Pablo's DR350

[Pablo83]

I put on some high bars. The clutch cable binds when I turn the bars all the way to the side. My bark busters won't fit. The new DR350 brake lever I ordered doesn't fit on the DR250 master brake cylinder I'm using. And I somehow ordered DR650 throttle and clutch cables. Time for a drink.

But Shearboy sent me a new oil pump gear and that went in great, so the engine's back together. Thanks again Shearboy.

[frdbronco8]

Originally Posted by pablo83

I put on some high bars. The clutch cable binds when I turn the bars all the way to the side. My bark busters won't fit. The new DR350 brake lever I ordered doesn't fit on the DR250 master brake cylinder I'm using. And I somehow ordered DR650 throttle and clutch cables. Time for a drink.

But Shearboy sent me a new oil pump gear and that went in great, so the engine's back together. Thanks again Shearboy.

Ouch sounds like one of my days in the garage! Keep up the good work and if it makes you feel better the rest of us are learning from your hard work and struggles! Nah didnt think it would

[Wattner]

Originally Posted by pablo83

I need a longer clutch cable. Any ideas?

Motion pro will have you fixed right up!

[shearboy2004]

Originally Posted by pablo83

I put on some high bars. The clutch cable binds when I turn the bars all the way to the side. My bark busters won't fit. The new DR350 brake lever I ordered doesn't fit on the DR250 master brake cylinder I'm using. And I somehow ordered DR650 throttle and clutch cables. Time for a drink.

But Shearboy sent me a new oil pump gear and that went in great, so the engine's back together. Thanks again Shearboy.

So yer got any holes in the walls or did yer manage to hold it together?

I have thrown the odd tool under similar circumstances.

Sometimes the world just wants to kick the shit out of you for no reason.


Just to tell you I had the same problem when I put Rox Raisers on mine , I thought about it for a bit and whacked 3/4" off each end of the bars and the problem went away , fantastic through those heavily wooded sections we all ride in CO too!

There is not a back buster that can't be fitted with a vise and a hammer!

Do you really need to use the 250 master cylinder ? I have a spare 350 one laying about here somewhere Mate.

[Pablo83]

Originally Posted by shearboy2004

So yer got any holes in the walls or did yer manage to hold it together?

My shop has cinder block walls so no, there are no holes. Unfortunately I end up damaging my tools instead of the walls.

Originally Posted by shearboy2004

There is not a back buster that can't be fitted with a vise and a hammer!

Really? I used a vise, BFH, a hack saw, a drill and a tap on these and they still won't fit. I know I could have fit them with more work, but I figured if I was putting this much work in them, I should start with a model that I liked better anyway.

Originally Posted by shearboy2004

Do you really need to use the 250 master cylinder ? I have a spare 350 one laying about here somewhere Mate.

No, I don't really need the 250 cylinder. I used it to retain the mirror mount in case I ever decided I needed it, but with the current problems, I'm going to switch it out. I still have the 350 cylinder, but thanks for the offer.

[dean-o]

what kind of pressure is acceptable? i want to check out a 96 model se this weekend.
thanks for your help!
dean

[Pablo83]

Originally Posted by dean-o

what kind of pressure is acceptable? i want to check out a 96 model se this weekend.
thanks for your help!
dean

Don't know. I haven't gotten the right adapter for my compression tester yet, so I haven't run a test on my 250. And the 350 has an auto decomp mechanism, so a compression test wouldn't work on that model anyway.

Maybe someone on the DR350 thread knows.

[Pablo83]

My bad-ass hand guards arrived today: Acerbis Rally II's.



They cost a little more than I wanted to spend, but I thought I should invest in something nice since I get a lot of use out of them. But it turns out these suck! I assumed from the picture and price that they where aluminium, but they are all plastic, and flexible plastic at that. How can you charge $80 for plastic hand guards? I should have done more research. I've spent so much on worthless parts so far. Let's see...

Clarke tank with 2lb unusable fuel: $200
Spare cables for a DR650: $35
Flexible plastic hand guards: $80

This is supposed to be a budget build. God, I suck.

[shearboy2004]

Go the "Highway Dirt Bike" way Mate you will never look back.


http://www.highwaydirtbikes.com/HDB_...ref=handguards

[Pablo83]

Originally Posted by shearboy2004

Go the "Highway Dirt Bike" way Mate you will never look back.


http://www.highwaydirtbikes.com/HDB_...ref=handguards

Yes, I've looked at his stuff quite a bit, but I bend bars so often that I'm sticking with the cheaper 7/8" bars on this bike. Plus I'm sticking with the stock gauges which doesn't leave much room in the top clamp area for that setup.

I've ordered some Cycra's. Hopefully they'll work. If this setup doesn't hold up for the summer then next winter I'll invest in a Vapor, HDB guards, and go back to fat bars.

[shearboy2004]

Mate I used to bend bars and break levers just about every ride till I put Paul's stuff on and since then "touching head" I haven't busted anything .

[Pablo83]

I'm pretty disappointed that I originally ordered the Clarke tank instead of the Acerbis, so I recently ordered an Acerbis too, but I just read a review of the Acerbis that said it also holds unusable fuel (well almost). It said the right side is lower than float bowl, so if you need to use the last of the fuel in the right side you will have to close the left petcock and blow in the breather tube to build pressure and force the gas into the carb. Is this true?

[Greg Bender]

Originally Posted by pablo83

I'm pretty disappointed that I originally ordered the Clarke tank instead of the Acerbis, so I recently ordered an Acerbis too, but I just read a review of the Acerbis that said it also holds unusable fuel (well almost). It said the right side is lower than float bowl, so if you need to use the last of the fuel in the right side you will have to close the left petcock and blow in the breather tube to build pressure and force the gas into the carb. Is this true?

Hi Pablo,

I've got a Clarke (natural see-through color) and I've not found the unusable fuel issue to be a real problem for me. Perhaps it is the way I've got my suspension set up, but I don't leave much fuel at all left in there - maybe a cup?

Yes, if I'm riding pavement, I must stop and tip the bike over way to the left to get the fuel over there. But after that, I can run it pretty close to empty.

Is it ideal? No. And there are some other issues with the Clarke tank (among them e.g., http://thisoldtractor.com/gtbender/d...tb_clarke_tank).

In the dirt, there is enough bouncing around that I've not had any need tipping the bike over to the left. Since I ride pavement only to and from the dirt, it isn't a big deal for me.

I do really like the see-through plastic of the Clarke tank I have.

Final thought: I think it is fantastic that my 18 year old dirt bike has three aftermarket options for tanks. :> :> :>

Regards,

Gregory Bender

[Speedo66]

Originally Posted by shearboy2004

Go the "Highway Dirt Bike" way Mate you will never look back.


http://www.highwaydirtbikes.com/HDB_...ref=handguards

That's a new one, the Suzuki parts cost more than the KTM or BMW ones. ;>)

[Pablo83]

The Acerbis tank arrived today. Here's my comparison:

Clarke
4.2 gallons
5 lb 6oz with petcock and mounting hardware
NOTE: when you factor in the .3 gallons of unusable fuel that the Clarke tank carries, the effective statistics become:
3.9 gallons
7lb 7oz

PROS:
See-thru so you can tell how much gas you have
Cheaper of the two tanks

CONS:
One petcock - you have to stop and lean the bike over to use the right side gas.
Wide - probably would be uncomfortable for a standing rider with knee braces.
Kit does not include a petcock
A fair amount of grinding had to be done to fit the stock petcock
The tank rubs on the decomp cable
Carries 2lb 1oz of unusable fuel (below petcock, seen below)


It should be noted that some people have run a tube into the low point of the Clarke tank and used a fuel pump to extract all the fuel.

Acerbis
4.2 gallons
6lb 14oz with petcocks and mounting hardware

PROS:
Easier to remove/reinstall (better fit)
Two petcocks - no leaning the bike over to access your reserve supply
Narrower for a more comfortable fit

CONS:
Only comes in solid white - you can't see how much fuel you have left
Two petcocks - more things to break
My kit did not include a "Y" fitting to connect the two petcocks, but apparently this is normally included.
More expensive of the two tanks