Van Islander's DR650

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By popular demand (4 or 5 people ;)), I'm posting some photos of what I'm up to with my DR, just because anything to do with motorcycles is cool and interesting, at least to motorcycle geeks like us.

I bought this 2019 bike new in July 2020, and now have 20,600 kms on the clock. It's a really fun ride and I've considered selling it and getting a bigger more powerful "adventure bike", but my DR is just so comfortable, and being a 650, not that expensive on insurance. It's light enough to pick up when I drop it, and I've got a lot of protection on it to prevent significant problems when it falls over on a trail. That said, I'm 59 now and I'm hoping my falling over days are behind me. I used to ride this on forest trails often, and I fell over a lot, trying to keep up with guys on 250s...

Modifications include:
Seat Concepts seat (first thing I did, within a few weeks of buying the bike)
ProTaper risers and bars
Oxford heated grips
ProCycle lowered foot pegs
DirtRacks saddle bag frames (great for protecting muffler too)
Acerbis hand guards
Doubletake Mirrors
Stainless steel engine case covers (saved my cases from rocks on several tipovers)
Tusk luggage rack (and a Pelican case bolted to that for dry storage)
SW Motech aluminum skid plate
USB charger/amp meter
Bajaworx windscreen (I haven't used this much but plan to try again in a different mounting position)
I'm 6 feet tall and this setup works really well. The triangle is perfectly dialed for me, but the windscreen has made some turbulent air and the air is quieter on my head without it.
Best mod apart from the seat is the Cogent Dynamics made in USA suspension. In 2023 I installed a Cogent Mojave shock built with an Ohlins spring. I also put new Cogent springs in the front with drop in damper cartridges. Cogent specs this stuff out to the rider's weight. Fantastic performance.

I'm still running stock carburetor, exhaust and airbox. I don't want it to be excessively loud.

So you can see with all this $ into it, I'm reluctant to replace it. The only problem is that it's sucky on the big fast highways. I'll probably keep it forever.
DR 1.jpg
 
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At 20,600 km and lots of water crossings, mud and dirt and rain, it's time to replace the chain and sprockets and rear wheel bearings, plus cushion drive rubbers and sprocket carrier bearing. The front wheel bearings are quiet so I'm leaving them alone. This is as the bike looks now.

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Heating the hubs up a bit made it easy to tap the bearings out with a punch.

The stock bearings were not sealed and in rough looking condition. No wonder they didn't sound or feel good. Sprocket carrier all cleaned up and ready for new bearing.
 

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I ran some Shinko E804/E805 tires for about 11,000 km so time for new ones. This time I'm going with Dunlop Trailmax Missions. I've used these aluminum Motion Pro spoons a number of times. For the first time I used these Motion Pro bead beaker tools to get the Shinkos off. They worked well. Wheels all cleaned up and tires ready to go.
 

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Looks good! Nice project to be working on and tells me the XS must be running well. Do you still have the FJ?

Oh - congrats on the calendar vote🎉🎉
Thanks! I still have the FJ. I had the TXA out this afternoon and it's liking the cool weather, running ok but seems a little rich. It is going into the shop for some maintenance after the DR is on the road again.
 
I had a 91 kickstart DR650. It was my Armageddon bike. Regreted selling it the minute it was gone. It had a really tall 5th gear and a 5+gal. tank, but all day on an interstate - long day. I was negotiating price on a much newer used DR when I pulled the trigger on my 74TX650 "el projecto". For reasons still unclear to me.....
Pulling the sump off the TX to see if the strainer/filter is in there and how much cam chain guide is laying in the bottom.
And I still need a DR.
 
So you can see with all this $ into it, I'm reluctant to replace it. The only problem is that it's sucky on the big fast highways. I'll probably keep it forever.

I’m really happy you started this thread, I’m a long time fan of the DR650, it’s a bike I still wouldn’t mind owning. You’ve added some really nice accessories to it and there is such good aftermarket support for it too.

You know if you like exploring dirt roads it’s hard to find that perfect compromise bike, that is light enough for off-road work but got enough oomph for highway use. I know I bought my Suzuki 650 V-Strom primarily for commuting but I had visions of off-road exploring with it too. Well I was quickly dissuaded of that notion the first time I took it off roading. 😄
That V-Strom could fly down the highway all day long but off-road? It bout beat me to death, way too heavy. I did that exactly ONE time!
Anyways, keep it coming, this is a good thread.
 
I’m really happy you started this thread, I’m a long time fan of the DR650, it’s a bike I still wouldn’t mind owning. You’ve added some really nice accessories to it and there is such good aftermarket support for it too.

You know if you like exploring dirt roads it’s hard to find that perfect compromise bike, that is light enough for off-road work but got enough oomph for highway use. I know I bought my Suzuki 650 V-Strom primarily for commuting but I had visions of off-road exploring with it too. Well I was quickly dissuaded of that notion the first time I took it off roading. 😄
That V-Strom could fly down the highway all day long but off-road? It bout beat me to death, way too heavy. I did that exactly ONE time!
Anyways, keep it coming, this is a good thread.

Thanks Bob. I've only ridden a V-Strom a few times and definitely it is a superior machine to the DR on the highway, but I can think of lots of reasons it wouldn't be as nice on the trails. It has a brilliant engine. I loved my 2002 Suzuki SV650S. It was just too cramped for longer rides.

Glad you guys are liking the content. I'll post more soon. It occurred to me as I was listing all of the bits I've added/replaced, one could ask, " why wouldn't you just buy a KTM or a Tenere 700?" Good question but they have higher buying price to begin with, and often you need to upgrade the suspension anyway, buy gear racks, etc. So many bikes are built for 150 lbs riders as the stock suspension sag is way to much for a 200 lbs guy like me. I admit I've fallen down the DR650 rabbit hole way too deep but I've come to terms with my addiction.:rolleyes::lmao:
 
If you can't pick the bike up, you shouldn't ride it off road. My motto at least. So the last time my DR was laying on me....I started thinking about a KLR300.

A big single can do it all. It's a shame the Japanese never updated their "enduros". Ya, I know about the KLR. But it's still chubby, slow, and under suspended.
 
one could ask, " why wouldn't you just buy a KTM or a Tenere 700?

For me it biggest selling points are air cooled simplicity, lighter weight and price.

Suzuki DR650 $7000 366lbs / 166kg
Yamaha Tenere 700 $11,000 452lbs. / 205kg
KTM 690Enduro R $12,000 322 lbs. / 146kg.
 
For me it biggest selling points are air cooled simplicity, lighter weight and price.

Suzuki DR650 $7000 366lbs / 166kg
Yamaha Tenere 700 $11,000 452lbs. / 205kg
KTM 690Enduro R $12,000 322 lbs. / 146kg.
Significant price and weight differences! The price would have me leaning towards the Suzuki.
 
The Snook air/oil engine is pretty indestructible. The made a "Big" model in Europe. Wasn't it 750cc?
There was a DR 750 and I'll swear I can remember seeing a DR 800. Bit of a cult bike, Germans loved 'em I've been told, people called 'em Dr Big!
 
Anyone remember the big German guys running BMW twins in the ISDT off road Enduro trials? They could start an 800 single after it tipped over and stalled.
 
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