Soon 2b a DR650 owner

[Bytor]

Fed up of looking at old school litre road bikes and have come to the conclusion that the DR650 is the bike that meets my needs. Have been toying with the idea ever since Holeshot lent me one whilst they were servicing my GSXR - had such a laugh on it!
Anyway have about $5k to spend on the bike leaving a little $500-$1k on immediate mods. There are two bikes on TM (one has not relisted after not selling but have spoken to owner, so hopefully will go and see it this weekend) both 04's and standard. One has over 20k and the other 30k with service history. What should I look at when inspecting the bike? Is $5k a fair price and what suspension mods could I do for a limited budget? I'm 6'1" and about 110kgs in all the gear. I know there's heaps of stuff on here about the DR, but fuck it takes ages to trawl through it all.

[Padmei]

You poor poor bastard - don't do it to yourself

[cooneyr]

...... Is $5k a fair price and what suspension mods could I do for a limited budget? I'm 6'1" and about 110kgs in all the gear. I know there's heaps of stuff on here about the DR, but fuck it takes ages to trawl through it all.

I'm almost exactly the same size and weight. My DR had stiffer fork springs (don't know what the PO put them on) and had a standard shock. A good idea would be to get the sus serviced i.e. seals and oil, ride it for a few months till you get the hang of things and then start modding it once you have an idea about what you would like to see fixed.

You poor poor bastard - don't do it to yourself

Bloody KLR owners, ya don't know what your missing

Cheers R

[johannvr]

Just to give you a comparative idea - bought mine a few months ago - 2004, standard with around 20K on the odo, only extras a Scottoiler & Oxford heated grips, & I parted with $ 5400 for it, so yours sound like reasonable deal.

I'm 6'1, 97kgs & I agree with what was said before - stick it out with the standard suspension for a while until you get it figured - in all reality it by & large lives up to expectations, especially whilst you're still a tad new at it. I have no doubt that a decent setup would be a big improvement, but honestly I've not been able to outride the suspension yet ...

I'd recommend that you rather spend some $ on a bashplate & an IMS tank - the relatively small range is one of my biggest bugbears - apart from that - no probs.

[Bytor]

I'm almost exactly the same size and weight. My DR had stiffer fork springs (don't know what the PO put them on) and had a standard shock. A good idea would be to get the sus serviced i.e. seals and oil, ride it for a few months till you get the hang of things and then start modding it once you have an idea about what you would like to see fixed.

Yeah, that's what I thought I'd do - ride for a while, get used to it then seek help on improving it. Just have to find one now. MotoGB in Tauranga have an '06 with 14k which they will prob let go for $6k which makes the private sales on TM look expensive.

[Bytor]

Just to give you a comparative idea - bought mine a few months ago - 2004, standard with around 20K on the odo, only extras a Scottoiler & Oxford heated grips, & I parted with $ 5400 for it, so yours sound like reasonable deal.

They seem to hold their value well which is another reason why I'm interested - when you do some research you realise how popular they are the world over.

[Woodman]

Bloody KLR owners, ya don't know what your missing

We are a loyal bunch.

[Kaituna]

I have owned over 40 bikes in my 45 years and my DR650 is one of the most fun and practical toys I have had. My mods are, bash plate, TAG fat bars, bar risers, IMS tank, D606 Tires, 14 tooth front sprocket, Acerbis bush bars. I only weigh 75kgs and am 176cm tall and so the suspenders seem okay to me. I reckon that I am actually not a lot slower through tight windy sealed sections than when I had a GSXR 750. On gravel, bugger all can touch the thing. All MHO.

[johannvr]

Bloody KLR owners, ya don't know what your missing

We are a loyal bunch.

So what ya doing checking out a DR thread? Morbid curiosity? Spying on the enemy?

Aaah, I know. Secretly thinking of crossing over to our bit of the dark side

[Kaituna]

So what ya doing checking out a DR thread? Morbid curiosity? Spying on the enemy?

Aaah, I know. Secretly thinking of crossing over to our bit of the dark side

I Reckon it's like penis envy!!

[johannvr]

I Reckon it's like penis envy!!

My thoughts exactly.

[Aslan]

Hi Bytor - I recently bought a k6 with low KMs. Thrilled with it - a very versatile machine - should have bought one sooner.


I've fitted the 14Tengine sprocket (secured by circlip), B&B bashplate and frame protectors, ventura pack rack system, scott oiler. M21 front and D606 rear tyres. I'm expecting an IMS tank to arrive tomorrow.


I really like the simplicity of these machines. I think you'll have plenty of smiles on a DR.

Cheers Aslan

[johannvr]

Hi Bytor - I recently bought a k6 with low KMs. Thrilled with it - a very versatile machine - should have bought one sooner.


I've fitted the 14Tengine sprocket (secured by circlip), B&B bashplate and frame protectors, ventura pack rack system, scott oiler. M21 front and D606 rear tyres. I'm expecting an IMS tank to arrive tomorrow.


I really like the simplicity of these machines. I think you'll have plenty of smiles on a DR.

Cheers Aslan

Hi Steven - how about a few pics of the beast? Would like to see the bashplate & frame protectors combo & stuff. Haven't gotten as far as doing anything to mine yet, apart from that home-fabricated bashplate, so keen to see & think about it some ...

Johann

[Bytor]

Hi Bytor - I recently bought a k6 with low KMs. Thrilled with it - a very versatile machine - should have bought one sooner.


I've fitted the 14Tengine sprocket (secured by circlip), B&B bashplate and frame protectors, ventura pack rack system, scott oiler. M21 front and D606 rear tyres. I'm expecting an IMS tank to arrive tomorrow.


I really like the simplicity of these machines. I think you'll have plenty of smiles on a DR.

Cheers Aslan

That's what I love about these kind of bikes, you can start off with a relatively cheap canvas and then add things for not too much money. I see this pending purchase as being a keeper, will have to live with the bike as it is for a while and then mod it as and when I can afford it.

[NordieBoy]

Yep. There's a whole world of cheap "enhancements" to do