My DR650 died today.

[Paladin]

No relation

Come off it, you lot up there are all related!

[Bass]

This thread is about a dying DR.
Well mine didn't die over the weekend, but I discovered that it was planning to give me a bloody good reaming.
For nearly a year now, I have been running the same suspension setup that we took to Oz. It was set up for us by Robert Taylor and intended to do the job with 50+ kg of luggage on the back.
It's just too hard with only a little load on the back and I have been planning to talk to Robert about a softer spring for some time - that is until Jamie discovered that the standard spring will go on to the Ohlins shock.
So on a wet saturday, I set about doing the change.

I quickly discovered that the shock top-mounting bolt was sheared through at the base of the thread - clean as a whistle, complete bikini job. Both pieces were still in place, but the threaded portion was on an angle and had split the captive nut.

It was only a matter of time before it came loose and she tried to drive the end of an Ohlins up my date.

Now, I am quite fond of it, but there are limits.

Anyone else in DR land had this happen?

[NordieBoy]

Never heard of it before.
Weak bolt?
Hole in eye of shock too big (slop)?

[Bass]

Never heard of it before.
Weak bolt?
Hole in eye of shock too big (slop)?

The fit was pretty good and the break showed none of the progression signs of a typical fatigue fracture - it was a single, clean break.

My guess is that either the bolt was faulty or it has been overtightened at some point.

[junkmanjoe]

mY dr is alive again.
but i would like to up grade the rear shock, i find it very spongy,,,,

i have noticed that some DR springs are diferent colours.
and reason behind this.
my spring is red.
aslans is white.

is there a difference in springyness, if thats a word...is now..

[Woodman]

The fit was pretty good and the break showed none of the progression signs of a typical fatigue fracture - it was a single, clean break.

My guess is that either the bolt was faulty or it has been overtightened at some point.

Is the spring binding up on full compress before the wheel hits the guard? , cos that would load the bolt and with a big enough hit could shear it, especially if it is a hard bolt or has been work hardened from continuous hits.

Note to self: If riding a DR, stand up when it gets bumpy.

[Paladin]

mY dr is alive again.
but i would like to up grade the rear shock, i find it very spongy,,,,

i have noticed that some DR springs are diferent colours.
and reason behind this.
my spring is red.
aslans is white.

is there a difference in springyness, if thats a word...is now..

The red springs are for girlies! The men all have white springs like wot I do!

[NordieBoy]

mY dr is alive again.
but i would like to up grade the rear shock, i find it very spongy,,,,

i have noticed that some DR springs are diferent colours.
and reason behind this.
my spring is red.
aslans is white.

is there a difference in springyness, if thats a word...is now..

My stock spring was yellow.

They're all the same rate.

Get an Eibach spring on there for your weight and replace the 5w oil in the shock for some 10w shock (not fork) oil.

[junkmanjoe]

after our ride on the weekend i had to drop the bike back to workshop, it developed a loud rattle up top off engine.
just a quick fix and bike is home again.

[BMWST?]

after our ride on the weekend i had to drop the bike back to workshop, it developed a loud rattle up top off engine.
just a quick fix and bike is home again.

its that riding to the clock that does that....

[junkmanjoe]

yip sorry you couldnt keep up on sunday mate.
next time ill slow d o w n t i m e for you.