The DR650 thread

**NordieBoy** · 5th May 2014, 18:56

Originally Posted by 400sm

Do we know why 3rd gear breaks ?
Is it one, the pair, or alternating gears breaking?
Please direct me to a page on this forum. No doubt it has been discussed at large.

It's the drive gear that goes but the reason is still being debated...

Hidden away in this thread...
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...06#post1869406

And in detail over here..,
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424132

**pete376403** · 5th May 2014, 18:59

have a look over on ADVrider.com - big thread there about it.

too slow again

**NordieBoy** · 5th May 2014, 19:02

Originally Posted by DR650gary

Now that the topic has been raised, has anyone got a comment on the real value/comfort of these. Looking at reinstalling a DR650 in the shed and can't remember whether my legs were compressed too much or not.

Thanks

They make the bike more comfortable and help bias the weight a little more to the rear when standing.

If you ride in rocky areas, the ProCycle lowered foot pegs would be a better option.

**R650R** · 5th May 2014, 21:54

Originally Posted by 400sm

Do we know why 3rd gear breaks ?
Is it one, the pair, or alternating gears breaking?
Please direct me to a page on this forum. No doubt it has been discussed at large.

Funny you mention that, just skimmed across that on DR wiki while looking up some other stuff. And talking with someone else about all these internet legends of breakdowns it seems you could find enough of a problem about anything to cause a scare. Anyway the other site reckoned there were maybe 30 documented cases out of thousands of DRs sold and thrashed around the world.
Then step back and look at the abuse these bikes get from their owners which is where half the problems originate I reckon, overloaded doing jumps offroad etc compared to the sendentary farm duties the bike was probably designed for.
There's always a few lemons in any batch of motor vehicles, seen it truck fleets, there's always a couple that are cursed no matter who drives them while others of same model don't break etc...

**Magnum Noel** · 5th May 2014, 22:03

Originally Posted by DR650gary

Now that the topic has been raised, has anyone got a comment on the real value/comfort of these. Looking at reinstalling a DR650 in the shed and can't remember whether my legs were compressed too much or not.

Thanks

Missing the old DR mate? They seem to be getting more popular by the day.

**badlieutenant** · 5th May 2014, 23:11

Get a pumper carb. Makes a huge difference

Originally Posted by R650R

That's what normally happens with an internet argument it goes further off course than an ADV bike.

So back to topic anyway, been looking at carbs is there any good options in NZ without too much hassle/mods???
The procycle mikuni option will be at least NZD 600 ish by the time you get it here but is pretty much bolt on, don't like the FCR option, too much to do by the looks of it.
Anyway people with pumper carbs/mods, how much better is it?

Oh and have I ok fuel economy i think...... riding slowly Auckland to wellington escorting a gn250 down I was getting about 270kms per 10 litres and it took 12 hours to get down. Coming back up the next day I thought I would get close to 550kms before refilling. I hit reserve half way between waiuru and turangi. I have no idea if there was any fuel actually in the tank when I got to turangi but my 20 Ltr tank took 20 Ltrs. So normal riding on open road I get 400Kms before a refill. Oh and it took 7 n half hours to get back

**DR650gary** · 6th May 2014, 07:21

Originally Posted by Magnum Noel

Missing the old DR mate? They seem to be getting more popular by the day.

Yes and no.

I sold my TDM as part of a long term plan but my son has a spare DR down south and he is looking at me as a storage option while he heads o/seas for a while. Seems fair to me, he gets a place to park and I get a free toy.

Cheers

**NordieBoy** · 6th May 2014, 07:51

Originally Posted by badlieutenant

Oh and have I ok fuel economy i think...... riding slowly Auckland to wellington escorting a gn250 down I was getting about 270kms per 10 litres and it took 12 hours to get down. Coming back up the next day I thought I would get close to 550kms before refilling. I hit reserve half way between waiuru and turangi. I have no idea if there was any fuel actually in the tank when I got to turangi but my 20 Ltr tank took 20 Ltrs. So normal riding on open road I get 400Kms before a refill. Oh and it took 7 n half hours to get back

What tank do you have?

**NordieBoy** · 6th May 2014, 07:57

Originally Posted by R650R

Funny you mention that, just skimmed across that on DR wiki while looking up some other stuff. And talking with someone else about all these internet legends of breakdowns it seems you could find enough of a problem about anything to cause a scare. Anyway the other site reckoned there were maybe 30 documented cases out of thousands of DRs sold and thrashed around the world.
Then step back and look at the abuse these bikes get from their owners which is where half the problems originate I reckon, overloaded doing jumps offroad etc compared to the sendentary farm duties the bike was probably designed for.
There's always a few lemons in any batch of motor vehicles, seen it truck fleets, there's always a couple that are cursed no matter who drives them while others of same model don't break etc...

30 documented cases from members of KiwiBiker, Thumpertalk and AdvRider.

I think lugging the engine in 3rd, 4th and 5th is the main culprit.

**badlieutenant** · 6th May 2014, 20:15

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

What tank do you have?

the acerbis 20ltr like the black one here >> http://www.motozone.co.nz/products/a...302-dr650.aspx

**Waipukbiker** · 10th May 2014, 20:36

Just over a week ago I went to start the beast and just got a big click from the solenoid, got 12 volts at the starter so out it came. All clean inside but the ball bearing in the replacement end cap was close to loosing the plot entirely. hooked the seal off it and no sign of lube and some of the balls had seen better days. Only been on for 6 months and its not a daily ride. Its always started easy so not had much use as far as a bearing goes. lightly sanded the commutator, cleaned the grooves out, made sure the brushes were free in the guides, used a fully synthetic Moly grease in the original cap bush and re fitted, Spins over fine. Thought about getting a decent quality bearing for the aftermarket cap but had suspicion's about the alignment of the armature. Will see how this synthetic grease goes anyway.

**R650R** · 10th May 2014, 21:12

You've had me googling, sounds like quite a job to fix such a small problem.

This guy has an interesting if slightly butch fix... http://webpages.charter.net/jrandall...tarter_fix.htm

**Waipukbiker** · 10th May 2014, 21:21

What a load of crap about what you need to do to get the starter out, just need to remove the oil lines and the tensioner and out it comes. simple job. Will see how this grease goes anyway.