And the winner is.... DR650

[Dirt_Dad]

second: do not visit procycle. You will mortage your house on DR stuff.

Too late. Already been there. Got away with 4 items and a total bill of less than $80.

I'm waiting to see what the bike tells me it needs beyond where it is right now. The two biggest areas where I think there could be improvement is suspension and getting the front end off the ground a bit easier. Looks like there are numerous suspension fixes which would total no more than $1K for premium stuff. I'm keeping that in mind, but in no particular hurry.

Not sure what the best approach is about getting the front end to reach for the sky a with less effort. I'm uneasy about doing the need jetting and needle because it requires opening up the airbox. I love how I can sneak around on this thing and be a hooligan without drawing undue attention to myself. I really don't want to significantly increase my noise footprint. I just don't like loud bikes. How loud is yours opened up enough for the pumper carb?

Looking forward to your winter write up.

 

[greg the pole]

i'll see if I can shoot a video of it and send it to you.
It's a quick bike with the motor work, for sure.

I spoke to Ted at the beemer shop, here's what he told me:
The top performing shock would be the 3 way remote reservoir model at $899.00 which gives you manual preload adjust, rebound adjust, and high/low compression adjust on a remote reservoir. Steel cylinder for long rebuild intervals, 16mm shaft so it's tough, 5 year warranty.


On the front, procycle sells a emulator kit, which does wonders for the front end. Easy to install, so I did.
It pretty much remedies all the handling issues, without pointing too big of a finger at the rear shock.

 

[GaryAA]

i helped a friend buy a 2006 and told him it was the best all around bike to use for ADV riding at a reasonable price. It was low miles and ran OK at first but then it started dying leaving intersections. Months later he came over and then when he was leaving the bike would barely ran down low. I literally feared for his safety. I felt so guilty I bought the ProCycle jet kit to try to fix it.
We followed directions and cut out the top of the air box and installed the recommended jetting. The bottom end and idling was greatly improved but the mid-range had some stumble. We spent a couple of nights trying different jetting and needle position based on the 650 forums and the jets and instructions from ProCycle. All that changed was that the stumble moved around a little bit. I emailed ProCycle and tried what they suggested with the same results. More guilt, so I spent more hours re-reading the forums and decided to listen to the few instead of the many. We cut a piece of plastic and put it back over the new big hole in the air box. My buddy took it out for a test ride and came back smiling for the first time. It wasn't perfect but it was much closer and smoother.
If I could do it over I would take off the snorkel, get the slow speed adjuster needle, consider changing the low speed jet and shim the stock needle up. I would not spend any money on the kits. The bike has the stock exhaust. A drawback has been that my buddy got turned off and now spends 99 percent of his time riding his bicycle instead. During the test rides it WAS much nicer to not have to shift so often as on my WR250R.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

If I could do it over I would take off the snorkel, get the slow speed adjuster needle, consider changing the low speed jet and shim the stock needle up. I would not spend any money on the kits. The bike has the stock exhaust. A drawback has been that my buddy got turned off and now spends 99 percent of his time riding his bicycle instead. During the test rides it WAS much nicer to not have to shift so often as on my WR250R.

Unfortunate about your buddy not being happy. For now I'm staying with snorkel off, a shim on the stock needle and and 2 turns on the fuel screw. Working pretty well, the only ill effect is a tiny amount of burble on a throttle off decel. And I do mean tiny, hardly worth mentioning unless I'm being super picky. I know I'll want more power later, but I'll figure that out when forced.

Yesterday was an unprecedented day where I rode all six of my vehicles in the barn. Starting with the ATV, going through the WR and ending with the DR. Most of it was tweak something on a bike, then go for a test ride. Only the DR had a pleasure ride with no tweaking or chore related. Even at the end of the long day, nearly every turn that could take me closer to home was passed up for the direction that prolonged the ride. Still finding the DR to be a the bike I reach for first. It will never replace my long distance comfort Tenere, but for just fun close to home, it's still a blast.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

If you include all cost, most of which is tires and skid plate, I've spent less than $450 getting the bike to be one of the best smile inducing machines I've owned. It's not the fastest bike I've owned, not the most powerful, not the best wheelie bike, far from the best suspension I've experience, but it entertains the hell out of me right now. No bike has ever obliterated my preconceived notion as totally as the DR has done.

Not sure how long that feeling will last, but for now, I'm just going to enjoy it.

One year of ownership as of this weekend, and the feeling is still the same. ::008:: Really has been the right bike for me.

Odd looking back through this thread and seeing how clean this bike was. Those days are long gone.

My total investment has grown to nearly $500 now.

 

[Philistine]

Hey Dirt Dad I've been torn between the DR 650 And the KTM 690 for months now :-\ I'm leaning towards the KTM due to the costs of getting the motor and suspension up to par on the DR, did you consider the KTM 690 if you did what swayed you away from it?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

My primary reason was because I was not in the market for a bike. A big reason I actually pulled the trigger and bought the bike was because it was so financially painless to do it. I was aware of the KTM, but the price made it more of a commitment than I was willing to take on at the time. I suspect the KTM would probably address some or all of the areas where the DR is lacking. If money were not a consideration, there's a good chance I'd have the KTM.

That said, I have no regrets about the DR. The bike is better than the sum of its parts. Lots of areas where the bike could be better, but it always puts a smile on my face. I wish it could do X, Y, or Z better than it does, but if a bike exists to make the owner happy, the DR delivers far better that you would ever expect.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[spklbuk]

Took a little road trip a few weekends ago.

This new to me '09 DR jumped in my truck bed and rode home with me. After a looong overdue scrubbing.


Shadow provided security

And the tinkering began


Think about where you are looking here and never again doubt SHOUT power!

ooo shiny...

Nearly too late




Beefy

Even did a little fishing along the way

Installed new pulser coil

::008:: SHAKEDOWN!! Ran great! ::015::




Almost got home too late to grab post shakedown pics so sans the side panels as I was about to access the battery when inspiration to snap some backyard pics hit.

 

[True Grip]

Nice job Jim! I'll take 2 bottles of shout for the next time we ride ::26::

 

[spklbuk]

Nice job Jim! I'll take 2 bottles of shout for the next time we ride ::26::

Thank ye Mark. Plenty o' Shout already in my sorry excuse for a shop waiting for you!

Try it as a pre-soak on the Beta sometime. Wait a few minutes. Brush into a paste in the heavy areas. Rinse and be amazed! Fight the urge to go do a load of laundry!!

 

[TNWalker]

She's a beauty Jim. Nice find. I really need to get back your way and take the tour next year. I got a nice setup to get both of my bikes there now. both of Mark's too



Steve

 

[spklbuk]

She's a beauty Jim. Nice find. I really need to get back your way and take the tour next year. I got a nice setup to get both of my bikes there now. both of Mark's too



Steve

The machine was rescued from storage and the gent had one week before he was to move to Hawaii. It was rough but under all that grime and neglect it has so far been a diamond in the rough. I needed it like I need yet another hole in my head but what are ya gonna do when a deal is begging to be had?

And please to for consider yourself held to that tour Steve!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Congrats, Jim. So is this a playmate for snowflake, or did I miss seeing a story?

 

[spklbuk]

Congrats, Jim. So is this a playmate for snowflake, or did I miss seeing a story?

Playmate for now. Original plan is once judged, take the best components from each bike + some Cogent goodness, build one killer DR and have a nicely equipped one to sell. Knowing going in that I would go in a $$ rabbit hole; I was willing to invest in an education.

I wanted to find a project bike in reasonable shape but still would require me to learn some basic mechanics. Rescued from storage, this bike was perfect for that. I'm improving but slowly. At least I can now better judge when to ask for help. An ol' pirate pal of mine is a very patient supportive tutor, even made a house call when I hit a stump (took him 3 minutes while telling me how the setup was similar to certain Harleys after I had struggled 3 hours...damnit!). Folks on ADV Rider has been a great help too.

Time will tell where this project leads. I'm enjoying the journey!

 

[spklbuk]

Lil’ Al-egany’s first high ground

Total workout today. We ran twisties, gravel, side by side trails, 4-wheeler trails, creek crossings, log landings, mountain top removal surface mines, sealed deep mines and flirted with the Allegheny Front. New to me DR never skipped a beat. One tooth down on front sprocket and one tooth up on the rear and bike refreshed from stem to stern pending changing the fork oil.

Just under the Alleghany Front


Good gravel


Ain’t she purty!


In her element


Damnit!


Went looking for a work around


Began to get a little tight


Being solo, I chickened out


Second ford on my retreat


High ground glamour shot


The new Alleghany Front economy


The old Alleghany Front economy




A hint of things to come


Nice patina



Not too hard to figure today’s MPG (Hey Bryan, who’s getting the most miles per cc now? Eh?)



How does Lil' Al stack up against Snowflake? Power goes to Lil' Al. Very strong. Snowflake has always felt restricted. Gearing, air box mod and jetting may be the difference. Suspension goes to Snowflake hands down. Snowflake's beefed up springs glide over stuff that sends Lil' Al into a frenzy. Rider height and ease of walking maneuvers like turning around in tight spaces goes to Lil' Al. I have to dismount from Snowflake to get purchase. With Lil' Al I am flatfooted, Don't think the bike is lowered (a factory option with the DR), difference must be the effect of my fat ass on the stock suspension. Fun factor, a draw. Lil' Alegany has more juice but Snowflake has plenty enough and is much more composed doing it. If Lil' Al was to get some Cogent hydraulic and drop in cartridge goodness, she'd be a beast!

 

[trikepilot]

Nice, Jim. Great to see the home country. Looking fwd to getting back out there to ride with you and Lil' Al'

 

[True Grip]

Nice, Jim. Great to see the home country. Looking fwd to getting back out there to ride with you and Lil' Al'

Me too ::008::

 

[spklbuk]

Nice, Jim. Great to see the home country. Looking fwd to getting back out there to ride with you and Lil' Al'

Thanks Harrison. Lots of changes going on in the high country. July monsoons wreaked havoc. Many roads being refurbished and some being ignored. Never know where you will run across a road building crew. Some gates that have been locked for 25 years are now open. Brush whackers knocking back the overgrowth; culverts, lots of culverts, being replaced. I rode one road where the gate was newly opened and the next weekend when I went back to scout some areas I missed, it was locked again. I guess they are starting a new timbering cycle in some quadrants.

Not yet sure whether Snowflake or Lil' Al is going to make the cut. But components will be likely swapped around and one will have to go. Or I hear that super motos are fun to play with. Or maybe I'll just sell of the whole lot, Big Al included, and outfit a spanky new DR to monster status. Someday will be decision day. But from here until the end of the season, I am just going to enjoy as much riding as feasible.

Come and join us at the Lewisburg FJR meet the last weekend of Sept. A few folks are bringing their dual sports and spending the weekend on knobbies.



Hey Mark, those log landings in the road are not so bad when it is bone dry!!