Dr 650?

[president(msfc)]

There seems to be alot of fans of this popular bike here. I am interested in hearing from any owners about open road cruising speeds of the suzuki dr 650? open road speed seems to be the biggest disadvantage of any adventure bike? do you agree?

[warewolf]

Disagree, they have other things which are a bigger disadvantage, eg comfort, acceleration, it's so much fun you'll end up selling your disused road bike... :sunny:

Pretty much any adventure bike will exceed the open road speed limit, right down to the 200cc ones. All the mid-capacity ones will cruise merrily at the walking home penalty. If excessive speed is important to you, get a litre-class adventure bike. But bear in mind that the greater style with which it cruises on road at :woohoo: speeds, the less capable it will be in rough off road conditions. :scooter:

Adventure bikes are about so much more than speed.

[Paladin]

There seems to be alot of fans of this popular bike here. I am interested in hearing from any owners about open road cruising speeds of the suzuki dr 650? open road speed seems to be the biggest disadvantage of any adventure bike? do you agree?

What speed to you wanna cruise along at on the open road?

The ride yesterday was the first one since I bought my '09 DR650(mine is stock except for Cycleworks pipe) that I have done long stretches of cruising - Woodville to Lower Hutt with one 15min stop) and I found it totally comfortable. And it is only just getting run in, clicked over 2000kms yesterday. It will happily cruise along at 110-120 all day long and if you want to push it up to 130-140 it can do it no problem at all with the stock 15T front sprocket on. It also has the grunt to pull into the wind and still cruise at 110+ as well. It's not that vibey for a thumper either and WAY less vibey than a KTM for darn sure. It's also very well balanced and is assured on the front end so you can ride it hard thru the twistes flicking it left to right easily and lean over and have some fun!

[dutchman49]

My DR sounds its best cruising at 130kph (ind). This is with 14t front sprocket. From this speed it will pull instantly to 160kph (ind) in top gear. Only downfalls I can complain about is the seat and the size of the fuel tank 12l. there are now aftermarket 18l tanks available on trademe. About 400 bucks. 12l gets you about 200kms. No good for adventure riding.

[BMWST?]

what about overtaking ability?This is the problem for me with adv bikes.I WANT effortless on road cruising ablilty,hence i want a africa twin or xtz 750 or r100 gs..i know they wont be as good a trail bike...

[Squiggles]

I find it more fun than the TL for overtaking, its too easy on the TL, just twist and go. I like kicking the DR down a gear and making it go "MooooOOWAAAP WAAAP" :lol:

[Wannabike]

Take one for a test drive, then you'll know. I'm happy with the performance of mine, but I ride like a nana..

[PeteJ]

Can't say I have ever had difficulties overtaking with my DR650.

Nor have I had any difficulties with the 200km range before reserve. If I'm going further between gas stations I just take a spare fuel container.

Obviously, I'm not the big rough tough fast adventure rider a lot of our friends are.

Cheers

Pete

[Paladin]

My DR sounds its best cruising at 130kph (ind). This is with 14t front sprocket. From this speed it will pull instantly to 160kph (ind) in top gear. Only downfalls I can complain about is the seat and the size of the fuel tank 12l. there are now aftermarket 18l tanks available on trademe. About 400 bucks. 12l gets you about 200kms. No good for adventure riding.

12L ???? It's 13L, 10 + 3 reserve isn't it? On our rides the 13l tank is generally going to be enough with how our stops usually work out, besides we usually have Junkmanjoe with us with his Safari tank so we can always siphon off his tank when he's taking a leak! :lol:

I had mine up to 150kph on Saturday and it sounded sweet! :2thumbsup


what about overtaking ability?This is the problem for me with adv bikes.I WANT effortless on road cruising ablilty,hence i want a africa twin or xtz 750 or r100 gs..i know they wont be as good a trail bike...

Trust me overtaking is FINE! Drop it down a gear and feeeeel the pull! :2thumbsup


Take one for a test drive, then you'll know. I'm happy with the performance of mine, but I ride like a nana..

I'm still a bit of a n00b to adv riding but even after just 2 adv rides, one on a gnarly offroad track and one with plenty of gravel; I have found the DR has given me lots of confidence and is helping me be less of a nana - my advice is trust your bike and give it a bit of welly coming out of those gravel bends; it pulls thru nicely and will give you a better feel! I'm not giving it anywhere as much welly ast the experienced guys but hey I'm trying and it feels way better on the DR than I ever did on my little KLX250S!


Can't say I have ever had difficulties overtaking with my DR650.

Nor have I had any difficulties with the 200km range before reserve. If I'm going further between gas stations I just take a spare fuel container.

Obviously, I'm not the big rough tough fast adventure rider a lot of our friends are.

Cheers

Pete

I'm getting the same, right around 200kms before reserve, in case that's of interest.

[NordieBoy]

There seems to be alot of fans of this popular bike here. I am interested in hearing from any owners about open road cruising speeds of the suzuki dr 650? open road speed seems to be the biggest disadvantage of any adventure bike? do you agree?

Completely stock with a screen on it will sit on 120kph (5050rpm) longer than your arse will let you and wind out to.

Stock gearing...
4200rpm @ 100kph
4600rpm @ 110kph
7800rpm @ 186kph (in theory on the limiter)
Max torque not 'till 5000rpm and max power at 6000.

[Paladin]

Completely stock with a screen on it will sit on 120kph (5050rpm) longer than your arse will let you and wind out to.

Stock gearing...
4200rpm @ 100kph
4600rpm @ 110kph
7800rpm @ 186kph (in theory on the limiter)
Max torque not 'till 5000rpm and max power at 6000.

Hit that horrible dead feeling of the limiter myself on occasion on the ride yesterday - not in 5th gear yet though!!!!!!

:doh:

[junkmanjoe]

There seems to be alot of fans of this popular bike here. I am interested in hearing from any owners about open road cruising speeds of the suzuki dr 650? open road speed seems to be the biggest disadvantage of any adventure bike? do you agree?

HI Biker freind.

my 2c worth.

over all for price, exellant.

my one is a 07, i ride it like a road bike, right on the edge.
ask paladin.

i also ride it like a MX bike, come trail bike come adventure bike.

hence the wording Dual purpose.

im am a little rough with it some times, it has handled everything i thrown at it, it just a great twisty road cruiser, easy to throw around the corners.
great to zip around town and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.......
open road i travel around 110km, it just purrs along, theres enough on the stick for passing, if you wanted more road speed , mybe do the mods, carb, pipe, airbox.
i did get 220 km before reserve, then travel another 35km on vapours...

i do now have a 30L Safari tank on board, i find the extra weight helps keep the bike on the road,
yesterday, as the tank got lower in fuel, bike got lighter, and more dificult to handel on the looser gravel,

two things im looking in to changing.

seat is a little hard on my butt after about 2hrs rideing.

and im not to happy with the rear shock, would like to beaf it up a little. may be heaver spring.

im happy with the bike and the price you can get one for eather brand new, under 10k, or second hand.
worth every dolllar.:niceone:

[Paladin]

my one is a 07, i ride it like a road bike, right on the edge.
ask paladin.

i also ride it like a MX bike, come trail bike come adventure bike.

hence the wording Dual purpose.


worth every dolllar.:niceone:

Yep, what Joe is saying is right, he rides his DR hard, but steady, offroad and I have never seen him have a serious off, only a light whoopsie on a misjudgement on a steep uphill washout - he knows how to get the best out of it for sure.
On the other hand on the tarmac he rides it steady-as-she-goes, whereas I tend to hoon mine around on bends like a road bike any chance I can get, even sliding my arse off the seat edge when i get a chance, and it never makes me feel out of control - then again I still have the TrailWings on it and not full-on knobbies yet! When you commit on the countersteering it really bites well into corners; very direct! :innocent:

If you combine both our experiences into one, that should tell you the DR is VERY capable indeed!

And, yes, DEFINITELY worth every dollar, I am SO pleased I went for the DR - 110% thrilled; it's a crackin bike for the money!

:rockon:

[junkmanjoe]

Mate Paladin forgot to say.

just how tough they are as well, ill say no more....:bash:

[Paladin]

Mate Paladin forgot to say.

just how tough they are as well, ill say no more....:bash:

except the underside of the crankcase - that's complete and utter shite!

:doh:

[Kaituna]

Around tight windy sealed roads, with decent tires, I reckon a dr650 would give anyone on any type of road bike a go. Providing the riders are the same skill and ability, but the same road bike on gravel against the Dr650, would totally suck shit and DIE!! Thats why I love my DR!

[GaZBur]

Mate Paladin forgot to say.

just how tough they are as well, ill say no more....:bash:

Man they are almost indestructable. My 2006 has done about 30 race meetings, including being dropped both sides several times each side. Top speed on the track was 179Kph???.(max revs with 14 tooth sproket on a 150/70-17 rear) Rev it till just before the limiter and change. It has had in that time 3 oil changes, 3 full set of brake pads, and one of the twin spark plugs changed, because the shop only had one at the time. Also about 4 sets of various tyres. Motor doesn't appear to be tired yet and it still gets me to work and back every day for 2 and a bit years. No breakdowns on track or road. It did missfire once, but only for a second? Always starts first press of the starter.
Stage 3 dynojet, opened airbox and un-named aftermarket exhaust, running a 170 main jet on 98 petrol and no air filter when racing.
Cheapest fun to be had!
My mates on other bikes may be faster but they have spent more on pistons than I have on the whole race thing!

[Oscar]

There seems to be alot of fans of this popular bike here. I am interested in hearing from any owners about open road cruising speeds of the suzuki dr 650? open road speed seems to be the biggest disadvantage of any adventure bike? do you agree?

I have several mates with DR650's and they never have problems keeping up on seal or gravel. Frankly, except at silly speeds on the open road, most keep up and on long rides our group has included GS1200's KTM990/950 & LC4's, Cagiva's, DR650's and things like Dt230's, DRZ400's and XR250's, and I can't recall anyone actually holding us up (although we might have got strung out on occasion. This is in the face of Vege's insistence on a 50km/h average*, too.

The biggest disadvantage suffered by many Adv bikes is lack of fuel capacity (and/or excessive consumption).


*Doesn't sound hard? - Try it on seal and gravel all day...(I'm not sure we've ever actually done it).

[NordieBoy]

The biggest disadvantage suffered by many Adv bikes is lack of fuel capacity (and/or excessive consumption).

Bike or rider?

[Oscar]

Bike or rider?

Hehehehe..both.

[merv]

Hehehehe..both.

What, and the rider ends up flaked out on the ground like this you mean http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=125607&d=1239013532

[Paladin]

What, and the rider ends up flaked out on the ground like this you mean http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=125607&d=1239013532

Very very harsh Merv! :msn-wink:

Poor Jezza, he must've really been going for it the night before, I don't know how he rode at all, he looked rough as a bears bum! :drinknsin

[Oscar]

What, and the rider ends up flaked out on the ground like this you mean http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=125607&d=1239013532

I was perhaps guilty of this at Awaikino last time (although I swear it was an inner ear problem). When I stopped on the Pomerangi Road (rather than chuck in my helmet), Thommo pulled over and was very solicitous of me. He helped me up and suggested that I'd be better off standing in the warm sunshine on the other side of the road...



























....little did I know that the little bastid was maneuvering me into better lighting so he could get a photo of me...er...being unwell...

[Denniso]

When I first got my DR I hated it with a venjance but stuck with it as I had spent all that money on it I wasn't about to give up on it , then I altered my riding style and found it too much fun not to ride , so I put my thou's rego on hold for a year as it just wasn't getting used . What I'm saying is if your'e comming off a sports bike the DR will take a bit of getting used to , but it's worth it .

[Box'a'bits]

....but you definitely need to do something about that seat....:laugh:

[junkmanjoe]

yip one day, it all takes money.... my ass puts up with it for now.

[NordieBoy]

yip one day, it all takes money.... my ass puts up with it for now.

You'll score one off TM soon going by your track record :D

[Tony W]

A DRZ400 will EAT a 650 everywhere. Get one.

[johannvr]

A DRZ400 will EAT a 650 everywhere. Get one.


What? Yeah - maybe down a mineshaft, but sure as not everywhere :oi-grr:

[Tony W]

What? Yeah - maybe down a mineshaft, but sure as not everywhere :oi-grr:

Mineshaft ?
That must be an African joke. Please explain to this Kiwi bloke !

[johannvr]

Mineshaft ?
That must be an African joke. Please explain to this Kiwi bloke !

Yeah yeah. :msn-wink:b

Big hole in the ground. Very deep. Also vertical.

Nuff said :second:

[Kaituna]

A DRZ400 will EAT a 650 everywhere. Get one.

Unless I want to take my Handbrake on the back with me. 650 is the better choice I think.

[junkmanjoe]

i do recall a drz400 eating gravel one day.....

[NordieBoy]

A DRZ400 will EAT a 650 everywhere. Get one.

I was tapped out at 145kph or so in the gravel on a DRZ400 and a DR came past me like I was standing still :(

[junkmanjoe]

did you eat his dust.................:2thumbsup

[merv]

I keep telling you that for adventure riding the DRZ400 is let down by having a close ratio 5 speed gearbox, when we want spread for trail and road in the same machine. The DR650 does that better and so do most other bikes.

[Tony W]

i do recall a drz400 eating gravel one day.....

Oh yeah !...as I recall I had just passed a 650 and must have clipped its massive Safari tank and tripped over......:buggerd:

[NordieBoy]

The DR650 does that better and so do most other bikes.

But still needs a damn 6th gear...

As do most of the others.


I want a 1st that's useable in the hills 2-up and a top that's like the stock 5th.

[Tony W]

I keep telling you that for adventure riding the DRZ400 is let down by having a close ratio 5 speed gearbox, when we want spread for trail and road in the same machine. The DR650 does that better and so do most other bikes.

Mine does not have a close ratio box.
?

[merv]

Yeah so why don't they make 650s with a six speed with the same ratio spread as my XR250 then so you could plonk around like a trials bike and still race along on the highway?

The comparo is the difference between first gear and top gear on the XR is 3.402 times, on the DR650 it is 2.925 and on the DRZ400 it is 2.647, so I guess you get the picture.

[merv]

Mine does not have a close ratio box.
?

They all do mate, see my numbers above and below.

All DRZ have the following gearbox ratios:

2.286
1.733
1.375
1.091
0.864

The various models then just have different final drive sprocket ratios.

DR650 have the following ratios:

2.417
1.625
1.238
1.000
0.826

[Tony W]

But still needs a damn 6th gear...

As do most of the others.


I want a 1st that's useable in the hills 2-up and a top that's like the stock 5th.

The spread of gears in a 400 is like as a 6 speed........only like 5th is missing !

To me an MX bike is "close ratio "

[merv]

The spread of gears in a 400 is the same as a 6 speed........only like 5th is missing !

Nah you aren't reading my numbers.

Six speed on my Honda reads like this:

2.769
1.882
1.380
1.083
0.923
0.814

[bart]

The spread of gears in a 400 is the same as a 6 speed........only like 5th is missing !

yeah, biiiiiiiiiiigggggg gap between 4th and 5th. I can never seem to get mine geared right.

[Tony W]

I was tapped out at 145kph or so in the gravel on a DRZ400 and a DR came past me like I was standing still :(

Bugger. My theory is starting to look a bit shaky...

[Tony W]

Nah you aren't reading my numbers.

Six speed on my Honda reads like this:

2.769
1.882
1.380
1.083
0.923
0.814


That is a good spread. Shame it's only a 250.

What are the ratios for DR-Z250 6 speed ?

[Tony W]

yeah, biiiiiiiiiiigggggg gap between 4th and 5th. I can never seem to get mine geared right.


Jeez those 650 boys bite good, eh ?!!:laugh:

[merv]

I'm not sure of the hp difference between a DR650 and a DRZ400 but the water cooled donk on the 400 should be up there, but the hassle is gear it to run as hard on the highway (forgetting the seat etc) as the 650 and you wouldn't bother trying to ride it through the tight stuff any more.

The thing is they are totally different bikes - the DR650 being softer and heavier, but I always thought the DRZ was flawed because of the gearbox ratios. Crikey even my VFR750 has a wider total ratio gearbox than the DRZ and the DRZ is meant to be a dirt bike not a road bike.

[merv]

What are the ratios for DR-Z250 6 speed ?

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Not as good as the Honda which is one reason why I tried and then dumped my DR250RW which had the same engine as the DRZ250.

[Oscar]

I'm not sure of the hp difference between a DR650 and a DRZ400 but the water cooled donk on the 400 should be up there, but the hassle is gear it to run as hard on the highway (forgetting the seat etc) as the 650 and you wouldn't bother trying to ride it through the tight stuff any more.

The thing is they are totally different bikes - the DR650 being softer and heavier, but I always thought the DRZ was flawed because of the gearbox ratios. Crikey even my VFR750 has a wider total ratio gearbox than the DRZ and the DRZ is meant to be a dirt bike not a road bike.

Years ago, covering the FNAR for KR, I had a DRZ400EK (road legal enduro as opposed to an "S"), which we had taller gearing on (one tooth up front).
Ricky Rude and I ran it against a TE610 on 90 mile beach and got an indicated 162 out of it (158 on the Husky).

[NordieBoy]

Bugger. My theory is starting to look a bit shaky...

To be fair the bit missing from my statement was DR750 :whistle:

[carver]

I ger 90 miles to reserve...

is that not much?

[nallac]

I ger 90 miles to reserve...

is that not much?

After i Did the usual mods i ran outta gogo juice at 160k's,
So 90 miles is about average for a hard ridden DR

[carver]

After i Did the usual mods i ran outta gogo juice at 160k's,
So 90 miles is about average for a hard ridden DR

oh yeah, i rape this one everywhere...
It is so harmless to ride it hard....
not sure what mods it has, kev (from coro) did a few i think