Am I on the wrong bike?

[skierd]

With cold weather finally settling in around me, I've been thinking about all the crap I'd like to do to my DRZ400S as winter drags on to make it more what I want it to be. As the list starts creeping longer and the what, when, how long, and where I find myself riding gets better defined, I'm starting to think maybe I'm on the wrong bike? Or maybe there's just too much cool stuff to get and the cold is getting to my brain?


Whether I like it or not I'm going to be spending the majority of my riding on pavement, whether its the bikes primary use of commuting or taking short trips around town, riding 100-200 miles to get to areas that still have dirt roads and ORV trails/parks, weekend camping trips, etc. I'm also planning an extensive road trip for this summer, its been too long since I've taken a long vacation. I love it around town, I like its size and relatively low weight weight (though she's a bit top heavy), but I HATE riding my DRZs on the highway or faster secondary roads as the buzziness (always looking for a 6th gear) and wind blast at 65mph+ just wears on me. I'd like to be more comfortable up to 75mph on it to keep up with (or get away from) traffic. And I HATE the seat for anything over 45-60mins, which is granted a convient as I tend to hit the reserve around 85 miles anyways (another issue).

The fixes are well documented on TT and here... change gearing (think I might try 15/41?), change the seat or add a cover (trying the cheap Walmart ATV pad right now to see if it helps or not, haven't had a chance to really ride with it yet), windblast is fixed with a windscreen, range fixed with a larger tank. How much of an impact do these changes have on a DRZ's road manners? Am I trying to teach this dog a trick it doesn't really want to learn or is this shiny-new-thing-itis acting up?

[handirifle]

I think I aghree, you need a different bike. Something like the V-strom maybe? Still capable of not too horrible, dirt roads.

[bacon]

The way I see it is you have two choices.
One use any bike that you just love for whatever reason to do anything you want and just put up with it's idiosyncrasies.
Two use the bike that best fits your situation.

[great08]

Well... it is really hard to say. I guess it def depends on your personallity. I knew I wanted a bike that was cheap and capable of anything(so I could learn on it and go off road without worry of scratches and never have to buy another bike), with a large range (my klr holds 6 gals), I also knew I would occasionally use it on freeway travel and asked around and everyone said a 650 is about as small as you would want to go. However... many bikes are very adaptable towards makeing them either more on-road or off-road capable. I ended up adapting mine towards hwy travel so that I can get up and get out to where I want to ride... usually far far away. My 08' has good wind protection with it's stock fairings and cee-baily shield I am in a air bubble on the hwy pretty much. I just have to throw in the stocker shield in the gear when I know I will be doing some seriouse off-roading so I don't break my big shield. I honestly think that yours is all that you really need perhaps. If it get's you there and safely. However I guess it is entirely up to you. Do you want to throw down a ton of cash on a new bike? Or are you happy with the one you have now? I know that if I were to get a expensive bike... I would still be fabbing up parts and changing stuff on it like crazy. Only because I have done that to every vehicle I have ever owned. It's fun and enables me to become more familiar with it. I also can own it in pride knowing it is my own.

[Kbetts]

I always have a nagging irritating dissatisfaction for my motorcycles. I keep a running list of things that I want to change or that would make it "better." It doesn't matter what bike(s) I currently own. The same goes for my cars. It's the nature of owning machinery that you use to do "jobs" even if the job is pleasure. If you move to a different part of the country or if you find friends who like to do a different kind of riding you'll likely change bikes but still have "the list" of changes.


What do you do about it? Meh, just ride. When I first get a new bike I'll buy a bunch of stuff tailoring the bike to my height/weight and major riding and maybe once a year I'll splurge on a couple of farkles at the same time I'm doing major maintenance. I'm convinced if I changed nothing or changed everything I'd still have that nagging wish to make the bike better for one type of riding condition or another.

[montesa_vr]

The wind problem will bother you on anything you buy that doesn't have a factory fairing, and even some bikes that have fairings will drive you so crazy you'll end up sawing the windscreen down or buying a longer shield for it, so that's kind of a wash. You can always put on an easily removable shield, most of which can be adjusted to work about as well as a fairing. And even people on Gold Wings buy aftermarket seats, so switching bikes won't necessarily solve that problem either. If you can try a DR with a seat and shield combination you like, or you get lucky with your purchase, you might get it right the first time and be no worse off than if you bought something supposedly more suitable for the highway.

That leaves the gearing. The real problem with the narrow 5-speed on the DRZ is you can't comfortably do highway and tough off road with the same gearing. Either you'll have to slip the clutch or buzz on the highway. But if you don't mind giving up the really rough off-roading, you can gear the thing as high as you want. Do that, and the vibration will go away. If you switch to a KLR650 or a Wee-Strom, you're giving up the really nasty off-road capability anyway, so what have you got to lose?

[BmoreBandit]

dude, amongst other bikes, i own a klr. and love it. that being said, even the biggest fans of the bike, want to change everything on the bike. (which leaves the question-okay, so then what is so great about it, again?) the list is endless. so this winter i found myself in a similar predicament, with a chance to throw in some monies, or buy, for a good price, mid weight KTM. i ended up sticking with a trusty klr, and i'll fix the bike up. best bike to get your mechanic gloves on and do some work- in the end, the bike does what i want it to do. it sounds to me that you really need a new bike. not necessarily expensive one, but just something full on road worthy.
zen is in just enjoying the bike instead of constantly trying to squeeze something out thats not there.
if you're hard core enough, you can seriously tour on a vespa, or on a wing that really should be having two more wheels. dont get carried away.

[Les Peterson]

Originally Posted by Kbetts

I always have a nagging irritating dissatisfaction for my motorcycles. I keep a running list of things that I want to change or that would make it "better." It doesn't matter what bike(s) I currently own. The same goes for my cars. It's the nature of owning machinery that you use to do "jobs" even if the job is pleasure. If you move to a different part of the country or if you find friends who like to do a different kind of riding you'll likely change bikes but still have "the list" of changes.


What do you do about it? Meh, just ride. When I first get a new bike I'll buy a bunch of stuff tailoring the bike to my height/weight and major riding and maybe once a year I'll splurge on a couple of farkles at the same time I'm doing major maintenance. I'm convinced if I changed nothing or changed everything I'd still have that nagging wish to make the bike better for one type of riding condition or another.

I have the same problem. For what ever reason I can't leave "well enough" alone. I have now reached this conclusion: the maintanence, farkleing, and generally changing the bike is therapeutic for me. It gives me one more reason to spend time with something I like doing. That said, it also helps when I'm out on the road and something breaks. I know how to fix it or know when to ignore it and keep riding.
I plan on getting a more road worthy bike this year but I also know that my farkle budget will expand with that purchase. Perhaps my pocket book won't like it but I know how I am.

[Geoffster]

Originally Posted by skierd

... Whether I like it or not I'm going to be spending the majority of my riding on pavement, whether its the bikes primary use of commuting or taking short trips around town, riding 100-200 miles to get to areas that still have dirt roads and ORV trails/parks, weekend camping trips, etc. I'm also planning an extensive road trip for this summer, its been too long since I've taken a long vacation ...

All the other posters have made very good comments, but I feel I need to ask two important questions that you did not address in your original post.

1) How much do you actually ride off-road, and what kind of roads/trails?

2) How important is the weight of the bike that you take off the pavement?

IMHO, these are critical questions/issues.

Case in point: today I was passed smartly by a rider on a Big-Strom who looked oh-so-cool-and-comfortable. Later on, I passed him coming toward me as I was heading to the OHV area. Based on elapsed time, there was no way he spent even a minute in the dirt, and he barely cruised the crappy, one lane asphalt that wound down the hill. I, on the other hand, took the steep, dirty way down because my bike only weighs about 370#. Then I blasted back up.

I was pretty beat by the time I got home, but I didn't shy away from a challenging trail, and, most importantly, I didn't crash!

YMMV

[rider33]

no bike does everything right tho some do many things pretty well.
You either taylor the bike to the narrow range of things that interest
you, get a bike that can do a passable job on a variety of things or you get several bikes that can do one or two things each very, very well. Having tried all of the above over the years I tend to be a fan of the utility players: you may think you were going to go on a cross-country highway trip but when an interesting little dirt road to the left shows up, it's nice to be on a bike that can lift it's skirt and dance. There is a reason KLR's and DR 650 have been made forever and, on the other end of the price, why GS's sell in such big numbers. They are not the best bikes but when you are on one, odds are,
you'll be limited only by your still level.

[neepuk]

Originally Posted by skierd

... the bikes primary use of commuting or taking short trips around town, riding 100-200 miles to get to areas that still have dirt roads and ORV trails/parks, weekend camping trips, etc. I'm also planning an extensive road trip for this summer...

This is the part of your original post that I base my suggestion. I don't see ANY plan of riding single track with the exception of what you may choose to try at an ORV park. Get a different bike! You can probably trade your DRZ straight across with a guy that wants a little more dirt and a little less distance for a DR650 or KLR. If you're a stronger rider you could go for a Strom, etc... The DR650 is only something like 20 or 25 lbs heavier than the bike you're riding and less top-heavy.... Add another 40+ pounds and you have a KLR, but better on road if both bike are unmodified. The question is would you rather be a little light on the freeway or a little haevy on the trail? (somebody will chime in and correct my weight estimates but I'm pretty close)

[skierd]

That weight difference is about right from what I've read on here and elsewhere between the DRZ vs. the DR. I think I'd rather have a lighter, or at least lighter feeling, bike but I really wish that more motorcycle dealers would allow test rides so I could see what I'm getting in to.

Went for a 30min ride tonight after Raven's game and while not long enough to make a real decision I think the extra seat pad helped a lot more than I expected. I also think the wind issue might be more on my head than anything else i.e. maybe a nicer, quieter helmet would do me better than a screen. I'm going to go ahead with the gearing change (it needs a new sprockets/chain anyways) and once it thaws enough around here for a real day of riding see where I'm at with it. Speaking of thaws, I think the cold has killed my battery judging by the lack of working e-start so thats another little thing that gets to get done.

As far as single track and stuff like that, who knows? I'd like to start with something mild like trail rides and dual sport events and see where the it takes me. Enduro and RallyMoto event's looks like a ton of fun for example and I certainly wouldn't rule out me attempting for the lantern rouge position in either once I feel more comfortable on dirt.

[Kommando]

Originally Posted by skierd

With cold weather finally settling in around me, I've been thinking about all the crap I'd like to do to my DRZ400S as winter drags on to make it more what I want it to be. As the list starts creeping longer and the what, when, how long, and where I find myself riding gets better defined, I'm starting to think maybe I'm on the wrong bike? Or maybe there's just too much cool stuff to get and the cold is getting to my brain?

If you're not riding singletrack at all, you're probably riding the wrong bike. If you're wanting to race, you're probably riding the wrong bike.

Personally...I think you'd be happier on a farkled '96-present DR650. Shave some weight off it. Add a skid, tank, Renazco seat, appropriate suspension, DOT knobs, FCR carb, luggage, and a Buell headlight/screen.

Shop around for a cheap used one to try. If it's not for you, sell it and recoup your money.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by skierd

With cold weather finally settling in around me, I've been thinking about all the crap I'd like to do to my DRZ400S as winter drags on to make it more what I want it to be. As the list starts creeping longer and the what, when, how long, and where I find myself riding gets better defined, I'm starting to think maybe I'm on the wrong bike? Or maybe there's just too much cool stuff to get and the cold is getting to my brain?


Whether I like it or not I'm going to be spending the majority of my riding on pavement, whether its the bikes primary use of commuting or taking short trips around town, riding 100-200 miles to get to areas that still have dirt roads and ORV trails/parks, weekend camping trips, etc. I'm also planning an extensive road trip for this summer, its been too long since I've taken a long vacation. I love it around town, I like its size and relatively low weight weight (though she's a bit top heavy), but I HATE riding my DRZs on the highway or faster secondary roads as the buzziness (always looking for a 6th gear) and wind blast at 65mph+ just wears on me. I'd like to be more comfortable up to 75mph on it to keep up with (or get away from) traffic. And I HATE the seat for anything over 45-60mins, which is granted a convient as I tend to hit the reserve around 85 miles anyways (another issue).

The fixes are well documented on TT and here... change gearing (think I might try 15/41?), change the seat or add a cover (trying the cheap Walmart ATV pad right now to see if it helps or not, haven't had a chance to really ride with it yet), windblast is fixed with a windscreen, range fixed with a larger tank. How much of an impact do these changes have on a DRZ's road manners? Am I trying to teach this dog a trick it doesn't really want to learn or is this shiny-new-thing-itis acting up?

The worst thing you have to deal with is the seat. Not easy.

The wind issue can be solved using a National Cycle Deflecter Shield with the quick release mounts. You can use some pvc pipe bits split in half and some plastic spiral wrap used for stainless brake lines to make shims to get the clamps mounted on the handlebars. E-mail me if you want some pictures, it's a pain in the ass to try to post them here. I put one on my KLX and it works/looks great and is pretty much out of harm's way on trail rides. I can also quickly remove it when the weather is like 90°.

The gearing can be stepped up with a bigger front or smaller rear sprocket. If you ride any off road, it's only a 20 minute switch to put a one tooth smaller front sprocket back on. One of my friends has both a supermotoed DRz400 and the production SM, he did gearing on both to get better road gearing. He does no tough trails, just all sorts of roads and very groomed trails like the main trails in the Wayne National Forest.

I will tell you I did the dual sport only when I lived in eastern Ohio where the roads actually curve and dirt roads were less than 10 minutes away. When I moved to the Columbus Ohio flat lands area I bit the bullet and got a pure streetbike, just because of riding the straight stuff. I won't sell the dual sport because I do enjoy it and I do go back to eastern Ohio for riding as well as some dual sport riding and supermoto play in West Virginia.

In other words, if you have space and can afford it get a regular street bike. Maybe something older like a used Nighthawk or whatever trips your trigger.

[Grreatdog]

Originally Posted by skierd

...... I also think the wind issue might be more on my head than anything else i.e. maybe a nicer, quieter helmet would do me better than a screen. ......

Are you wearing a full face street helmet or an offroad helmet? Nothing is better than an offroad helmet when you are offroad. But for highway drones it is much more pleasant to be in a nice quiet full face street helmet that keeps the wind blast (and bugs and rain) off your face.

I own one of each and end up wearing the street helmet about 95% of the time. With all of the freeway I have to ride to get out of Annapolis in just about any direction, the street helmet usually gets call.