I loved the idea of kick starting, had them for years. I preferred the option on street bikes of both electric and kick. Right up until a Yamaha XT500 separated my Achilles tendon… Wasn’t my bike, helping a buddy who thought he screwed up a top end rebuild. Nope, mechanically he was spot on, unfortunately he wired the ignition backwards so it sounded like it wanted to catch but just not quite. I really wish we looked at that sooner… My luck after many kicks it decided it had enough of me and kicked back…hard. Surgeon was awesome, in pre op he said to the nurse “that’s why they call them thumpers”. So after not being able to drive my car (a stick shift) or work for 4 months kick starts are a memory of my past.
I just did 600 miles around North Carolina for march moto madness and while it wasnt fun to start while frozen (probably 10 kicks) otherwise it started first kick every time. Hope to keep it that way for a long life of riding
Last year, I stumbled upon another beautiful 93 DR650 right here in my town. 7K miles, like new and it is now mine. Both of my DR's are first-kick bikes, unless someone is watching. LOL!
I am working on a 90 DR650S. The stock tank is a monster, 5.5 gallons, it was rusty, so I searched for a long time for a good tank on EBay, just got it back from paint. I also have an 89 KLR650, it is electric start but has a cover plate that reads kickstarter for that option, I am watching for a used kickstarter kit, the OEM new kits are unobtanium. I had an Ossa Stiletto 250 in high school, kickstart only, it was a beast.
Much respect for anyone who rides a kickstart only bike! When I was a teen back in the 1980's, my future stepbrother thought it would be funny for me to try to kickstart an SP500. Of course, that didn't go well because I didn't know it would kick back, ouch! Lesson learned about decompression release. 😕
My old klr 250 is a kicker. Had a comp release on the cam but it broke off and was removed. Still starts first kick but it took a lot of tuning to get it that way. Dont mind kicking at all.
Definitely a lot more motivated to keep the bike perfectly tuned, I have a 96 KLR250 and it was the perfect starter bike for me. Those things can go anywhere
I bought a new 93 DR650, loved it for 30,000 miles and then sold it in 2002 to buy a new Vstrom. I regretted getting rid of the DR and found another 93 DR in 2010. It now has 43K miles on it (33K mine) and is my adventure touring/camping bike.
Hey I saw your rack for the softbags. Guess it is self made. How did you bent the steel pipes so beautifully ? with a lot of heat? Cheers from Germany. Stephan
@@stephankorneffel3269 if I were doing it again I would figure out a way to mount the tusk quick connect pannier racks! Those things rock! Great for carrying all gear into hotel or campsite
Have you ever made a video on proper maintenance of the DR650? I have a 1993 and could never get a 1 kick start. Curious as to what I'm missing to do so.
From my understanding you must have the DR650SE model which was designed to accept a starter. The Kickstart only dr650 I do not think will take an electric starter.
There's enough of em out there with clean titles and low miles for under $2000 that I would wait for one of them to come along! Yes the key switches it off and locks the steering
@@dragon_offroad wouldn't happen to have the part number for that handy would you? I've got a 91 I'm restoring that our family has owned since new, and haven't been able to find anything fuel tank pre 96.
Because kickstart system is a solid system. They will always start. Unlike this new lame electric start made for lazy people that should not be riding and don't know what kicks start means.
I loved the idea of kick starting, had them for years.
I preferred the option on street bikes of both electric and kick.
Right up until a Yamaha XT500 separated my Achilles tendon…
Wasn’t my bike, helping a buddy who thought he screwed up a top end rebuild.
Nope, mechanically he was spot on, unfortunately he wired the ignition backwards so it sounded like it wanted to catch but just not quite.
I really wish we looked at that sooner…
My luck after many kicks it decided it had enough of me and kicked back…hard.
Surgeon was awesome, in pre op he said to the nurse “that’s why they call them thumpers”.
So after not being able to drive my car (a stick shift) or work for 4 months kick starts are a memory of my past.
I have a 91 xr600r with a kick start. And I have to say, sometimes simpler is better. Great video.
I have a 92 650. Nothings better than that feeling of getting a good kick and riding away. Hell of a bike.
I just did 600 miles around North Carolina for march moto madness and while it wasnt fun to start while frozen (probably 10 kicks) otherwise it started first kick every time. Hope to keep it that way for a long life of riding
You descriped you passion so well to DR650 kickstart. I have 1990 DR650 Djebel/Dakar, SP41A and I can easily understand that feeling ;)
Last year, I stumbled upon another beautiful 93 DR650 right here in my town. 7K miles, like new and it is now mine. Both of my DR's are first-kick bikes, unless someone is watching. LOL!
I am working on a 90 DR650S. The stock tank is a monster, 5.5 gallons, it was rusty, so I searched for a long time for a good tank on EBay, just got it back from paint. I also have an 89 KLR650, it is electric start but has a cover plate that reads kickstarter for that option, I am watching for a used kickstarter kit, the OEM new kits are unobtanium. I had an Ossa Stiletto 250 in high school, kickstart only, it was a beast.
Much respect for anyone who rides a kickstart only bike! When I was a teen back in the 1980's, my future stepbrother thought it would be funny for me to try to kickstart an SP500. Of course, that didn't go well because I didn't know it would kick back, ouch! Lesson learned about decompression release. 😕
Yes, old gas can have that effect too, as the octane goes down the older it gets and then the gas detonates due to compression before top dead center!
Awesome DR!
beautiful war horse!
great machine,I had the same one
My old klr 250 is a kicker. Had a comp release on the cam but it broke off and was removed. Still starts first kick but it took a lot of tuning to get it that way. Dont mind kicking at all.
Definitely a lot more motivated to keep the bike perfectly tuned, I have a 96 KLR250 and it was the perfect starter bike for me. Those things can go anywhere
I bought a new 93 DR650, loved it for 30,000 miles and then sold it in 2002 to buy a new Vstrom. I regretted getting rid of the DR and found another 93 DR in 2010. It now has 43K miles on it (33K mine) and is my adventure touring/camping bike.
I would love to have a bike with both an electric starter and kick starter, but that would be a lot of extra weight for a bike.
It's rare but a few hard enduro bikes have both as well as I think a small number of 93-95 DR350s
Hey I saw your rack for the softbags. Guess it is self made. How did you bent the steel pipes so beautifully ? with a lot of heat? Cheers from Germany. Stephan
Hey Stephan! It was a generic motorcycle rack like from ebay but someone cut and welded the upper mount to match up with the early DR650 mount point
@@dragon_offroad ok, thanks for the Info.
@@stephankorneffel3269 if I were doing it again I would figure out a way to mount the tusk quick connect pannier racks! Those things rock! Great for carrying all gear into hotel or campsite
🤘🏻 🌟 🤘
Have you ever made a video on proper maintenance of the DR650? I have a 1993 and could never get a 1 kick start. Curious as to what I'm missing to do so.
I have not! Valve clearances and a perfectly tuned carbeurator are two of the biggest factors!
What windscreen do you have on it..
Can a starter kit be installed on a Dr 650 1994? Without too much cutting and drilling…
From my understanding you must have the DR650SE model which was designed to accept a starter. The Kickstart only dr650 I do not think will take an electric starter.
I saw you put a key in it, is that a kill switch? There’s a guy in my city is selling one but it has a salvage title , should avoid I it?
There's enough of em out there with clean titles and low miles for under $2000 that I would wait for one of them to come along! Yes the key switches it off and locks the steering
@@dragon_offroad thanks for responding. I will keep looking.
What bags are those in the front?
Kemimoto gas tank bags and the front bag is a MOLLE tactical bag
What fuel tank is that?
It's the acerbis 6.6 gallon
@@dragon_offroad wouldn't happen to have the part number for that handy would you? I've got a 91 I'm restoring that our family has owned since new, and haven't been able to find anything fuel tank pre 96.
@@MichaelOnYourSix I want to say it was for 92-95 models and 90-91 were different!
My Dr is battery deleted
Because kickstart system is a solid system. They will always start. Unlike this new lame electric start made for lazy people that should not be riding and don't know what kicks start means.