter than the YZ (30mm vs 28mm), a problem easily solved by leaving the stock DR races in the frame and using the YZ bearings on the new triple. The YZ triple is a little longer than the DR so you will also have to come up with a spacer of about 12mm to get everything to fit snugly.

The DR uses a smallish 17mm front axle while the YZ and many other dirt oriented bikes use a 20mm axle. The easiest solution is to simply mount up a matching front wheel to the forks you have chosen.

Last item on the list is the brake caliper. Fortunately the DR uses a common design that will bolt right up to the YZ and I believe other models as well. The stock YZ rotor is 250mm vs the 290mm of the DR. An aftermarket EBC oversize rotor with mounting bracket measuring 280mm is readily available.

Most of the usd forks have more travel (11"-12" vs 10.2") than the DR so the front end may be a little long after mounting everything up. Easily solved by sliding the forks slightly above the top triple and/or when rebuilding the shocks slimming down the bushings to lose a little height.

Picture below of '01 YZ426 front end on my '03 DR. Since I was planning to convert from stock speedo to vapor no issues there. And rather than try to mount the stock headlight that I never liked anyway now is the time to draw up a plan for something new.

[EvanADV]

I bought a set of adjustable links (dog bones) from Soupy's Performance.

They typically sell lowering links, but I had them make a set of links to raise the bike. You have to contact them directly to have them made. Ran me about $30 more than the lowering links for the "custom" work.

I'll post results when I get them installed (minimum and maximum seat height).

[ER70S-2]

Thanks to NordieBoy:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/attac...1&d=1221081783

[acesandeights]

Is there any better bolt-on, drop-in suspension than Ricor intimators and rear shock for an aggressive novice rider?

[vintagespeed]

since buying my DR in May i've put on 5000 slab miles and i've always hated the wallowy unstable turn in of the DR forks. i got used to it in the twisties but i still hated that millisecond of disconnected about-to-washout feeling.

did a fork swap and the wallow is gone, you turn in and feel it the entire way, no more unsettled moments. you can upgrade the internals all you want and add on braces & whatknot but you're still throwing money at a weak streetbike fork.

i used KYBs because that's what i had, not the most technologically advanced forks, but they work way better than the stock boingers.

[NordieBoy]

But after dropping Intiminators in, they're no longer stock boingers.

[eakins]

basketcase sent me a PM with the frame paint match.
he said it was an exact match for the silver frame.

touch-up:
Duplicolor NGFM360 - 2-1 Scratch Fix - Ford Dark Shadow Gray
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1143&ppt=C0255
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...er=539040_0_0_
http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-Pa.../dp/B000ALJ3YS

8oz spray:
BFM0360
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1147&ppt=C0253
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...entifier=59677

[livin2day]

Intiminators with stock springs and Cogent rear good enough for the TAT, SA, and beyond?

[Krusty ...]

Originally Posted by livin2day

Intiminators with stock springs and Cogent rear good enough for the TAT, SA, and beyond?

Stock fork springs are pretty soft. You mention elsewhere you're considering a Safari tank, and I expect the usual loads that RTW motorcycles end up carrying (extra water, fuel, camping gear, racks, luggage, etc.). Unless you're a featherweight, stiffer front springs might be a necessity.