Here, have a good chuckle at me...

**AlpinePossum** · 27th August 2009, 22:36

...you guys are going see the punchline coming a mile off... but that just means you'll start laughing earlier. Sigh!

When I test drove the motorbike the other day,I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get it up to 100kph. Ok, I thought probably didn't have enough straight road where I was testing it. Also after the test I noted I had forgotten to put the choke completely off. Doh! (What you get for driving an auto-everything for too long)

Anyway, the thought niggled. I had read here of some folks complaining that their Suzuki DR650 had a speed wobble over 110kph.

So YAHOO! The new pre-loved Suzi Dr 650 arrived tonight... and I was determine to lay this niggling worry to rest. So I chose the quietest stretch of road in the area... and opened her up.

Dammit! The acceleration is something fierce! You really have to hold onto the handlebars with this thing!

Jeepers! The head wind is bloody strong, I have hold on like a tick to a dog! Hey! I'm not complaining... I specifically chose a bike without a heavy expensive easy to break chunk of plastic up front. I like off road, the more "off" the better.

Still! Not at a 100KPH! DAMMIT!! Corner coming up too fast! Must slow down these tyres (Dunlop D606 rather knobbly) are feeling skitterish.

Ok, round that bend open up again....

Heck the head wind is tiring! I must be getting old and wimpy... I use to handle 100kph on a dirt bike no trouble. I just tip about 100 before I hit the next bend and then I give up and ease off.

I get home and start browsing the 'net about performance of these tyres and tyre pressures and the trouble shooting section of the manual....

Then a thought strikes me and I grab a torch and head outside...

Yes, yes, I know you have all seen this coming from the start...

....the Suzi's speedo reads in MPH not KPH!

**James Deuce** · 27th August 2009, 22:40

Pure classic goldplated awesomeness.

**dino3310** · 27th August 2009, 22:55

classic mate

. i did the same on my old DR i had no fifth gear and i thought the 85klms in fourth sucked

**Tink** · 27th August 2009, 23:07

hehehe what part of the road were you.. obviously no one gets pinged there!!!

**jafar** · 27th August 2009, 23:19

good effort

**Crisis management** · 28th August 2009, 07:53

Well done, you'll fit in well around here!

Great to see you got the bike purchasing sorted and sounds like you got a good one.

**Taz** · 28th August 2009, 08:13

F@CK I'm glad you're on the other island......

**hospitalfood** · 28th August 2009, 10:52

they are a great bike, bloody good story

**Leyton** · 28th August 2009, 11:07

Originally Posted by AlpinePossum

....the Suzi's speedo reads in MPH not KPH!

HAHAHAHAHAHA Nice one dude!!!!!

**Transalper** · 28th August 2009, 11:27

yep, ability to give us a laugh and laugh at yourself, you'll fit in with us local adv types nicely.
Maybe we'll see you out soon.
If you want company on a ride make a post in the Northern Canterbury Adv Rideouts thread or send a PM.
It's been a bit quiet here so we could use some action, seems we may be a little unmovitated to initiate much ourselves at the moment.

Don't be worring about speeds and abilitys, some of us like relaxed easy rides just as much as more technical stuff.
Cheers
TA.

BTW.. mine reads 100 easy enough, but then it's in KMs.

**babysteps** · 28th August 2009, 13:32

thats awesome! I'm sure we've all been there.......

**talbertnz** · 28th August 2009, 15:58

One of my collegues JJ was taking our company promotional v8 1960 cevy imperial down to napier from aucks. happily cruising at a 100-105, engine just purring. (this thing is a beast) He did notice all the other cars on the road going terribly slow. so he kept over taking them until about 80% of the way down to napier mister cop-man pulled him over. Still oblivious to why he got pulled over.. Mister cop man asked: First time riding this thing I presume??
JJ got away with 300 dollar ticket and no demerit points as mr copman believed he realy didnt know it was a MPH speedo.

**howdamnhard** · 28th August 2009, 16:11

Ha, ha I thought it was strange you couldn't get it up to 100km/h and were having trouble holding on.

**Paladin** · 28th August 2009, 20:15

Good fun Possum, thx for sharing LOL!

Yep, the DR can accelerate quite nicely for sure and is plenty of fun in that department I think. At full whack you definitely feel that wind pulling your arms out as you hang on for dear life gettin the full brunt of it thanks to havin no real windshield!

My '09 still has fairly low kms but it's loosening up for sure. I DO wish I had a rev counter on it tho - I wrang the hell out of it in 4th the other day just to see what it would do before HAVING to shift up to top and then afterwards wondered about just how rough I'd been on it revs wise! It WAS screaming its head off! Oops!