the DR650 thread

[Albie]

Originally Posted by neo1piv014

I'd rather cruise the highway in a car than any bike I've ever owned, but when you're going on a camping trip, there's going to be bits where you're stringing fun roads together with interstate. That's just a sad truth.

Not if you live where I do.

[NordieBoy]

Originally Posted by DowDuer

I used a few zip ties to secure the kickstand safety switch and then rode 70 miles with no problems so I believe this might be it. I will remove the switch and see if the problem reoccurs when the weather dries out.

My bike seldom sits for more than a couple days as I do not own a car.

Cut the wires and join them together. Don't just remove the switch...

[sagebrushocean]

One pretty simple way to install a low fender is to use the RSW Racing supermoto fork brace and bolt a generic sm front (e.g., Acerbis) to the brace.

Originally Posted by victor441

I need a front fender like yours for the winter though, the trimmed stocker sends water up and on to the bike and rider.

[Sierra Thumper]

Originally Posted by psmcd

Brains and "framing" with words are antithetical to the state we seek through riding. But I think we'll agree the bike is always secondary to the ride. Lick the envelope.

Amen to that

[Fire Escape]

Originally Posted by eakins

let's drop it all together. it does nothing to add to the value of this thread.

It did remind me how valuable that "Ignore List" can be!


Bruce

[johnkol]

Originally Posted by P-P

When I went to change my first tire I found that the swingarm bushings were completely wasted - had less than 4000 miles on it. Had them replaced under warranty. After they were replaced the "frame flex" problem went away completely.
Now I've gone from riding a Flexy Flyer to a Sexy Flyer hahaha!

Hey, thanks for the suggestion, this was the first truly helpful tip that anyone offered!

Unfortunately, I already checked for this, but still, thanks!

[doug s.]

Originally Posted by johnkol

Hey, thanks for the suggestion, this was the first truly helpful tip that anyone offered!

Unfortunately, I already checked for this, but still, thanks!

keep checking; you will find something else wrong w/it. and, find another known good one to ride... and find another known good one w/upgraded suspension forks and rear shock...

doug s.

[doug s.]

Originally Posted by victor441

I need a front fender like yours for the winter though, the trimmed stocker sends water up and on to the bike and rider.

Originally Posted by sagebrushocean

One pretty simple way to install a low fender is to use the RSW Racing supermoto fork brace and bolt a generic sm front (e.g., Acerbis) to the brace.

i wouldn't recommend a sm fender, but another more conwentional fender bolted to a brace instead - the sm fenders typically don't prowide much coverage at the back.

or get this, if you don't wanna do a brace; it needs a little cleaning up, but it should be plug-n-play w/the stock non-inwerted forks:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280930223405

on my bike, i had to adapt a yamaha r6 fender to attach to the fork guards, due to the usd forks...

doug s.

[jack82]

[QUOTE=Albie;20066082]Might get close to the power, but no way you're gonna be able to shed that much weight to get a DR comparable to the XRR.[/QUOTE

Really??

I thought the DR was 10kg heavier than the XR.

Should'nt be to hard to shed 10 kg off the DR should it??

[Gryphon12]

Not quite. The XR650R has a dry weight of 277 lbs. and a wet weight ready to ride of 320 lbs. This was when mfgs quoted dry weight without lots and lots of "stuff".

The DR650 (post 1995) is 324 lbs. dry and 366 lbs. wet, ready to ride with the stock tank full of gas. So, the difference between the two is 46 lbs. or just shy of 21 kg.

Getting the DR down to XRR weight can be done, but it is a little more expensive than just dropping the stock exhaust. Of course, you can lighten up the XRR a bit, too.

[Albie]

[QUOTE=jack82;20068392]

Originally Posted by Albie

Might get close to the power, but no way you're gonna be able to shed that much weight to get a DR comparable to the XRR.[/QUOTE

Really??

I thought the DR was 10kg heavier than the XR.

Should'nt be to hard to shed 10 kg off the DR should it??

You thought wrong.

[jessepitt]

I just road a nice low mile XRR the other day. Whata sweet engine! I would love to have one but there is no way it would replace my DR due to its lack of streetability. I would rate the XRR as being slightly less comfortable on the road than my wifes XT225 and I'm talking about the bikes comfort not the riders. It has a pretty tight trans ratio and the seat was narrow. Of pave however, it was a beast.

[psmcd]

Originally Posted by johnkol

I disagree. I weigh 130 lbs and both forks and shock have way too much compression damping. On sharp impacts the forks pack up and deliver a violent jolt to your arms. Shock is even worse because it effectively has no rebound damping, so on successive bumps it becomes airborne and essentially stalls forward momentum of the bike.

At 195lbs I have no way of knowing what the bike feels like to you but my 2011 has very little compression damping (though so far I've tried to avoid sharp impacts and refrained from bashing anything ) with stock fork oil (5w). Sounds to me like yours has heavier fork oil or too much oil. Have you ever checked/changed it?

If you're riding bumps so fast you're getting airborne stalls and you don't think you can benefit from/appreciate the bike more with suspension improvements no one here will be able to help you. If your bike is older and you've never serviced the suspension, as in right after buying it, then do it now before anything else. 5w to correct level in the forks and 10w shock oil should be a good start point.

With all the frame flex analysis I assumed you're a mechanical engineer and you have a new bike. If you haven't thoroughly examined the steering head bearings and races, wheel bearings and axles, and the swing arm bearings and shaft, your analysis is without foundation. Finally, or firstly, what tire pressure do you run and have you ever run different tires on the same bike?

[Kommando]

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

I ride too slowly to notice frame flex.
The main difference compared to my TT350 is inertia.
The extra weight the DR carries.

But compared to some, it carries it well.

With the extra inertia comes a little plushness which is nice.

Yup, inertia can be good or bad, depending on the circumstances. I seem to have a harder time changing direction quickly on slippery trails at speed, but an easier time of slower rocky-slab uphill trails, than people on lighter bikes with stiffer boingers that get deflected all over. The DR is like riding a plush leather sofa for me. I just have to stay on the gas and it climbs/descends like a bulldozer.

[Krusty ...]

Originally Posted by eakins

let's drop it all together. it does nothing to add to the value of this thread.

I agree. I've been sitting on my hands to keep from chiming in. But if John ain't feeling it, he ain't feeling it. What I don't get us why he chose to expound on the DR650's 'flaws' in a haven of devotees to the model . If he had posted his in, say, Orange Crush, for instance, he would likely have seen dozens of replies commiserating his misfortune. The fact he did so here gives me the idea that he just wants to stir the shit ...