Which dual purpose bike with sooo many choices?

[bart]

The rimlock beside the valve seems strange. This may have contributed to the issue. All bikes I've had have them opposite, or without rimlock, are heavily weighted opposite the valve.

Glad to see you're getting it sorted. DRZ's are great bikes.

[NordieBoy]

The rimlock beside the valve seems strange. This may have contributed to the issue. All bikes I've had have them opposite, or without rimlock, are heavily weighted opposite the valve.

Glad to see you're getting it sorted. DRZ's are great bikes.

The rim lock next to the valve stem makes tyre changes much easier.
Makes balancing harder but not a biggie.

[warewolf]

The rimlock beside the valve seems strange.

On every bike I've checked (not heaps, but includes lots of KTMs in showrooms), the front one is opposite the valve, the rear next to it.

Spot-checking the Suzuki NZ web site, all the ones I looked at are that way, including the DR-Z400.

Balance at the front is probably more critical, and at the rear unsymmetrical rubber loss off the chunky tread would soon upset any fine balance anyway.

[dino3310]

on the XR there both opposites, i have noticed that the rear tyre wears more on the opposite side to the rimlock is this normal

[cynna]

on my dr350 the rimlock is close to the valve

[hemiben04]

Gday thought I might put my 2 cents worth in, Get on the phone and organise some test rides. I was using a lc4 enduro for all my riding, awesome on gravel roads but felt like I had been restling a monster after doing trail type rides so I deciced it was time for a change. I test rode heaps and heaps of bikes and settled for a road legal EXC400, With a little work it is becoming a great all round bike, Yes the maintance intervials are a pain in the arss but if you are handy with a spanner its makes for good times mucking about with ya bike in the shed.
Try a few bikes you will know when it feels right

[_Shrek_]

Well I have had the DRZ a while now and clocked up a few thou K's mainly on the road, one trail ride (another this weekend ) and plenty of time exploring river tracks...My verdict..a little disappointed really

It goes well on the dirt and is fun around town..but the open road it is a shaking vibrating loose goose..Ok I realise there is no perfect road/trail/adventure bike (unless you can convince me otherwise) but I thought it would stack up better than it has...I am however not going to throw all my toys out of my bath tub just yet...So perhaps you can help..

make sure you don't have a small twist in the rear sprocket as well

Now it rides alot smoother at 60k...@ 100k it still has some vibes but no where near as bad..Next year I will replace the knobblie tyres for some less agressive dual sport tyres and get the rear wheel balanced, which will hopefully eliminate the dreaded shimmy completely...or just get a 650 instead haha..it never ends

for comfort & commuting & playing up in the hills the 650Gs BMW will keep up with most off or on road handles well easy to service etc & lots of fun & you get the best of both worlds