DR 650 SE

[sidetrack]

Anyone know what they go for secondhand ? Seem to be quite scarce. The latest model came out in '97 I think, when did they change to the metal base gasket as this seemed to be the ony problem on them ?

[lecap]

They came in 1996
I had / have up to six DR 650SE

They are quite rare second hand but sell for decent money. I sold three within the last two years and all went between 27 and 30gorillas and they were between 30000 and 40000km and were all 2001 models in very good condition.

The metal base gasket came with the 2004 model. Some of the bikes never pop the base gasket and I thing it has to do with pushing the bike very hard in very hot conditions.

Other problems are:
The chain smacks the upper chain guide roller together with its mounting pin off the frame. This happens both in the standard as well as in the lowered suspension setting. Does not do any further damage and causes no problems. If you buy a DR second hand with more than 5000 km it will only have a hole in the frame where the pin was welded in.

The drive chains of my 2001's were cheap crap. One snapped after 14000km without warning with a sheared side plate while riding off on tarmac and being far from wear limit.

The steering head bearings come set too tight from the factory.

The rear suspension linkage comes almost devoid of lubrication (same for the steering head). Unfortunately no grease nipples as on the XT's means you have to disassemble to pack.

The large generator cover maintenance plug seizes in the generator cover when only tightened a tiny bit too much. Does not cause serious problems. Turn over engine via rear wheel & gears to set valves.

Very rarely the exhaust manifold cracks right next to the cylinder head. Can be welded cheaply.

I had one cam chain tensioner giving up. I know the problem from the GS500 to be a freak incident (GS500 uses same cam chain tensioner). Fixed by replacing tensioner, no further problems.

The DR650SE occasionally snaps rear spokes. (one every few thousand km) Keep spares. Can be replaced without pulling tire off. Alternatively get high tensile Böhm stainless steel spokes.

In 1997 / 1998 the torque limiter in the starter gear was replaced by a solid gear. This sometimes resulted in cracked engine casings in case of the engine backfiring. Search for "Engine grenade" on the HUBB for details.
Easy to check the bikes of those years which usually were retrofitted (if they saw a decent Suzuki workshop in or after 1998).

The models sold in SA came without the nice OEM aluminium sump guard. Get one (from me:) or you will sooner or later have dings in your frame cradle tubes.

You might need better front suspension springs if you are very heavy and want to do hardcore MX type stuff. Rear is fine as long as you dont load the por thing like a donkey.
The suspensions and brakes are very good for general DS touring and technical stuff.

The bike itself is extra bullet proof and even hard to destroy for idiots. Engines do 100000km+ if well maintained.
Very hard to break. I had a couple of people breaking a couple of their bones coming off DR's but they hardly managed more than dinged tanks and bent handlebars.

IMS does a very nice long 20l range tanks. I will get one for my private DR soon.

Hope I did not forget anything. Welcome to PM or phone me for more details.

[Welsh]

I,ve got brian Baileys in storage in my garage, it has the "Safari" tank 30 odd litres!!

He did 26,000 around Sothern africa in three months recently on it.

What you notice on the DR versus a KLR is the suspension, looks like a different league.

Welsh 
 

[sidetrack]

Thanks had a go on several 650's this weekend, the extra torque and sixth gear is a plus compared to my 400. I will never sell the DRZ though, still my fav but the bank manager might approve a 2nd hand DR I think I'll stick with Suzuki as the DR's are well priced and offers decent suspension.  Will defenitly go for a bigger tank.

[lecap]

Sixth gear 

[sidetrack]

Feels like a sixth gear on the 650's, the 400 needs a 6th for longer stretches.

[Ratsalad]

The models sold in SA came without the nice OEM aluminium sump guard. Get one (from me:) or you will sooner or later have dings in your frame cradle tubes.

Great info (Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
I was about to fork out for a sump guard, so have to ask - any more left?

[Stev0]

yes the torque is lovely , but then i like my mistress nice and light

[lecap]

Have to get sumpguards. Need one for my new bike and probably one for LS.

[Ratsalad]

Where?

[LuckyStriker]

Got my first hick-ups today, but first a wee bit of history

When I first started the bike last Friday, it didn't want to.
it took about a minute of running and running the starter motor with the choke on, off...
once it fired up it idled irregular for a few seconds and then settled down
every consecutive start went well, the engine firing up in a split second

but every morning (with a cold engine) I'd have to spend 30seconds to a minute torturing the poor starter motor
Then LeCap told me that my bike idled slower than his DR's
a Quick adjustment of the idling screw and the problem went away.
yay!

and now the hick-up story (hopefully unrelated to the first)

then today on the N1 the bike started surging and suddenly cut out
I gave it a minute and fired her up
after a few seconds at idle it died again
didn't want to start again
gave it a minute
started and died after a few seconds
it got progressively better but every time I touched the throttle things would sputter to a halt

fuel starvation - that's what went through my mind
I did flush the new tank with petrol but I remembered that I did not flush the 10l Addis jerry when I transferred the fuel
looking down and into the tank confirmed my fears
there was some gunk that looked like dust in the bottom of the tank

I shook the bike around a bit
turned the idle screw on high and swung the engine
she protested but did eventually fire up

soon she was idling smoothly and I could lower the idling speed to normal again
I assume a speck of dust fouled up the jet

Tonight I'll have to take off that damn tank again and flush it. It took me over two hours to put it on!
I'll try to save some of the fuel by filtering it through a paper towel but most will probably have to be chucked

 

[GRIM]

There is also a small plastic filter fitted in the carb inlet pipe, that may be blocked.

[Pom]

"I'll try to save some of the fuel by filtering it through a paper towel but most will probably have to be chucked"

Try a coffee filter bag (the cone type in your percolator machine) in a funnel, might work.
What about the strainer on the fuel tap. I've seen bikes that have filter strainers on the tap inside the tank, and in the tap bowl itself. Suggestion: Take the tap off and clean it properly.

Pom

[LuckyStriker]

in the pic you can see the petcocks in the bottom left corner

they have cylindrical filters that protrude into the tank. They don't trap dirt but keep it out altogether
some dirt must have slipped through the mesh

There is no inline filter on the fuel hose to the carb

[sidetrack]

Nice tank ! LS I have an inline filter on my 400. Cost something like R20 and is see through. Worth while as I have never had problems with a dirty carb.

[GRIM]

The "inline" filter in mt dr, and apparently a couple others is housed in the metal carb inlet pipe. Take the fuel hose off and check if there is a small plastic insert in the metal carb pipe.
Sorry for the repeat, but know of a couple of guys who battled and changed everything until they found it.

P.S. have you found the DR section on thumpertalk, plenty info there.

[LuckyStriker]

Ah, thanks for clearing that up GRIM

I did see a hint of a white plastic thing inside the metal carb inlet
I did not pull it out to see what it was, will check it out tonight

many thanks

[Marlene]

Have to get sumpguards. Need one for my new bike and probably one for LS.

I would also like to order a sumpguard for my DR, will pay to over-night it to Pretoria or my sister in Somerset West can get it for me.
Can you please send me details.

Thanx

Marlene

marlene997@vodamail.co.za

[Ratsalad]

Me too (a sumpguard). Pleese, mr Lecap.