DR350 thread

[Tazz]

Doesn't seem to be one of these thread and there must be a few other owners kicking about on here, so lets talk tree fiddys..!

[Tazz]

I've got 2 99's, one in pieces with a fawked head and another road legal machine. Been toying with moving it on for something that eats road miles a bit more enjoyably (DRZ400) or going mad and getting a WR426 or 450, but I don't think I can do it as it really is a decent all rounder for my skill level (easy to pick up :blip:), so instead I've been piecing together odds and sods and toying with the idea of giving her a bit more oomph after riding it as is for a year.

I have an oversize barrel and piston set ready to roll, an FMF exhaust and am eyeing up one of the big bore pipes on tardme, as well as having a spare flatslide carb from the non runner that is jetted to suit a less asthmatic setup.

I rode a friends DRZ the other day though and first things first is to make it less 'skittery'. It was like night and day between my bike and that, so giving the shocks a birthday is pretty high on the list and maybe tinkering a bit more with lower tyre pressures (26 at the mo for gravel).


https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/q84/p600x600/1512040_10152761609140289_4426143602053900845_o.jp g

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/p600x600/10623830_10152790357740289_7075597120735776221_o.j pg

[Scubbo]

a real gem, wish they still made em

[Phreaky Phil]

In a moment of madness i purchased another DR 350 a few weeks back. I had one a couple of years back that I sold to Jatz so I could build our DR650 Trans America Trail bike.
My new (to me ) 350 is a 98 kickstart. I have been replacing all the bearings and worn out bits. Have almost finished fitting a set of DRZ400 forks. (that I had on my 650 ) I have a new clutch to fit as the old one is slipping a bit.
Once all the mechanicals are sorted I can get some riding in. Other mods will be a bigger tank and tidy up cosmetically.

[Padmei]

I had a ride on Jatz' ones back in the day when I was looking for a cheap pickupable trail bike. I rode it back to back with Topos DRZ400 & the power difference I felt was huge . I went with the 400 for that reason & the 350s were getting a bit long in the tooth.

Just watch how much you start spending on it.

[Phreaky Phil]

Yea, it doesn't owe me a lot. I like the 6 speed box. The 400s are definitely more powerful but here's a little story. Back in the day before the latest 4 stroke craze they used to have "thumpernats" , that is 4 stroke mx. I went to one in the Waikato. Josh Coppins rode a bog stock DR350 in the open class. It still had all the street gear on it. He absolutely smoked everyone.! !
And it was a natural terrain track, quite open and fast. Another funny thing was a well known South Island rider was ridding the open class on a trick big ktm and also the 200 class on an XR 200.
His lap times were quicker on the 200 ! !

[JATZ]

Here's the 2 we owned...

Mine
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp201/ztaj/SAM_0418_zpsecc37507.gif

Hers
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp201/ztaj/SAM_0440_zps863baa86.gif

[GPS MAN]

I have one for a Farm Burner...does the trick and cranks most times on first kick..unless Bart is riding it and then it's 100 kicks..Ha!

[Tazz]

Have almost finished fitting a set of DRZ400 forks.

Noice. Does the 350 wheel fit straight on?


I have one for a Farm Burner...does the trick and cranks most times on first kick..unless Bart is riding it and then it's 100 kicks..Ha!

Mine will pretty much start with half a kick since it got a new stator. If you get it wrong though it's a good 20 :laugh:

[Night Falcon]

I have one for a Farm Burner...does the trick and cranks most times on first kick..unless Bart is riding it and then it's 100 kicks..Ha!

You think Bart will ever catch on that ya change out the coil on the DR before lending it to him :lol:

[XF650]

Here's the 2 we owned...]

and in one of my favourite DB pics too...

[Phreaky Phil]

Noice. Does the 350 wheel fit straight on?





No, the 400 has a 20mm axle and the 350 a 17mm. the discs are the same. Its not quite a bolt in operation. You have to use the 350 stem as the 350 has a smaller top bearing and machine a little sleeve for the top clamp of the 400 and machine 4mm from the step on the bottom of the stem so it can press futher through the 400 clamp as its a whisker thicker. But pretty easy. The 350 forks would make a great set for the dr650 as the are the same diameter and same axle size

[bart]

I have one for a Farm Burner...does the trick and cranks most times on first kick..unless Bart is riding it and then it's 100 kicks..Ha!

Bike was broken I tells ya. The fact I’m 5 foot fuck all doesn’t help much either. I love electric start.

[Eddieb]

and in one of my favourite DB pics too...

Thanks Struan, I haven't seen that pic before.

[JATZ]

Thanks Struan, I haven't seen that pic before.
Neither have I. It's a good shot Struan.






Except for the turkey in the middle with road tyres on his bike :shutup:

[Phreaky Phil]

I think this would be my 1st adventure ride. It was after the Shell 100, we went to Queenstown and got Denis Columb from Queenstown Motorcycle Adventures to take us out. We went up Skippers Canyon and up to Bullendale.

[bart]

I had a DR350. It was a bit of a piece of crap, but I think mine was just a lemon. It was certainly the right colour.

306689

[Tazz]

It has begunnn!

The DR has been working out and has progressively gone from a droopy assed white girl to just a snail trail assed white girl. Giggidy.

How it came:


https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/l/t1.0-9/p180x540/1653780_814378385246156_535845887_n.jpg?oh=9f5bc23 55073d1362330004a3278f46c&oe=550544B3

Was a dealer setup I believe? but that bottom unit was angled too far down and the indicators were impossible to see during the day unless you were lying on the ground after I'd just run over you :laugh:

First workout session (living on the edge apparently with one one license plate bolt):


https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/10847891_1023711697646156_8499284556373830579_n.jp g?oh=e6956b746a0eefc4094b7485e8c410b0&oe=550AB7B1&__gda__=1426922100_ffc1eddbf5b7f83cec8791f583a11dc 9

Hard to see but I tossed some wee LED indicators on each side of the brake light. Was only on there temporarily (for 6+ months :rolleyes: Passed a WOF though, yusss!)

Few more laps of the hood and a rigorous diet of petrol and oil (who wouldn't yak a few things off eating only that shit):


https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10882216_1024227297594596_3278987584694114070_n.jp g?oh=ccd041d359c63c25b3f9c78aed27aaf0&oe=55053CB3&__gda__=1426024153_66fe0ac832cd02ce1fd9678324f0b01 2

Much more visible/level and I reckon it looks way better. I've kinda bodged it between the rear subframe and guard for the min with a few 6mm bolts as nothing wanted to line up nicely, but it'll do for a few months. Just got to get the rack back on but I've learnt to travel light and there are advantages to clearing some rooms with your BO and soggy sock aroma, so a few days down south after xmas will only see a backpack needed.

[Tazz]

Other than an annoying scraping noise when I bottom out it seems to be doing well :laugh:


https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10897801_10152495023031883_120288590320196857_n.jp g?oh=78acd05a14c854997213abb34d945c29&oe=55317624&__gda__=1429057309_a98a7e60c249db404ad7d78c209b32c 6

Think I'll be running that Kenda again, seems to wear and work real well so far (although any new/near new tyre should).

[Tazz]

Few more changes. Should be enough draw off the stator to throw heated grips in now.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/27/2a7e5e2f44b270a93584b36c68fc2023.jpg

Straight from phone so pic is probably shit.

[Big Dog]

Few more changes. Should be enough draw off the stator to throw heated grips in now.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/27/2a7e5e2f44b270a93584b36c68fc2023.jpg

Straight from phone so pic is probably shit.

Too tired to search: but I hear capacitors are the shit when it comes to putting heated grips on battery less bike. Especially if you are using ones with a temp controller. Without something to smooth out the charge they have a tendency to just switch off.

Don't ask me how. Not a lectorician.
When asked a mech that was his recommendation. Something along the lines of wires to our headlights get tapped, then one capacitor per side or two in line before the controller if comp regulated or temp controlled.
Takes kare of the initial voltage demand, those first 30 seconds are the bulk of the draw as long as the bike has been run long enough to charge. About a minute.

Also smoothes a 12-12-12-14-12-13-12-14-12 type voltage pattern into a nice smooth average.

The bit I don't know is how to regulate this. I believe it is a diode offering resistance. And commencing an earth when the circuit is lost. Vague memory of five years ago sorry. He did poor me to an article on line but no idea where. Pretty sure a dr350 forum from Germany.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

Too tired to search: but I hear capacitors are the shit when it comes to putting heated grips on battery less bike. Especially if you are using ones with a temp controller. Without something to smooth out the charge they have a tendency to just switch off.

Don't ask me how. Not a lectorician.
When asked a mech that was his recommendation. Something along the lines of wires to our headlights get tapped, then one capacitor per side or two in line before the controller if comp regulated or temp controlled.
Takes kare of the initial voltage demand, those first 30 seconds are the bulk of the draw as long as the bike has been run long enough to charge. About a minute.

Also smoothes a 12-12-12-14-12-13-12-14-12 type voltage pattern into a nice smooth average.

The bit I don't know is how to regulate this. I believe it is a diode offering resistance. And commencing an earth when the circuit is lost. Vague memory of five years ago sorry. He did poor me to an article on line but no idea where. Pretty sure a dr350 forum from Germany.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

They sell 'battery eliminator kits' which are exactly what you've mentioned, capacitors you wire in but they market it for stopping the headlight flicker at lower revs. Cheer for the heads up.

[Big Dog]

No worries.
Glad my sleepy murmurings were helpful.

Been 5 years and still no heated grips. Still, good things take time.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

Yeah I bought some over a year ago. Still in the packet haha

Might have gotten carried away after work today...


http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/SpazTazSpaz/DRfront.jpg

Time to test :Punk:
Well time to wire the cunts first anyway

[Big Dog]

Nice


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

Might as well just steal this thread good and proper now :laugh:

Pretty stoked with the look of the new headlight. Usually don't give a shit about that sort of thing, but it's right up there at 'you've got a real purrrdy mouth' level :eek: I was saving them for when I sell it but I might have to throw the shiny side covers on (since I've put the shiny front and rear guards on that I was also saving as well might as well go full hog :laugh:)

Here's some gayed up google 'auto awesome' image for kicks. Straight to the pool room?


http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/SpazTazSpaz/FIRELIGHTDR350.jpg

[bart]

Is that the loch ness monster in the distance...awesome.

[Big Dog]

Does anyone have a spare throttle cable they could lend or sell me?

My main bike seems to have blown a stator.
I need to get the 56kms to work a bit faster than I can cycle.

Need to be within an hours drive of Tuakau do I can get the bike back together today.

[Tazz]

Does anyone have a spare throttle cable they could lend or sell me?

My main bike seems to have blown a stator.
I need to get the 56kms to work a bit faster than I can cycle.

Need to be within an hours drive of Tuakau do I can get the bike back together today.

You get one? I have a spare here you can borrow if need be.

[Tazz]

So, new screen is awesome on road. The kick out of seeing moths flying towards me, smashing into it and getting deflected off to the side instead of hitting me in the face will NEVER get old.

Off road it though it is a pain during twilight and steep uphills. Will keep an eye out for one with no tint I think.


http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/SpazTazSpaz/DSC_0532.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/SpazTazSpaz/subtlefight.jpg

[Big Dog]

You get one? I have a spare here you can borrow if need be.
Thank you so much for the offer. Honestly I you lived closer I'd drive over take you up on that and return whichever was not used as a test ride. Pretty sure my wife and my boss would be pissed at me making two trips to the south.


After market one was ordered. Should have arrived yesterday. Sadly it did not.

Hopefully tonight I can swing spanners furiously into the night and proclaim in my best Dr Frankenstein voice "it's alive!"

Getting up at 5:40 so I can make a 7:40 train to a 9-6 job an get home at 8:30 after a similar return journey sucks.
I like catching the train, just not dragging the kids out of be at 6am so my wife can drop me at a train.




Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

So, new screen is awesome on road. The kick out of seeing moths flying towards me, smashing into it and getting deflected off to the side instead of hitting me in the face will NEVER get old.

Off road it though it is a pain during twilight and steep uphills. Will keep an eye out for one with no tint I think.


Do you lie down behind it or something like?
If you keep an eye for something else ones with a kicker a the top deflect a lot higher. Okay a street bike but my old GSX1100 had one that meant the bulk of the airflow at 70 plus went over my head. I'm 6'4".

If glare is the issue frosted dura seal works well. Or window frosting if that is cheaper.
I'm thinking of vinyling the one on the CB1300 to cut the glare at sundown. So low I can't see through it anyway but the glare from the sun at sundown / sunrise or from the headlight in the dark is atrocious.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

All good. Here if you need it man. Just as well you haven't sold the DR yet eh!

Nah just the slight smoke tint made it hard to see the deep ruts hidden in the tall grass, especially as twilight hit where it's not dark enough for the headlights to make a difference yet. Just about got thrown off getting cross axled and losing forward momentum, quickly, in one set of washed out ruts. Haven't had that happen before :laugh:

Standing up and leaning forward I was getting close to sconing my head on it, so not crouching behind it haha

It deflects above my helmet which is perfect, for my peaked one. I can even check my blind spots in that helmet without the wind trying to snap my neck now.

I can live with it for while though.

[Big Dog]

Lol, if I stand on the pegs I am in greater danger of banging my dates than scone on the dash. I don't even need to stand up to look down "through the axle line", just assume the attack position while remaining seated.

Mind you my left foot is flat on the ground on the left hand side when kick starting it too!


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Yes. Unfortunately. I had been trying to keep her until sunnier days shone on my bank account. But given my sudden need to spend over a grand I don't have on a broken down Honda the Suzuki will have to go when the Honda gets running right again.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

It is alive!
Actually it was at 11 but busy times.
Running a bit rough carb treatment tomorrow and a thrash down the motorway should solve that. Considering it was only started one other time in the last year she started with only minimal encouragement. Tail light had died since I started her to test your CDI. Luckily spare bulb was sitting in the truck.

Crikey I had forgotten how Loutish a bike these can be.
Terribly uncivilised after a year of only really riding the CB.
I like it.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

50% off

https://tciproductsusa.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=144_166_170


https://tciproductsusa.com/thumb.php?src=images/dr%20350%20web%20sp2.jpg&wmax=576&hmax=551&quality=90&bgcol=FF0000

[Phreaky Phil]

Been having problems with my 98 350. It's been intermittently hard to start and at one stage was running rough/cutting out and backfiring. Then it stopped all together in the drive and wouldn't start at all. I found the low speed sensor coil was shot and got another one, but that hasn't totally cured my problem. I've been having it looked by a pro and he has found the main sensor coil that's part of the windings is not the right resistance value and it doesn't put out the correct voltage and the voltage is also low at the primary side of the main ignition coil. It looks like the faulty sensor coil has already been rewound. I may be able to get it rewound but what I really need is another complete stator assembly so I can get it running and make sure that it runs ok and I don't have a further problem, like the CDI.

Anyone have one they willing to part with.

Cheers Phil

[Tazz]

Missed one by a week. Just sold a complete 98 :bleh:. I'll point the new owner in your direction in case he's keen to split some stuff though :niceone: Ideally he can just send you one to test everything if he doesn't want to sell.

No idea of the cause but I went through 2 stators in 2 years on my 99.

Nice of it to die in your driveway though. Mine apparently didn't like me that much :laugh:

[Phreaky Phil]

Missed one by a week. Just sold a complete 98 :bleh:. I'll point the new owner in your direction in case he's keen to split some stuff though :niceone: Ideally he can just send you one to test everything if he doesn't want to sell.

No idea of the cause but I went through 2 stators in 2 years on my 99.

Nice of it to die in your driveway though. Mine apparently didn't like me that much :laugh:
Thanks Tazz, When I got this 350 I thought it would be a great little bike to use for a while to see how much of the little bike riding we ended up doing, but so far its just been a PITA.
You would wonder why you would go through 2 in 2 years. Did you replace the first one with a second hand unit or get it rewound.
The later ones seem different to the earlier ones in that the early ones only use a single pulse coil and a different CDI

[Big Dog]

Mrcycles.com sorted me out for a 2 pulse one. Just make double sure he is clear you want a kick start only one. If he supplies you one without checking it will be for a electric one because the kick only was never sold in the us.

Sent via tapatalk.

[Phreaky Phil]

Mrcycles.com sorted me out for a 2 pulse one. Just make double sure he is clear you want a kick start only one. If he supplies you one without checking it will be for a electric one because the kick only was never sold in the us.

Sent via tapatalk.

Was yours a dirt only non registerable one . Mine is road legal and I thought it was the same as the E start ones. It has windings on all of the bobbins.

[Big Dog]

Was yours a dirt only non registerable one . Mine is road legal and I thought it was the same as the E start ones. It has windings on all of the bobbins.
No, road registered.
I didn't see the original out of the cases but the part that arrived was certainly wound on all bobbins.
Mechanic said it's just wired different at the output.

From memory he had to change the exterior loom because they had different molex connectors.

Sent via tapatalk.

[Tazz]

Thanks Tazz, When I got this 350 I thought it would be a great little bike to use for a while to see how much of the little bike riding we ended up doing, but so far its just been a PITA.
You would wonder why you would go through 2 in 2 years. Did you replace the first one with a second hand unit or get it rewound.
The later ones seem different to the earlier ones in that the early ones only use a single pulse coil and a different CDI

Earlier years don't have all the windings (ref to your other post).

My 98 was slightly different to my 99 one, but I can't remember in what respect.

I got 2 cheapish new replacements from our Chinese cousins :D Under $200ea. Wanted to get my original rewound 2nd time around but it was pushing $400, which was 2 cheapies (one spare) and a new regulator (which I figured was/might be the issue). Financially that made more sense.
I didn't have it long enough after that to know if that was the problem or not.

You can just buy the little pick-ups separately as well. $12us each or so. I got some of those too with the stators but I don't know where I put them sorry. I'll have a quick squiz tomorrow before I leave for you.

[Dave Nevin]

First time I noticed a DR350 thread in NZ...recognize some names from ADV rider hehe
rmstator dot com had $99 stators in 2011?
billedwards@xtra.co.nz fixed my non-sparking stator in 2011. He was in Papamoa Beach. Has run fine ever since .
I was also told of someone in AKL who rewinds, maybe $200, like new. Can locate if anyone wants him.

I have a Firebird? screen on one of mine, could sit behind it all day. It's on street tires so I haven't tried standing etc. I replaced the seat foam with stuff from a GSX600 which is wider, re-covered it.
One in normal mode for gravel and one on knobblies for trail rides. '99 kickstarters.

And then I saw a WR360 Husky looking lonely at 1000 so 1001 won it. And then I was watching Huskies and bought a TE450, 2004 regd on hold. no more kickstarters ?

Dave, Whangarei

[GPS MAN]

My old DR 350 just keeps going and going and going,,,,can't seem to kill it..

Although Bart has tried on a couple of occasions:crazy:

[bart]

My old DR 350 just keeps going and going and going,,,,can't seem to kill it..

Although Bart has tried on a couple of occasions:crazy:

That thing is possessed, as was the DR350 I briefly owned a number of years ago.

[Pampera]

Team
I am considering selling my 1995 DR350SE and thought I would check here before putting on Trademe. This is a pretty special DR350:

NZ new electric start
Two careful adult owners from new - original owner was late brother of a friend
Exceptional condition for a 21 year old trail bike - even retains the original stick out rigid Suzuki indicators. This is not your average teenager wrecked 21 year old trail bike.
Used as an "adventure bike", rather than a trail bike
Just under 33,000 km
16 litre Acerbis plastic tank (plus original white steel tank)
custom rack made by Cycleworks for me, to allow carrying soft panniers
air cooled - less power but less to go wrong or be damaged also.....
six speed wide ratio gearbox - not the close ratio five speed fitted to its replacement
registration on hold

I have a bigger (R80GS) and smaller (Pampera) bike so this just has not been getting much use the last five years. Don't plan to sell cheap, but this is a special bike, being rare in NZ electric start, in such good condition and set up for exploring NZ and beyond. If you are interested, PM me.
Regards,
Michael

321436321437321438321439

[RGVforme]

Just to keep it real for yah here don't get your hopes up on price matey potaty or we may see your advert on the KB optimistic sellers thread(Ow what a sad fulla bro).It could have your dearest departed mums ashes flaked into the paintwork its still a 20 year old road legal low cc Trail bike.

Like anything its only worth what someone is willing to paye for it.
If you get close to or over 2K buy a lotto ticket cause your luck O meter is amping.

That being said a nice well looked after bike by the looks sadly may be worth more than you get for it.
Almost worth chucking it in the shed with a tarp over it and waiting another 4 years until its a classic.

[gwynfryn]

Given it is the electric start model I guess it doesn't have the pumper carb or cartridge forks?
When was the top end last done if at all and does it have a cush rear hub? Thanks.

[Tazz]

You'd get over 2k for that easily, but all it has going for it is the e-start. The KM's are not that low and the 98-99's were the years with the best bits on them. Condition is subjective and mint low (like under 5k low) km examples do still pop up.
All you can do is try. Your idea of not letting it go too cheap could be between 2-2.5k, which you won't be disappointed with. If it is 3k + you may be waiting a while (or you may not, who knows. Could be the right timing for the right buyer)

[Scubbo]

3K+ get a drz400... seriously, they are bitch'n value!

[Dave Nevin]

3K+ get a drz400... seriously, they are bitch'n value!

2.5K and get a TE450, 6 speed with electric button. Regd on hold but I gotta reconnect the lights. But I got the road tyred DR out the other day, it is nice.
Dave

[Muzz67]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dual-purpose/auction-1095065847.htm

[Phreaky Phil]

Anyone have a big tank for a DR they want to sell ?

[JATZ]

Anyone have a big tank for a DR they want to sell ?
You building another one ??

[Phreaky Phil]

You building another one ??

Ah yea, you wana buy another one :facepalm:

[Scubbo]

I saw is it GasGas still sell brand new bikes with dr350 engine for like 7 or 8 k :lol:

edit: sorry it's BETA -- called the ALP 4.0 -- http://www.betamotor.com/en/alp/bikes/alp-4-0-2

[JATZ]

Ah yea, you wana buy another one :facepalm:
Tempting... But naaah, I may be finally bonding with the little 400. Only taken about 10,000k's