the DR650 thread

[Rob.G]

Originally Posted by neo1piv014

Suzuki would have to give me some serious motivation to buy a brand new one. If they made something that competed with the BMW Serato with FI, more body protection, and better highway manners, I might be tempted to buy another one.

The beauty of the DR650 is that it's so SIMPLE. I don't want fuel injection or ANYTHING complicating it. If you want something fancier like that BMW, then by all means get one. I'll pass. I had been considering that new Husky Terra TR650 but then decided no, the DR650 is pretty much perfect as it is. It's an almost empty canvas that you can customize to your liking, and take it anywhere in the world without fear of issues. And if you DO happen to have an issue, repairs are darn simple.

I still want a Tiger 800XC... BUT.. realistically, if I did some of the trips I want to do, like South America or Siberia or something, I'd still take the DR650 for its simplicity and lower weight. So I probably won't even get a Tiger anytime soon.

Rob

[acesandeights]

When I bought my DR650 I had told the dealer I'd be there on Saturday (I worked 10 hour days and couldn't get to the closest dealer before they closed). This was the Monday before buying. I emailed again on Thursday to confirm the it would be prepped before pick up. It was sold (he sold it out from under me after GUARANTEEING THE DEAL via email). I then tried to buy another one and was told no problem as long as I got there before the LIST of people that wanted calls ASAP when one came in (remember, we had an actual written, via email contract for purchase).

I then found a dealer that "should" get one, but only after having a deposit where the rep would allocate one to his dealership and then we'd wait for it to arrive. I waited a couple weeks for it to arrive and bought it sight unseen. In Oregon they sell before they are received. Dealers tend to get hundreds over invoice on new ones.

After going through no less than three tries to get a new bike I have to think Suzuki knows they will sell ever single one they build (at least in the PNW). BTW, trying to buy used...yeah, tried that first with even worse results. Try driving 300 miles to find out someone beat you by an hour.

[Rob.G]

Originally Posted by skysailor

Is Suzuki planning to stop bringing them over? WHY? You say they sold out. What more can we do? Stupid North Americans and their addiction to cruiser style bikes? Fuck, even H-D stopped building REAL motorcycles!

I've heard that dealers are selling as many as they can get. The issue is government regulations... emissions, etc. I had heard a rumor that 2013 or 2014 will be the last year of both the DR650 and DRZ400 in their current form. Supposedly there will be a new 450-based DRZ with EFI, and who knows what the DR650 will turn into.

The ADV market is huge right now; I don't see them discontinued at all; I just see them being reinvented due to regulatory BS, which could ruin what is otherwise a great bike. OR, it could be THE new standard, there's no way to know yet.

Rob

[neo1piv014]

Originally Posted by Rob.G

The beauty of the DR650 is that it's so SIMPLE. I don't want fuel injection or ANYTHING complicating it. If you want something fancier like that BMW, then by all means get one. I'll pass. I had been considering that new Husky Terra TR650 but then decided no, the DR650 is pretty much perfect as it is. It's an almost empty canvas that you can customize to your liking, and take it anywhere in the world without fear of issues. And if you DO happen to have an issue, repairs are darn simple.

I still want a Tiger 800XC... BUT.. realistically, if I did some of the trips I want to do, like South America or Siberia or something, I'd still take the DR650 for its simplicity and lower weight. So I probably won't even get a Tiger anytime soon.

Rob

I don't necessarily need something super fancy, but considering how big the bike is, it would be nice for it to cruise stretches of highway a bit better. From what I've gathered, they already make a more powerful engine based on the DR650 that they put in the Freewind. Just adding five or ten HP to the DR and some kind of token wind protection would be a big boon to me. As we've seen from the big bore kits, revised cams, and Suzuki's own Freewind, you can add power to this engine without adding hardly any weight or complexity to the bike. As someone who rides his bike to work whenever he gets a chance, highway travel is not an area where this bike shines. The big bore kit might be pricey to do aftermarket, but I wonder what it would actually add to the cost of the bike if it came from the factory as a 725 or 750.

FWIW, my buddy rides an 800XC, and with under 2500 miles, he's dealing with his second or third "oil weeping out of the engine head" problem, one persistent "bike gets dusty and refuses to idle" problem that the dealer can't sort out, and one "chain slapping against the swingarm" problem that he had to come up with his own fix for. That engine is sweet, and the bike is comfortable, but I wouldn't buy one.

[neo1piv014]

Originally Posted by Rob.G

I've heard that dealers are selling as many as they can get. The issue is government regulations... emissions, etc. I had heard a rumor that 2013 or 2014 will be the last year of both the DR650 and DRZ400 in their current form. Supposedly there will be a new 450-based DRZ with EFI, and who knows what the DR650 will turn into.

The ADV market is huge right now; I don't see them discontinued at all; I just see them being reinvented due to regulatory BS, which could ruin what is otherwise a great bike. OR, it could be THE new standard, there's no way to know yet.

Rob

I haven't seen EFI ruin a bike yet. I'm sure they've got some more modern suspension sitting around from another bike that they could pull out of the parts bin without adding a ton to the cost.
Also, a DRZ 450 would be a bike I'd like to add to my garage.

[Rob.G]

Originally Posted by neo1piv014

I don't necessarily need something super fancy, but considering how big the bike is, it would be nice for it to cruise stretches of highway a bit better. From what I've gathered, they already make a more powerful engine based on the DR650 that they put in the Freewind. Just adding five or ten HP to the DR and some kind of token wind protection would be a big boon to me. As we've seen from the big bore kits, revised cams, and Suzuki's own Freewind, you can add power to this engine without adding hardly any weight or complexity to the bike. As someone who rides his bike to work whenever he gets a chance, highway travel is not an area where this bike shines. The big bore kit might be pricey to do aftermarket, but I wonder what it would actually add to the cost of the bike if it came from the factory as a 725 or 750.

I can agree with all of that... but you can give the bike all of that yourself. A 790 kit isn't bad... about $1000 with a cam. A windscreen is a personal thing. I have a Screens for Bikes screens that I really like. I'd like a little MORE wind protection, so I'm brainstorming an addition to it for cold-weather riding.

I find highway comfort on this thing to be quite superb. I have the bars at a good height, a good seat, the windscreen, etc. If I'm not in a hurry, this bike is awesome on the highway or "faster" roads. Only when I have to do long stretches of freeway, or if I'm in a hurry, would my FZ1 be a better choice (125 hp vs 35). But the DR is still more comfortable because it's more upright.

My short-term plans are to do the forks very soon, followed by a Cogent rear shock. THEN it's time for the 790. So hopefully by Fall 2013, the bike will be completely "done."

Rob

[acesandeights]

The EPA publishes all of the bikes and their current emissions versus the requirements. It's probably been six months or a year ago that I looked at it but the DR650 was no where near the limits. The carbed DR650 could go years without an upgrade to EFI. The EFI issue comes up year after year with people wondering if it's the last year of the DR650. If it is the last year, it has nothing to do with the US EPA.

[crazy88]

And if you DO happen to have an issue, repairs are darn simple.

So about those darn simple repairs...I bought my first bike, a decent condition DR 3 weeks ago, and dropped it on some wet grass a few days ago. Handlebars bent, got some ordered, etc. The worrying thing is now my chain makes a fun buzzing sound as if it's rubbing something. Truth be told, I never looked at my chain before it made annoying sounds, but now that I do when I'm rolling I notice it seemed to have a fair bit of play both up and down and side to side. When stopped, I can touch the chain in the middle of the sprockets to the top of what maybe is called the swing arm? I honestly don't know the name of most parts...

I tightened and lubed it, thinking it was just too much slack. And wouldn't you know it the buzzing just got louder. I is confused. Sure I could take it to the service center, but if I can't do the simplest of effing repairs, why did I buy a DR? So I turn to you good people. Also, if you can recommend what sort of service manual I can buy that will edumacate me as an absolute noob, I'm all ears.

[Carl Childers]

Originally Posted by crazy88

So about those darn simple repairs...I bought my first bike, a decent condition DR 3 weeks ago, and dropped it on some wet grass a few days ago. Handlebars bent, got some ordered, etc. The worrying thing is now my chain makes a fun buzzing sound as if it's rubbing something. Truth be told, I never looked at my chain before it made annoying sounds, but now that I do when I'm rolling I notice it seemed to have a fair bit of play both up and down and side to side. When stopped, I can touch the chain in the middle of the sprockets to the top of what maybe is called the swing arm? I honestly don't know the name of most parts...

I tightened and lubed it, thinking it was just too much slack. And wouldn't you know it the buzzing just got louder. I is confused. Sure I could take it to the service center, but if I can't do the simplest of effing repairs, why did I buy a DR? So I turn to you good people. Also, if you can recommend what sort of service manual I can buy that will edumacate me as an absolute noob, I'm all ears.

It's the chain guide, noisy and annoying but nothing to worry about. You'll want to remove the top roller before the chain removes it for you. Set the chain slack according to the manual and keep in mind a tad loose is better than too tight.

The bike really only requires simple maintenance and will be a good one for you to learn on. There's an online service manual that I'm sure someone will give you the link too or pick up the paper one for hours of fun bathroom reading.

[Rob.G]

Originally Posted by acesandeights

The EPA publishes all of the bikes and their current emissions versus the requirements. It's probably been six months or a year ago that I looked at it but the DR650 was no where near the limits. The carbed DR650 could go years without an upgrade to EFI. The EFI issue comes up year after year with people wondering if it's the last year of the DR650. If it is the last year, it has nothing to do with the US EPA.

GOOD! I hope it sticks around in its current form then! :)

Rob

[TRAVELGUY]

Thanks for this information!

TravelGuy

Originally Posted by acesandeights

The EPA publishes all of the bikes and their current emissions versus the requirements. It's probably been six months or a year ago that I looked at it but the DR650 was no where near the limits. The carbed DR650 could go years without an upgrade to EFI. The EFI issue comes up year after year with people wondering if it's the last year of the DR650. If it is the last year, it has nothing to do with the US EPA.

[TRAVELGUY]

FI problems just buy a V Strom 1000 !!!!!

TravelGuy

Originally Posted by neo1piv014

I haven't seen EFI ruin a bike yet. I'm sure they've got some more modern suspension sitting around from another bike that they could pull out of the parts bin without adding a ton to the cost.
Also, a DRZ 450 would be a bike I'd like to add to my garage.

[mrprez]

Originally Posted by TRAVELGUY

FI problems just buy a V Strom 1000 !!!!!

TravelGuy

Yeah, but then you have the FI problems of a DL1000.

[skysailor]

Originally Posted by neo1piv014

Suzuki would have to give me some serious motivation to buy a brand new one. If they made something that competed with the BMW Serato with FI, more body protection, and better highway manners, I might be tempted to buy another one.

The fact they do none of this is what appeals to me. KISS

[dogjaw]

I had no intention of keeping mine when I bought it for 2k, loved my 919 and thought I could flip the DR and make some cash; now here I am, 2 years later and constantly amazed at how versatile this bike is with a few tweaks to take it any direction. I can't see the benefit of EFI, especially after installing the pumper carb; throttle response is right there, and warm up time is almost non-existent, even on cooler mornings I barely have time to get my gloves on before coming off of the choke. The only complaint I have about the DR is during extended highway travel, the wind tends to blow my knees away from the tank; I've never experienced this on any other bike, thinking of using some sort of tank bags to break the wind. I don't use any type of windshield, would rather have my head in undisturbed air.