1991 Suzuki DR650 under consideration

[Jumpjim]

I’m going to buy this as a project bike. Runs nicely already, and comes with an uninstalled Tractive rear shock to put in it.

Could make a lovely runner for the ABR festival next year, and some light off-roading/green laning.

My F1 Engineer daughter is also up for helping me out with the build as shes a lot better with this sort of stuff than me!

 

[glenn2926]

I’ve just this week dropped my 1991 DR650 off with the garage for a rebuild. Purely the mechanical stuff. I want it to look like a 30 odd year old bike. Mine is the RSE model. The plan is to ride it to my lad’s place in Chamonix next year. I would like to get it to Morocco too.

 

[MikeS]

I’ve just this week dropped my 1991 DR650 off with the garage for a rebuild. Purely the mechanical stuff. I want it to look like a 30 odd year old bike. Mine is the RSE model. The plan is to ride it to my lad’s place in Chamonix next year. I would like to get it to Morocco too.

Very nice, great project to do with your daughter. I actually prefer the look of these older DR650's than my 2002 model.

 

[Jumpjim]

Do the RSE front ends fit onto the older bikes @glenn2926 ?

 

[glenn2926]

Do the RSE front ends fit onto the older bikes @glenn2926 ?

Not sure as the front mudguard is a low one on mine

 

[Neil W]

Keep a close eye on the cam chain and tensioner, they had a reputation for the chain jumping a tooth and knocking out the cam timing, I know of two bikes that did it

 

[Santa-2512]

Check out the Southern soft shandy drinkers thread

Might provide food for thought


got the vote for most talked about bike all weekend

 

[MikeS]

Check out the Southern soft shandy drinkers thread

Might provide food for thought


got the vote for most talked about bike all weekend

Can't find it, got a link?

 

[Santa-2512]

Can't find it, got a link?

Just checked the bike in that thread was the DR800, sorry, still looked good

 

[The Other PaulG]

Just checked the bike in that thread was the DR800, sorry, still looked good

It has certainly covered a mile or two!

Good luck with the project. I took a DR 600 to Morocco. It’s performed really well, except for the buzzing through the hand grips which numbed my hands on the motorway and A road section. The bike was still on its original grips, which had hardened and in retrospect I should’ve swapped out before the trip.

Other than that, bike was fabulous in Morocco.

 

[FERRET]

There was a chap at the ABR Festival selling g brand new DR 650,s , imported from the Canada for £10,000.

 

[Two wheels good]

In 1996 the model changed. Be aware of that if looking for parts.
A common problem is the neutral switch can come loose, causing serious damage. Solution is to loctite the securing screws.
Certainly a problem with post-96 bike. I'm not sure if it was the case with pre-96.

 

[MikeS]

There was a chap at the ABR Festival selling g brand new DR 650,s , imported from the Canada for £10,000.

It's probably this one.

Pardon our interruption...

He used to be on here, might still be.

 

[MikeS]

As we don't get many DR650 threads, here is a gratuitous photo of my 2002 DR650 SE in the Alps near the Col de Parpaillon tunnel. Owned for 22 years now so I think I can call it a keeper. My mate is also on a DR650 in that photo, it was my spare one that he forced me to sell to him, he still has it 16 years later although I might be buying back of him soon.

 

[FERRET]

It's probably this one.

Pardon our interruption...

He used to be on here, might still be.

Yep, that's the one, also stated that he imprts Honds XR650,s from America, but was finding that difficult at the moment due to trumpism.