The DR650 thread

[Denniso]

Finaly figured out what to do about the stack of tyres off my motard , I bought a new DR650 and spoked on 17 inch rims , what a blast for such a soft bike it is stupid fast on the road ( allready pissed off quite a few road bikes ) but it's a lot better in the shingle than I thought it would be , genraly I find road bikes better in the shingle but this is so much fun I've found myself out riding at 2 in the morning in the shingle . the other suprise is how well that the GPR a10 tyres work in shingle , it handles so well my mate has just gotten some 17s to spoke on to his 650 and has told me to do more racing to generate more tyres for him to use. Only hassles so far are the overly restricted exaust ( fixed , now better power ) and suspension is to soft , needs way more rebound and a little more compresion but thats happening soon , if I get a chance to let it cool down . At least it dosen't have a fairing as the bellypan on my SV is now rooted from shingle .

[NordieBoy]

Shingle is addictive isn't it:D

So are motards.

[marks]

Are you saying that road tyres on a motard are as good on gravel as dual purpose tyres?

I put dual purpose tryes on my xt660x tard primarily for gravel/dirt road use. The mitas E09 I put on the back howls its head off on the tarmac and I have been considering putting the original pirelli scorpions (never tried them on gravel) back on but didn't want to lose the gravel/dirt road capability.

I have proven to myself that regardless of tryes the 660 is simply too heavy for serious off road work and hence the tyres I currently have on it are verging on overkill.

cheers


Mark

[chris]

but it's a lot better in the shingle than I thought it would be
The DR650 is one of the best, on the right tyres.


genraly I find road bikes better in the shingle
Really?


it handles so well my mate has just gotten some 17s to spoke on to his 650and has told me to do more racing to generate more tyres for him to use
So road tyres are better in the gravel than something like a TKC80? This is what I have on my DR650 and trust me, it's better in the gravel than a road tyre.

[skidMark]

n00b question

wtf is a shingle

[chris]

wtf is a shingle
He means gravel. Well, I hope he does or I've replied thinking it's something completely different.

[skidMark]

He means gravel. Well, I hope he does or I've replied thinking it's something completely different.

cheers for that, i'm a town boy i dunno these fancy country words, we have that tarminiac stuff. lol

[Motu]

The compound would have a lot to do with it - once it hits hard pack the grip would be great,but in thick gravel it would be as bad as any road tyre.

[Denniso]

Yep I prefer a road bike in gravel/shingle , more weight / power but a bit fragile when droped and yes I prefer road tyres , on well swept gravel you get good traction and on freshly graded roads not even a full knobbly will grip so why bother and besides if I'm having fun I don't give a shit what bike/tyres I'm on

[merv]

That's the point mate, if you enjoy it, then its right for you.

[marks]

what sort of tyre pressures do you guys run when you are on gravel?

cheers

Mark

[Crisis management]

Tyre pressures? Next you'll be suggesting I clean the bike.....

I run bridgestone knobblies on mine with 20psi in the front and 25psi in the back (about). This is what I run regardless of whether I am on gravel of seal, mud or sand you may want drop your pressures for.

[marks]

With those sorts of pressures is there any risk of problems with hard cornering on tarseal? (my 660 still thinks its a motard even with knobs on...). I'm not concerned with shorter tyre life - just keeping the bike attached to the ground.

I like the idea of not having to futz with pressures when I go from on road to off

I have been running 30/30 on road/gravel and 18/18 in mucky stuff.

cheers

Mark

[far queue]

With those sorts of pressures is there any risk of problems with hard cornering on tarseal? (my 660 still thinks its a motard even with knobs on...).

I have been running 30/30 on road/gravel and 18/18 in mucky stuff.What tyres are you running? Road tyres? Knobblies?

I run Knobblies on the DR at 22 front/25 rear on the road and 13/15 off road with heavy duty tubes to stave off punctures and rim locks to keep the tyre in place.

[marks]

mitas e09 17" 140/80 (knobbyish) on rear and pirelli scorpion MT/90 17" x120/70 (dual purpose) on front. No rim locks.

[homer]

The DR650 is one of the best, on the right tyres.


Really?


So road tyres are better in the gravel than something like a TKC80? This is what I have on my DR650 and trust me, it's better in the gravel than a road tyre.

personally i had road tyres on the rear of my xt 400 when i had it and on my 250 klr and the road tyre on the rear waas really good on the shingle up to about 120kph then you lose a bit of traction on the deeper shingle ....
:scooter:

[GaZBur]

Sounds like some of you guys know how to set up a DR650. I just got back into competition after buying the DR a couple of months ago and wouldn't mind finding out what people are doing. Most of the bikes competing down here (Dunedin) are KTMs. Does anybody know a site to get this sort of set up advice from? The standard adventure tyres drift a lot on tarmac but at least its controlable and predictable drift, does anybody else use 21in fronts?? If so what tyres do you like?

[NordieBoy]

What sort of competition are you looking at doing on the DR?

[clint640]

If yer talking about roadracing, I use Bridgestone BT45s on the KTM. They grip well (up to a point anyway!) & they're cheap.

Cheers
Clint

[Transalper]

What sort of competition are you looking at doing on the DR?
Yea, i was thinking that is a pretty important piece of info missing.
The DR650 ain't exactly an Enduro Race machine and he does mention Tarmac but still i feel the situation is rather ambiguous.

[NordieBoy]

I hope he's not thinking of tarding it :eek:

[GaZBur]

I hope he's not thinking of tarding it :eek:
Actually I already have tarded it sort of (tarmac only track). Went quite well on the cart track, was no slower than the KTM525's on a tight circuit which surprised the hell out of me! We have a clubmans competition down here (Dunedin) that is a real hoot! 1 bike allowed and about 13 different competitions. Road race, Mini TT, Road trial, Grass hilclimb, Gravel Hillclimb, Road hill climb, Road sprint, Gravel sprint etc etc... So which races am i entering ??? well all of them of course, thats why i bought the DR and then I can still ride it to work every day. So I have a good set of Knobs for the dirt/gravel stuff, but ran the original adventure type tyres for the tarmac. The back was Ok because the rear wheel moves about anyway - but front wheel drifts freak me out a little as I am just getting back into racing after about a 20 yesr spell. So advice like the BT45's for the front is helpful ta! Anybody else run 21in fronts??

[Denniso]

You might want to try Metzler lazer , used to be able to get them in comp K in 21 inch , good on the tar seal , crap in dirt . For the rear try the new Dunlop GPR alpha ten , absolutly briliant on the tar seal and not bad in the gravel (wheel stands on hard packed gravel ) but no good on wet clay, wet grass , mud , or the ditch on Kaiwaka rd ,oops

[GaZBur]

Thanks for that. I will check out the prices of the Lazer, GPR and BT45's here. I have also been checking out a lot of posts here that have been VERY informative. It is great to hear how people are getting more out of their DR's - they are so much fun. I see some people posting here have provided great tips -here and elsewhere - I am new to KiwiBiker forums so rummaging through them now to figure out what mod's I can do (I mean afford to do!) so thanks guys! Next event is Gravel Hill climb on 1st July so am deciding if I should use adventure pattern tyres or full Knobs.

[GaZBur]

Have now competed in 2 speed events on gravel. A gravel sprint on full knobblies and last weekend a Gravel hillclimb on Continental Adventure pattern tyres. What an amazing difference full knobs make unless you are on hard packed dirt. I was absolutely slaughtered by everyone at the hillclimb as everyone else ran full knobs. Admittedly most were motocross bikes against my road trim DR but I could get no power down at all once the road had been cut up by a couple of runs, so I rode like the proverbial "big girls blouse". So if you spend serious time on gravel - chuck those dual purpose tyres out. The knobs hang on ok on dry ashphalt although I would not like to carry extra weight as emergency braking in the wet could be a problem. Ok - I'll tell the truth - I probably would have ridden like a blouse even with knobs on as I am still relatively inexperienced at racing on gravel - its bloody scary!!!

Check out the DR650 owners forum for Motard pics of my bike.

[Crisis management]

GazBur, I see you are considering BT45s for the DR, I ran them on my GSXR1100 and am not sure that if I had a choice I would do that again (I was limited by rim sizes on that bike).
On the GSXR they were ok once well warmed up but certainly not as sticky as others, the rear slid fairly easily and you could break lose the front under braking if you tried.
I feel they are a good touring / sports tyre rather than a sports / racing tyre.

I would look to something stickier, particularly for the front as it is really lightly loaded.

[cooneyr]

Check out the DR650 owners forum for Motard pics of my bike.

I assume you mean the yahoo dr650 group? If so whats ya name on there i.e. how do I find your pics?

Cheers R

[clint640]

You might want to try Metzler lazer , used to be able to get them in comp K in 21 inch , good on the tar seal , crap in dirt . For the rear try the new Dunlop GPR alpha ten , absolutly briliant on the tar seal and not bad in the gravel (wheel stands on hard packed gravel ) but no good on wet clay, wet grass , mud , or the ditch on Kaiwaka rd ,oops

I tried to get the Lazer Comp K's, A mate who was winning F3 races on his KTM600 before the word motard was invented recommended them, but apparently they dont make 'em any more, but ya never know, if you have a good parts guy they may be able to dig one up somewhere.
The normal 21" Metzeler Lazers were $100 more than the BT45s so that settled the deal.
With the 17" rear on the DR you've got a few more options there than my KTM's 18" back hoop but I found the BT45 pretty good on there, definitely not the stickiest tyre in the world but it gives you plenty of feedback & is quite controllable when losing/regaining traction.

Cheers
Clint

[GaZBur]

I assume you mean the yahoo dr650 group? If so whats ya name on there i.e. how do I find your pics?

Cheers R

They are in the forum on here called "DR650 Owners register here"
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=51796&page=3

It went surprisingly well considering the poor tyres. Up against 2 KTM525's a KLX450, KTM 450, 2 smaller Kawasaki MX bikes and something else I forgot all with proper motard setup. Placed 2nd, 5th, 4th, 1st in the official races and won the two extra races. The track is real tight but the DR jumps of the start real well and if you are first into the first corner its surprisingly wide to pass.

[GaZBur]

GazBur, I see you are considering BT45s for the DR, I ran them on my GSXR1100 and am not sure that if I had a choice I would do that again (I was limited by rim sizes on that bike).
On the GSXR they were ok once well warmed up but certainly not as sticky as others, the rear slid fairly easily and you could break lose the front under braking if you tried.
I feel they are a good touring / sports tyre rather than a sports / racing tyre.

I would look to something stickier, particularly for the front as it is really lightly loaded.

Point taken thanks - especially the comment about the front. OK the choices look to be at the moment either Pirelli Scorpion MT90 S/T or thr Michelin Anakee. Both are the same retail price at $169 for 90/90-21 and $270 for 130/80-17. So either choice will break the bank!!!
The BT45's surprisingly were quoted as $189 each for front and rear?
Anybody got anything to say about either the Scorpions or Anakee go ahead.

[nallac]

I had a (near bald)Anakee on the front of mine,a bloody good tyre
grips well wet or dry.
Had a Michelin Sirac on the back,also a good tyre.wet or dry

Would definatly run them if i still had the DR

I have just put Michelins on the Harley,don't handle the wet as well
as the Anakee or Siracs.
Probably the xtra 400kgs or so of weight;I miss the DR650
(well it feels like it):yes:

[GaZBur]

GazBur, I see you are considering BT45s for the DR, I ran them on my GSXR1100 and am not sure that if I had a choice I would do that again (I was limited by rim sizes on that bike).
On the GSXR they were ok once well warmed up but certainly not as sticky as others, the rear slid fairly easily and you could break lose the front under braking if you tried.
I feel they are a good touring / sports tyre rather than a sports / racing tyre.

I would look to something stickier, particularly for the front as it is really lightly loaded.

I am hoping it was the weight of the GSX that caused the problems under breaking as am trying a Bridgestone BT45 90/90-21 on the front. Doing this coz i was advised to either go for radials or ply tyres but not mix them. I decided against radials as I tend to like it a bit loose in the back. The BT45 has softer sidewalls and when on the Kart track I will be running lower than normal pressures - tyres get hot real quick on the Kart track. Have gone for a Pirelli Sport Demon 140/70-17 on the back - slightly oversize the 120 recommended in the manual but handling on the street is fantastic!!! What a difference getting off the block patterns.
Will let you know track performance next week as there is a meeting on Sunday. I have to be good and a little less aggressive this week though coz my last Motard outing resulted in a few hours in Casualty.
:Oops:

[Crisis management]

Looking forward to the write up then!

Good luck with the racing and remember, that according to informed opinion on KB, the best way to crash is a lowside allowing you enough time to climb on the side of the bike as it slides along preventing any damage to yourself....



I've never suceeded in achieving this myself, mind!

[GaZBur]

Looking forward to the write up then!

...that according to informed opinion on KB, the best way to crash is a lowside allowing you enough time to climb on the side of the bike as it slides along preventing any damage to yourself....
I've never suceeded in achieving this myself, mind!

Ha! So you did see that I replied on this forum. I have sat on a lowsided bike twice. The first time did result in no damage to me, the second landed me in the harbour (low tide thank god!), the last time i lowsided it was at motards last month and over before i knew was the #@%$ was going on. I wish I could have climbed back on and surfed it to a stop in style looking so cool - but my foot was stuck underneath getting scraped and tenderised and slightly mangled - so not such a cool look! Once again i thank the OMCC first aid people and the kind guys who trailered my bike home while I waited (forever) in the casualty dept.

[GaZBur]

In case you are interested in what I do to the DR for going motarding. I am the only competitor who rides my bike to the meeting. So when i get there I whip off the mirrors and numberplate. Before that I have wired up all the things that can come loose and put the drain hoses into a container as needed. These are MNZ regulations. The extra small container you see is for the hose from the carbie bowl. You can see that is has a tiny bit of petrol in it! This usually drops in the middle of the bike in line with your back tyre, and yes it does drip occasionally. The rear footpegs and left rear indicator have been replaced with home made rubber protectors. Notice the both front and the left rear axle have rubber coverings on them. These are required by the Kart club so we don't scratch their beautiful track with our nasty scratchy sharp bits when we fall off. Notice the scrapes on the footpeg protectors and number, the duct tape I used for the black number background took a lot of punishment - saved most of the plastic. The handguards also take a lot of the punishment when you hit the tarmac. For the first time I also have decent road tyres on now, and a dynojet kit with the 155 main with standard muffler, I do have another muffler but it I will need to find somebody who can weld and bend pipes to fit it. Gearing is standard. I don't know if I should change down to a 14 in front. I will get better acceleration but will need to make several gearchanges that I currently don't need to. So I am open to suggestions - anybody see anything I can do to go faster then please do tell.

[GaZBur]

Looking forward to the write up then!...


Do I have to? tell? I made a complete idiot of myself :Oops:
I could tell you about my first three motard attempts that all had happy endings - smiles all round and skills learned, but today alas no.
Well practice today went OK. The front stayed pointing in the right direction, the new back Pirelli Sport Demon was scuffing up quite rough and soft but would slide a bit when really pushed, which was not as good as I hoped but reasonably minor.
After last months crash I had promised myself that I would be a conservative nana rider at the back befitting my age and non competition bike. Oh why didn't I listen to myself. First corner - First race I ended up a Kawasaki sandwich and clipped the outside bike as I had no space left, I am reasonably sure technically it was my fault too as he had an half bike overlap and was coming into the apex and i am very sorry coz we both came down. I don't mind crashing out by myself but its another thing entirely to involve another rider. Anyway the young (nice and understanding) rider was unhurt and bike undamaged thank god, but for me it was a big highside - very big indeed and I landed miles away on my back sholder and side. Thank goodness for MNZ rules about back protectors. Nothing broken but I am in a lot of pain. It was too painfull to consider fixing the bike and getting out again. The pain though is nothing compared to the embarrasement! There is also the pain in my wallet as my helmet got a paint chip and the officials told me to replace it.
Next time - I really really really promise I will be the old guy off the back grid that follows the rest of the field around, honestly! Cross my heart ...

[GaZBur]

It was too painfull to consider fixing the bike and getting out again....
OK the bike is back on the road after last weeks highside. All it required was bending the radiator crash bar backwards so the radiator wouldn't restrict the front mudguard when the wheel turned. Required tools were a metre long 100x50 bit of wood and a huge hammer, and about 8 great whacks!!! Then gently by hand bend the radiator backwards. I didn't try to straigten the radiator itself - its got a nice scoop shape to it now. The last two times I have dropped the DR is has been very heavy both for me and the bike. The plastics take most of the punishment. If the plastic scuffs up you can remove the scuffed plastic with a sharp kraft knife and it appears undamaged. I am not sure what to do about the white pressure marks left when they bend though. The DR has gone up in my estimation for toughness. The highside was at about 70k and the drop the other day was somewhere around 85+k and the bike was straight and rideable after both dumps that would have seen a road bike in the shop with major dollars required and bent things. The tank is not even scratched yet. DR's can take the punishment.

[NordieBoy]

So we now know it's tough so we don't need to drop ours.

Thanks for all the hard work man.


Hmmm...
Wonder how the forks handle a t-bone at speed?

[cooneyr]

So we now know it's tough so we don't need to drop ours.

Thanks for all the hard work man.


Hmmm...
Wonder how the forks handle a t-bone at speed?

Weeeeelllllllllll - they can handle a muddy ditch t-bone at about somewhere between 60 and 80kph without damage. :whistle: Pity I couldn't. :wacko:

Cheers R

[Crisis management]

Well done GaZBur! I recall why I ride on the soft gravelly stuff now.....
Good to hear your ok as well, I know that the older I get the more I dread the sound of me sliding down the road, it seems to take proportionally longer to recover the older I get.

So, when's the next attempt to get past corner one?

[GaZBur]

Well done GaZBur! I recall why I ride on the soft gravelly stuff now.....
Good to hear your ok as well, I know that the older I get the more I dread the sound of me sliding down the road, it seems to take proportionally longer to recover the older I get.

So, when's the next attempt to get past corner one?
Next attempt at getting past first corner is in a month time - time enough to recover with a bit of physio! Have choice of either Motards at Dunedin or the Southland Clubs 'Have a go' day at Teretonga both on 14th October. Probably do Teretonga so I can see how I will go for the Burt Munroe weekend in November.
So probable (hopeful) calander for rest of this year is...
14th Oct Teretonga Have a go day.
27th Oct NZ Road Hillclimb (Otago Clubmans event)
28th Oct NZ Standing Quarter mile (Otago Clubmans event)
3rd Nov OMCC Have a go day Levels
11th Nov Motards Dunedin
24th Nov Teretonga Burt Munroe race
25th Nov Wyndham Burt Munroe race
16th Dec Teretonga Round One Summer series.
So you can keep busy on DR can't ya! Come on guys - if I can do it anyone can.

[GaZBur]

Next attempt at getting past first corner ...
14th Oct Teretonga Have a go day.
27th Oct NZ Road Hillclimb (Otago Clubmans event)
28th Oct NZ Standing Quarter mile (Otago Clubmans event)

OK the weather was crap for the 14th so didn't race.
Did the NZ Road Hillclimb on Saturday, over 600cc Class. Mixture of dry, rain and hail. The road was very tight and didn't suit the sports bikes as much as the motard stye. Think I got 4th but there was ony 7 in class so I can't puff the chest out on that one because of the conditions, although I managed to stay upright this time unlike a few others. Big range of bikes up to a ZX14 - wow can that thing move and heaps of 600 class bikes.
NZ Standing Quarter mile was today (Sunday) - so as a matter of interest, stock DR650 with opened top airbox and 155 jet and needle from dynojet.
Best timed run 13.880 seconds, i was quite pleased to break 14 seconds because to be honest I didnt expect to.
Terminal speed 147.3 kph. The speedo was reading 155kph. So as a drag bike - she is a bit of a slug but thats not what a DR is about is it!
Next week - Levels have a go day!!!

[NordieBoy]

I was expecting around 14.0 for the 1/4 because of the torque but a 13.88 is sweet :D

[GaZBur]

Yeah low to mid 14's should be right for a standard DR. I did 6 timed runs and slowly got quicker from 14.8 for the first run. The front came up too high so change into second had to wait till i dropped it down. I held the throttle pinned wide open the whole way and short clutched all the changes except the change between 1st and second so it's a good robust gearbox. There is obviously some sort of rev limiter on the bike as you cant get over 100k in second, and because of that had to change into top gear with just above 150k indicated on the speedo as the power flattened off in 4th there for some reason. On average I would say the KTM525's were a good second faster when they could keep the front down on the start which appeared to be the problem most of them were having.
There was a sub 10 sec run done by (I think) a kawasaki ZX10? Not bad for a street bike eh!!!

[GaZBur]

I have been giving the old DR a hard time for a while – so now I figure it’s time to start looking after it. So time for a service.
What’s the best oil to use? The bike is sometimes given a real hard time but not for sustained periods – maybe full throttle for 10 min sessions or less so should I go for expensive stuff.
Should I buy standard brake pads or are better options available? Despite the weak looking brakes I have noticed no loss of braking power even when they are extremely hot.
Are there any items not in the manual list I should be looking at for servicing?
Any simple tricks to get the best out of a DR. I am not very skilled mechanically so give me simple answers if you can.

By the way, thanks for the advice and tips in these forums Guys – these threads have been very helpful to me.

[GaZBur]

Put the DR around Levels last Saturday - what a blast. We were put into three groups. The new guys (passing on straight only) group 2 (passing but with strict rules) and group 3 (no holds barred). I put myself into group 2 with a lot of 600 sports bike and the occasional 750 or thou! 15 mins and only 2 guys lapped me -wow I was happy! Having sports bikes like R1's whizz past on the straight and pulling them back under brakes and corners. The GPS only had me at 160K when it was on but I am sure I saw some higher speeds in a later run. I was not slow compared to the rest of the sportsbikes in group 2 but when we went into group 3 some of the racing bikes made me look more than just a wee bit sluggish! Rapt with how I went though - the tyres were so hot they were picking up rubber from the track and it was being melted into the front tyre under brakes.
Hey guys - you gotta try your big dirt bikes on the track - its AWESOME!!!!

[deanohit]

Sounds like you've been having a blast on ya big thumper mate. Been following this thread for a while looking forward to each post from you.

Good onya mate!

[GaZBur]

Sounds like you've been having a blast on ya big thumper mate. Been following this thread for a while looking forward to each post from you.

Good onya mate!
Hey thanks for that feedback. :2thumbsup
I was wondering if I was just boring people with my posts. Tomorrow I got Motards and I think the Club bent sprint as well. I'm keeping busy and will let you know what happens.

[Alpha Solo]

Keep the posts coming, I'm even thinking of getting one now!

Years ago I fitted some 17" rims to an old Honda Dominator and boy that was fun on the track, fitted it with a Paris-Dakar race can too (v. kin loud!) fantastic bike at the time, Supermotard was still being developed (mid 90's) and it was based on what was known as 'the french scene' xt's / Nx's etc with road bike 17" wheels... I have a pic somewhere and will post it when I find it (on old fashioned photographic paper - remember that?)

[NordieBoy]

Wish we had that sort of stuff up here :(

I'll just have to do track days by proxy through you then.
Keep writing them up :D

[GaZBur]

Keep the posts coming, I'm even thinking of getting one now!...
Do they have much motards up ChCh? I see you have a GasGas - what size? You should have a go at that as the Kart tracks are great levelers and you will find that some lighter bikes are sometimes very competitive against the big 4 strokes. I think the f650 might be a bit heavy though but thats what a few thought about the DR and they were proven wrong. All I can say is whatever you got - have a go at competition, any competition. (I suspect you are already though) I am not trying to be highly competitive, most of the time I get my ass well and truely whipped. Sometimes though I do manage to surprise people who assumed they would be faster than me (insert smug grin here). Hell - I'm just having fun and have discovered you learn more in one day on the track than you do months of road riding.
Well its now 9am Sunday - time to put the leathers on a go out to do battle again.

[GaZBur]

Another big crash at Motards today - but just for a change I wasn't involved. Nobody hurt but a spectacular coming together of a Kawasaki and Husaberg far enough in front of me to not get tangled. I still have Kawasaki stains on my forks from last time I motarded so was taking off from the back grid this time. Thats why the title "The return of the big girls blouse!" coz I was starting off real cautious like I promised last time - but didnt!
We only got one race before the clubmans event was run. The Bent Sprint, you hoon around the track for one lap(with cold tyres - no practice run) and have to stop from full noise inside a set area after passing though the timer. Don't stop in the box and your run is invalid. Well braking is what I can do well as thats usually where I make ground so did OK and placed midfield. I believe that means in my class of the Clubmans series - I have an unassailable hold on ----second place. No Cup for me, but hell the guy winning deserves it big time. We have both missed about the same number of events - but he is riding a full race MotoGuzzi 850 and today was the only time I could better his times. You should have heard the Guzzi growl - he used first gear all the way except the last bit of the straight. He even puts a set of Knobs on it the size of which you would not believe and beats the crap out of me in the gravel hill climb, what a handfull.
Anyway, I hung around to watch the first part of the Buckets endurance race and they appeared to be taking things serious with lots of knee down action. I will see if I can get some pics from today to post later as there was a good photographer there today.

[deanohit]

Sounds like you had a fun day then, those Bent Sprint sound like something I would love to have a go at.
Good one man.

[GaZBur]

Finally found a site that quotes things like horsepower and top speed but although the South African site seem to be based on Austrailian reviews I wonder how accurate they are.
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_dr650se%2005.htm
According to them the DR's top speed is 160.6k but i clocked that (on GPS not speedo) and was still accelerating after changing in to top at close to 150k so she has gearing for heaps more. Acceleration in top though is poor. My DR is only lightly modified with dyno jet needle and 155 main jet with opened airbox so I would expect even a standard one to top 160.6.
Good site to look at specs for comparisons though.

[deanohit]

Yea I've been using Motorcyclespecs for about a year now, great how it covers almost all models of the bigger brands, some of the more obscure bikes are missing details though which can be a pain. Love the front page with the pics of some of the latest models.

[cooneyr]

Finally found a site that quotes things like horsepower and top speed but although the South African site seem to be based on Austrailian reviews I wonder how accurate they are.
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_dr650se%2005.htm
According to them the DR's top speed is 160.6k but i clocked that (on GPS not speedo) and was still accelerating after changing in to top at close to 150k so she has gearing for heaps more. Acceleration in top though is poor. My DR is only lightly modified with dyno jet needle and 155 main jet with opened airbox so I would expect even a standard one to top 160.6.
Good site to look at specs for comparisons though.

Be nice if they did carry 17l of fuel, I've only ever got 12.5ish into mine. IMS 18l will hopefully arrive this week :2thumbsup

For the first time ever I got 20km/l this weekend. Had to do 200kms of non stop 110kph seal running (Chch to Springs) to get it though. Introduce any gravel and it is closer to 17km/l.

Cheers R

[GaZBur]

Be nice if they did carry 17l of fuel, I've only ever got 12.5ish into mine. IMS 18l will hopefully arrive this week :2thumbsup

For the first time ever I got 20km/l this weekend. Had to do 200kms of non stop 110kph seal running (Chch to Springs) to get it though. Introduce any gravel and it is closer to 17km/l.

Cheers R
Ha! I dont care how many K's I can get out of a standard tank - coz I know I can only get 150k's out of the standard seat. What is it made of, steel, Australian hardwood, aluminium, non compression plastic?!?! Oh my poor aching ... well you know!

[cooneyr]

Ha! I dont care how many K's I can get out of a standard tank - coz I know I can only get 150k's out of the standard seat. What is it made of, steel, Australian hardwood, aluminium, non compression plastic?!?! Oh my poor aching ... well you know!

TA and I did 950kms on Sat and I still have the stock seat. Chch to Springs, 200kms non stop but with numb fingers (took 15 mins for them to work properly) and a sore arse. On the way back we had to stop every 100kms!

It can be done :D

Cheers R

[GaZBur]

TA and I did 950kms on Sat and I still have the stock seat... It can be done :D
Cheers R
950kms - Now that is impressive. I bought my DR in ChCh and rode down to Dunedin and I was bloody tender by the time I got here. Swore I would get padding before I did any distance on it again.

One thing I forgot to mention about Levels - there was an adventure bike there - a BMW1050.

Question: So what's the difference between binning a DR and a BMW?

Answer A: The DR is usually still good to go even if the rider isn't. The BMW requires a clean up crew to pick up all the bits off the track.
Answer B: Several thousand dollars.

Poor guy must have felt sick looking at the bike afterwards - I did notice he was fair tearing around the track though so it certainly didn't lack power. I hope its all just cosmetics and nothing seriously buggered. He was the only real damage of the day.

[warewolf]

I wonder how accurate they are.
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_dr650se%2005.htmLike most interweb bike databases, appallingly inaccurate! :bye:

Right up there with Bikez (http://www.bikez.com/) and MotorBikes (http://www.motorbikes.be/en/) but at least they haven't stolen my pictures off the web and applied them to the wrong bikes :nono: like the latter.

And as usual they display KTM's half-dry weights as dry,:weep: but looks like BMW wet weights are treated as such.

They're a bit of fun but the information is blatant rubbish. Don't ever try to argue based on such poor data. :girlfight: Usually a more reliable source is the marque fan sites, they are at least passionate about the subject matter, awake to the nuances between models, and if you find inaccuracies will usually want to correct it. These all-in-one web sites are full of obvious crude errors, typos, you name it.

[warewolf]

TA and I did 950kms on Sat and I still have the stock seat. Chch to Springs, 200kms non stop but with numb fingers (took 15 mins for them to work properly) and a sore arse. On the way back we had to stop every 100kms!Maaaaaate! you need to get yourself something nice and smooth :clap::dodge:

[cooneyr]

Maaaaaate! you need to get yourself something nice and smooth :clap::dodge:

What, are you willing to give me $23k for a 990 Adv s cause the 640 aint smooth :blink: :lol: A 990 would have been real nice for Sat's ride :2thumbsup

Cheers R

[warewolf]

What, are you willing to give me $23k for a 990 Adv s cause the 640 aint smooth :blink: :lol:Hmm let me think about that, mmm... No?
A 990 would have been real nice for Sat's ride :2thumbsupoh yes!

[GaZBur]

Anybody who reads this DR thread and also knows some basics about electrics could you look at the question I posted in the electrics (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1293288#post1293288) forum. Thanks guys.

[SDU]

Keep the posts coming, I'm even thinking of getting one now!

Check out Just Motorcycles (-New Brighton) they have one- it's been lowered, but can be reverted to standard as the parts are all there.
Plug over -back to topic

[GaZBur]

Here are a few pics of the Bent sprint. See - they do powerstand. Cold tyre cornering is a bit nerve wracking! The forks are nearly fully depressed - mmmm wonder if I can harden them up?

[GaZBur]

Before and after the crash last weekend. I had a great view of the crash as I started off the back of the grid - they just aren't the same when your'e not involved yourself. Thank goodness there were no major injuries - Motards riders can get a weeee bit aggressive sometimes in who owns the corners.

[deanohit]

Maaaate, that first pic is awesome, wheeling away from the line!
So how'd ya do in the Bent sprints?

[NordieBoy]

That looks like fun.

[GaZBur]

Maaaate, that first pic is awesome, wheeling away from the line!
So how'd ya do in the Bent sprints?
Just had a quick look at the timesheets while I was there and I appeared to be about mid field. Will give you the times and comparisons when the results come out in the newsletter. A couple of fast buckets also ran the event - I bet thier times were bloody good too! Motards may look spectacular and fast compared to buckets but I do suspect the times of some buckets will upset a few guys on expensive motard bikes.
If you want to have half a lap of Silverstream track check out the youtube video Onboard with Kano . There is apparently some other real good video footage which will include me but it has not been edited yet.
Seeing some of you guys appear genuinely intersted in my DR antics I will go into more detail next time. Just let me know if I get boreing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwH2lCF5dzw

[deanohit]

Haha, that vid is awesome, going great then eating tarmac!

[warewolf]

Seeing some of you guys appear genuinely intersted in my DR antics I will go into more detail next time. Yup, it's all good! :clap:

[GaZBur]

Haha, that vid is awesome, going great then eating tarmac!
Tarmac doesn't actually taste too good - take my word for it. The dropped Kawasaki in the video is one of two kawasakis a father and son team ride. They are both dirt riders - and quite good on tarmac. In fact my big off was on the sweeping left hander in the video. I was in the middle on the front grid and when we were half way around the sweeper I got turned into a Kawasaki sandwich as we all converged on the one line and nobody backed off, everything turned green on me and i literally flew off in a big high side! I mean - I am oldest so was expecting some respect! I mean what do they teach young people these days. I still have the kawasaki stains on the front fork from the 450, same one as in the vid. I am leaving the marks there to remind me to be a bit more responsible in future. (I mean it really xxxxing hurt!!!)
One of the organisers at the club (who is well known for crashing himself) has said the bend is now named after me! I made no comment coz i think - less said the sooner they will forget!

[deanohit]

Tui anyone? They won't forget in a hurry if your off was that good!

You'll just have to teach these young fellas a lesson in respect next time, I'm sure a kick out the side or a well aimed punch would do it, they'll be letting you have the best line after that! ;-)

[GaZBur]

Bugger!!! I have been working off the 2007 MNZ rulebook sent when I got my license, printed in Dec 2006. So I entered both Motard and F-3 class for this weekend in Invercargill. But the on-line rulebook (http://www.mnz.co.nz/competitionrules.aspx) is different.

There are some new rules in F-3
A: All motorcycles racing in this class must have a maximum end of handle bar centre line height of 900mm from the ground. The measurement is to be taken at the handle bar end with the machine unladen, ie no rider.
B: Any machine complying with Rule No 34-2-3 and 34-5 is automatically excluded from entering any Formula 3 event. Any includes all events whether they are MNZ titled events or not, this is for safety reasons.
It must not be amended or altered in anyway by the use of Supplementary Reuglations.(Regulation Spelling error is theirs not mine)

Actually I understand why they did it coz of the different lines taken by Motard and regular race bikes, but if you ride feet up and keep to the regular lines this rule still excludes us guys on thumpers.

Aside from that I have been checking out the gearing advice i got from Nordie in his thread and am looking at doing some changes. If you ride a DR or any Adventure type bike then you should be reading Nordies thread in this forum.

If you are in Invercargill this weekend cheer loudly for me - I am #78 at the back of the Motard field - but not the F-3 field after all!

[NordieBoy]

Oh dear :(

[Crisis management]

Good luck Gazbur, I will raise a beer to you as I sit at the beach tomorrow! :bleh:

Try to stop eating the road, ok?

[Transalper]

Quick someone make a set of bars with the grips in the usual place and the very ends of the bars drooped down below 900mm.

[merv]

Bugger!!!
There are some new rules in F-3
A: All motorcycles racing in this class must have a maximum end of handle bar centre line height of 900mm from the ground. The measurement is to be taken at the handle bar end with the machine unladen, ie no rider.

Geepers that is low as our DR which is on the low suspension height setting measures more than that and many dirt bikes the seats are higher than that. Such things never applied back when guys like Croz were punting their 4 strokes with sit-up-and beg bars.

Some low level clip-ons will get you down there - will look and feel bloody weird probably.

Good going all the same and you remind me of all the fun I've had on dirt bikes - trail, road or track. Keep the stories coming to keep us retired guys interested.

[GaZBur]

Good luck Gazbur, I will raise a beer to you as I sit at the beach tomorrow! :bleh:

Try to stop eating the road, ok?
Just a quick post to say I got back - in one piece too!!! Had an absoulute ball of a time. I will give more details later when I get a chance to as there was plenty of excitement.
I had a heap of people come up to me and say "I got one of those - never thought to race it" and leaving thoughtfully, maybe soon we shall see a few more on the track. There was another DR650 in Invercargill but he was in the "Have a Go" event not actually racing. I also had three people come and introduce themselves coz they know me through this site, nice people one and all too!

[C&C-rider]

Hullooooooo ,

I will join the DR650 crew as of tomorrow. Im fah king exited yaaaaayyyy :o)

Certainly will have to read through some tips to make mine..well..more efficient? :D

[GaZBur]

...I will join the DR650 crew as of tomorrow. ...Certainly will have to read through some tips to make mine..well..more efficient?
Welcome to the dark side. I hope you get as much fun out of yours as some of us here do. Are you going to do the Adventure thing? I am about to set my bike up for Adventure riding over summer - so I will be checking the forums for ideas too!

[GaZBur]

Got up real early Sat morning to ride down to Teretonga from Dunedin.
Race leathers are stinking hot when you race so why are they so freezing cold when you are touring. It wasn't even a cold morning but I was absolutely frigid by the time I got to Ing'll just before 8am. One of the first to sign in and then it was just a case of ripping off the number plate and mirrors off the old DR and wait for practice. I have raced Teretonga several times before so thought it would be simple - but that was about 25+ years ago. The track itself hasn't changed but I used to think it was an easy track and went reasonably fast, now I am a lot slower and thought it was very technical and difficult!!! Jason Veitch from Veitch's Suzuki/Harley shop was the first Dunedin guy I saw and he was kind enough to let me throw my bag in his van so it didn't disappear while I was on the track and even offered me extra petrol if I needed it. He was riding an awesome SuperDuke!!! Drool!!! (Wipes chin and continues) There were some other awesome machines as well as heaps of Motards - but almost all well set up real race machines. The guy that turned up on a DR650 from Ingll (Les) rode in the Have a Go sessions but not to race. Sorry I can't report how he did coz I didn't see him ride but expect he had fun as he was looking keen. I noticed one of the Southland Club officials also uses a DR650.

I had been entering into two classes, Motards and Formula 3 and was expecting to get thrown out of F-3. There were two or three of us motards with the same idea and we were told to ride F-3 style not motard which is pretty obvious if you don't want to cause mayhem and we started at the back. We did get twice as much racing as anyone else though. It is a HUGE track with fast corners and in my inexperienced opinion there is only one corner realistically where sliding in motard style could be faster. It amused me to see motard riders holding out their foot on corners around 100kph, why?? Were they going to plant their foot at that speed, do that and you will get your leg ripped off! I made up heaps on time on them by braking later and cornering faster when they did that! I had even abandoned using the stronger Motocross boots for light road boots so I could feel the rear brake better which is a good move as it turned out.
So how did I go then? Well as you can guess - power wise the street based DR650 is going to be pretty disadvantaged by race bikes putting out more horses and only 2/3 the weight. I tried my best though and started at the back, in the first motard race kept a reasonable few behind me for the whole race. In the second motard race I know I was not last into the first corner and should have had a couple behind me but when the race was over and I looked back couldn't see any one.... oh no!!!! I know I am not likely to impress anyone with my skill or speed but my aim when racing is "Don't care where I come but I DON'T WANT TO COME LAST"
In the F-3 races the real F-3 bikes just disappeared from me. There were also a bunch of 150's thrown in there as well so once the field had sorted itself out I passed the 150's and pretty much ended up racing all alone between the two groups. The 150's were surprisingly hard to get past I must admit though - they carry a lot of speed through the corners even on a high speed track. Teretonga is 2.57k long, the main straight is about 950meters. I did't get the new sprocket yet so was changing into top when the speedo read 153Kph. Top speed depended on the wind and varied between 160 and 170kph. I reckon it would have been better with the 14tooth on.
Did I mention the wind? I mean WIND!!! It blew like you wouldn't believe. On the tarmac I relax and am seldom tense even when racing. The wind made me tense every muscle and I had to fight all the time to keep from being blown about, even my neck muscles took a pounding. The wrist and hands hurt like they did after my first nervous attempts at motarding and it was exhausting just trying to keep upright. It was hard on the nerves too when cranked into a corner to have a gust catch you - or just as bad have the gust stop as you are cranked over. It was the same for everyone though so can't use it as an excuse.
After racing I went to help a guy put his bike on a trailer but he didn't need a hand. He brought two classics to race and more than a bit of a classic himself. 74 years old, spry enough to hoist his leg over a bike and sharp as!! Man I hope I end up like that if I can last that long.
Hope this long post hasn't put you all to sleep. The real excitement though was Sunday down at the Wyndham street race. Tell ya about that soon.

[deanohit]

Hope this long post hasn't put you all to sleep.
Hell no man, really enjoying your reports, it's great to see some one out there just having FUN :ride: and not bitchin about what shit happened in their day.

The real excitement though was Sunday down at the Wyndham street race. Tell ya about that soon.
Great, looking forward to it.

[GaZBur]

Woke up at 7 and looked outside my B & B in Invercargill and saw sunny clear sky. So packed up and had a huge cooked brekkie to set me up for the day. The window I looked out of must have faced north though and as I got on the bike a storm front came through from the south. Screaming wind and driven rain – lovely!!! Fecking soaked and I haven’t even gassed up yet. Put the wet gear on at the petrol station and got blown to Wyndham. When I arrived in the pits the first guys I saw from Dunedin were the Henry’s, a father and son team riding Kawasaki Motards for SPV in Dunedin. Nice guys so I asked if I could chuck my stuff in their van. Allan has given me advice when I first started Motarding (along with others) and his son and I have crashed together (no hard feelings I see).
Well the rain stopped just before practice in time for another nasty storm front to come through just in time for me to go out in it for practice. Did I mention it was WET – huge puddles – wet slippery road, driving rain – beautiful start to the day, I hated it!! I rode like a pussy, no wait - I rode like a pussy wearing a big girls blouse I hated it that much. Every time I picked up some speed someone would pass me and crash right in front of me. Happened three times in two laps, the last one was amazing. I was using my position relative to the Ambulance to sort my braking point for the end of the start finish straight. Why did they put an Ambulance right there you may ask? One of about four that I could see too! Some guy rips past me on the straight and cuts in front of me and the bike just went down for no apparent reason right in front of me. I braked hard and wondered if I was going to need to do something drastic not to run the guy over – but I needn’t have worried. He slid on his back following his bike oscillating slowly with his hands and knees in the air, he just slid and slid and slid without seeming to slow down. I saw the bike hit the hay bales with a thump and flying straw but was a bit busy cornering to see if he hit the bales or followed on to his bike. About that time practice was red flagged for the Ambulance to come out on the track. An encouraging start to the day!!! In fairness to the guys who set up the track, you could hit tarmac, you could hit another rider or you could hit one of those huge circular hay bales but it was pretty well impossible to hit something bad like a pole or gutter or building, they did a good job of setting it up. Did I mention it was wet and I wasn’t having fun!!!
Next post – street racing!

[GaZBur]

Well bugger me the rain stopped - and it blew hard enough the track dried. If it had continued to rain I was seriously considering wimping out for the day so I could be sure to get home in one piece. If you didn't lose it yourself in the wet there was a good chance to be taken out by someone else who did, it was that slippery.

There were some real trick bikes there - including those V-twin Aprillias, but there were also a few of us with 21in fronts and crossply tyres instead of radials on 17in motard rims, although I think mine was the only real street bike. I mention this because I often find I can out brake a well set up motard bike on the old DR and assumed the braking on them wasn't hugely better. Well I have since had a wee squirt on DRZ Motard and it stops like you wouldn't bloody believe! So the average motard rider is crap under brakes on tarmac, possibly coz they are predominantly dirt riders??? I also notice most racers, motarders included are very slow off the start. It's understandable with F-3 as the gearing is high but Motard guys are used to MX starts. I am only making a generalisation about the average guys - the ones in front are awesome at everything. There was also a guy there on a KTM with the use of one arm only who came 5th I believe, so his skills must be amazing.
The real bugger about riding motard class is it's the one race I didn't get to watch, and from what some spectators told me the motards were the real highlight and the spectators loved the tight action. So much so that the organisers rearranged the program for the last round so that Motards were the last race.

44 of us lined up at the dummy grid, the warm up lap isn't a warm up so much as a race to get a good start position. In fact the race starts even before that as there is a tussle when the previous race dummy grid goes out to be first at the gate so when our dummy grid goes out you can get a good place at the start. I sat a the back with a guy on a Husaberg and a ginger beard poking out the bottom of his helmet having a good laugh at the antics of some of the serious guys vying for position behind the barrier. So out we go for the first race warm up lap and I get to the first corner - and stop to assist a guy who has his leg painfully pinned under his bike. I head off again expecting them to have started the race but they held it up for me to arrive and it turned out the first start was a false start anyway.

Let me tell you about the grid. There is one line with about 15 bikes on it with their bars practically overlapping. The next line isn't actually a separate line it's where you nose your wheel up between the two guys in front till your handlebars are almost touching the guy in fronts back protector. A few of us thought this a bit much and hang back.
Surprisingly most of the time everybody gets around the first corner but if you hang back at the start and go wide you can pass a lot of guys who are caught up in the melee on the inside. With a dry track the feel is totally different and it's a real hoot to blast around. Am I having fun or what!!!

[GaZBur]

My races all follow pretty much the same pattern. Start at the back, pass a few on the outside of turn one. Have a few pass me back on the Cardigan Rd straight, not much passing happens on the turn into Ferry St. Try hold my position if I can till the end of Ferry street go wide and right of the fast line and out brake one or two into the big hay bale chicane, find/make a space to slot into for the chicane down the short straight (Balaclava St) avoiding the guy who falls at the chicane (every race someone binned there) and go wide out into the main straight allowing faster guys to pass on the inside. Brake at the last minute at the end of the straight rear tyre squealing and maybe drift out just a fraction and going wide, late apex the corner so you can see the fallen rider before you run him over and it's off for another lap. What an absolute hoot this track is!!! The first race was shortened (red flag) by a lap so the Ambulance could come out. The Ambulances were used a lot on Sunday although as far as I am aware none of the injuries were really serious, at least I hope not. The other races were pretty much the same for me and I had an absolute ball out there. I especially loved the chicane as it's where I made ground especially braking into the approach. OK - as you would expect I was way way down in the list - but had enough guys behind me to be happy with how I went. Did I mention I loved every minute of the racing?
Well I had several sideways moments but none spectacular and the only sideways moment that concerned me was on the Highway on the way to Invercargill in a corner after hitting some road kill. The rear tyre wear was quite significant on the Wyndham surface compared to rubber lost on asphalt circuits. I have had a marvellous weekend racing and met a heap of nice people too!
I am a definite starter for next year!!! Woooohooo!!!

[NordieBoy]

Coming up to the Port Nelson Street Races?

[GaZBur]

Coming up to the Port Nelson Street Races?
Really wish I could now, as I just loved the Wyndham Race. But I will be in Stewart Island over New Year. I will also be putting the knobblies back on so I can do some Adventure riding in Central mid/late Jan as I will probably spend a week around Albert Town(Wanaka). Will you be out with your camera at the Port circuit? Love to see some pics of the race. I will post some pics of last weekend when I can get some from the photographers that were there. A KB member came up and introduced himself said he would email me some he took too.

One thing I will say though for those wanting to ride a street circuit and thinking of the Nelson street race, they are not as forgiving as a race circuit and its easy to get injured if you take it too seriously. At Wyndham you needed proof that you had done at least 3 major events before they would allow you to enter so - do it coz its a real hoot, just be carefull.

[deanohit]

I'll be at Nelson with the camera snapping away, hope fully get some video as well.
Really looking forward to it.

Man, the DR is just such a brilliant bike, racing, trails, commuting, touring, sounds near impossible to beat!

[warewolf]

At Wyndham you needed proof that you had done at least 3 major events before they would allow you to enter soSame at Port Nelson.

[GaZBur]

One of the guys who introduced himself to me as a Kiwi Biker in Wyndham said he would send me a couple of pics he took. I thanked him but by my photographic experiences was just expecting some pics of the front or back wheel and a lot of excess scenery. Turns out he is actually good so here are a couple of pics with thanks to Kiwibiker TimG. ooh and one copywrite one from https://secure.sportzfotoz.co.nz/index.php - chill guys, I will be sending my order in to actually pay for some photos when they put the Wyndham ones up too.

[deanohit]

Damn that 2nd shot is cool, thats how I ride most of the time!

[merv]

Yeah great pics. What I always think is cute is to see the knee down boys when they're cornering at such a small lean angle that they'd actually probably be going a bit quicker if they kept it all tucked in, whereas if they were cornering so hard that their knees were close to the ground anyway that would be a different story.

[GaZBur]

Yeah great pics. What I always think is cute is to see the knee down boys when they're cornering at such a small lean angle that they'd actually probably be going a bit quicker if they kept it all tucked in, whereas if they were cornering so hard that their knees were close to the ground anyway that would be a different story.
Yeah I know what you mean. Obviously sticking your knee out on a lower powered bike greatly increases wind resistance and reduces speed. Knee down is good if you are on a low sports bike with rear set pegs. It can help with balance and confidence, I have even seen the fast bucket guys appear to hold the bike up when the things would otherwise have been lowsided. I think it is probably dumb anywhere but the racetrack where the surface is perfectly flat with predictable traction, otherwise its probably a good way to smash a knee. The DR is so tall especially with the 21in front that as I have said before - if my knee scrapes then so does my hip, sholder and helmet at the same time. The real top Motard guys can slide the bike and knee at the same time, I wouldnt even want to try!!! Have you checked out the pics in the Sportsbike - Motard Poster thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=61155).

[C&C-rider]

Hey guys,

toy run was awesome even though I could only spot 2 other DR650's next to mine :o(

[GaZBur]

I took my 10 year old son on the toy ride in Dunedin son Saturday too! Awesome ride if you can keep away from the Harleys. (what you say son?? - only I'm fecking deaf from riding between two harley cruisers!!!)
On Sunday started getting the DR ready for the holidays and hopefully some back country riding.
Removed the racing stuff - overflow bottles and rubber axle protectors etc. Will do the tyres closer to X-mas.
Changed the front sprocket to a 14 tooth.
So the difference in gearing appears from seat of the pants..
No great noticable difference in acceleration at low speed, not noticable but may be measurable as you would expect there to be some increase.
100kph in top gear is much smoother and doesn't require change down for hills or passing like I used to.
110kph - 120kph - slight vibration at this speed that could get annoyng.
50kph -lugs along nicely in 4th - where it used to be a bit too slow for 4th but not really comfortable in 3rd.
So the initial verdict is, 14 is better for most legal speeds and probably for racing.
If you do a lot of 100 -120+ flat road riding the 15 tooth is better at speeds over 100kph.

[GaZBur]

Sportzfotoz (https://secure.sportzfotoz.co.nz/showsub.php?cat=5) have put up the Wyndham roadrace photos.
Check out the shiny wet tar - slippery as!!!
I did have fun when it dried though. I guess thats the end of racing this year - don't know what the schedule is for next year yet but looking forward to it!

[NordieBoy]

I did have fun when it dried though. I guess thats the end of racing this year - don't know what the schedule is for next year yet but looking forward to it!

Looks ummm... fun :D

End of racing, start of adventuring...

[GaZBur]

Looks ummm... fun :D
End of racing, start of adventuring...

Yep - will get some gravel under the wheels these holidays. Hope to catch up with a few on the Central Trails thread, sounds great and the pics are terrific!

So do you reckon the DR needs a bash plate for gravel roads or is that only a concern for serious trails?

[NordieBoy]

Yep - will get some gravel under the wheels these holidays. Hope to catch up with a few on the Central Trails thread, sounds great and the pics are terrific!

So do you reckon the DR needs a bash plate for gravel roads or is that only a concern for serious trails?

Even on the gravel I've heard some loud thunks of things hitting my 50kph sign.

[deanohit]

Even on the gravel I've heard some loud thunks of things hitting my 50kph sign.

Were you going 70+?
You know speeding in a 50 zone is bad! :lol:

Gazbur, a bash plate, no matter how simple, is still worth it.

[NordieBoy]

Were you going 70+?
You know speeding in a 50 zone is bad! :lol:

Next one is going to be a 100 sign :D

[GaZBur]

Two things happened to me tonight, went to the OMCC prizegiving.

The second one was - on the way home the DR turned over 10,000Km.


The first one was - well - guess who won the Junior Clubmams Series.

Go on guess!!!

Have you figured it out yet??

Give you a hint - he rides a DR650.

:yes:

I got to choose some prizes too.

One of the prizes I chose was a set of tie downs. One of the guys I race against asked "Why do you choose tie downs when you ride to the track"

The first aid lady answered "It's because although he rides to the track often he is in no condition to ride home again"!!! That got a few laughs at my expense. :thud:
I have enough chain lube to last the rest of my life and a fancy set of spoke sockets - even though they have never needed adjustment.

Pity they didn't have helmets as prizes as I need a BIG one now.

[deanohit]

Haha, Congrats on the win mate, :first:
Thats a great effort on a DR650!

[NordieBoy]

You're a junior?
How did you swing that?

:woohoo: Good one

[GaZBur]

You're a junior?
How did you swing that?

:woohoo: Good one
Junior is the class - not the age. :niceone:
I am a little old for junior although I am told that at 49 I would be still a junior if I joined the Ulysses club.
Junior is the class where you keep the same bike and only change tyres. Senior allows wheel changes so most of my stiff competition in the form of about 4 guys on KTM525's were called senior. There were 9 in my class but most weren't in contention due to not doing enough competitions even though they may have well beaten me at any single event.

Yes deanohit it was good to have a DR in front of a lot of bikes worth so much more. She is a great all rounder and there aren't many other bikes that can do all the same stuff for under twice the price of them.

[deanohit]

Heres one for you guys that I found on ADVrider, a slammed hard tail DR650, :oi-grr:
Be awesome for the dirt drags! :laugh:

[NordieBoy]

One of the guys on ADVRider bought it cheap as he only wanted the wheels :D

[crazyxr250rider]

And then burnt all evidence of its hideous existance?

[GaZBur]

OK re this Bash Plate thingy - so how solid does it have to be. The only metal I have handy is some computer cases - I guess I could even double them over. I see Nordie used a traffic sign so my guess is its function is to take a sharp impact before it can get to the crankcase rather than hold off a really solid hit anyway. I don't even know if you can buy them of the shelf so I guess it would be smart to find that out first before fabricating some butt ugly creation of my own. There is a scrap dealer on the way to work - I guess I could go and see if he has some plate aluminium.
Any pearls of wisdom guys?

[NordieBoy]

Mine has been bashed about quite a bit by flying rocks/gravel but it bashes back easily too :D
2.5mm alloy and zip tied on, no problems yet.
The plastic coating also acts as a laminate layer adding some strength.

The only thing the 4mm ones have going for them is not having to worry about caseing out on rocks.

Make one from cardboard taped together how you want it and get someone to make it up in 4mm alloy.

[cooneyr]

OK re this Bash Plate thingy - so how solid does it have to be. The only metal I have handy is some computer cases - I guess I could even double them over. I see Nordie used a traffic sign so my guess is its function is to take a sharp impact before it can get to the crankcase rather than hold off a really solid hit anyway. I don't even know if you can buy them of the shelf so I guess it would be smart to find that out first before fabricating some butt ugly creation of my own. There is a scrap dealer on the way to work - I guess I could go and see if he has some plate aluminium.
Any pearls of wisdom guys?

BandB in ausi make them and they sell from about $160nz. Most are about 3mm alloy which can bend but will stop any stones hitting the cases. Computer cases are probably a bit thin in they could be punctured and might bend or stretch and possible back to the cases.

Cheers R

[warewolf]

OK re this Bash Plate thingy - so how solid does it have to be.The KTM one is soft enough to bend by hand. It's there to protect the cases and the frame rails. As Nordie says, they cop a hammering from flying debris. The bash plate soaks all that up. Protecting from big impacts... thin plate is OK for slow-speed scrabbling over rocks.


I don't even know if you can buy them of the shelf so I guess it would be smart to find that out firstGoogle (http://www.google.com/search?q=dr650+bash+plate) is your friend.

[Mole_C]

Hmm synthetic oil or normal oil for the DR650 with 8000kms? Just brought 4L of Motul 3100 (normal) + filter and wondering if i should go back and change it for 5100 (part synth) or just bung it in?

[GaZBur]

The KTM one is soft enough to bend by hand. It's there to protect the cases and the frame rails. As Nordie says, they cop a hammering from flying debris. The bash plate soaks all that up. Protecting from big impacts... thin plate is OK for slow-speed scrabbling over rocks.

Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=dr650+bash+plate) is your friend.

Ok - built it. Was going to do a photo description thing like Nordie did but after doing the first cut thought you guys didn't need to see my handywork. How did it happen - well i was making cheese toasties for lunch and thought hmmm this oven tray looks strong. But then came back to reality - life can be difficult enough without butchering kitchen things and I would only get caught! Went back to the garage and looked at those old computer cases again. One case was particularly thick so cut it up and wired it on. All in a little over an hour! It's solid and doesnt vibrate or cause noise. Now tomorrow I need to go and get it covered in mud so people can't see my handy-work.

[Transalper]

am thinking you going to need to photograph that for us...before and after it gets dents.

[GaZBur]

Off Road Tyres - well they are really designed for Off Road like they say. Had the crap scared out of me yesterday. Dropped the bike off at the shop to get the road tyres swapped for the knobs. I was actually being careful but still managed to scare myself riding home on the knobs. After using the road tyres for racing and commuting I built a lot of cornering confidence up and can belt into a corner without fear - but not any more. With knobs on I can actually see the amount of turn the bars require for cornering - which means to me its understeering due to the tyres side slipping in the corners. :crazy:
So - I am looking forward to the getting off tarmac and onto gravel!!!
My guess is the front tyre at least was not meant to be used on the road at all.
Trelleborg Winter Friction 434 Offroad. 80/90-21 front.
MITAS E-09 Enduro 130/80-17 rear.
Correction - I earlier said I won the Junior Clubmans. Just got the newsletter and its actually called the Social Clubmans not Junior. Looks like no racing for me till Feb at least as I wont be attending the NZ Roadracing series, I expect they will be taking things a bit too seriously for me.

[cooneyr]

Off Road Tyres - well they are really designed for Off Road like they say. Had the crap scared out of me yesterday. Dropped the bike off at the shop to get the road tyres swapped for the knobs. I was actually being careful but still managed to scare myself riding home on the knobs. After using the road tyres for racing and commuting I built a lot of cornering confidence up and can belt into a corner without fear - but not any more. With knobs on I can actually see the amount of turn the bars require for cornering - which means to me its understeering due to the tyres side slipping in the corners. :crazy:
So - I am looking forward to the getting off tarmac and onto gravel!!!
My guess is the front tyre at least was not meant to be used on the road at all.
Trelleborg Winter Friction 434 Offroad. 80/90-21 front.
MITAS E-09 Enduro 130/80-17 rear.
Correction - I earlier said I won the Junior Clubmans. Just got the newsletter and its actually called the Social Clubmans not Junior. Looks like no racing for me till Feb at least as I wont be attending the NZ Roadracing series, I expect they will be taking things a bit too seriously for me.

LOL - new tyres and knobs at that from ya racing tyres is going to feel like crap.

Thing that seems strange to me is there are Trelleborg Rocky Grip 434 and a Trelleborg Winter Friction 434 (may or may not be spiked/studded) tyres. Basically the same tyre I would guess but compounds are possibly different. See the Mitas-Trelleborg pages (http://www.mitas.cz/index.php?stranka=4&scid=337). Seems to me the importer is bringing in non-studded Winter Friction 434 when they should probably be bringing in the Rocky Grip 434 if the rubber compound is different. Anybody got any info on this?

Cheers R

[Transalper]

no info but my DR hates the Trelleborg front, it wobbles in gravel at speed and through most the sweepers on seal.
Is better with the fork brace installed.

[GaZBur]

no info but my DR hates the Trelleborg front, it wobbles in gravel at speed and through most the sweepers on seal.
Is better with the fork brace installed.
Oh great!!!
Thanks for the warning. I will put up with it for the next 6 weeks then and consider what to do next time I need to set up for Adventure. Perhaps I should read the Tyre thread here - but the Trellborgs were what the bike came with when I bought it second hand. Funny I have never thought a fork brace was needed on the road and I have found swapping direction in S's no problem. I have heard fork braces mentioned for DR's before though and you obviously found it an improvement. Perhaps I should investigate.

OK sounds like most of us are going to being getting some Adventure over the next few weeks. I will but probably wont be having regular internet access. I hope we can all put up a few "What I did over the break" posts with pic's and route directions maybe.

Merry XMas all.
Gary B

[warewolf]

Off Road Tyres - well they are really designed for Off Road like they say. Had the crap scared out of me yesterday. ...
which means to me its understeering due to the tyres side slipping in the corners. :crazy:More throttle! :D It always feels weird swapping back to knobs, and it will be worse with a brand new one. It will bed in a bit.

I've used the IRC BR-99 fronts quite a bit, they look similar to the Trelleborg. More than enough grip to despatch the average sprotsbike. In fact it is the MT-21 rear that slides, usually under power though.

[Transalper]

.....Funny I have never thought a fork brace was needed on the road and I have found swapping direction in S's no problem. I have heard fork braces mentioned for DR's before though and you obviously found it an improvement. Perhaps I should investigate.....

Merry XMas all.
Gary B

yep Merry XMas etc etc to all.

The fork brace may make a subtle change to the handling much the same as a braded front brake line make only a small difference. Only with the Trelleborg did I feel a big difference with the brace, I think most people here would feel they have wasted their money if they bought a fork brace, on the other hand my partner J loves hers, said it transformed the bike for her.
If we ever end up at the same place at same time you're welcome to try the brace out for a bit.
As for tyre choices, I'm going with D606 front E09 rear as a more preferred combo when off the road tyres.

[cooneyr]

...............

What is this orange filth doing on a DR650 thread :dodge:

Cheers R

[warewolf]

What is this orange filth doing on a DR650 thread :dodge::D

That tyre was originally on this:


Does that make you feel better?

[cooneyr]

....Does that make you feel better?

Better - right brand at least :D

[Transalper]

right colour too!

[GaZBur]

Ok. I have had bikes in the past that wheelied whenever you want (or in a couple of cases whenever you didn’t too)but have never really tried to make a study of it or needed to wheelie the DR650. In fact the opposite – have been trying to keep the front down. So now I want to and it’s not an easy bike to pick up the front.
So how do you guys do it? She is heavy on the front.
I found myself on a quiet road and managed a couple of good ones (and a dozen crap ones) yesterday by giving it a good rev in second gear and sliding the clutch while sitting a bit towards the back at 40k. It came up nice and high and slowly drifted down. Didn’t have the guts or skill to try to keep it up.(asking for a smart-ass comment with that one!)

So any tips on how to wheelie the TRUCK. No I am not good at wheeling any other bike so general tips would be useful too.

[NordieBoy]

Clutching it up.

My damn brother wheelied my DR with a bald tyre on wet clay about 10 secs after getting on it when Warewolf and I went with him on the Pig Valley Adventure and Pants Crapping Experience.
The video only shows sky as the camera was on the DR's handlebars.

I hate him...

[warewolf]

And it were beautiful to watch!! Both at the time and on film later :headbang:

"It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian"

I'm pulling two-wheel slides it was so greasy, and I keep hearing "brrrrp!" and seeing the DR floating along on the back wheel. :shit:

Practice, practice, practice.

The Wheelie your LC4 (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173274) thread on advrider might be helpful.

[Crisis management]

In the interests of scientific discovery I have tried to wheelie the Drongo.....lets just say that I have a bit to learn!
Using the 14 tooth countersprocket it comes up in first on the throtle (not very far as I have attacks of nanaitis) and on the odd occasion when I have tried clutching it up, my lack of balance / throttle control makes it a short lived experience.

I think I need somewhere with very soft ground and a couple of HTFU pills.

[GaZBur]

Ditto here! But I am determined to learn. It is so useful to be able to pick up the front over a soft or rutted bit of trac/road I would like to be able to do a quick lift at any speed. I would also like to be able to hold a balanced wheelie but that could be a while away. I will be trying to get a handle on it when I get off the roads in Jan. The idea of doing wheelies in front of the general public is not my thing, if you can do them you look like a show off tosser and if you cant you still look like a tosser!
Check out the link Warewolf posted. If like me your problem is lack of confidence the comments about keeping ready with the back brake seem important. Good luck.

[warewolf]

Oh, I thought you meant long balance-point wheelies? If all you want to do is loft the front, that is a lot easier - but still takes technique.

Greg Power teaches it as follows. Three parts, executed while standing:

bounce your weight down and forward to compress the front springs
crack the throttle to get a feel for when the power chimes in
pull up/back on the bars with your weight back
Do each action separately for a while until you get a feel for them. Yes, at his riding schools you get 20-30 people riding around bouncing on the front suspension for 5 mins, then going brrrp! brrrp! with the throttle, then a few mins of topping out the front :niceone:

Lastly put all three together, approaching obstacles at walking pace in first. Effortless when you get it right, timing is everything which is why he teaches doing each part separately to get a feel for it. My wife barely rides but she was seen wheelying that day.

For dealing with obstacles, you don't have to have the front tyre completely clear of it. Having the front hovering, suspension topped out, little weight on it: all will help (good for crossing ruts at speed). Indeed bouncing the front off the obstacle is a way to easily get extra height.

[Crisis management]

Now that actually makes sense! Thanks Colin.

I'll report back later in the week..........

[Denniso]

Yes I know I'm preaching to the converted but yesterday while out on one of the local gravel roads met a milk tanker half way round a blind left hander ( was expecting it as it was that time of day so was staying well left ) the tankers fair fly on the gravel so throw a hell of a lot of dust up , as a result I could'nt see a dam thing , ended up in the ditch as the corner tightend up and I couldn't see jack . My point is that for the second time I picked up the bike and ride off , if that had been my SV or GSXR I'd have been looking for some more bodywork and paint , DR's are too much fun not to have :niceone:

[GaZBur]

Just did the Otago Motorcycle club economy run today on the DR650. Its one of the Clubmans events so thought I should try get a few points up even though I prefer the speed events.
OK last year I didn't really try and got 68.6mpg = 29.165kpl.
So this year I kept under 100kph and tried to keep the throttle steady and expected to do better. So the result was real poor 51.66mpg = 21.96 kpl. My only explanation is that there was an incredible wind today and that affected economy. Well I got shamed by all the 1000cc sports bikes and even those 2up!! Damn - but there were 2 DR250's there and they got 70mpg and 78mpg so all honour is not lost.
Spent yesterday sorting out the bike for next weeks OMCC track day at Levels. Looking forward to getting back on the tarmac, but sad to hear the breaking news about the tragedy at Pukekhoe today!

[GaZBur]

Did my second track day at Levels yesterday on the DR650. Once again it was a real blast. Everyone had such a great time it is such a fun track. If you are even vaguely considering doing one of these "Have a Go" days you really got to. Walking around the pits you see HUGE grins on everyones faces as we all had a great time.
There is no pressure on you - if you are slow - you just go slow, if you are very new the club officials will guide you around. There was everthing there from buckets, a viragio cruiser, sports and road bikes up to 1300cc and out and out racers like R1 etc. We were broken up into groups. Newbies in 2 groups (Fast bikes and Slower bikes) and shown around. Group 2 - my group which were moderately fast with passing anywhere you could do so in safety, Group 3 for the seriously quick and group 5 for the street stock. Group 4 was meant to be Motards but there weren't enough to warrent the extra session. Actually glad to be in with the sports bikes as I realy enjoyed mixing it up with them. Yes I got toasted by them in the main straight but I could pass them back in the corners and sometimes under brakes. Great practice for passing though as you get to pass the same guys 3 or 4 times in some sessions coz the rip by again on the straight. Had four great 10 min sessions in group 2 and after that a lot of people were knackered and packing up. They said there was time for a final all in session for those still keen so we all headed out. I think that last session was fantastic as everyone was going faster than they had all day and there was no crashing or dangerous passing done. Previously though it appears one rider in group 3 was told to pack up and go because the officials were trying to keep it all safe. While on them the officials ran the thing fantastic and the only other person I saw getting told off was well, yeah it was me! I arrived a smidgen close to the 9.30 briefing and after the deadline of 9.15 sign in. Ooops!
Anyway - I was pleased how fast I was, I took down enough 600's and 1000's to maintain honour to the DR and was in full control for the whole day - almost!
One small incident in the very last lap. I was cranked over as far as she could go (the front tyre has wear fight to the edge) and leaning off a bit too and she slipped down and out about 300mm?? so fast I knew I was going off, well there was a scrape sound and it picked itself back up!!!! OMG how did that come back, it all happened so fast I didn't even get scared but kept hammering only to find the chequred flag out in another quarter lap. The only possible thing that could scrape would be the footpegs but there is no way it will lean over that far with 21in front, hardened up rear suspension and its not lowered. Couldn't really prove it was the peg that scraped as there quite a few scrapes on it already from previous ummm incidents.
Anyway I grinned all the way home as did everyone else that was there no doubt. First time ever I will wear out the sides of a tyre while there is still about half tread in the middle.

[NordieBoy]

I think you're just faking it.
A DR can't do all that.


:woohoo:




I hate you.

Again...

[GaZBur]

I think you're just faking it.
A DR can't do all that.


:woohoo:




I hate you.

Again...
He he he!!! Not to worry, there will be more track days. I forgot to ask my neice who was there if she got any decent photos, if so I will post them up. Otherwise you will have to take my word that the DR650 is a real superbike eater.

As a matter of interest the 14 tooth sproket only made a marginal difference to top speed although it did feel to me from a seat of the pants viewpoint as if I had more punch out of the corners. Changing into top gear at 140Kph instead of 153Kph as with the 15 tooth.
Only other set up difference is I ran the airfilter dry, not oiled so it would breathe a bit easier.

[marks]

Only other set up difference is I ran the airfilter dry, not oiled so it would breathe a bit easier.

isn't that effectively the same as running no airfilter?

keep the reports coming.:niceone:

[GaZBur]

isn't that effectively the same as running no airfilter?

Not quite but close. I imagine any fine grit would eventually work through the filter but anything serious floating around wouldn't get into the carbie. Dust was not expected to be an issue on the tarmac but you are right, I will be oiling it again now that its back on road use.
As a matter of interest i filled it up on way to work.
12.82 kilometers per litre which I think is about 36mpg on the track.

[Gizzit]

As a matter of interest i filled it up on way to work.
12.82 kilometers per litre which I think is about 36mpg on the track.

Sounds like you had a real blast on the track! These DR's certainly handle well, don't they !! I was down in Auckland for the day on Saturday, and when coming home riding up the Brynderwyn Mountain (ok .. it's a hill right ! lol), in the tight and twisty bits ... I felt like I was so far over, I had my ear on the ground ... lol and it was still hanging on .... the bike that is !!! lol. I checked the tyres yesterday, and while there are still some little knobly (new tyre) tags on the very outside edges of the front tyre, there isn't anything left on the rear tyre !! I was having a ball in the corners. That 3rd gear is a real hoot !

What I would like to know, is generally ... how many K's are people getting to a litre ... with normal riding (i.e. some hooning some slower cruising or commuting stuff) ?? I got 169K's until I had to switch to reserve from a full tank on Saturday ..... going down to Auckland .... lets say .... "quickly" !! :innocent:
I'm just not sure what to expect for gas milage on the DR ... I do know that I'm looking forward to the IMS tank arriving !!

[cooneyr]

What I would like to know, is generally ... how many K's are people getting to a litre ... with normal riding (i.e. some hooning some slower cruising or commuting stuff) ?? I got 169K's until I had to switch to reserve from a full tank on Saturday ..... going down to Auckland .... lets say .... "quickly" !! :innocent:
I'm just not sure what to expect for gas milage on the DR ... I do know that I'm looking forward to the IMS tank arriving !!

Sounds pretty good to me. I was doing pretty close to 170kms to reserve (10l consumption) with the factory tank and our bikes should be set up very similar. This was mostly adventure riding i.e. gravel road or worse for around 50% so probably fairly similar to your "quick" riding. 17km/l is 48mpg (UK or 40 mpg US).

Keeping it steady at 100ish between Christchurch and Springs Junction I once did over 200km and didnt have to use reserve i.e. over 20km/l or 56mpg UK or 47 mpg US. This will be pretty close to best fuel consumption for "normal" riding.

Thanks for the writeups Gazbur. One day I'll get along to a track day. Looks and sounds like heaps of fun.

Cheers R

[Gizzit]

Sounds pretty good to me. I was doing pretty close to 170kms to reserve (10l consumption) with the factory tank and our bikes should be set up very similar.

Oh Ok ... I was working on the belief that the normal tank was 12 litres, plus 1 litre for reserve (13 litre standard tank ?) .... If that was the case, .... thats about 14.16 K's per litre (for 12 litres to 170K's) ? Does that sound about right ? or about 39.98 mpg which isn't overly economic for a 650 I wouldn't have thought.
Or ... are you only able to "access" 10 litres from the normal tank, without doing the big tip over to the left to "get the other gas? ? You know a LOT more about these bikes .... so I bow to your knowledge.



This was mostly adventure riding i.e. gravel road or worse for around 50% so probably fairly similar to your "quick" riding. 17km/l is 48mpg (UK or 40 mpg US).

Keeping it steady at 100ish between Christchurch and Springs Junction I once did over 200km and didnt have to use reserve i.e. over 20km/l or 56mpg UK or 47 mpg US. This will be pretty close to best fuel consumption for "normal" riding.

200K's is good going I would think ! How do you find the IMS tank ? Can you access all the gas in the tank and do you have a reserve ? They advertise that they are 18.5 litres. It's a pitty they arent more like 20 to 21 litres.



Thanks for the writeups Gazbur. One day I'll get along to a track day. Looks and sounds like heaps of fun.

Cheers R

really good write up. Makes me want to have a crack at a track day sometime .....

[cooneyr]

Oh Ok ... I was working on the belief that the normal tank was 12 litres, plus 1 litre for reserve (13 litre standard tank ?)

I'm pretty certain they are 10l to reserve and a 3l reserve. I distinctly remember getting caught out one time with only 1.5 l of spare fuel in a bottle at St Arnaud wanting to get back to NN. I got about 25kms down the track and hit reserve plus put the bottle in. Got to Richmond and managed to put 12.7 l in it which was the most I ever put in :D This means I did about 75kms on 3l reserve and 1.5 spare which makes sense as a 3l reserve is about 50kms given fuel consumption of 17km/l.


How do you find the IMS tank ? Can you access all the gas in the tank and do you have a reserve ? They advertise that they are 18.5 litres. It's a pitty they arent more like 20 to 21 litres.

I've done 330kms with a trip plus some round town riding (bit hard on the gas around town) and just hit reserve. I've never actually used all of the reserve so I don't actually know how big it is. You can just tip the bike over a bit to get the last out as I understand it but you'd not have much left at that point. The IMS does expand quite a bit so they end up closer to 20l. You can always give then the hot water treatment if you want to make sure they are 20l.

Cheers R

[far queue]

I'm pretty certain they are 10l to reserve and a 3l reserve.Yep, that's correct ... unless you have the version sold in California, which has a smaller tank. From memory (so I may be slightly out here) the Californian version has a 12L tank - the reason for the slightly smaller tank being that extra space is required for the fitting of the emission control "stuff" which that state insists on.

[Gizzit]

My tank is definitely 13 litres, so as you say ... 10 litres plus 3 reserve. It's no longer a problem as my IMS arrived yesterday, and is going to be fitted next week, so will have no hassles after that! Next Thursday (27th) I'm riding down to Tauranga to get my seat done by Mcdonalds Motor Trimmers. Its booked in to get done Friday, and I'll head back to Whangarei on Saturday. I'm looking forward to the trip down and back .... and hopefully much more comfortable coming home!

[GaZBur]

Sounds like you had a real blast on the track! These DR's certainly handle well, don't they !! ... I checked the tyres yesterday, and while there are still some little knobly (new tyre) tags on the very outside edges of the front tyre, there isn't anything left on the rear tyre !! I was having a ball in the corners. That 3rd gear is a real hoot !...

Yeah I love the handling except with knobs on the road, which un-nerve me a bit. Did your DR come with those Trailwing universal type tyres? If so they get a real bad rap from some forums I have read but I liked them. They held reasonable and when they decided they had done enough they started to slide in a predictable way that lets you know, and you could either ease them back or go with it. I had a guy come over and check out my front tyre coz he had a dirt bike as well and was impressed with the way I went around the outside of his R6. If your riding is mostly on the road then good road tyres are the ticket!!

[Gizzit]

Yeah I love the handling except with knobs on the road, which un-nerve me a bit. Did your DR come with those Trailwing universal type tyres? If so they get a real bad rap from some forums I have read but I liked them. They held reasonable and when they decided they had done enough they started to slide in a predictable way that lets you know, and you could either ease them back or go with it. I had a guy come over and check out my front tyre coz he had a dirt bike as well and was impressed with the way I went around the outside of his R6. If your riding is mostly on the road then good road tyres are the ticket!!

My DR did come with Trailwings ... and they are good on the road for me so far, and I have been pushing them a bit ... in the dry so far, but I'm impressed. Not sure what I'll replace them with when they are run out, but I will still be going with a dual purpose kind of tyre for gravel and seal at least!

[GaZBur]

.... I was doing pretty close to 170kms to reserve (10l consumption) with the factory tank and our bikes should be set up very similar. ...
As a matter of interest my bike died from lack of petrol and instead of turning onto reserve I coasted into a gas station. I filled it almost to the top so that there was just enough room to fit the cap on without spilling. It was exactly 9.9 litres. The last 100ml would have meant it would have overflowed when the cap goes on.


.......Thanks for the writeups Gazbur. One day I'll get along to a track day. Looks and sounds like heaps of fun.
Cheers R
Thanks for the feedback. The next Levels Have a Go day is in early November so I will let you guys know in plenty of time so if even some ChCh riders are interested you should get a look in. They limit it to 100 riders but last time there was plenty of spaces left. After that is of course the Burt Munroe and I won't want to miss that one.

[talbertnz]

Yes I know I'm preaching to the converted but yesterday while out on one of the local gravel roads met a milk tanker half way round a blind left hander ( was expecting it as it was that time of day so was staying well left ) the tankers fair fly on the gravel so throw a hell of a lot of dust up , as a result I could'nt see a dam thing , ended up in the ditch as the corner tightend up and I couldn't see jack . My point is that for the second time I picked up the bike and ride off , if that had been my SV or GSXR I'd have been looking for some more bodywork and paint , DR's are too much fun not to have :niceone:

+1 did half a bike's worth of damage on my cagiva canyon 500 back in NL just before i left to kiwiland... this was one of the most important reasons i got the Dr.

[talbertnz]

What I would like to know, is generally ... how many K's are people getting to a litre ... with normal riding (i.e. some hooning some slower cruising or commuting stuff) ?? I got 169K's until I had to switch to reserve from a full tank on Saturday ..... going down to Auckland .... lets say .... "quickly" !! :innocent:
I'm just not sure what to expect for gas milage on the DR ... I do know that I'm looking forward to the IMS tank arriving !!

I'm gettin about 18- 20 km/L 18doing iligall stuff around town and about 20 on longer distance stuff. bikes pretty standart snorkelectomie headerweldgrind

[GaZBur]

Bored and it's wet so here I am wasting time on the internet. After levels my bike developed a low speed missfire. Put up with it for a week but decided to get some plugs. Bought the plugs and the missfire has gone. Well thats quite funny coz the missfire dissapeared as soon as I bought the plugs, even though I haven't actually fitted them yet! They are still in my pocket, spooky eh!

Just a tip most of you probably already know that I picked up from last time I did plugs. I scraped a piece of wire around the plug before I pull it out and flick - out comes a big piece of grit. That wouldn't have been nice dropping into the head I thought. Just before I ripped them out I had the clever idea to stick the vacume cleaner end over the plug and sure enough rattle rattle - another decent sized stone the wire trick had missed. So remember to check you don't have anything sitting there ready to drop when the plug is pulled out.

[cooneyr]

Gave the carb a clean and drilled the second hole in the slide today while I wait for my motor to come back from the surgeons. Also made a bit of a discovery - the breather and its filter (sits ontop and to the front left of the air box - obvious with the seat of) for the carbie is really important. We should be making a point of cleaning it each time we clean the main air filter.

In the top of my carbie under the diaphragm there was a reasonable amount of grit and a peice of the old filter. While it is unlikely that the filter would have been ingested but the engine there is every chance that the grit could be but the motor.

Cheers R

[Gizzit]

I'm gettin about 18- 20 km/L 18doing iligall stuff around town and about 20 on longer distance stuff. bikes pretty standart snorkelectomie headerweldgrind

Well I got my IMS tank installed before heading down to Tauranga via Waihi on Thursday. I got 322 K's before switching on to reserve, and stopped at KatiKati to fill up. It looked like I still had the best part of a couple of litres left in the tank, so may have got to Tauranga on the one tank .... but didn't want to chance it !!
Coming home today, I filled up before leaving Tauranga, went back up the same way, except I turned back onto highway 25 instead of heading for the Hamilton/Auckland highway. I then turned off 25, and went up to Auckland via Miranda, Kaiaua, Clevedon, Papakura, and onto the motorway ....
I had to switch onto reserve half way between Wellsford and Kaiwaka, and stopped and gassed up at Kaiwaka. I put just over 16 litres in the tank then to fill it right up again.
I'm just guessing, .... as I'm not exactly certain what the capacity of my IMS tank is, but think I have been getting a bit over 19 to 20 K's per litre. Thats pretty good in my book. I certainly appreciate the IMS and not having to stop so often!

[NordieBoy]

In the top of my carbie under the diaphragm there was a reasonable amount of grit and a peice of the old filter. While it is unlikely that the filter would have been ingested but the engine there is every chance that the grit could be but the motor.

Stick it on the 125 in the meantime.
Should put out the same power as a 100cc then :lol:

[Gizzit]

......
Changed the front sprocket to a 14 tooth.
So the difference in gearing appears from seat of the pants..
No great noticable difference in acceleration at low speed, not noticable but may be measurable as you would expect there to be some increase.
100kph in top gear is much smoother and doesn't require change down for hills or passing like I used to.
110kph - 120kph - slight vibration at this speed that could get annoyng.
50kph -lugs along nicely in 4th - where it used to be a bit too slow for 4th but not really comfortable in 3rd.


Wow .... you can do 50kph in 4th ?? At 50kph I am in between 2nd, and struggling to stay in 3rd as it is boardering on labouring and chugging to much !!
I'm looking at going to a 14 tooth when I'm fully run in. So far I have just under 1600K on her which isn't bad for the short time i have had it!! I'm bloody impressed with it !!!

[TLDV8]

Wow .... you can do 50kph in 4th ?? At 50kph I am in between 2nd, and struggling to stay in 3rd as it is boardering on labouring and chugging to much !!
I'm looking at going to a 14 tooth when I'm fully run in. So far I have just under 1600K on her which isn't bad for the short time i have had it!! I'm bloody impressed with it !!!

I can't imagine the DR with a smaller front spocket (here anyway) It seems fairly smooth around 100 kmh,better at 110 and humming along at 120 (open road limit 130 here) (Most of the trails are fairly open so 1st is still usable)

I was out again early for a blat (300kms)
Still need to get a bigger fuel tank.
At this stage a DR will be on the cards once back in NZ :yes:

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Darwin/K3.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Darwin/K2.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Darwin/K1.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Darwin/K4.jpg>

[GaZBur]

Wow .... you can do 50kph in 4th ?? At 50kph I am in between 2nd, and struggling to stay in 3rd as it is boardering on labouring and chugging to much !!
I'm looking at going to a 14 tooth when I'm fully run in. So far I have just under 1600K on her which isn't bad for the short time i have had it!! I'm bloody impressed with it !!!
I get up to 50 in 3rd and can hold 4th at that speed which is not a lot above idle though.
With a 15 tooth sprocket it hits the rev limit at 100k in 2nd so it will stop at 93 with a 14 tooth on, so I am waiting to check what difference this makes to my speed on the kart track. Up till now I was letting it rev to the limit and using 2nd gear on the whole track. It was fair doing its nut by the end of the straights though. Now I will have to make 2 up changes and 2 downshifts per lap, even then it will be about half the changes the guys on the KTM's make.
I like the 14 tooth for general riding and think I will keep it. Did a road trip with a 600 sportsbike up Middlemarch - Mcraes - Dunback - Palmerston - Dunedin last weekend and found it good for ummm higher speeds but much better than the 15 tooth for doing legal speeds comfortably as it used to lug at 100k in 5th.
As a matter of interest can you let us know how your bike improves as it loosens up seeing as you seem to be keeping a record of things. I am a poor sod who had to buy 2nd hand.

[GaZBur]

Just been talking to a workmate who rode out to see me motarding one day and promptly went out and bought a DRZ!!! He he! He was working out the gearing he needed for Teretonga later this month and put me onto this site.
http://www.gearingcommander.com/
Select you bike and gears and see what the speed is in each gear. Or enter your custom set up and it works it for you.

Note that the DR650 default maximum RPM is set to 6500 - it should be 7800 if you rev to the limit.
Ideally if you could get a dyno chart and work out each speed so when you change it would drop you down to where the torque and horsepower lines cross, hmmmm!!! Maybe I wont need to get a tacho - just remember or mark the speedo where the best speed is to change each gear.

EDIT: I just realised that I am also using oversized (140/90- 17)tyre so entered that into the calculation and it increased the theoratical top speed by 10Kph! Does that seem right to you guys???

[Peril]

Just been talking to a workmate who rode out to see me motarding one day and promptly went out and bought a DRZ!!! He he! He was working out the gearing he needed for Teretonga later this month and put me onto this site.
http://www.gearingcommander.com/
Select you bike and gears and see what the speed is in each gear. Or enter your custom set up and it works it for you.

Note that the DR650 default maximum RPM is set to 6500 - it should be 7800 if you rev to the limit.
Ideally if you could get a dyno chart and work out each speed so when you change it would drop you down to where the torque and horsepower lines cross, hmmmm!!! Maybe I wont need to get a tacho - just remember or mark the speedo where the best speed is to change each gear.

EDIT: I just realised that I am also using oversized (140/90- 17)tyre so entered that into the calculation and it increased the theoratical top speed by 10Kph! Does that seem right to you guys???

I got highly confused by that site when I was setting up my Trail Tech Vapor.
Did the rolling dia for the front wheel,put that in and was stumped as to why it was reading about xyzkm/h out according to that site.Then I realised it's giving you rear wheel speed :doh:

[twotyred]

Well I got my IMS tank installed before heading down to Tauranga via Waihi on Thursday...

And we're STILL waiting for closeups of your slick new seat!:mad: chop! chop!...

[Gizzit]

And we're STILL waiting for closeups of your slick new seat!:mad: chop! chop!...

my wife took these photos on her camera just after I got back home from Tauranga last Saturday.
New IMS tank, skid plate on, and new Rider seat from McDonald Motor Trimmers, Glasgow Street, Tauranga .. (Thanks Mac)

I'm really pleased with the seat. I asked to have it look very much like the standard seat, but with more width as it goes back for passenger comfort as well as rider comfort. It is also a little thicker for the passenger. It works very well while retaining the original style. the new foam makes a LOT of difference. I'm very pleased with it.

[twotyred]

looks very nice!:2thumbsup. Also like the change to white sidepanels to match the tank:yes:

[GaZBur]

looks very nice!:2thumbsup. Also like the change to white sidepanels to match the tank:yes:
AAAhhhhh but for how long will it stay pretty white then??? Its not an adventure bike till its covered in mud or dust or s%#t!
So what plans have you to rectify the matter - DR honour is at stake!!!

[Crisis management]

AAAhhhhh but for how long will it stay pretty white then??? Its not an adventure bike till its covered in mud or dust or s%#t!
So what plans have you to rectify the matter - DR honour is at stake!!!

Having spent last night chipping crap off mine, I can only agree with the sentiments.

Shit, thats the second time I've agreed with you this century......mouthwash!!!!

[Gizzit]

looks very nice!:2thumbsup. Also like the change to white sidepanels to match the tank:yes:

No ... it came with white side panels. Thats why I decided to go with a white tank. I know it's always going to look dirty .. after a while ... but I like the look of it.
I got the shorter side stand from the USA, and installed it the morning I left for Tauranga. It made a big difference, as Planet Honda had just lowered the front suspension for me, to match the rear, and it now fits me about perfect.

I have my GPS installed as well. On the way to Tauranga, I stopped in at Cycletreads in Takapuna and got a BlueAnt Bluetooth Interphone headset put into my helmet. That was cool, but I couldn't get it loud enough to hear the voice instructions for turns on my way to Tauranga (fortunately ... I knew where I was going !). However, I have just had the headset modified to accept ear plugs (headphones), so will try out my "Plugs for Lugs" ear plugs/headphones. They will plug into the new socket and will then defeat and the speaker of the interphone headset. I'm sure that will work out perfectly for me. I wil try it out this weekend if I get a chance.
When I was trying out a set of foam ear plugs I while travelling to Tauranga, I couldn't hear well enough. I could hear the voice from the GPS, but only just. I tried setting the volume on maximum as per instructions, but it didn't seem to make any difference.

[DrSlash]

Hi,

Bought a DR650 and found this thread so thought id say howdy. Going to read back through and digest what I can out of whats been posted so far.

Its an old one, 1991, from Rotovegas.

Owned several bikes in the past, all road bikes this is my first offroader. Not for street use.

Cheers.

[Kaituna]

[QUOTE=DrSlash;1509546]Hi,

Bought a DR650 and found this thread so thought id say howdy. Going to read back through and digest what I can out of whats been posted so far.


HI dude,
I am in Hamilton as well and with a DR650. You will really enjoy the bike. Maybe catch up some time. Good on ya.

[DrSlash]

[QUOTE=DrSlash;1509546]Hi,

Bought a DR650 and found this thread so thought id say howdy. Going to read back through and digest what I can out of whats been posted so far.


HI dude,
I am in Hamilton as well and with a DR650. You will really enjoy the bike. Maybe catch up some time. Good on ya.

Cool man sounds all good. Lots of reading ahead for me I recon!!

Cheers.

[GaZBur]

Hi,

Bought a DR650 and found this thread so thought id say howdy. Going to read back through and digest what I can out of whats been posted so far.

Its an old one, 1991, from Rotovegas.

Owned several bikes in the past, all road bikes this is my first offroader. Not for street use.

Cheers.
You should check out NordieBoys thread in this section too if you want info on DR's. Read back a bit as he and others swap heaps of good info on jetting, mods and gearing etc, they also heavy into the adventure stuff as well. I got a load of good info there after I bought mine.

[DrSlash]

You should check out NordieBoys thread in this section too if you want info on DR's. Read back a bit as he and others swap heaps of good info on jetting, mods and gearing etc, they also heavy into the adventure stuff as well. I got a load of good info there after I bought mine.

Yeah for sure I saw NordieBoys featured heavily with the DR, its too much to take in at the moment without the bike to look at and go aha etc so when its in the garage tomorrow Ill read through. See what ive actually got setup wise.

Cheers.

[cooneyr]

Yeah for sure I saw NordieBoys featured heavily with the DR, its too much to take in at the moment without the bike to look at and go aha etc so when its in the garage tomorrow Ill read through. See what ive actually got setup wise.

Cheers.

Welcome to the site.:D

Word of warning though (you may already know this though) - the DR650 changed significantly in 1996 in that there was a ground up redesign. The pre 96 bikes are quite different and you may find that much of the discussion on here is not relevant to your bike. Sorry to be a bearer of bad news. The Yahoo DR650 (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/DR650/) group often talks about the pre 96 bikes so have a look over there.

Cheers R

[DrSlash]

Hi,

Cheers for the heads up, I was having a read and naively assumed no majors changed (from what I read on the web) but thats cool, im just stoked to have it. (I only paid $1100)

So yeah got it in the garage now def needs service work, I.e all cables need lubing, oil filter, chain carb clean, filter clean etc.

Is there a link to the pre 1996 manual somewhere?

I found a Mikuni setup pdf I can share if ppl dont already have that.

Cheers.

[twotyred]

Welcome to the site.:D

Word of warning though (you may already know this though) - the DR650 changed significantly in 1996 in that there was a ground up redesign. The pre 96 bikes are quite different and you may find that much of the discussion on here is not relevant to your bike. Sorry to be a bearer of bad news. The Yahoo DR650 (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/DR650/) group often talks about the pre 96 bikes so have a look over there.

Cheers R

Theres also quite a long thread over at ADVrider for pre '96 dr650s'...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61568

[DrSlash]

Cool thanks for that Ill mooch through that thread tonight over dinner.

Got the manual from Nordie thanks alot! so sorted now for that.

Spent an hour stripping it down to frame wheels and motor etc. Going to nix anything not related to it running as I wont need lights or battery etc.

Pricing some parts up from Boyd Suzuki today.

Cheers.

[dino3310]

Cool thanks for that Ill mooch through that thread tonight over dinner.

Got the manual from Nordie thanks alot! so sorted now for that.

Spent an hour stripping it down to frame wheels and motor etc. Going to nix anything not related to it running as I wont need lights or battery etc.

Pricing some parts up from Boyd Suzuki today.

Cheers.

Boyd suzuki, kinda sounds weird dont it

[DrSlash]

I know, when my fellow biking mate said it, I said dont you mean Boyd Honda?

They done good prices and are really helpful so thats all :niceone:

Cheers.

[Denniso]

Just wanting to find out if anybody has tried a TM40 Mikuni carb or similar on there DR . Just looking for a bit more out of the big fat slug and have had good results in the past with differant carbs on other bikes , yes I know there will be a lot of set up required but if someone else has already done it they may have some useful info .

[NordieBoy]

FCR39 is in development by mx_rob on ThumperTalk and he should have some dyno info in the next few days.
TM40 is on sale from ProCycle? in the states set up for the DR.

[cooneyr]

Despte what I said in the DR650 gearbox whine thread I'm liking the carb mods I did. I drilled the second hole in the slide, put a tiny brass washer (about .5mm thick) under the needle and I removed the snorkel. It has made the mid range much stronger and more progressive but hasn't done anything to top end. I've found that power slides on gravel are much easier and much more controllable. :D The power it more progressive and the delivery seems to be linked to the throttle more now.

I defiantly have a yanky spec carb so other bikes might respond slightly differently to the same mods though.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

Told ya! :D

[GaZBur]

I know it's true, they aren't saying it but I know it. They are out to get me this Sunday.
We are off to Teretonga on Sunday for the final round of the Summer series. Apparently they had enough Motards last round to run a seperate Motard class so I am heading down with some friends for it. The two young guys have been easy to keep behind me up till now coz they just new, but they have been getting faster and I think they want to take me down this time.
So the DR650 will have to work real hard on Sunday.
Scott's CRF450 had the legs on me at Levels and Marks first outing on the DRZ400 which has more power than me but may run out of gears before the end of the main straight. Both have better rubber and brakes, so maybe this is the time. I am just glad that I knew they would beat me eventually so I never rubbed it in when I was faster, I hope they remember that if they do manage to beat me. Any betting men out there? I would say even odds at this stage!

[twotyred]

This is not the attitude that wins!

[NordieBoy]

Any betting men out there? I would say even odds at this stage!

Not implying anything here....
But...

What is it they say about old age and treachery beating youth and enthusiasm?


:devil2:

[GaZBur]

This is not the attitude that wins!
Yes I know. I have tried the attitude that wins starting off the front grid and trying to hole shot and let me tell you what happens. You go to casualty and wait around for ages to get an x-ray, and you need to take pills to reduce the pain so you can sleep. Did that twice last year and now I am acting my age and trying to survive the year without the pain and embarasement.

[dino3310]

good on ya mate as long as your still enjoying it and haveing fun, thats the attitude i like

[GaZBur]

We took the DR650, a CRF450 and a DRZ400 to Teretonga today. Had a great time as usual. The young guys caught on quick. I could get the DR around the back corners just a little faster than them, Scotts CRF had more power and top speed than the DR and he managed to take me in 3 of the 4 races after we diced and changed positions several times. Marks DRZ was not running well under full power so he didn't get a chance to prove just how quick he was capable of going sadly as he really got quick later in the day. There was no show of us keeping up with the fastest bikes KTM660, AprilliaVX550 and CR500's.
One bad incident in practice. A yz450 on slicks passed me after the dogleg and started to brake at maybe 130-140kph and the rear slid out on the damp track and he bounced badly and tumbled about 4 full turns in front of my wheel. I was first there and stopped him from trying to get up because I didn't like the way he bounced on his back. I didnt hear how he finished up but it appears he has at least a sholder injury but he was moving ok after but never returned from his trip in the ambulance. Pity about the bike as it had less than 3 hours on it.
One surprise was that I ran to the rev limiter and had to use 5th gear one part of the back section which means I was doing over 143Kph before braking to turn into the main straight. The speedo showed 175 on the straight but Scotts CRF was recording 170 on the GPS and I was not as fast. Strong side winds stopped us from getting good top speeds on the main straight. The 14 tooth front sprocket apeared to be an improvement as it was windy last time I was there too and the speedo was showing 170 under similar wind conditions.
Next DR650 outing for me is Motards at the Kart track.

[NordieBoy]

Now you need to get an FCR carb on there and deal to those young pretenders :D


Good one Mr Gaz.

[GaZBur]

Hi Guys, anyone know offhand the diameter of both front and rear axles of the DR650 - mines a 2006 SE if it makes any difference. I am on the net trying to track down some 17 in motard wheels.

[NordieBoy]

At least one of them is 17mm and it looks like Bandit wheels may fit.

[GaZBur]

Took the DR to motards at Silverstream Kart track today. First day of the season. Had hoot of a time as usual. Started off the back grid to keep out of trouble, not that there was much trouble today. Two ten minutes practice followed by two races - 8 laps??? not sure wasn't counting in anticlockwise direction. Then two ten minute practices and three races clockwise. The track feels totally different clockwise - all those right handers and seems faster too! The DR is the heaviest bike on the track and the tyres take a hell of a pounding. They have developed a strange lop sided V shape now. The rear will be ok so long as I just do right handers for a while! I did a bit of sliding both back and front - mostly unintentional but didn't drop the bike. Mark, my mate from work dropped his DRZ400 a couple of times but not seriously. Scott managed to bounce me on the start and I had no chance of passing him, and was unable to get close enough to try anyway. I was told by a good rider on a new 450 Yam that the DR is VERY WIDE as passing at the kart track usually takes either a mistake, guts or heaps of aggression - or a combination of them. I didn't do anything too aggressive as it was practice day after all. Looking forward to next session.

[dino3310]

sounds like a shit load of fun, as for passing on the cart track put a nudge bar on the front that will get ya through the pack:lol:

[GaZBur]

I worked out how much I hadn't spent this year racing and could not believe how much fun I have had on the DR for my money. Put the post in the racing forum but you DR guys may be interested in reading it http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=72832

Anyway the club keeps its racing cheap by running the Brass Monkey so I feel I owe it to them to help out. I just emailed the pres to volunteer to work the weekend so if any of you guys are going I will see you there - make youself known and I will keep and eye out for DR's and others I have talked to through here.

[GaZBur]

Well motards at Silverstream were washed out today.:weep:
No we are not big woosies who are afraid of the wet! I have raced there when we had to use an industrial heater to clear the ice off a line to get round the back corner. But today there was so much oil and water on the track it was SUPER GREASY! There was too much chance of track damage by crashing motorcycles that the decision was taken to pull the plug today so the Kart club couldn't stop us from racing at all due to the chance of gouging the track. The stewards were particular about using PLASTIC protectors as rubber tends to catch on the tarmac and rip anyway. The young guy who is organising the series this year bit the bullet and made the decision to stop - the right one I believe today and even though there were a few who wanted to continue they respected his judgement in silence.
Got 10 mins of practice and 1 points race in. Started at the back and was 7th all the way till the last lap, finished 5th when the Yam 450 passed Scott only to fall in front of him, so I went around them both. Havent come in front of Scott for a while, he he!
Due to having plenty of time left this afternoon Mark helped me make up a new set ot peg sliders out of conduit. They look good, cover very well the sharp bits - only one problem.... the plastic is KTM orange!!! I shall paint them tomorrow.

[NordieBoy]

Paint them now!

They could stain the bike overnight!

[simonnn]

I have found that Michelin Ankees are the best allrounder.
Good road grip and wear and ok on the gravel.

[GaZBur]

Took the DR to the first round of the winter road race series at Teretonga today. Started off wet and slippery and I rode like a blouse at first. Then the track dried and we got faster!! Yep I am starting to like Teretonga, except for the big looooonnng straight. It goes on and on for about a kilometer, at the end of the straight the speedo said 170km and a bit. But the GPS said 163, which I thought was pretty damn good. The speedo wasn't out by much eh! The bike was still picking up speed - but acceleration dropped off dramatically after the change into top gear.
The left side of the tyre is completely rooted now but still has good tread on the centre and right, why a all race tracks anti-clockwise???

[NordieBoy]

It's an attempt to slow down the spin of the earth and prolong the race day.
If they were run clockwise it would speed up the earths rotation which would affect the solar system and eventually the galaxy.

Do you want to be the one responsible for the premature heat-death of the universe?

[GaZBur]

It's an attempt to slow down the spin of the earth and prolong the race day.
If they were run clockwise it would speed up the earths rotation which would affect the solar system and eventually the galaxy.

Do you want to be the one responsible for the premature heat-death of the universe?
So how long are we talking here??? If we turn up to the track and its a crappy rainy day, can we run reverse track to improve the weather as the day goes on or is global warming not likely to occur that afternoon?

[NordieBoy]

If we turn up to the track and its a crappy rainy day, can we run reverse track to improve the weather as the day goes on or is global warming not likely to occur that afternoon?

You may have to run a 130 main jet and drop the needle a notch or two.
That'll heat things up and accelerate the process.

[GaZBur]

My DR is taking me to the monkey on Sat. See ya there maybe, I will be the guy wearing the black motorcycle jacket so should be easy to spot!

I be on the Main gate, then the Chute(whatever that is) and then the Bar of course!!!

[GaZBur]

Ohhh yeah - check out my sexy new wheels!!!
Get new rubber fitted before Teretonga this Sunday.
Mags are off a GSXR 250 so I am told. The sizes will be 110/70-17 front and 150/70-17 rear.
Going for Dunlop 501's, not the stickiest tyre by far but good in the wet and I would prefer a ply tyre that sticks well but gives warning when it at its limit by sliding a little than super sticky radials that might grip better but don't warn you when they had enough. Well that's my theory - we shall soon see if it is the right one.
Also lowered the bike at the rear to balance it with the dropped front. Feels sharp and quick in corners but not twitchy so far.

[NordieBoy]

Looking good :D

Love the race umbrella...

[GaZBur]

Looking good :D

Love the race umbrella...
It looked feckin stupid when I chucked it on the bike as an afterthought as it was just sitting in the corner of the garage....but it pissed down all night at the monkey and I did get to use it!!! It was dark and nobody could see who I was so honour was not sullied! I sold a lot of beer and had a laugh at the gate. I was on the gate a few hours and it was on a very slight slope. You would be amazed at the number of riders male and female who had a jacket with a load of rally badges on it that couldn't do a hill start, actually is was more a not quite flat but not a hill start either.
Then there was the guy who could keep his balance while riding but when he stopped was so pissed he fell over when he put his foot down. Quite a few laughs!

[dutchman49]

It looked feckin stupid when I chucked it on the bike as an afterthought as it was just sitting in the corner of the garage....but it pissed down all night at the monkey and I did get to use it!!! It was dark and nobody could see who I was so honour was not sullied! I sold a lot of beer and had a laugh at the gate. I was on the gate a few hours and it was on a very slight slope. You would be amazed at the number of riders male and female who had a jacket with a load of rally badges on it that couldn't do a hill start, actually is was more a not quite flat but not a hill start either.
Then there was the guy who could keep his balance while riding but when he stopped was so pissed he fell over when he put his foot down. Quite a few laughs!

What has happened to the weather in Central Otago. The local land owner told me a few years ago that it never rains at the BRASS. Yeah right. My Bandit would still be there if it wasnt for a few helpers. Next year Im taking the DR so I can guarantee exit. Just a long way (2000ks) on a shit seat.

[NordieBoy]

What has happened to the weather in Central Otago. The local land owner told me a few years ago that it never rains at the BRASS. Yeah right. My Bandit would still be there if it wasnt for a few helpers. Next year Im taking the DR so I can guarantee exit. Just a long way (2000ks) on a shit seat.

It always rains at the brass.

Make a better seat.

[deanohit]

Ohhh yeah - check out my sexy new wheels!!!
Get new rubber fitted before Teretonga this Sunday.

Man, that looks pretty shit hot as a motard, awesome effort. :clap:

[scorry]

Hey Gary, the wheels look sweet mate.
You will definatly notice a difference with grip (if you have got sum sticky rubber on).
It is really easy to find good fronts for those cos they will take a 120, so even an ex raced front would be good.
See you on sunday

[GaZBur]

Well I did Teretonga again on Sunday. What a difference the new wheels and tyres make. No speedo this time but I am sure I was entering the sweeper about 20 kph faster. It is soooo good to feel the front sticking instead of drifting. Yes the bike is a bit lower but I actually scraped the peg once and never expected that to happen on the DR! Well there are no chicken strips on the new tyres so I rode right to the edge of the rear so was quite a bit faster than previous but got a bit miffed when I was passed on the back straight by 2 Hondas and a KTM in the last half lap!!!! I definatley need MORE POWER!!! I can't wait for Levels as power aint so important there and I just love the twisties there!

Also met the guy who binned in front of me two meetings ago. I had stopped him from getting up as I didn't like the way he bounced on his back. He said thanks coz he felt fine at the time and wanted to get straight up but had damaged a vertabrae as well as the sholder and the pain came in later!! Thank god for compuslory back protectors eh!! He is OK now which is cool so will be racing again next meeting.

[scorry]

I was quite impressed with some of the bikes that you had left behind you Gaz.
You looked way faster on your new wheels, bring on the next meeting at the go cart track eh?
I had a lot of fun, but had some major fogging issues in my helmet.
it was that bad that i had to take the loop with one hand so i could clear my visor, which was quite scary considering i was doin 260+ down the straight with little visability.
I got down to a 1:10 so i was happy enough.
A new visor has been ordered now though.

[GaZBur]

OK I may be a little jealous about your CBR's top speed at Teretonga but you will be on the Yam at the Kart track. The new tyres will be a big help in assisting me to swerve around you when you fall off in front of me again, or don't you intend to do that next time. :innocent:
Do you have gearing sorted for Levels next month or will you take the big bike? Hopefully Scott will have his gearbox back together for that and there should be heaps of Canterbury motard bikes there.(19th July Levels)

Why are there not more DR650 owners racing Motard? Its not difficult and heaps of fun!

[scorry]

haha very funny, yeah hopefully it wont be raining so then my slicks will actually work ay?
Yeah i could be keen for levels, is it a race day or just have a go?
I heard from scott, he had to get parts ex Japan, so thats why he couldnt make it in the weekend, i would say he would go to levels as well.
Im not sure why there isnt many 650's, just not as popular maybe? Yet anyway

[GaZBur]

Levels is the first round of the Canterbury Winter series you can check the dates for South Island events here -http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=71806
so there is the final round at Teretonga before the first round at Levels.

I know there are a lot of DR's in Canterbury so - come on guys - I need some help keeping the KTM riders's honest!

[scorry]

Yeah the levels series looks pretty good and i have got most of the dates free at the moment, i wont take the WR to teretonga tho, just too hard on it, but levels should be fun

[GaZBur]

In case anyone wondered why I didn't say how the DR went at Rnd 3 of the Teretonga winter series its coz we didnt go. There was an ice and snow warning and ban on towing vehicles on Saturday afternoon so we thought better not travel down.
Also was told by people who know that if the track temp doesnt get above 5 degrees the tyres just wont warm up properly and getting traction is a bit difficult.
So - next week (19th July) its the first round of the Canterbury winter series at Levels Timaru. A much better track for motard bikes!
Hope to see some Canterbury DR's there. Anyone from there race thier DR?
Does anyone have problems with the choke jamming? I will check mine out this morning but expect it is just the cable.

[NordieBoy]

My choke cracked up in the metal elbow by the lever and let water get in :(
I changed to a DR350 plunger type choke from Kientech for about $15

[GaZBur]

Thanks Nordie. I think I will follow your lead there and also look at one of those rather nice looking stainless header pipes.
http://www.kientech.com/DR650ProdList.htm
I pulled the cable end out and oiled it all to hell but its still as stiff as a jammed up stiff thing.

[NordieBoy]

Go for the budget stainless one :D

<img src=http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/mybikes/DR650/20080510%20Header%20shine/slides/20080510-152732-000005.jpg>

[GaZBur]

Sitting at the computer looking at the crap weather report for this weekend. Got a new knobbly for the rear of the DR to do the Gravel Sprint on Sunday. Its at Milners Pit. Pit means big hole in the ground that I bet right now has about 20ft of water in it. Might nip out and put the snorkel back on the air box.
Had a ball on the DR at the first round of the Levels Winter Road Race series last week despite being soaked. Put a race report on it here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=78483) if you are interested.

[NordieBoy]

Take a spare snorkle for yerself as well mate :D

Well, off to do the Dry Weather Road, Maruia, Braeburn, Porika etc...

[MXNUT]

Sitting at the computer looking at the crap weather report for this weekend. Got a new knobbly for the rear of the DR to do the Gravel Sprint on Sunday. Its at Milners Pit. Pit means big hole in the ground that I bet right now has about 20ft of water in it. Might nip out and put the snorkel back on the air box.
Had a ball on the DR at the first round of the Levels Winter Road Race series last week despite being soaked. Put a race report on it here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=78483) if you are interested.
Sitting at my computer looking out the window at the CRAP WEATHER and wishing for a fine weekend. Would have loved to have done CLINT640s MMMMM ride this weekend but are too soft to be out in weather like this for 2 days. Roll on summer !!!!!!!:stupid:

[twotyred]

Finally bit the bullet and picked up this NZ new '03 DR with 5500k's on it,in very nice cond.:2thumbsup:beer:

[NordieBoy]

Finally bit the bullet and picked up this NZ new '03 DR with 5500k's on it,in very nice cond.:2thumbsup:beer:

Excellent.

Started modding yet?

[twotyred]

Excellent.

Started modding yet?
lol,not yet but the planning has begun.

The PO put bar risers and 14t cs so no excuse to keep it stock now! he also put new MT21's on to do the CCA (part of the bike can be seen in the pic on page 160 of July KR, famous!:lol:)
Probably a bashplate first...

[GaZBur]

Could have been using a Jet boat at the gravel sprint. Puddles like lakes! The course was heaps less tricky than last year, no drop offs no jumps and better suited to the conditions. But surfaces alternated rather evenly with quarter - hard gravel, quarter - soft deep gravel, quarter - slippery mud, quarter - water hazzard!
Every time through the deep puddle the DR would die a bit for a few seconds and then come on again. The spark wells were full of muddy water so it was probably a short until the worst evaporated off or it could have been the completely soaked air filter. Water sprayed up over helmet level and was very cold! My watgerproof jacket, gloves and boots weren't waterproof! I was soaked through and cold but having surprising fun. The light MX and enduro bikes creamed the rest of us.
Full marks to Alan from SPV who managed to get a MotoGuzzi 850 around the course with the hugest knobblies you could ever see on it.
I only had one wee lie down to see if i could get covered in mud but it was a very low speed one. I was not stunning anyone with my speed and grace and was happy just to make it around. I learn something at every event though and this was a good learning experience!

[wysper]

Right.. after much too-ing and fro-ing

DRZ-ing
XT660-ing
KLR-ing
etc-ing

I have settled on the MIGHTY DR 650 as my next bike.
So now I am beginging my serious search for a ride :eek:

With some money actually set aside and ready to spend I am off DR hunting.

wish me luck.. or PM me if you are selling one... you know the type... I carefull lady owner.. never been thrashed.. religously serviced... :rofl:

cheers

(adventruing I will go, adventuring I will go.. hi ho the dairy-o adventuring I will go :whistle:)

[twotyred]

you made the right choice! I just got my '03 a couple of weeks ago,for the money,you can't do better i reckon.:niceone:

[wysper]

that definately seems to be what I am getting. I am aware there are compromises but there always will be in what ever you buy.

[johannvr]

Right.. after much too-ing and fro-ing

DRZ-ing
XT660-ing
KLR-ing
etc-ing

I have settled on the MIGHTY DR 650 as my next bike.
So now I am beginging my serious search for a ride :eek:

With some money actually set aside and ready to spend I am off DR hunting.

wish me luck.. or PM me if you are selling one... you know the type... I carefull lady owner.. never been thrashed.. religously serviced... :rofl:

cheers

(adventruing I will go, adventuring I will go.. hi ho the dairy-o adventuring I will go :whistle:)

Black 2008 on Tardme @ for a reasonable figure still at the moment - auction running till 10/08. Go for it - I had KLR650 a few yrs ago, now Uhmmed & aaahed between DR-Z 400 & DR650 - eventually went with the DR (2004, off Tardme as well) because of being on the heavier side of 90kgs & happy as a pig in mud with it! Great choice.

[Kaituna]

Cool, another Hamiltronian with the right bike! Let me know if you want company on a ride.

[wysper]

Black 2008 on Tardme @ for a reasonable figure still at the moment - auction running till 10/08. Go for it - I had KLR650 a few yrs ago, now Uhmmed & aaahed between DR-Z 400 & DR650 - eventually went with the DR (2004, off Tardme as well) because of being on the heavier side of 90kgs & happy as a pig in mud with it! Great choice.

I have that on my watch list. But I am going to try and stick round the 5k mark and spend some on accessories too... or maybe mods :eek:


Cool, another Hamiltronian with the right bike! Let me know if you want company on a ride.

I would be keen. I will keep you posted.

[GaZBur]

Racing at the Jet-sprint, I mean gravel sprint the other day. My splash was small compared to the quads, they were completely invisable in the spray.

[NordieBoy]

Sweeeet :D

[Pedrostt500]

DR 650 is the only 650 that looks like a trail bike the others seem all to be a bit skitzophrenic and dont know what they want to be.

[pete376403]

DR 650 is the only 650 that looks like a trail bike the others seem all to be a bit skitzophrenic and dont know what they want to be.
Like these girly things, perhaps?

[NordieBoy]

Like these girly things, perhaps?

Well apart from the Husky and Berg of course :D

[GaZBur]

The sportzfotoz https://secure.sportzfotoz.co.nz/showsub.php?cat=5 people were at the Winter series of Levels the other day and take real good photos. Here are a couple of thier preview pics from round 1. I am hoping the next set come out soon as one of my mates Hayden (WR450) binned right in front of thier photographer and I hope he got some good ones of that - sorry Hayden but I will have to buy that pic if they got it!!!
The second photo actually shows the back starting to step out in a semi-controled power slide in third gear. I came dead centre in round one with 9 bikes in front of me and 9 bikes behind. Not bad for a mostly standard DR650 against some very trick bikes in very wet conditions.
Round 2 last weekend was dry and what a hoot Levels is to race but I was mostly racing alone with a big group in front and another behind me but not many in the middle with me.

[NordieBoy]

Now get a black headlight shroud on there - It'll be faster :D

[homer]

just got a very small meter that shows hours and is also a rev counter .
cost $66.95 delivered .
anyone else had one of these or found them good .
its a good thing i have found already just to let me know what the engine rpm is .

[johannvr]

Aslo been keen to get one, so would be interested to see feedback. Where'd you get it from if I may ask -MotoX Parts in Havelock N?

[GaZBur]

Just done two days racing at Ruapuna on the DR. Pretty much got creamed by the KTM's and Husky's with the top guys finishing about a minute faster then me in a six lap race. But on Sunday with a windshift managed several times to hit max revs in top gear. With current gearing (14 tooth front) and oversize 150/70-17 rear tyre = 179kph. Helmet chinguard resting on tank behind the petrol filler so you are looking underneath the brake cable. Big plastic handguards removed and even took the left hand off the bars to reduce frontal windage. Just put my hand back before tipping into the sweeper coz its bloody scary.

[helenoftroy]

That is awesome GaZBur!!

DRs do it all!!:jerry:

[gpcustom]

Hi there im in the middle of making a bash plate for the dr650 do you think there would be much demand for them. I have made these for the drz400 and sold a hell of a lot. I can put some pics up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Chris

[CrazyFrog]

Hi there im in the middle of making a bash plate for the dr650 do you think there would be much demand for them. I have made these for the drz400 and sold a hell of a lot. I can put some pics up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Chris

I'm keen to have a look at your bashplates, I wouldn't mind getting one for my DRZ400...what is your price and can you post a photo. Thanks

[buggsubique]

Hi there im in the middle of making a bash plate for the dr650 do you think there would be much demand for them. I have made these for the drz400 and sold a hell of a lot. I can put some pics up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Chris

Mate I got one of your plates on my DR-Z (check my album) - they are an awesome bit of kit. Its full of gouges and dents from rocks. Bloody glad I got it. Heaps of guys ask where I got it from but I never saw them again on Trade me.

Good bit of kit!:yes:

[NordieBoy]

Hi there im in the middle of making a bash plate for the dr650 do you think there would be much demand for them. I have made these for the drz400 and sold a hell of a lot. I can put some pics up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Chris

Pics please.

I need to see if it's any better than the one on my DR650 already.

[JATZ]

Pics please.

I need to see if it's any better than the one on my DR650 already.


:rofl::rofl::clap::2thumbsup:

Proly won't have a reflective paint job though

[NordieBoy]

:rofl::rofl::clap::2thumbsup:

Proly won't have a reflective paint job though

Or spares at an intersection near you :D

[CRM]

Hi there im in the middle of making a bash plate for the dr650 do you think there would be much demand for them. I have made these for the drz400 and sold a hell of a lot. I can put some pics up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Chris

I had one of yours I think on my old DRZ400 (got it off TM about 2 years ago) - excellent quality work. Any chance of doing one for an XR600??
Cheers