Is the DRZ thew right one?

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Right guys, it looks as though the wife is releasing some funds to me, as I've been a good boy recently. I have an '05 GS which I'm perfectly happy with, but have been hankering over something I can take off-road with less fear of dropping and that doesn't weigh a gazillion KGs. After perusing, yes, perusing, a few forums, inc this one, and generally sizing up what's out there, I'm moving towards a DRZ. So, a few questions that some of you might be good enough to answer, please. Please.

1. At 6'4" and 17st I'm a bit of a tall jelly monster, will a DRZ disappear beneath my bulk and will my legs (like a model's) be folded up under me?

2. Is this bike easy enough to service at home? What are service intervals on 2007 - 2009 models?

3. What's a good road cruising speed for the DRZ? Is it going to be ok at 80mph for a couple of hours at a time?

4. Fuel consumption, good or bad?

5. As it's been around for a while I assume there's lots of companies trying to seduce owners with bolt-on goodies, what is actually useful for long weekends camping, with a road / off-road bias of 50/50?

6 Having owned Suzukis in the past, and discovering the joys of mad electrical problems, am I going to once again spend hours fixing anything between the battery and the bulbs?

Very grateful for any input.

 

[DavidJames]

I don't have a DRZ, but looked into this myself a while ago when going through the very same process, I can't answer all of your questions but here are some of my thoughts.

The DRZ is not the biggest bike, so you need to try it for size.

The DRZ will not be good for 80mph. Most comments I have heard is that is ok for a couple hours at perhaps 60mph.

Not sure there are lots of lugagge options out there but throw-over bags or a large dry bag strapped to the back will work.

I think there could be better bikes out there for what you have decsribed but the budget is going to determine what you can go for.

Bikes to consdier which are better for mid-long distance on-road and carrying some luggage but still good off-road would be Yamaha Tenere, X-Challenge, KTM 640 Adventure or 690 SE.

 

[Padge]

1. At 6'4" and 17st I'm a bit of a tall jelly monster, will a DRZ disappear beneath my bulk and will my legs (like a model's) be folded up under me?


6'2 and slightly more than your paltry 17st... and I'm fine on the DRZ
You'll need bar risers.. that's it really it. I made a set of up and forward risers which make things comfortable but the front end even more vague than it is normally.
Front suspension ain't too plush on these things but overall it's a good bike.
An X challenge is more comfortable for bigger fellas but felt happier on the DRZ in the dirt.

2. Is this bike easy enough to service at home? What are service intervals on 2007 - 2009 models?

Get an older cheaper one in good nick. They come up fairly frequently on this site. If you get the bug, upgrade to something orange? Servicing easy

3. What's a good road cruising speed for the DRZ? Is it going to be ok at 80mph for a couple of hours at a time?

The DRZ 400e version definitely not. The S version, maybe... Sounds like you may need an X Challenge or a trailer.

4. Fuel consumption, good or bad?

Good.. I think.. Range is longer than most KTM's and similar, but the tank is realtively big on the E version.

5. As it's been around for a while I assume there's lots of companies trying to seduce owners with bolt-on goodies, what is actually useful for long weekends camping, with a road / off-road bias of 50/50?

An X Challenge?

6 Having owned Suzukis in the past, and discovering the joys of mad electrical problems, am I going to once again spend hours fixing anything between the battery and the bulbs?

Some wee bolt works it's way loose behind the stator.. It then proceeds to chew the stator.
Not a big deal to replace (about £80 if it happens)

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

I looked at the Xchallenge, but can't justify the price difference here. New the BMW is 13,300 Euros, while the DRZ is roughly 6,000. Second hand the difference remains about the same. This also goes for KTM, although these are a little cheaper than BMW (around 1,000 Euros), not enough to make the decision to buy though.

I have Rox risers on the GS, which are superb and if made for the DRZ would be the first mod, Pivot Pegz would be the 2nd.

I anticipate using the bike one-up, in a radius of up to 400 miles from my house, which means weekends camping, but not much motorway blasting. The 80mph question was really to try and gauge the upper limits of monotonous road use. I'm thinking the DRZ would be good for just throwing some luggage on for last minute trips (wife's expecting twins, so I'm expecting last minute trips to escape) and a spare set of wheels for supermoto laughs, sometimes.

 

[THE DOCTOR]

1. At 6'4" and 17st I'm a bit of a tall jelly monster, will a DRZ disappear beneath my bulk and will my legs (like a model's) be folded up under me?

? Best try one for size first.

2. Is this bike easy enough to service at home? What are service intervals on 2007 - 2009 models?

Valve clearance is via shims, engine oil is in the frame & this causes the grease in the headstock bearings to melt so requires an annual strip & regrease. Gearbox output spacer has corrosion issues & sometimes causes the seal to fail - replace with stainless spacer.

3. What's a good road cruising speed for the DRZ? Is it going to be ok at 80mph for a couple of hours at a time?

Adjust gearing to suit.

4. Fuel consumption, good or bad?

I got 71 mpg on a recent 130 mile ride

5. As it's been around for a while I assume there's lots of companies trying to seduce owners with bolt-on goodies, what is actually useful for long weekends camping, with a road / off-road bias of 50/50?

Don't buy an E then because it has no rear subframe to support the rear mudguard & any weight back there will just bend the plastic to the wheel.

6 Having owned Suzukis in the past, and discovering the joys of mad electrical problems, am I going to once again spend hours fixing anything between the battery and the bulbs?

Mine's been OK so far.

This site can be a goldmine for DRZ info - you've just got to weed out the info you want between the 'How Do I Pull A Stoppie' & 'How Tight Should My Valve Cap Be?' threads.

 

[Greg Masters]

3. What's a good road cruising speed for the DRZ? Is it going to be ok at 80mph for a couple of hours at a time?

You're being a bit optimistic hoping for an 80mph cruising speed.

With stock 'S' gearing (15/44 IIRC), 80mph is about flat out (maybe a tad faster).

I ran off-road gearing (14/48) and the engine was revving its nuts off at 60 mph. I wouldn't have wanted to try to 'cruise' at that speed.

Greg

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Well, I've thrown the cruising speed question into Thumpertalk (cheers Doc), so we'll see what comes out. I rather think you all might be right though, and that I'm being a little too hopeful.

I might just have to bite the bullet and up the budget ante. Crap.

 

[Padge]

What's the tax implecations of importing a UK bike to Turkey?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200377188141&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

I've thought about that route before, but I'd end up paying the balance in tax. The amount of paperwork needed in huge too, and so very time consuming.

Tax rates here for vehicles are ridiculous, almost doubling the ticket price on both bikes and cars. The rate is not based on a percentage of purchase price, but on weight, age and engine capacity.

There would be an option to bring something in on a "blue plate", which is similar to a diplomatic plate, where tax is not paid but a deposit to the amount of tax is left with a govt motoring organisation. But for that I need a work permit, and such is the madness of Turkish beaurocracy that I can't get one as I own a company here but am not registered as working for it. If I register as working for it, I can't own it.

I can bring one in on a tourist visa, but only for six months, and the option of taking it out and bringing it straight back has been cut off as there now needs to be a six month gap between entries for any vehicle.

All in all the best option is to buy here, unless I can smuggle something in on a fishing boat. Come to think of it, my ex neighbour has just bought a yacht............

 

[frostyuk]

hi there, i'm 6'4 and 15ish stone, and have the s model.

the s model gives you the stronger rear subframe for load carrying but less power unless you do all the mods, you can swap the subframes between the e and the s if you want to. Yes you'll need the bar risers for sure, i got mine from barrisers online or somethign like that. Best mpg i got was about 65 mpg, and best to reserve i got was 94 miles on a standard tank, i've put a bigger tank on which gives me 150miles to reserve. over 60mph and its not great, at 70 the big front fender catches the air real bad and starts to weave. Pretty easy to work on and lots of spare parts around for reasonable money of ebay and the like. Seats not great so you'll probably need an airhawk or similar for runs over about 45 minutes, plus point is that it gives you an extra inch on the seat making the legs less cramped. oh and you'll be above the design weight for the standard suspension springs, i'm right on the limit without carrying any luggage.

hope that helps, good luck

 

[LiquidLAN]

I don't know how large the kitty is... but if you can, get a test ride on a KTM 690 Enduro...

I've got to be honest I've not ridden a DRZ, but my understanding having riden the KTM is that it could be a good DRZ alternative.

I curtainly found it comparable to my WR450 for weight and handling but a lot more friendly on the power delivery. I know I might be talking out of line here, but I can't help but feel its worth a test ride if you get the chance.

edit: ah looks like you've looked at the KTM's

 

[Snoopy]

Right guys, it looks as though the wife is releasing some funds to me, as I've been a good boy recently. I have an '05 GS which I'm perfectly happy with, but have been hankering over something I can take off-road with less fear of dropping and that doesn't weigh a gazillion KGs. After perusing, yes, perusing, a few forums, inc this one, and generally sizing up what's out there, I'm moving towards a DRZ. So, a few questions that some of you might be good enough to answer, please. Please.

1. At 6'4" and 17st I'm a bit of a tall jelly monster, will a DRZ disappear beneath my bulk and will my legs (like a model's) be folded up under me?

2. Is this bike easy enough to service at home? What are service intervals on 2007 - 2009 models?

3. What's a good road cruising speed for the DRZ? Is it going to be ok at 80mph for a couple of hours at a time?

4. Fuel consumption, good or bad?

5. As it's been around for a while I assume there's lots of companies trying to seduce owners with bolt-on goodies, what is actually useful for long weekends camping, with a road / off-road bias of 50/50?

6 Having owned Suzukis in the past, and discovering the joys of mad electrical problems, am I going to once again spend hours fixing anything between the battery and the bulbs?

Very grateful for any input.

1. not really, its quite tall
2. doddle
3. NO! rode mine to Morocco and it nearly killed me. Gearing all wrong, no protection
4. Excellent, 65mpg @ 70 on the motorway. Most economical bike getting from Newcastle to Dover (better than the F650GS) i've ridden.
5. ...
6. no but like all Suzuki's rust and qc is an issue. Get it wet and things rust (like the frame) and paint comes off various parts. Also, many parts corrode especially the zinc coated bolts and metal parts. Don't expect it to keep like your 1200.