DR650 - the big dilemma

[jafar]

Thanks Fran, that's an excellent idea. I have done that once before with the wheel, as the disc has become very thin and failed a WoF. That one will need to be changed, though.

The muffler is stuffed, it has already broken off 3 times and in China it got blown right off. VTNZ did say, however, that it might pass. The h/l needs to be changed, because it dazzles oncoming traffic, being r/h drive.

Somehow I don't think Suzuki would be interested in buying an old dunger...

Thanks for the tip with the discs on Trademe, I'll check them out.

That leaves the big Q with that noisy 5th gear...

@ Other DR riders: if you pull the clutch in 5th and coast, do you hear any strange noises that disappear when you change down? I suspect that my gears have caries, which would put the whole operation in doubt.

Kind regards,
Peter.

You may be surprised what suzuki will be interested in, I've heard of a courier in aussie with 200+ km on his KLR & Kawasaki brought it back from him

When I was working as a courier (long time ago) suzuki were very interested in my GSX 1100EX . Their interest was to pull it down & check it over for wear. High mileage bikes are not that common & the R&D department wanted to have a look !

[NordieBoy]

An Aussie courier has done a couple of hundred thousand on a DR650 too.

[Woodman]

An Aussie courier has done a couple of hundred thousand on a DR650 too.

Yeahbut the KLR did it first...

[Bass]

Guess they've gotta be good for something, eh?

[Beddhist]

Well, I bit the bullet and put it through compliance testing. A good friend here lent me his wheel and headlight. I was a little worried about the exhaust, the inspector asked me whether it was very loud. I said "Not as loud as a Harley and it doesn't make your chest vibrate." and then it was OK.

The whole process was rather painless (apart from the cost...) until the very end, when the computer program insisted on entering an RUC code. After a lot of farting around my bike was then no longer found in the system. It turned out that it was in there twice (same VIN!). Seems the AA made a mistake when they first entered it.

So, now I have 6 months to find a new brake disc and headlight, although I can probably get away with leaving the old one on: no WoF inspector has yet said anything about it being RH drive.

Rung the Suzi shop:
disc $730
h/l $740

That's about what the bike is worth.

The local Yamaha shop is quite good here and they came up with:
h/l $170 aftermarket with cowling, but it's held on with rubber straps
disc $364 Metalgear

Ron Ayers
disc US$285.23
h/l US$84.40

Ebay.de
EBC disc 95€ =~ 200$

I'm hoping to go to Germany soon, so that looks attractive.

[Monstaman]

Great to read this, nice for a nearly happy ending.

[NordieBoy]

No problem with the headlights that are strapped on.

[Beddhist]

Hi Fran,

Normally yes, but I have a lot of wires coiled up on top of the light, from the hot grips and the GPS. I'll have a look at the lights in the Yamaha shop when I get into town.

Are these lights any good? I mean, at least as good (bad) as the original, with which I see almost nothing in the dark?

Cheers,
Peter.

[Monstaman]

Heya Peter I had some Acerbis lights on mine, rubber mounted, all they needed was the DOT approval stuff to get a wof.

[Eddieb]

Good news, it lives on.

[Beddhist]

No, I mean: do they make at least as much light as the original, which is pityful?

[Monstaman]

No, I mean: do they make at least as much light as the original, which is pityful?

You will have to try it but most are as bad as each other! .. unless you go HID but the lens probably won't have as good reflection as an upmarket (note spendie) one

[NordieBoy]

Hi Fran,

Normally yes, but I have a lot of wires coiled up on top of the light, from the hot grips and the GPS. I'll have a look at the lights in the Yamaha shop when I get into town.

Are these lights any good? I mean, at least as good (bad) as the original, with which I see almost nothing in the dark?

Cheers,
Peter.

Get an SV650 headlight and stuff all the wires inside...

[almoto]

QUOTE:
@ Other DR riders: if you pull the clutch in 5th and coast, do you hear any strange noises that disappear when you change down? I suspect that my gears have caries, which would put the whole operation in doubt.
QUOTE


hi peter...just a thought about keeping that 'old friend' going a bit longer with that iffy 5.gear...what about putting a smaller rear and bigger front sprocket on and forgetting about 5.gear...that first gear is pretty short geared...isn't it...and 4. should still pull over 100km/h...might be good enough for just pottering around...


btw. i like that trailer on your bike in your profile picture...20 years ago i went from nelson to queenstown and back in winter two up on a xt250 with one (with skiing gear etc.)...great for carrying stuff...


(i also have a 75/5...had it for nearly 30 years... its also very lonely...)

[Beddhist]

Nice idea, but I find 1st gear is already way too tall geared. It would also significantly increase the load on the chain. Not something I would want to do.

The idea of the trailer was that you can't tow a 2-wheel trailer in India and Pakistan, because you then have 3 tracks, making the whole thing a pot hole detector. It would self-destruct within a very short distance. As it were, the rig carried the two of us and all our luggage (way too much...) all around the Indian subcontinent and to and around Europe. Never had to do anything to the trailer, but the CX engine came out every 10000km for repairs, mostly electrical.

Do you have any pics of your trailer?