Changing my drz400sm to an adventure bike

**Padmei** · 11th November 2009, 19:14

It was the bit on the video where Marks takes off down the main street on a still Reefton morning rattling shop windows that gets me....

Anyway back on topic.
Good luck with the mods on the DRZ.

**warewolf** · 11th November 2009, 19:38

Originally Posted by Eddieb

piss poor sound bite deleted

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. Was that really warranted?

Originally Posted by Padmei

It was the bit on the video where Marks takes off down the main street on a still Reefton morning rattling shop windows that gets me....

A bit like this then:

I, too, like pipes to have a nice 'note' but loud pipes are merely irritating. I rode a Bonnie with those Thunderbike pipes NSN-AKL and it was too annoying once over the Rimutakas. Great in short bursts, great when you are working the bike, but not something I could live with every minute.

They're not very good for future access, either.

**NordieBoy** · 11th November 2009, 20:26

Originally Posted by Padmei

Have to say I like Loud pipes but Marks exhaust makes my ears bleed.

The SuperTrapp on the DR was louder and then there was the popping on the overrun...

In it's favour the Jardine does have a deeper tone.

**Woodman** · 11th November 2009, 20:37

More power is good, but who here uses their full hp all the time? if you don't and you need more horsepower wind your right wrist back and hey presto there it is. Cheaper than exhaust and carb mods too.

good luck with the drz, I see a lot of klrers in the states put 18" front wheels with knobblies on, from a 21". go figure.

**bart** · 11th November 2009, 20:44

OK, if you don't want to buy my bike, contact Tony W. He's done all the mods to a DRZ SM, and should have any info you need.

**twisty** · 11th November 2009, 22:06

Thanks for the advice, I agree about the fuel tank I normally get about 110k’s (hmm that could now be 80k) before I hit reserve so this will be a must but I’ll see how I’ll go for a while first. What’s the best tank to get and where from?

I thought long and hard about doing the exhaust (dam now I’m feeling guilty) but I like the sound and vehicles will hear me coming which makes me feel just a tad safer.

More armour would be cool; the SM does come with some basic armour like axle knobs. I have had already put bark busters on it.

I thought about the 21 conversion but I’m curious to see what the 17 D606’s will be like on the front. I reckon some places will be a pain but others will be ok. Adventure riding is always the great compromise and maybe a bit of fun to experiment 

**marks** · 12th November 2009, 07:36

Originally Posted by Woodman

More power is good, but who here uses their full hp all the time? if you don't and you need more horsepower wind your right wrist back and hey presto there it is. Cheaper than exhaust and carb mods too.

the stock klr has a lethargic low end. The carb/exhaust mods really improve the low end response and I use that every time I ride the bike. turns a boring engine into a fun engine (still with very modest horsepower).

I don't think I'd want to own a stock one

**Eddieb** · 12th November 2009, 07:42

Originally Posted by twisty

Thanks for the advice, I agree about the fuel tank I normally get about 110k’s (hmm that could now be 80k) before I hit reserve so this will be a must but I’ll see how I’ll go for a while first. What’s the best tank to get and where from?

I thought long and hard about doing the exhaust (dam now I’m feeling guilty) but I like the sound and vehicles will hear me coming which makes me feel just a tad safer.

More armour would be cool; the SM does come with some basic armour like axle knobs. I have had already put bark busters on it.

I thought about the 21 conversion but I’m curious to see what the 17 D606’s will be like on the front. I reckon some places will be a pain but others will be ok. Adventure riding is always the great compromise and maybe a bit of fun to experiment 

Well keep an eye on the wellington ride outs thread, we go out regularly. I'm hoping to get out for a while Sunday as I have to place the next tag.

**marks** · 12th November 2009, 07:46

Originally Posted by warewolf

I, too, like pipes to have a nice 'note' but loud pipes are merely irritating. I rode a Bonnie with those Thunderbike pipes NSN-AKL and it was too annoying once over the Rimutakas. Great in short bursts, great when you are working the bike, but not something I could live with every minute.

They're not very good for future access, either.

the sweetest sounding bike I have ever ridden is the cycleworks equipped scrambler I rode recently to Golden Bay. it sounds awesome

Nordies video....

**Willdat?** · 12th November 2009, 08:14

Originally Posted by twisty

Thanks for the advice, I agree about the fuel tank I normally get about 110k’s (hmm that could now be 80k) before I hit reserve so this will be a must but I’ll see how I’ll go for a while first. What’s the best tank to get and where from?

I thought long and hard about doing the exhaust (dam now I’m feeling guilty) but I like the sound and vehicles will hear me coming which makes me feel just a tad safer.

More armour would be cool; the SM does come with some basic armour like axle knobs. I have had already put bark busters on it.

I thought about the 21 conversion but I’m curious to see what the 17 D606’s will be like on the front. I reckon some places will be a pain but others will be ok. Adventure riding is always the great compromise and maybe a bit of fun to experiment 

The D606 you have on the front is a 130/80/17 rear mounted the other way around?

**CrazyFrog** · 12th November 2009, 08:53

Originally Posted by Willdat?

The D606 you have on the front is a 130/80/17 rear mounted the other way around?

Set up like this I presume? Although this one is kitted with the rather more pricey TKC-80's.

**twisty** · 12th November 2009, 09:19

Yes, set up exactly like that KTM. I have a TKC on my Africa and while it's ok I'm not super impressed, after much research I'm going to give the 606's a go

**warewolf** · 12th November 2009, 10:34

Originally Posted by Woodman

More power is good, but who here uses their full hp all the time? if you don't and you need more horsepower wind your right wrist back and hey presto there it is. Cheaper than exhaust and carb mods too.

Too true, ditto for riding training.

One of the big joys about racing Nordie's classic XR was the reworked front end that simply handled. Although the power was a bit lacking climbing the hills, the biggest limiting factor was the brakes which meant you couldn't use the power down hill. It would've been a monster if it had an extreme hi-po engine and OEM suspension.

Originally Posted by twisty

I thought long and hard about doing the exhaust (dam now I’m feeling guilty) but I like the sound and vehicles will hear me coming which makes me feel just a tad safer.

No, that's a big myth. They'll just hear you. And possibly be craning their head looking for you instead of watching the road ahead where you are. Just last week I watched a f@#*wit with a stupid-loud Harley do a big swerve to avoid being hit by a car. I'm sure he was thinking "loud pipes save lives". Yeah, right.

Apparently a standard 80ci Evo Harley makes about 30rwhp, but if you put a crowbar down the exhausts and punch through all the baffles, it makes 45rwhp and 115dB. 50% power-up is "a useful increase" as they say, which is why so many people do it. Damn shame about the noise. Note: modern machinery simply doesn't respond favourably to such crudities.

Originally Posted by marks

the stock klr has a lethargic low end. The carb/exhaust mods really improve the low end response and I use that every time I ride the bike. turns a boring engine into a fun engine (still with very modest horsepower).

That's my reasons for wanting to uncork the 640; all-stock Euro II compliant it's a bit of a pussycat down low, and basic flow improvements give the bottom/mid range a real kick. And reportedly, better fuel economy!!