Drz250 Thread

[warewolf]

Here's the 2001 DR-Z250K (EK1 probably) review "On the Rebound" from SideTrack, Issue 37.

Edit: btw, the "ADR" mentioned is Australian Design Rules, effectively specification for road use of vehicles.

[warewolf]

Originally Posted by warewolf

Can't remember if the article was in the series when they built up a pair bikes for the editor and Kevin Schwantz to race in the Australian Safari??

Righto; the editor raced a DR250R in the Australian Safari in 1999, winning the 250cc class - articles to follow.

It was 400's they built for the editor and Mr Schwantz .

[gvthnks]

interesting article. There's a lot in there I didn't know about the bike. Seems like this article, or the writer is able to freely voice his opinion about things. That's a nice change from what I see as some of the cut-n-paste articles written in some mags today.

Thanks for posting it.

[GlennF33]

An interesting item in the article is the stock 15:42 gearing (a ratio of 2.8 to 1) vs. our American gearing of 13:49 (ratio of 3.77 to 1) which is 26% higher than our off-road only US bike. I have dual sported mine and find the road speed is around 65 mph max with the present gearing. The transmission is a true close ratio one. You have to remember that the bike is sold as a dual sport in Australia. I have considered going to a 14T CS sprocket which would give you a ratio of 3.5 to 1. I wonder if anyone else has tried that combo?

[Leafster]

Originally Posted by GlennF33

An interesting item in the article is the stock 15:42 gearing (a ratio of 2.8 to 1) vs. our American gearing of 13:49 (ratio of 3.77 to 1) which is 26% higher than our off-road only US bike. I have dual sported mine and find the road speed is around 65 mph max with the present gearing. The transmission is a true close ratio one. You have to remember that the bike is sold as a dual sport in Australia. I have considered going to a 14T CS sprocket which would give you a ratio of 3.5 to 1. I wonder if anyone else has tried that combo?

I keep a 12, 13, and 15 tooth sprocket in my tail bag. Pop the 15 on for commuting, etc... in about 3 minutes. It's much more relaxed on the highway with this and you can still go all the way to a 12 on the stock chain adjusters.

[tdrrally]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

dr 125 speedo huh? is that a bolt on affair? I don't really need one for trail and off road riding, but I'd like to find something.

I wondered how hard it would be to make a DRZ 400 cluster work. Obviously it has more features than I need, but I see them for sale sometimes.

Thought about going with a Vapor but we'll see. I want to ride it some and see how badly I want it after that. Trying not to sink anymore into this bike.

Thanks for the info

buy a trail teck before spending the cash on drz400 speedo
they did come factory with the same drz cluster
but even with the dr125 speedo you will me to make a mount
but it is ez to do

edward

[warewolf]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

Seems like this article, or the writer is able to freely voice his opinion about things. That's a nice change from what I see as some of the cut-n-paste articles written in some mags today.

Yes that magazine was completely independent, pretty much a "one man" business. Shame it's gone; got bought by a corporate competitor with a different bent... Trail Bike Adventure Magazine (TBAM). Worth a look but not in the same class as SideTrack.

[warewolf]

Originally Posted by GlennF33

An interesting item in the article is the stock 15:42 gearing (a ratio of 2.8 to 1) vs. our American gearing of 13:49 (ratio of 3.77 to 1) which is 26% higher than our off-road only US bike. I have dual sported mine and find the road speed is around 65 mph max with the present gearing. The transmission is a true close ratio one. You have to remember that the bike is sold as a dual sport in Australia. I have considered going to a 14T CS sprocket which would give you a ratio of 3.5 to 1. I wonder if anyone else has tried that combo?

My bike (2001 DR-Z250EK1) was actually a US-spec with a US user hand book, complied for use in Australia, then sent to NZ and sold new. Stock gearing was 14:42 = 3.00.

I had two sets of wheels, the ones with street rubber (Metzeler ME33 & ME55A) had 15:42 = 2.80. I found the 14T front didn't let the engine spend enough time in the upper reaches of the rev range before requiring a gear change, and the 15T felt better around town, too. I would see 138/139km/h consistently, but never higher - except when I went drafting behind my mate's road bike, where it managed 147km/h - my bike was completely standard in the engine department. Air filter cleanliness is critical for max power, IME it needed washing as soon as it had any visible discolouration.

The off-road wheel set had rim locks and NHS knobbies running 13:46 = 3.54; that was great in the tight single track, sand, and steep hills. 14:46 wasn't quite low enough. It would do over 100km/h, can't remember how much over but do remember that the 14T would do more, and more easily.

[gvthnks]

Well, today I took the newly finished, (long story... thanks PO), DRZ out for a shakedown run. All in all I'm very pleased. It's rich on the bottom end but feels pretty good in the mid and top end. After riding for a couple of hours, my magic button stopped working. Thank goodness for a kick starter. Seems that the wires from the button got pinched between the steering lock and stem and cut one of the wires. Easy fix and I'll keep it out of the way with zip-ties.

A few pics from the day.

We were riding in a place called Cape Fear ATV/MX park. http://www.capefearatv-mx.com/index.html

signing in




After riding an hour or so.


We've had a fair amount of rain so some of the trails are completely flooded.



OOPS. dirt nap..... This is also the point where I realized, with gas pouring from the vent in the gas cap, that the check valve in the vent is missing. Gas pouring down the hill. oh well.



An ATV that has been stuck too long. This thing has been under water. I think he drove off the bridge and had to leave it there.



This is the bridge.


Another for perspective.


can even catch some air.....


Again, all in all a great day. Need to lean out the bottom end some, fix the starter issue, and I want to add some real handguards and a skid plate.

I'm diggin it. Thanks Edward and the rest of you who helped me get this thing going.

[tdrrally]

looking good
looks like great place to ride

edward

[gvthnks]

was pretty good. Places to fish, ride, a drag strip if you into that, MX track,and camping. We were the only people in the park for about 3 hours.

Not a lot of traffic there and to me that's a good thing.

[tdrrally]

any body out there ever super motoed their drz250?

edward

[gvthnks]

Uh-oh. Where you headed now? oh well. Found this thread on TT. Looks like their might be some links to follow.



http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/arc.../t-527163.html

yeah ummmm well I just noticed your name on that thread. Oops.

[tdrrally]

i am thinking i have two drz250s so one could be the might adv 80%offroad ds bike and the other could be a my sm bike 80% on road

edward

[gvthnks]

Makes sense. Would be cool to have twin bikes that are configured differently.