Suzuki DR200 Agri

[cone]

I am planning a long trip next year, Moz/Malawi/ Namibia  and this bike seems to fit the bill. It is light, rugged and has a big carrier due to its single seat. Someone on the forum once critisized the agricultural model but I cannot find the post. Any advice from dogs who know these bikes will be appreciated.

[Firecoast]

I have the Djebel... assume it is the same...

I have done one or two semi-long trips with it and it's held me in good stead... just be prepared for a sore bum, as top speed is slow at the best of times!!!!!

Speak to Operator, as he also has one and his better half rides it all over the country...

[DeepBass9]

I have one, very solid, simple and reliable. If you plan to average 60-80kmph. It will do the job very well I'm sure. I've never done more than about 100km at a stretch on mine though, so I can't really comment on how it would perform on a trip.






<----- DR 200 Rampant! 

[Operator]

Speak to Operator, as he also has one and his better half rides it all over the country...

Yes you can anywhere with bike................go anywhere slowly.  

The DR200 is the official import and the Djebel 200 is what they call
the grey import. Same thing though..........different stickers.

This bike was not designed with long trips in mind.
It was not intended to travel for extended periods for more than 100 km/h.
To do it, would not be good for the engine.

Me and Lovey have done various trips and would typically travel about 300 km
per day. So yes it can be done.

[cone]

Thanks for the replies. I found a post from Lecap where he criticises the metal rims. Also this model comes out with knobblies and I assume the gearing is different to the road model. What distance can one cover on a full tank at say 90 Kay's per hour?

[DeepBass9]

The tank is 13l I believe?

[Skipskop]

I think you will do better price wise buying the Honda CTX 200 Bushlander. They where on special for 25k not so long ago.
http://www.honda.co.za/main.aspx?id=72&pid=26

[Firecoast]

Mine is a 10lt tank and I have done well over 250 - 300km trips per day... with fuel to spare...

[Operator]

What distance can one cover on a full tank at say 90 Kay's per hour?

We got about 30 km per liter which boils down to 300 kms.

I found a post from Lecap where he criticises the metal rims.

Never had issues with the rims and travelling at about 90 km/h, I cant really see you
messing it up.

Also this model comes out with knobblies and I assume the gearing is different to the road model.

The gear ratio's will be standard on all models.

This bike is not a "tower of power" and I would not even think about playing around with
sprockets to get better cruising features...........the bike will be too "pap".

Be warned that if you're gonna hit a crosswind or head-on wind, this bike will struggle..........trust me, I know 

[DeepBass9]

The model I have and the new one is a 13l tank so that will give a 350-400km range (even more with a 2l coke bottle or two on board)

Fuel Tank, with Reserve:   13.0 L (3.4/2.9 US/Imp gal)
Reserve:   2.5 L (0.7/0.5 US/Imp gal)
Engine Oil, Oil Change:   950 ml (1.0/0.8 US/Imp qt)
Engine Oil, Filter Change:   1050 ml (1.1/0.9 US/Imp qt)
Engine Oil, Overhaul:   1200 ml (1.3/1.1 US/Imp qt)


Check out this guys trip: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542282

Tracing the route on Mapsource the total distance for the trip is 3383km with the longest distance done in one day 602km. The 15/42 gear ratio effected fuel consumption negatively it seems, average fuel consumption for the trip was 26.88km/l (with 15/45 a fairly constant average was around 29km/l.) Best average – 28.79km/l and worst - 24.65km/l. Top speed was not my objective with this gear ratio but it is also down from what it was before. Getting to 80-85km/h is a slower than before but acceptable, after that and with my weight on the bike things happen a lot slower and the engine is out of steam to push you faster than 100km/h through the air .... well, I don’t have the hart to hang onto the throttle for that long to see if it will.

[lecap]

The agri's stel rims are just cheap compared to the earlier models aluminium rims no other issues.
Clean the steel rims and polish them occasionally and they will look decdent for decades. They will reward neglect by rusting profusely within a year.

Our DR200SE ('97 Suzuki Djebel) did very well on long trips you obviously have to have time. Had a 13l tank and got between 28km and 30km+ from a litre of fuel.

"Necessary" modifications to the agri to make it "usable" are few and limited to stuff like taking the hideous mudflaps off.

Weak points of the DR200SE are the cheap and fast wearing swingarm pivot journals. (I have needle bearing conversion kits).

Even the Agri DR200 is ten times more a DS bike and performs lots better in every (DS) aspect than any TW or Bushlander will ever be and will leave both the Yamaha and the Honda for dead in her dust trail.
Suspension is adequate, the front brake is a bit pap but works well enough riding solo and with a bit of support from the rear drum.
The seat is comfy and low enough to even allow a short beginner to stop & handle the bike safely and 108kg fuelled, well, can it get any lighter?

[cone]

Apart from the rims the rest of the bike looks better made than the opposition and there is a Suzuki agent here in Margate which is a bonus. Perhaps I should just fit a bigger tank on my 30 year old TS185 two smoke. (just joking)

[lecap]

To get a decent fuel range out of the TS185 you will need a tanker trailer

If you get a DR200 consider to do the swingarm pivot conversion asap. It uses needle bearings on the OEM harened steel bushes. The OEM plastic "bearings" wear the steel bushes (yes soft wears hard!!!) means if you change the plastic crap for the needle bearings straight away you save the money for the two bushes.
Very easy fix DIYable for reasonably skilled and tooled hobby mechanics.

[cone]

Thanks Lecap. I think the knobblies should also be changed to a dual purpose tyre perhaps. Do you agree?To get back to the TS185, what fuel consumption can I expect? I got just over 100 kays on a full tank ((litres I think) the other day and the Suzuki agent is playing around with the jets at the moment.

[DeepBass9]

My DR200 really chews back tyres due to all that horsepower on the back wheel, and the front tyres get chowed from the huge stopping power of the front brake.  Not.

[lecap]

Had Kings KT966 on the DR200 front needs to be a 3.00x21 instead of a 2.75x21 since the Kings does not come in 2.75. Works fine and feels even better IMHO than hte spindly 2.75 just remember due to the slightly larger circumference you loose your speedos "grace" and if it shows 80 you will pretty much on the dot do 80. Rear 4.10x18.

The Kings worked very well on tar and dirt. Sold the bike with tires still very good, I think they were good for 20,000km

Wouldn't really expect the TS185 to run on less than 9l/100km.

Friend had a MTX200 which was loads of fun but incredibly thirsty. Drank like a russian sailor. We always tried to push it beyond 10l/ 100km