DR650 - the big dilemma

[Beddhist]

The dreaded day is almost upon me when my trusty old DR's visitors registration runs out. (Meaning it's been on the road here on French plates for 18 months.) I've been thinking all along that it won't be worth doing compliance testing, as the cost of that and the required mods would be too high to make it worth while. To do that would require a new headlight and front disc, possibly a new muffler (hard to find, because of the pannier rack).

The bike has carried me half way around the planet (literally) and it has almost 200k on the clock. The engine still runs like when I bought it, uses next to no oil and has never been opened.

The idea was to break it up and sell the parts, then buy another bike later on. Looking on Trademe and Sella I can't find any parts, so I'm wondering whether breaking it is financially feasible.

On the other hand I guess it would cost me 300-800$ in parts alone to get it registered.

Any ideas, thoughts? Does anybody know a bike wrecker selling DR650 parts?

Kind regards,
Peter.
http://beddha.free.fr

[Monstaman]

Wow with that many memories, miles and travel I would shift her into the lounge and keep her warm by the fire.

Seriously I would struggle to let a bike go that has served me like that.:woohoo:

[Eddieb]

I agree with Andi.

However, if you do decide to break her let me know how much you'd want for the tank and mounting bracket, and the seat.

Eddie

[5150]

I agree with Andi.

However, if you do decide to break her let me know how much you'd want for the tank and mounting bracket, and the seat.

Eddie

Voultures are circling :cool:

[Beddhist]

Wow with that many memories, miles and travel I would shift her into the lounge and keep her warm by the fire.

Seriously I would struggle to let a bike go that has served me like that.:woohoo:

Sadly, it's a lot worse for me: I still have two BMWs in a rented shed. The older, an R75/5 I bought in 1979 in Germany, when I was 20. It was my first big bike. The sulphur in Rotorua has destroyed them both. :facepalm: I will have to break those as well.


Voultures are circling :cool:
:lol: At least it confirms that the high-value items will be sold quickly.

Seriously, though, I try not to attach myself to material things. We will lose them anyway. :bye:

[NordieBoy]

Borrow a front wheel, muffler and headlight to get it legal then swap them back.

The old ones will probably be enough for WoF purposes, just not the more stringent VIN/Registration.

[Night Falcon]

Borrow a front wheel, muffler and headlight to get it legal then swap them back.

The old ones will probably be enough for WoF purposes, just not the more stringent VIN/Registration.

+ 1 on that plan ...an don't go to VTNZ for a warrant....find a good bike shop....:innocent: you know what i'm talkin about...nudge nudgewink wink :shutup:

[jafar]

Have you thought of contacting suzuki nz & seeing if they want to buy it back? A DR with that many K's on it may be of interest to them:yes:

[Eddieb]

Borrow a front wheel, muffler and headlight to get it legal then swap them back.

The old ones will probably be enough for WoF purposes, just not the more stringent VIN/Registration.

+1

There are new front discs on trade me for about $70. Unless the exhaust is really stuffed could you borrow a few extra discs to quieten it down for the test?

[Beddhist]

Borrow a front wheel, muffler and headlight to get it legal then swap them back.

The old ones will probably be enough for WoF purposes, just not the more stringent VIN/Registration.

Thanks Fran, that's an excellent idea. I have done that once before with the wheel, as the disc has become very thin and failed a WoF. That one will need to be changed, though.

The muffler is stuffed, it has already broken off 3 times and in China it got blown right off. VTNZ did say, however, that it might pass. The h/l needs to be changed, because it dazzles oncoming traffic, being r/h drive.

Somehow I don't think Suzuki would be interested in buying an old dunger...

Thanks for the tip with the discs on Trademe, I'll check them out.

That leaves the big Q with that noisy 5th gear...

@ Other DR riders: if you pull the clutch in 5th and coast, do you hear any strange noises that disappear when you change down? I suspect that my gears have caries, which would put the whole operation in doubt.

Kind regards,
Peter.

[Padmei]

Sadly, it's a lot worse for me: I still have two BMWs in a rented shed. The older, an R75/5 I bought in 1979 in Germany, when I was 20. It was my first big bike. The sulphur in Rotorua has destroyed them both. :facepalm: I will have to break those as well.
Seriously, though, I try not to attach myself to material things. We will lose them anyway. :bye:

I like your thinking beddhist. Do not dwell on worldly things for they will not last. Instead focus upon the spiritual enlightenment that comes from selfless acts.
I feel your pain & would like to share your burden by lifting the heavy presence of a mono rear end off your back.

Hummmm hummmm hummm

[warewolf]

The dreaded day is almost upon me when my trusty old DR's visitors registration runs out. (Meaning it's been on the road here on French plates for 18 months.) Do you then have an import issue with it? In the sense that a temporary import must be exported again? How did it get here - with a carnet?

[Beddhist]

I don't think so. I had to sign a piece of paper saying that I couldn't sell it within 2 years or I owe GST. Processing this was such a palaver that they forgot to charge us GST on my wife's KLX (Thai reg'd). :shutup: This has since been compliance tested and registered.

I just rung VTNZ and was told that the fee for compliance testing is 183$. On top of that there will be 80-odd$ for the brake certification, then the usual WoF & rego.

So, no, the bikes don't have to leave again and no carnet. I suspect that with a carnet the import process would have been a lot quicker. It took customs a week to do its job :angry:, whereas a friend of mine got everything done in 1 1/2h with a carnet.

[Beddhist]

+1

There are new front discs on trade me for about $70. Unless the exhaust is really stuffed could you borrow a few extra discs to quieten it down for the test?

Eddie, I can't find these. Can you please post the link?

The exhaust is really stuffed, but it may just pass anyway.

[NordieBoy]

Eddie, I can't find these. Can you please post the link?

The exhaust is really stuffed, but it may just pass anyway.

Got a spare exhaust here you could have.
It's right hand drive but you'd probably cope...

[Beddhist]

Thanks Fran, but I need a disc. As for the exhaust, you may recall that on my bike it's under the pannier, meaning only a straight muffler will physically fit. I can probably borrow a friend's original for VTNZ and I can keep going with mine for the time being.

[NordieBoy]

I like your thinking beddhist. Do not dwell on worldly things for they will not last. Instead focus upon the spiritual enlightenment that comes from selfless acts.
I feel your pain & would like to share your burden by lifting the heavy presence of a mono rear end off your back.

Hummmm hummmm hummm

Subtle, subliminal and caring.

You're just a big zen softie really...

Ommmmm ommmmm ommmmm...


Nommmm nommm nom nom nom...

[Eddieb]

Cheap stock pipe: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Exhaust/auction-369607468.htm

Remember you could always pull the pannier racks & pipe off for the purposes of certification then look at refitting them later.

Sorry I can't find the disc auction now but I think this is the guy that had them, he has lots of others also: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Brakes/auction-368668844.htm

Another disc for $169: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Wheels/auction-367472766.htm
This auction has expired at the moment but I'm sure he will relist.

[NordieBoy]

Thanks Fran, but I need a disc. As for the exhaust, you may recall that on my bike it's under the pannier, meaning only a straight muffler will physically fit. I can probably borrow a friend's original for VTNZ and I can keep going with mine for the time being.

Panniers off and stocker on for the WoF.

[Beddhist]

Another disc for $169: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Wheels/auction-367472766.htm
This auction has expired at the moment but I'm sure he will relist.

That one looks promising, as they are made in NZ to order. The other one is MotoXShop and, as the name suggests, doesn't deal in DR650 parts and he said so in a previous auction.

Thanks a lot for those links, I'll contact the guy.

Regards,
Peter.

[Monstaman]

Seriously, though, I try not to attach myself to material things. We will lose them anyway. :bye:

.....still cheaper than girlfriend or wife! :violin:

Understand where you are coming from.

[warewolf]

I don't think so. I had to sign a piece of paper saying that I couldn't sell it within 2 years or I owe GST. Sweet. Didn't realise you could import (permanently) a vehicle and keep the foreign registration.

[86GSXR]

Nearly 200K!!!??? I've been trying to justify getting one of these for ages, and this brings me one step closer. Thanks! :niceone: (I'd keep it)

[Beddhist]

Sweet. Didn't realise you could import (permanently) a vehicle and keep the foreign registration.

Well, no you can't. That's why I am here in this situation. You can import a vehicle any which way you want. If it's on a carnet it must be re-exported. If it's not then normally you have to pay GST on the current value + shipping. I was exempt because I have used the bike overseas for more than a certain amount of time. My wife couldn't do that, as she was not a resident.

Either way, you can use overseas plates for 18 months max., but need visitors reg & WoF. (A system mostly used by a very few 3rd world countries...)

Of course, if you import a vehicle as a resident you normally go through compliance testing right away, to save the expense of the initial visitors reg.

Hope that clarifies it a little.

[warewolf]

I thought a private import by an immigrant had to be de-registered at source and re-registered in NZ at import time, in order to qualify for the GST exemption.

Didn't know about the use of foreign reg.

Just curious really, ta.

[Beddhist]

I don't know about this requirement and customs didn't seem to care. There is nothing to stop you from riding away without rego or WoF, either. A lot of visitors do ... And the cops I have met don't know about this system, either.

[monchopper]

Have a look on eBay uk and if you want something bought and sent to nz then I can help out as I live there

[Beddhist]

Thanks for your kind offer. I'll see what I can find here first.

[Monstaman]

Mate if you closer to me I would lend you the parts to get going an certified / wof but bit difficult from my end of the country.

[Beddhist]

Thank you, too. :)

Luckily, I have a good friend here who has already leant me his wheel for WoF and I hope he will lend me his h/l as well. That way I only have to spend 260$ up front, in case the whole thing fails...

Cheers,
Peter.

[jafar]

Thanks Fran, that's an excellent idea. I have done that once before with the wheel, as the disc has become very thin and failed a WoF. That one will need to be changed, though.

The muffler is stuffed, it has already broken off 3 times and in China it got blown right off. VTNZ did say, however, that it might pass. The h/l needs to be changed, because it dazzles oncoming traffic, being r/h drive.

Somehow I don't think Suzuki would be interested in buying an old dunger...

Thanks for the tip with the discs on Trademe, I'll check them out.

That leaves the big Q with that noisy 5th gear...

@ Other DR riders: if you pull the clutch in 5th and coast, do you hear any strange noises that disappear when you change down? I suspect that my gears have caries, which would put the whole operation in doubt.

Kind regards,
Peter.

You may be surprised what suzuki will be interested in, I've heard of a courier in aussie with 200+ km on his KLR & Kawasaki brought it back from him :yes:

When I was working as a courier (long time ago) suzuki were very interested in my GSX 1100EX . Their interest was to pull it down & check it over for wear. High mileage bikes are not that common & the R&D department wanted to have a look !

[NordieBoy]

An Aussie courier has done a couple of hundred thousand on a DR650 too.

[Woodman]

An Aussie courier has done a couple of hundred thousand on a DR650 too.

Yeahbut the KLR did it first...:bleh:

[Bass]

Guess they've gotta be good for something, eh?

[Beddhist]

Well, I bit the bullet and put it through compliance testing. A good friend here lent me his wheel and headlight. I was a little worried about the exhaust, the inspector asked me whether it was very loud. I said "Not as loud as a Harley and it doesn't make your chest vibrate." and then it was OK.

The whole process was rather painless (apart from the cost...) until the very end, when the computer program insisted on entering an RUC code. After a lot of farting around my bike was then no longer found in the system. It turned out that it was in there twice (same VIN!). Seems the AA made a mistake when they first entered it.

So, now I have 6 months to find a new brake disc and headlight, although I can probably get away with leaving the old one on: no WoF inspector has yet said anything about it being RH drive.

Rung the Suzi shop:
disc $730
h/l $740

That's about what the bike is worth. :shit:

The local Yamaha shop is quite good here and they came up with:
h/l $170 aftermarket with cowling, but it's held on with rubber straps :blink:
disc $364 Metalgear

Ron Ayers
disc US$285.23
h/l US$84.40

Ebay.de
EBC disc 95€ =~ 200$

I'm hoping to go to Germany soon, so that looks attractive.

[Monstaman]

Great to read this, nice for a nearly happy ending.

[NordieBoy]

No problem with the headlights that are strapped on.

[Beddhist]

Hi Fran,

Normally yes, but I have a lot of wires coiled up on top of the light, from the hot grips and the GPS. I'll have a look at the lights in the Yamaha shop when I get into town.

Are these lights any good? I mean, at least as good (bad) as the original, with which I see almost nothing in the dark?

Cheers,
Peter.

[Monstaman]

Heya Peter I had some Acerbis lights on mine, rubber mounted, all they needed was the DOT approval stuff to get a wof.

[Eddieb]

Good news, it lives on.

[Beddhist]

No, I mean: do they make at least as much light as the original, which is pityful?

[Monstaman]

No, I mean: do they make at least as much light as the original, which is pityful?

You will have to try it but most are as bad as each other! .. unless you go HID but the lens probably won't have as good reflection as an upmarket (note spendie) one

[NordieBoy]

Hi Fran,

Normally yes, but I have a lot of wires coiled up on top of the light, from the hot grips and the GPS. I'll have a look at the lights in the Yamaha shop when I get into town.

Are these lights any good? I mean, at least as good (bad) as the original, with which I see almost nothing in the dark?

Cheers,
Peter.

Get an SV650 headlight and stuff all the wires inside...
http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/mybikes/DR650/20081224%20SV650%20Lighting/slides/20081224-132703.jpg

[almoto]

QUOTE:
@ Other DR riders: if you pull the clutch in 5th and coast, do you hear any strange noises that disappear when you change down? I suspect that my gears have caries, which would put the whole operation in doubt.
QUOTE


hi peter...just a thought about keeping that 'old friend' going a bit longer with that iffy 5.gear...what about putting a smaller rear and bigger front sprocket on and forgetting about 5.gear...that first gear is pretty short geared...isn't it...and 4. should still pull over 100km/h...might be good enough for just pottering around... :blink:


btw. i like that trailer on your bike in your profile picture...20 years ago i went from nelson to queenstown and back in winter two up on a xt250 with one (with skiing gear etc.)...great for carrying stuff... :cold:


(i also have a 75/5...had it for nearly 30 years... its also very lonely...)

[Beddhist]

Nice idea, but I find 1st gear is already way too tall geared. It would also significantly increase the load on the chain. Not something I would want to do.

The idea of the trailer was that you can't tow a 2-wheel trailer in India and Pakistan, because you then have 3 tracks, making the whole thing a pot hole detector. It would self-destruct within a very short distance. As it were, the rig carried the two of us and all our luggage (way too much...) all around the Indian subcontinent and to and around Europe. Never had to do anything to the trailer, but the CX engine came out every 10000km for repairs, mostly electrical.

Do you have any pics of your trailer?