Adventure Awaits: My New Suzuki Dr650 Dual Sport Purchase
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- I've really enjoyed riding my KTM 390 Adventure off paved roads, so I thought it was time to treat the DirtyDorito to a new enduro motorcycle friend. After six weeks of soul searching I decided on buying a lightly used Suzuki DR650 dual sport. I won't compare this to other motorcycles in this video but I do share my thoughts and feelings about this excellent and legendary dual sport motorcycle.
Contents:
00:00 - Intro
01:13 - My DR650
01:54 - DR650 Styling
03:14 - DR650 Rider Cockpit
05:23 - DR650 Utility
06:22 - DR650 Chassis Feel
07:56 - DR650 Powertrain
09:55 - Closing Thoughts
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find me on Instagram: / thesoutherndistance
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The DR 650 is a man’s bike son
The DR650 is just a Legend ❤
A legend that never dies
I actually own 2 DR650's, a 1990 and a 2021. Both are a blast. I don't understand it, but they're just so much fun to ride. Satisfying is a word that comes to mind.
Can't agree more
Enjoy your new-to-you DR650. It really is a charming motorcycle to own. There are some things I'd recommend doing right away if not done, bigger fuel filter as that tiny thimble will clog. Over time, you might get a "chicken squawk" sound when starting. Replacing the stock starter motor cap with a Warp 9 cap with a ball bearing fitting will fix that and help the electric motor start easier. Also, take the time to add grease where needed. Suzuki likes dry humping for some reason. 😄
EDIT: Oh, and replace the roller guard on the inside of the frame with a flat bolt, located by the rear shock. It can catch the chain on suspension rebound and break off, taking a chunk of your frame with it.
Thx for the tips. I've knocked out the fuel filter and roller. I'll have to order the starter motor cap.
I own 2 DR 650s, one for 18 years and one for 9 years, both still get ridden.
I live in Australia and the 9 year old bike is currently in Europe, I did around 13,000 klms in 2 months and plan to go back in April 2024 to resume my trip and then bring it back to Australia.
That bike has 330,000 klms on the clock and still runs great, I have enough faith in the DR that with such high mileage I could ship it half way around the world and still have a reliable bike to travel on.
The DR 650 is an honest reliable bike that is not perfect but for a bike you want to start and run every day and get you where you want to go it has few equals.
👍👍👍👍👍
330,000 KM , that is AMAZING. I'm never selling this thing. :) Ride safe Sir !
The DR, XR, and KLR are great dual sports. I bought my '06 DR650 2 years ago and have put on 6K hard off-road miles. Total miles almost at 30k. I hope you have many adventures on your DR, enjoy
I had a head wobble. It turned out to be a loose headbearing. An easy fix and worth checking out
Every Suzuki I've owned needed head bearings replaced. Never enough factory lubricant and loose adjustment.
your sense of humor is great very nice review love the tribute to full metal jacket
Thank you kindly!
Excellent review, really enjoyed your thoughts!
Great video! Enjoyed it!
Awesome bikes! I have a 2019 as well as a few more modern “enhanced feature” bikes. I don’t ride the DR as much now, but it will always have a home here. My kids can sell it when I’m dead.
Great video 👍👍
The Doctor is the greatest motorcycle ever made..Period.
The King is dead, Long live the King!
Subscribed
It's an amazingly well designed and built bike. I love it.
awesome video man
Appreciate it!
Great description, great bike, and well presented!! You could almost swap out the DR for the KLR and produce the same video... lol. I am on an 08 KLR and find that other than the fairing and windshield, I have gone back to the 80's when riding the old girl... Love it! Simple and fun!
Amen Mike ! Keep the KLR shiny side up !
I'm riding an 06 KLR. I really like the DR though. Enjoy!
nice vid, easy to watch.
Glad you liked it!
This review is very poetic. Nice.
Thank you
Nice video bro. I’m a DR owner, 1st bike, did the suspension ( I’m around 200 pound ) I’ve put 16000km on it, and love it. Never let me down, always fun and reliable and a great beginner bike, because it has no rider aids, makes a far better, rounded rider in my humble opinion.
Get your suspension done to your weight, that will get rid of that wobble, and you’ll be able to really lean into corners without the wollowing.
Thanks for the compliment. I definitely plan on upgrading the suspension as soon as I get a feel for this thing off road. If it kills the wobble that would be a NICE improvement.
@@tsdmoto it may also be something as simple as the wheels haven’t been weighted/balanced correctly after changing the tread or perhaps a slight buckle in one of them? But yea, if you ride it stock for a while, you’ll notice the difference and love the bike a whole lot more once the suspension is keyed in.
There’s an Australian youtuber who is a phenomenal rider “Skids ‘n’ Stuff”, rides a DR like an enduro, has a few tips on riding and suspension, you’ll be amazed at what he can achieve on the bushpig, I sure as hell am.😏🤙
I didn't consider the balance, definitely could contribute. I'll check out Skids 'n' Stuff ! Thx @@BadgerMcblasty
I bought a 2013 DR650 in 2019. Kinda same deal. Low miles and a few good mods. I’ve made my own mods in the 4 years I’ve owned it. I hope they never stop making it. Last mod I think I did was a larger tank. Seat Concepts is worth it.
I'm going to order the Seat Concepts seat soon. I got a little sore today.
I went from a 250l Rally to a very modified DR650 that I purchased used. It's a lovely bike. My bike has the TM40 pumper carb, FMF powerbomb header, and a Leo Vince x3 exhaust among many other things. But those power mods really do make a big difference to the bike. I recently rode a stock one and I could most definitely tell the difference. It's a great bike.
Thanks for the details and comment. I'm very jealous of the TM40 carbs. I'm starting with a jet kit for this bike and maybe I'll do pumpers next season.
Rode the new Transalp, T7, CFMoto 800 and Suzuki DE800 VStrom. Ho humm!! They seem to be on a one-upmanship merry go round - with pricing ascending with a bit of a "who cares" abandon. The thought of even accessing a spark plug on any of them would invoke nightmares 😅!! A tidy '17 DR came up that blitzed the lot of them. I guess what I was craving most was the feeling I used to get riding my beloved XL600 circa 1986-97. Should never have sold that. The step back in time was creepily satisfying and ... all sticky like a mouthful of warm honey!! Couldn't be happier. Put a magnificent Staintune full exhaust on - it was mostly stock - and picked up a Procycle carb kit. To be honest, just the addition of the exhaust makes it the bike I want it to be, so I'll save the carb for a long stint of wet weather. Everything you mention is spot on the money. Most younger folks probably wont understand, maybe you have to have lived it to "get it"!!
Congrats on the DR ! The bike doesn't run to lean with the Staintune ? I've heard good things about those exhaust systems and I wouldn't mind replacing my Yoshi with a full Staintune system.
@@tsdmoto I'm in Australia. They're made in the next state to ours, so affordability and accessibility is likely a little more in our favour here. There is definitely some decel popping, but nothing major ... and no full on backfiring. Strangely enough it's nearly as quiet as stock at highway speed cruising with baffle in, but it becomes a dragon when you give it a twist!! Didn't buy it for the noise though, it was more for performance and the outright engineering. Never having to repack is a bonus too. First tank after instal showed a nearly 10% improvement in consumption ... but I won't declare that a given until we've used it more. I've only done that one test since the instal a week ago 🤞🤞. I'm certain that the synergy between it and the Procycle will be pretty amazing, but as I said I'm in no hurry with the carb. The bike has become sort of like riding a magic carpet just since the Staintune ... to be sure though, it looked like the previous owner (11200km) didn't know the secondary filter existed, and it was shocking!! Whether a full service of that helped with the improvement I can't say ...
If you're in Australia from what I've heard the DR and DRZ both have more HP there because they detune them in the USA to get past emissions, so they are around 40 HP each here so the Pro cycle mod may be a lot bigger of a change for Americans, but I don't own one just one here dreaming about getting one. Some of the bikes they dyno tested were even lower than 40HP, they really cut them back here, but if you don't have E-check where the put a sniffer in your tailpipe them you can change it so it'll run again.
Great video.
I've owned a 2018 for a little over a year now. Got the ProCycle comfort seat on Father's Day and a couple weeks ago started a 1200 mile trip to visit my best friend. The seat made a big difference and I really started to bond with the DR during that trip. I use my bike for year round primary transportation and with it's old school corks it's taken me a little longer to really bond with it, 😆. I did buy it for the corks (character) and ease of DIY maintenance.
Last Monday I was on the return part of the trip and 6 miles from home was rear ended in a hit and run 😢. I'm in the process of dealing with my insurance company to see if they are going to repair or total it. Meanwhile, while riding my other bikes, I'm really missing the DR and am not sure anything other then another DR will replace it.
My son has the KTM 390 which is a nice bike. I've ridden it a couple times, but do like the feel of the DR650 better.
Thanks for the tip on the seat, that mod will definitely go on the list as I venture further on this beats. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident , especially the cowardice the driver showed by leaving the scene. I'm guessing you're mostly ok since you're riding though, and I'm happy to hear that.
So what particular corks did you buy the DR650 for?
@thesoutherndistance I was between a modern classic or dual sport. During the shutdown (and in the past), I've had a hard time with service departments sometimes quoting weeks or months to do services or get parts. As my daily I needed something I could easily do all the maintenance on, including valve adjustment, and get parts. The carburated and air-cooled DR with screw adjustable type valves was a good modern classic feeling dual sport. I'm in my late 40's and enjoying a slower pace.
Doing okay with a bruised and swollen right knee and toe. Hobbling, but blessed to be okay 😆.
Thanks.
That's why many riders want "lane splitting" all over but the guys zig zagging through traffic ruin it for everybody.
I’ve had my DR around a year and a half. It’s kept me from getting seduced by newer, heavier bikes like vstrom 800, tenere 700, transalp 750. I absolutely love it.
I'd really like a 800 DE but not to replace the DR. Love the DR.
Good description of the sensation of riding knobby off-road tires on the asphalt. That was really helpful. I'm trying to turn my Ducati Monster into a scrambler and it makes me feel better about going with 80/20 tires for my use. Big block knobbies do look so cool, though.
Agreed that knobbies look cool but I have some Shinko 705's waiting to go on my DR if that helps
@@tsdmoto I think the Shinko 705 is the only 80/20 tire I was able to find in street bike rim sizes. That's what I'm going to go with, once my Dunlop Sportmax Q3+ are worn out.
Would be interested to know what you think about the Shinkos once you get some riding on them.
220 miles before reserve on my 5.3 Acerbis tank then about another 50 or more on reserve. I'm leaving the motor and pipe stock so it never dies. Accessorize, never modify.
breathes beter n a jet. klr has big tnk to
Bout to pull the trigger on a '09 near me with 18k miles, lots of maintenance done on her and some tasteful upgrades including a seat concepts seat!!! Can't wait to get back on 2 wheels, it's been a few years.
You're going to have a blast if you get it!
Add seat concepts perch..vastly improved.
I actually JUST added one last week but I haven't tried it yet. I can't wait!
Great video! I bought a brand new DR650 last year and absolutely love it. Get rid of that stock seat and get a Seat Concepts seat. Long live the Bush Pig!
Thanks for the comment and for the suggestion on the seat. I just got paid, so seat will be on the bike soon !
Congratulations!!!
You made one of the BEST choices on the market.
Enjoy!
Greetings from Greece 😊😊😊
Thank you for stopping by and for the kind comments. I really love the DR ! Greetings from Chattanooga Tn, USA. :)
Try bar end weights + bark busters for wobble compensation. Good editing, narration cadence and music!
Sub’d from Ubon Ratchathani.
Now…..grab a XS650 tank and turn it into a scrambler my dude!!
Hmm XS650 tank you say...
Me too! It’s funny how most of us just want something simple and reliable. 👍😎
Yes, and needs to have personality. :)
Love my 2018. Regular oil changes are the key
Thanks for the guidance!
I totally endorse this video, it showed on my feed I guess because I just made my DR650 full video review on my own channel. I watched the entire video for your analytics. My only bit of constructive criticism is I with the background music was a bit lower. Other then that I like the humor and well written script.
Also one question, could I ask where you are located?
Thank you for stopping by and watching the video. The background music mix has been a bit of a struggle, it sounds one way before I upload it and another once RUclips smashes it up. I will continue to tweak.
I'm in Chattanooga Tn, where about are you?
@thesoutherndistance ahh ok, and year a bit far from me. I right PA and the pine Barrens in NJ.
California tank only allows for about 3 gallons. 3.4 gallons was the 49 state version which is no longer produced as of about 2021
My black Kaninchen rock hopper!
Get you a set of fasst handlebars absolute best up grade with a set of warp 9 two inch risers for your handle bars. Those risers will replace the original dog bones holding your factory handle bars
thanks
My XR650 had that wobble and a crf fender fixed it.
Thx for the tip. That makes me hopeful although it doesn't bother me too much.
Fasst sells the best flex handle bars for all types of bikes on my dr650 I use a 15 degree pitch on moto bars from fasst they save my wrist alot of guff no control loss and adjustable for how much flex you want and even set up soft no loss of control i still hit the jumps at 54 years old
Thx for the hot tip !! I’ve not heard of these bars before.
“ASMR Fuel level indicator” 😂😂😂
I AGREE.
I was happy with carbs 👍🏻
The throttle response is so nice isn't it ?
Dude great video. I just bought a 2024 dr650s. Love it. What state do you live in? I'm in east TN
I'm in Chattanooga TN !
@@tsdmoto cool I'm in Knoxville
Hey great video! Could you please take it down? I'm trying to find a good deal on a used DR650 and glowing reviews like this one just push the prices up. Cheers! 😂
Sure thing, NOT. :) Take your time and be willing to travel a couple hours outside of a major city. There are deals to be had.
Anyone can compare vibrations on Dr and Klr 650? Kawasaki for my experience doesn't vibrate at all with two countershafts. How compares with the DR? Thanks
I'm a short guy. I tiptoe and tap at every stop on my brand new 650 with less than 50 miles on it. Have any of you performed the factory lowering? The one where you swap the spacer location in the forks and flip over the collet in the rear suspension? Local dealer wants $600 to do that. Yikes. I'm thinking of buying the lowered seat from Seat Concepts either as a first step or as a resolution, and besides, it can't be worse than the 2x4 I've been sitting on for 40+ miles now. I walk funny when I get off the bike. lol. Thanks for any advice.
Hey Pat, I did and is pretty easy. Just watched a few RUclips videos and I built up the confidence to do it. Be patience you can do it.
Best regards and ride safely 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸
Hola amigo, yo baje los posapies a nivel del cuadro de la moto y las piernas quedan en un angulo genial con un manejo exelente.
Hola amigo, gracias por el consejo! Viaja seguro
SDM, I am able to achieve 55-57 mpg with Acerbis 5.3-gallon (20-liter) tank. That gives me over 265 miles. I rode my bike slower than most.
Thanks for sharing that info. I can't wait to get my DR650 back out on the road and try to match your range !
You should be a professional long term MC reviewer!
Not joking
Thank you, that's the dream !
welcame to oldschool club
Now upgrade the suspension, re-jet the carb, fit a Trailtech computer, and a larger gas tank.
Carb re-jet kit and gas tank are already here , just need to install it. I'll do the suspension this winter. Any specific recommendations for that?
@@tsdmoto
Cogent DDC, Intiminators or Plex valve. Plenty of resources out there re particular ride style programming per option. Some have moved away from the PV after FFRC was bought by another company and subsequently redesigned the valve.
Yeah there’s an old video out there somewhere of some AusBros sending a DR 60+ ft with that old FFRC setup.
If you do the suspension upgrades and add a Safari fuel tank - it’s the bike you will never sell. Enjoy.
That's the plan !!
@@tsdmotohave owned 3 DRs and they are near indestructible but need suspension rework or your life will be threatened on dirt roads. Acerbis make 20 l and 25 l tanks which look better than the Safari tank. They are a bit gutless on the open road and benefit from a Pumper carb, aftermarket exhaust and opened up airbox.
The exhaust has no influence to the combustion! If it pops the previous owner might have changed the jets, or maybe its just normal.
I bought my DR 650 RSE from 1992 just 5 years ago with just 11000 miles. And it is 100% original.
It came with the Metzler Enduro 3 Sahara.
This tire was fantastic on road. Even though its pretty nobby and it lastet almost 6000 miles.
Great review enjoyed it very much! Agree with everything u wrote.
Btw I had a 690 Duke R as well :)
Greetings from Bavaria
Marc
Marc, thank you for taking the time to leave these comments. I'm very jealous of your DR 650 RSE, they look so neat and sadly we cannot get them here. I'll check out the Metzlers. The 690 Duke is amazing, why did you sell it?
Cheers
Mark
@@tsdmoto Hi Mark
Good to hear from u. Yeah the RSE is more a less the bike for travelling. Despite from the horrible seat everything on this bike supports long distance traveling. Ure right when ure saying u dont need a rev counter but I allways keep on looking at it. Dont know why maybe because we dont have a gear indicator. But its just me.
Love your sence of humor :))
Well I bought one of the last Dukes in 2017 in Germany and I adored this bike so much that I bought a R version back in 2020 in Ozzie as well and traveled 14000 km through Australia with it. But there is one downer as well.
Arround 100 km/h (60 mp/h) u have to change gear all the time. 97 km - 5 gear 100-6 gear. So u end up 5-6-5-6-5-4-5
The bike has no torque arround this speed due to its low crankshaft weight. Its a rever!
The DR is right the oposite and much more enjoyable when it comes to cruising arround.
My Ozzie Duke was under 200 kg fully loaded with 40kg luggage! I think thats a record for a adventure bike. And it did off roading very well to, because of its weight.
I have a new partner in live and with a pillion the Duke is a little bit to small. These are the two reasons why I sold both Dukes.
For adventure riding i would step up to a two cylinder bike with max 210 kg.
My first bike back in 1981 was a DR 500S
So the RSE now is a bit of a nostalgic thing which will ever remain in my garage :))
What tires do you have?
The tires that came on the bike are some Tusk tires and they aren't the best in the current condition. I have some new shoes in a box that I need to put on her.
Can you compare it to Honda 450 rl
The DR650 is designed to be a low maintenance torquey dual sport, very capable , but no single track monster. The Honda 450 RL is a vastly different beast, weighs less than 300 lbs, makes 41 hp, no cush drive, it's designed to go like stink in the dirt and be street legal for those times when it has to be there. They are different as can be when it comes to dual sport , with the space between populated with bikes such as the DRZ-400 and CRF-300L.
Who needs a DR650? My DR125 is a whole lot of fun.
Loading bikes w tech …. I’m good.
What's with the sudden spike of DR650 reviews?
No idea !
@@tsdmoto I think it is all the “adventure riders” realized they did not bargain for expensive 550 pound elephants, overloaded with electronic crap that is a nightmare to figure out, gets in the way of having fun and cost a fortune to repair when that tiny computer chip fails and leaves you stranded a long way from home.
Part of owning motorcycles to me is maintaining it. The DR is easy to do everything on, performs very well, loads of fun, light and everything is not buried under a plastic fairing making it a headache to service. I just love mine and wished I discovered it sooner. I am soooo glad I do not have a modern headache laden motorcycle.
@@dogfeathers5646 I can't say it any better.I'm really hating the electronic issues on my KTM.
I will alert the media.
Trying to trade out a 2006 FLHX and a 2014 KTM 350SXF, so that I can get that DR650.
DO IT NOW ;)
Want it badly
It's probably the worst carb to work on, but i miss her. thanks
XR650R
Also a good bike
Use the key not the off switch To shut off the bike.
Thx for the tip!
@@tsdmotoI've had mine for 50 thousand km and never use the key. I don't think it matters.
Not true - use the kill switch not the key to shut off the bike - reason one, you will know it works when you stop your bike daily/after your ride, a constant test that it is functioning, so that when you need it in an emergency, you know it will work. Reason 2, if you need to cut the engine in an emergency, the switch is right there by your thumb, and you will not be fumbling to reach the key - shutting off with the kill switch daily will embed this in your brain, muscle memory. Hope this helps, 44 yrs licenced rider on motorcycles, 15 yrs Snr MSF/CSC Instructor. Cheers, Ronny
They teach here to use the key . Apparently it was said that the switch can malfunction eventually.
i bought a dr650 brand new last year and the factory mechanic told me to use the key - and dont use the kill switch as well just before I rode off. I told him I had planned a big ride outback australia, I assume he mentioned it as you dont want a cheap kill switch possibly failing and leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere
What’s up with the music? Have you heard of ducking? What is the purpose of that music anyway? Is that music suitable for a dual sport motorcycle video?
Calm down
You rode it at 70 mph? I just finished riding around aust and averaged 55. Much nicer bike at that speed. It you're doing 70 you're on the wrong road for a DR imo.
I have had the bike to 70 plenty of times but it's much nicer around 55.
@@tsdmoto good to hear. 70 is bloody awful on a DR.
🇮🇳🇮🇳❤👌❤👌❤👌💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Music's a little too loud. It drowns out your voice and makes it really tough to hear what you're saying.
Thanks for the feedback ! I really appreciate it.