dr650 size?

**twotyred** · 20th February 2008, 06:21

After surviving the roads for 20+ years I am considering coming over to the darkside... would the dr650 be suitable for a skinny guy,no muscles to speak of,5'11",73kgs... or would it be too much?

**YellowDog** · 20th February 2008, 06:41

You sound an ideal size & weight for a DR650.

They're a little top heavy, but once you have got used to the balance; being 5'11" you won't have and problems. Plus, you will find the bike amazingly easy to manouver.

Being a single cylinder unit means that you have to ride it properly! Changing gear before the revs get too low is essential and if you let the clutch go in second gear when you should be in first, the back wheel will lock and down you go!

On the plus side, you will have great balance and control with a bullet proof engine that you can easily do anything you want to yourself.

DR650 is a great fun bike that is very easy bike to get used to and enjoy. One of the few 650s that you can upgrade to without being blown-away by the extra power.

**Crisis management** · 20th February 2008, 07:17

Originally Posted by twotyred

would the dr650 be suitable for a skinny guy,no muscles to speak of,5'11",73kgs... or would it be too much?

You sure you're not confusing the light and nimble DR with the armchair like proportions of a GS1200?

The DR weighs 170kgs wet, I can pick it up whenever it falls over (regularly it seems...particularly strong gravitational effects follow me around) and I'm a skinny white guy, smaller than you.

Go and ride one, after road bikes it will feel tall but very flickable, in fact all the medium size adventure bikes feel better than big road bikes.....

If your in Auckland PM me and you can have a play on mine.

**Ocean1** · 20th February 2008, 07:28

What for?

As a road bike capable of the odd bit of open trail work? Or as road legal dirt bike?

**jim.cox** · 20th February 2008, 08:07

Originally Posted by twotyred

would the dr650 be suitable for a skinny guy,no muscles to speak of,5'11",73kgs... or would it be too much?

It would be just great - you'll love it

**cooneyr** · 20th February 2008, 08:14

Originally Posted by Ocean1

What for?

As a road bike capable of the odd bit of open trail work? Or as road legal dirt bike?

Before this thread goes too far down that path have a read of some of these forums.
Which 650 to buy
Took one for a ride today
Newby post (nordieboy)

And just to keep it in perspective
DR650 - neutral light woes
DR650 gearbox whine

The last two are included to let you know about some of the issues with the DR650 though those two are pretty uncommon. Other two known issues are:
98/99 models - starter gears lack of torque limiter (all other years have it and without can result in catastrophic failure of engine cases but very easily fixed );
and early models (originally though to be 2001/02 but now I believe it is all pre 02's have a fiber cylinder base gasket which can leak where as the post 02 models have a metal base gasket. The fiber one is easily and successfully fixed with some silicon RTV. This is pretty uncommon.

The bigest issue is the 98/99 with the lack of torque limiter.

Back to the real question of the thread. Transalper (sorry about this dude

) here in Chch rides a DR650 very happily and would be smaller than you. He can pick it up by himself but appreciates help after a couple of times. The DR's are easily lowered if height is an issue. They are the only 650 that has a factory built in facilities for doing so.

Cheers R

**Ocean1** · 20th February 2008, 08:33

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Before this thread goes too far down that path have a read of some of these forums. Cheers R

Yes, good ref's, and they're a great bike. But the question was to establish the intended use.

"Dark side" seems usually to mean "Motard", in which case it's worth investigating alternatives. If his plans include a lot of typical NZ bush tracks or high speed dirt fanging it's certainly worth looking at something lighter. If he's thinking typical NZ adv riding it'd be hard to go past a DR650 in terms of value for money.

**cooneyr** · 20th February 2008, 08:40

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Yes, good ref's, and they're a great bike. But the question was to establish the intended use.

"Dark side" seems usually to mean "Motard", in which case it's worth investigating alternatives. If his plans include a lot of typical NZ bush tracks or high speed dirt fanging it's certainly worth looking at something lighter. If he's thinking typical NZ adv riding it'd be hard to go past a DR650 in terms of value for money.

I completely agree with your questioning/sentiments re intended use. I just know that I've been through all of this before with the first two of the links I posted hence a third thread along the same lines..... Was a keeping KB tidy issue rather than disagreeing with you.

I've never quite figured out what the "dark side" is but always though it was based around the dirt/adv/motard bikes.

Cheers R

**Transalper** · 20th February 2008, 10:49

Every Dark Side convert I've met is doing dirt adventures.

**warewolf** · 20th February 2008, 15:08

Originally Posted by Ocean1

"Dark side" seems usually to mean "Motard"

Not in the "Adventure/Dual Purpose Bikes" forum it doesn't.

"Dark side" is always taken in context; usually means to "join us" in an evil-grin kinda way.

**Ocean1** · 20th February 2008, 15:42

Originally Posted by warewolf

Not in the "Adventure/Dual Purpose Bikes" forum it doesn't.

"Dark side" is always taken in context; usually means to "join us" in an evil-grin kinda way.

Ah, indeed. I stand corrected.

I'll just go stand over in the corner and sulk a bit OK?

**NordieBoy** · 20th February 2008, 15:45

Originally Posted by cooneyr

early models (originally though to be 2001/02 but now I believe it is all pre 02's have a fiber cylinder base gasket which can leak where as the post 02 models have a metal base gasket.

96-2003.5 had the fibre base gasket and it will leak.
It's just a matter of when. Some have after 1000km and mine hasn't yet after 20000km. It seems that overfilling the oil and pressurising the crankcase dosn't help.

A smear of ATV often fixes it for thousands of km more...

The starter idler torque limiter is about $170US + postage.

**NordieBoy** · 20th February 2008, 15:45

Originally Posted by warewolf

"Dark side" is always taken in context; usually means to "join us" in an evil-grin kinda way.

Kinda like your avatar then...

**skidMark** · 20th February 2008, 15:48

I was just looking at the dr650 the other day at haldanes.

then i saw the price....

only 7 grand.

guess what i'm saving for.

they have a white 848 too **blows load** fuck thats one horny bike. $26,495 though.