The DR650 thread

[NordieBoy]

NordieBoy, last I heard, you were starting to see some sort of pattern -- mostly Aus/NZ, mostly in the 40k - 60k range? Dunno how that turned out.

If it's blown in <30,000km then it's from Oz.
30-60,000 and it's US/NZ.
If it makes it past 60,000 then it seems safe.

[RogIrwin]

If it's blown in <30,000km then it's from Oz.
30-60,000 and it's US/NZ.
If it makes it past 60,000 then it seems safe.

Mine has just hit 40k and whines in 3rd gear. Should I be worried?

[TLDV8]

Yes it was removed prior to the picture been taking, it had seized itself to the gear.

Given the pressure oil feed you would think that gear would be bullet proof as far as lubrication between the gear and bush.

[Night Falcon]

......I ended up unsubscribing from because I got tired of listening to endless circular arguments about how I shouldn't even be discussing a $2000 catastrophic failure with other people who'd experienced the same failure.

+1 I mentioned it here on a thread where an inmate was looking at a 2nd hand DR; got thanked by the OP and roundly rebuked by others - the reasoning - it's such a rarity it belongs in the realm of myths and fairy tales, and those that have read about it, researched it, and even experienced the 3rd gear "phenomenon" should stop the scaremongering.

The vagaries of an internet world I spose - plenty of real myths out there people are prepared to believe despite evidence to the contrary, like all KTM's are unreliable, high maintenance and overpriced (mainly propagated by WR205R owners apparently )

[Tazz]

+1 I mentioned it here on a thread where an inmate was looking at a 2nd hand DR; got thanked by the OP and roundly rebuked by others - the reasoning - it's such a rarity it belongs in the realm of myths and fairy tales, and those that have read about it, researched it, and even experienced the 3rd gear "phenomenon" should stop the scaremongering.

The vagaries of an internet world I spose - plenty of real myths out there people are prepared to believe despite evidence to the contrary, like all KTM's are unreliable, high maintenance and overpriced (mainly propagated by WR205R owners apparently )

I remember that and thought of it instantly when I saw the bad news over the page.

How many have you seen explode?


I think it's a good deal. If you buy it, please make sure you put cap heap screws and lock wire on the neutral switch More of a real issue than the third gear one. They do get noisy in third, but it is quite rare that they "explode" and they're piss easy to split the cases on

Unfortunately one more is added to the list eh.

For all it's worth glad it happened on the road and not halfway round a corner with a steep dropoff in the middle of nowhere. Could always be worse.

[NordieBoy]

Mine has just hit 40k and whines in 3rd gear. Should I be worried?

My '97 whined it's whole life until 105,000km when it got pulled to be refurbished.

Keep the revs up and don't lug it, especially in 3rd, 4th, 5th...

[NordieBoy]

One of the things about these incidences, those who've been blessed by one, usually still ride a DR650.

The bikes really are that good.

[JATZ]

If it's blown in <30,000km then it's from Oz.
30-60,000 and it's US/NZ.
If it makes it past 60,000 then it seems safe.

What about Europe ? or don't they have them there ? Or Asia ?

One of the things about these incidences, those who've been blessed by one, usually still ride a DR650.

The bikes really are that good.

Prolly cause they're to poor after fixing them there's nothing left in the kitty for anything else ('cept maybe a klr, but we won't go there )

[JATZ]

+1 I mentioned it here on a thread where an inmate was looking at a 2nd hand DR; got thanked by the OP and roundly rebuked by others - the reasoning - it's such a rarity it belongs in the realm of myths and fairy tales, and those that have read about it, researched it, and even experienced the 3rd gear "phenomenon" should stop the scaremongering.

The vagaries of an internet world I spose - plenty of real myths out there people are prepared to believe despite evidence to the contrary, like all KTM's are unreliable, high maintenance and overpriced (mainly propagated by WR205R owners apparently )

True... If you listened to every sob story about bike makes breaking down, and let that influence your decision then you'd prolly be riding a pushbike, or walking
Personally I spent ages trawling the net finding out about the F800's. I now know what to look out for and what needs more attention than normal

[NordieBoy]

What about Europe ? or don't they have them there ? Or Asia ?

Not sold in Europe over the counter for some weird reason.

[SVboy]

My mate bought transalpers old DR 650. His did the third gear blow up at around 99000kms.

[NordieBoy]

My mate bought transalpers old DR 650. His did the third gear blow up at around 99000kms.

Your mate blew it up or TransAlper?

[SVboy]

My mate bought transalpers old DR 650. His did the third gear blow up at around 99000kms.

IIRC the answer to that question is yes! When we stripped it down the damage was identical to shoshinis third gear but it was clear there had been previous internal carnage and repair. Perhaps TA could enlighten us?

[Transalper]

www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8834403&postcount=1

NordieBoy OP
01-16-2009, 07:45 PM

DR650 3rd gear blowups
Compiling a list for posterity and interest...

NordieBoy 2001 60,000km
Transalper 2001 55,000km
Rosscoact 2004 13,000km
Mardy 1997 53,000km
TH 1999 40,000km
RubberCow80 2001 25,000km (2nd gear?)

Fixed by Kevin at KG Motorcycles.
Didn't expect it would happen again. Sold that bike to separate the riding focus, buying back the Transalp being bigger, heavier and especially more pillion friendly, and getting the WR250R for everything else.

[NordieBoy]

Wow. No other DR has gone twice. So 2nd blow up was 45,000km on the rebuild?