I'm looking to buy a motard

[oneblackflag]

"speed-weave" ? I don't get any of that even if I cane it to 140! (as fast as I can make mine go on the flat while carrying lardy me!) .. bearings on your bike OK ? Wrong substances being smoked ? ;-)

It does pay to invest in a nice fat seat, there are a couple of places that can make one for not too huge amount of $$$ ... my seat is nice! 200km a day with not a single numb bum cheek!

Bike spandex helps.... The padded shit.

[Phil.T.Tipp]

Feck, mechanical sympathy inhibits me from approaching 140 on mine - perhaps a change of gearing and a big-bore kit might help I'm no fatty either!

My head bearings are actually on the way out, this was brought to my attention when I got my new tyres fitted recently. Master plan is to book it in to get them done and fit braided hoses and new pads at the same time. I scored a Wemoto braided brake line kit for 80GBP on eBay, can't wait!

I came to the DR-Z from an R6 in the UK - I'm still kinda calibrated for licence-munching speed, razor-sharp steering and eye-popping braking, none of which are evident on the supermoto - but it's a different game here and the fun-factor is extremely high on a stupidmotard in kamikaze Dorkland traffic

[strandedinnz]

Thrash the DR-Z! It likes it rough!

I dropped the tooth count on the rear sprocket of my bike, makes it a bit less buzzy at highway speeds, apart from that just got a louder pipe and a K&N filter (with the 3x3inch hole chopped in the airbox).
DR-Z's make one of the better lane splitting/filtering machines, nice and high up, light and very manoeuvrable and just enough go to get out of trouble .. plus you can bounce them off the tarmac/cars and not get too hideous a repair bill

[Phil.T.Tipp]

Agreed, I have the 3x3 mod and an FMF Powerbomb full stainless pipe (previous owner) - I think the jetting needs a tweak though. I also went for Michelin Pilot Powers over the Pirelli MTs I replaced. I'm 90/10 road to trail in any case.

Can't beat the motard for the commute; turning circle radius, vision in traffic, steering reponse at slow to medium speed - launching at the lights and general malarkey is de-rigeur The brush guards I have are handy for wing-mirror high-fives too.

My only quibble, is the bloody seating. The old DR was designed for all-day-in-the-pegs off-roady riding - Suzuki put zero thought into repurposing the frame/seat as a supermoto - a fat seat is a must. In fact, my seat cover's a bit tired and scarred - maybe instead of a recovering I should go for a new foam profile... Where did you get yours done?

[strandedinnz]

My only quibble, is the bloody seating. The old DR was designed for all-day-in-the-pegs off-roady riding - Suzuki put zero thought into repurposing the frame/seat as a supermoto - a fat seat is a must. In fact, my seat cover's a bit tired and scarred - maybe instead of a recovering I should go for a new foam profile... Where did you get yours done?

The pictures below are my seat, apparently McDonald Motor Trimmers in Tauranga made mine. A friend of mine got his bike seat redone by DR Trim in Morrinsville (really nice work they do!)

[Phil.T.Tipp]

Nice, I'm liking the phat seat. Might have to give those DR Trim chaps a visit. Thanks for the info!

[400sm]

You lie! Lol, I love my DRZ it's mental, but comfortable, nein.

My arse goes to sleep after 10miles, and the human-parachute sitting position keeps me to under 90kmh for anything over 15mins. Not to mention the gentle speed-weave oscillations which set in at 100, banked over on the motorway. Best kept to the minor roads, in 3rd, at 80. Braaaaap!

Seat has never been a problem for moi. My alltime one day record is 1600km. Had to buy a cushion from the warehouse on the way home tho !

Speed weave has. Have found that ditterent wheel and tyre combinations affect this problem.

Have seen 171 kmh indicated on the speedo once. The tail wind was 100 kmh tho, as l was chasing the cloud shadows !

Gearing was 16/41 at the time.
I now use 16/39

[Phil.T.Tipp]

[QUOTE=Gearing was 16/41 at the time.
I now use 16/39[/QUOTE]

Wow, that's a pretty big change, -3T at the back and -1T at the front (given that stock is 15/41) - what does that do to your low gears and top speed?

I take it you needed a new chain too?

[400sm]

Wow, that's a pretty big change, -3T at the back and -1T at the front (given that stock is 15/41) - what does that do to your low gears and top speed?

I take it you needed a new chain too?

The actual net tooth loss to chain length, is only 1 tooth from standard.
ie (15+41 is 56 teeth. 16+39 is 55 teeth.) You only have to change the chain if there is more than a sum difference of 4 teeth. So the chain stays the same :-) This is the beauty of being able to mix and match 15,16, 39 and 41 tooth sprockets to get your optimum gearing without a chain alteration !
Neat eh:-)

I gear the 400 for 5th gear for tarmac and shingle. I don't gear for Top speed. How it cruises at 100/130 is my goal. Low gears, not a problem.

When l gear for offroad, l use 13/43 which is the same chain length as 15/41 ! ( l have 18" and 21" wheels for this)

[400sm]

The pictures below are my seat, apparently McDonald Motor Trimmers in Tauranga made mine. A friend of mine got his bike seat redone by DR Trim in Morrinsville (really nice work they do!)

Gosh those SMs look nice eh ! ;-))

[Phil.T.Tipp]

Neat eh:-)

Genius sir

[strandedinnz]

Gosh those SMs look nice eh ! ;-))

SM singular .. it's the same one in different photos

But yes .. I love mine, great fun toy.. except when it's pee'ing down and I have a 100km to get to work

[400sm]

SM singular .. it's the same one in different photos

But yes .. I love mine, great fun toy.. except when it's pee'ing down and I have a 100km to get to work

Sorry, I was meaning our SMs in general , as well as your fine machine..

.....of course I am totally biased ! ..


Woh, do you do 100km every day ???
(I did 200km per week for a number of years)

[strandedinnz]

Sorry, I was meaning our SMs in general , as well as your fine machine..

.....of course I am totally biased ! ..


Woh, do you do 100km every day ???
(I did 200km per week for a number of years)

I used to ride a GSXR600 ... I think I much prefer the Motard style, far more usable .. though I do miss being able to blast past nigh on anything

Yup .. I live in Mangawhai and work in the city, I will confess I have caved in and bought a Smart car for the days when it's raining as my "waterproofs" aren't but he time I've got to the city It's hell not being able to lane split and sitting in the queue from Albany, I've no idea how the mere mortals stick it out day after day! I have been tempted to see if my car will fit and lane split though ... looks like I almost could

[400sm]

I used to ride a GSXR600 ... I think I much prefer the Motard style, far more usable .. though I do miss being able to blast past nigh on anything

Yup .. I live in Mangawhai and work in the city, I will confess I have caved in and bought a Smart car for the days when it's raining as my "waterproofs" aren't but he time I've got to the city It's hell not being able to lane split and sitting in the queue from Albany, I've no idea how the mere mortals stick it out day after day! I have been tempted to see if my car will fit and lane split though ... looks like I almost could

Omg . . . 1000 k's per week??!!
Good onya . . . must love your job AND riding !