Thinking about a change to a DR

[Jhock]

I am thinking about total change of bike and just wanted to ask a couple of questions about the DR and see what people think.

Currently running a 1150GSA, I love it but I don't think my other half is very keen on coming out on it, she has now done a couple trips and I don't think she loves being a pillion! She just does not enjoy biking.

I want to be able to so some green lanes, I love doing it on the GSA but it is so heavy!

Once or twice a week I do 120 mile commute round a grid locked M25, would a DR400 cope with this (if I fitted a larger tank so I could make the trip).

I enjoy a good run round the local B roads, from what I can tell the DR would be great for this.

I am just looking for what people think about the bike really.

 

[paddy dougan]

DRZ

Very capable for a 120 mile commute but you'll need to change the seat also, my lass reg gets 70mpg+ at Motorway speeds and she keeps up with my Tiger without probs,
If you are going to go for one, she's selling hers now as she wants a Gladius (not as tall), drop me a pm for details & link to photos, 56 plate 8.5k miles 3 owners all books and keys not been off roaded T&T May14. SY model Blue/White very clean, be quick as she's gonna PX it.
Good luck,
Paddy

 

[Two wheels good]

My first thought is - very uncomfortable seat and little weather\wind protection for commuting.
If you want to downsize I'd say a 650 V-Strom would be a contender. I do like them. Build quality won't match the 1150 but they seem to be reliable - and economical.

 

[mpriestley]

Kawasaki Versys 650, brilliant commuter and useful green lamer too.

 

[Two wheels good]

I should have paid more attention. For occasional green laning? I'll withdraw my suggestion of a V-Strom.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

i;d be going for 650 sized


DR 650 is the simple bike of choice for green laning - reliable, light, robust and cheap to fix.

older bikes have more comfy seats for commuting whilst being lighter - modern bikes are style and water cooling - unnecessary weight and poor seats.

 

[Jurassic Mark]

Have you thought about a Yamaha xt 660 tenere?

 

[Fanum]

Drz400, 120 miles commute?

Nope.......you won't do more than two days before you realise how bad that choice was.

Agreed on the 650 size though.......I just sold my DR650 but I'd have been happy to do a sensible commute on it.....I had a DRZ400 a few more years back and absolutely wouldn't have done it though, even if I'd made it into the street version with road tyres.

Lots of choice in the 600-650 class, some more commute/road biased, some more suitable for green laning AND commuting...there are some gems around too, EG a Kwacker KLR650 which was never very popular over here but is almost a cult bike over the pond...have a read of the relevant section on Advrider

A very quick search with no reading into the details on Ebay comes up with THIS at under a grand classified.....

It won't do gnarly technical off roading unless you're a riding god, but it'd be more than adequate for some normal green laning, and would do a daily commute happily as well, especially as you could pick up some spare wheels and have a set of knobblies and a set of road biased tyres

 

[GFJ]

I have a drz and I wouldn't do a 120 commute on it unless I had to. Mate has a 70 mile commute and he only uses his as a last resort.

I agree with fanum and others in that something in the 600 or 650 segment maybe a better choice. Suzuki did a dr650, and there is also the g650x country or f650 Dakar that may be worth considering.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Have you thought about a Yamaha xt 660 tenere?

i 've more than thought about one - i have one an xtz
used to commute on it and it was brilliant.
Seat takes a while to bed in but still nothing special.
Probably a bit tall and expensive to trash doing 'green laning', which is why DR 650 is the sensible all rounder cheap choice.

Don't really like KLR's - ugly and a bit vibey..

The older XT yams are a good choice though