Doc's DRZ400S

[FastDoc]

My only current dualsport. Very good bike, serves me well. It did 800 miles on the ORBDR this year and never missed a beat. It got lost a bunch of times but I don't blame the machine ;-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule036/082_zpsc34rdugk.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule036/082_zpsc34rdugk.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule036/069_zpsosa26s4u.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule036/069_zpsosa26s4u.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule036/065_zpsdhprnyiq.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule036/065_zpsdhprnyiq.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule036/061_zpsdsagjjc6.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule036/061_zpsdsagjjc6.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule036/066_zpsc0072loq.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule036/066_zpsc0072loq.jpg.html)

[FastDoc]

Here's a Craigslist coup if there ever was one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule037/048_zpsjqny1ecf.png (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule037/048_zpsjqny1ecf.png.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/maule037/047_zpslk0ybtp1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maule/media/maule037/047_zpslk0ybtp1.jpg.html)

[FastDoc]

I actually got him down another $100.

[SpudRider]

That's a great motorcycle. I like it in black. :)

Are those the stock tires?

[FastDoc]

Those are the stock tires. They are Bridgestone Trail Wings. A pretty good 50-50 tire. I think I may stick with them, or Pirelli also makes a 50-50 tire that gets good reviews that I may want to try. Being a 400, it is a back road and highway capable bike. I'd like to be able to have the extra safety of the 50-50 tire in the canyons, etc.

[Weldangrind]

I think that's the perfect 400cc dual sport. How do you like the Cycleracks rack?

[FastDoc]

Very very strong. Mounts to subframe with huge bolts through mounting points designed into the bike by Suzuki. Very large. Big enough to carry a full sized cooler if one were so inclined. Heavy and not exactly stylish but carried a weeks worth of gear on the ORBDR tour no problem. A bit pricey but highly recommended.

[SpudRider]

Of course the Cycleracks is recommended; it's built in Idaho. ;)

:p

[Weldangrind]

I considered buying one for my TW, but then I found a decent rack on Taobao for a price that couldn't be beat.

The Cycleracks product looks really substantial.

[FastDoc]

Very strong, well built (in ID, of course ;-) and gets the job done. A bit expensive, but I've had lesser racks fail (on my KLX, way out in the mountains in Washington on the WABDR) and I never want to deal with that again.

As Spud has pointed out, the Chinese (Taobao) know how to make a strong rack. How else are you going to transport your entire extended family to the market?

[SpudRider]

Very strong, well built (in ID, of course ;-) and gets the job done. A bit expensive, but I've had lesser racks fail (on my KLX, way out in the mountains in Washington on the WABDR) and I never want to deal with that again.

As Spud has pointed out, the Chinese (Taobao) know how to make a strong rack. How else are you going to transport your entire extended family to the market?

Amen! :hehe:

[SpudRider]

I considered buying one for my TW, but then I found a decent rack on Taobao for a price that couldn't be beat.

The Cycleracks product looks really substantial.

Can you share a link to the Taobao luggage rack?

[Weldangrind]

Can you share a link to the Taobao luggage rack?

Voilà.

http://world.taobao.com/item/7574573886.htm?fromSite=main&sku=null

[Weldangrind]

How else are you going to transport your entire extended family to the market?

And carry a goat on the way home.

[SpudRider]

Voilà.

http://world.taobao.com/item/7574573886.htm?fromSite=main&sku=null

Thank you; that is a very nice luggage rack. :tup:

[Weldangrind]

Thank you; that is a very nice luggage rack. :tup:

The paint sucks, but the price was right. I'll strip it and paint it eventually. If I wait long enough, maybe I'll have a powder coating setup.

[MICRider]

Beautiful DRZ Doc! IMHO one of the best dual sports out there, enough oomph to highway travel, but not as top heavy and clumsy as some of the 650cc and up dualies.

[FastDoc]

It's a good compromise. A KTM would leave it for dead but the DRZ cost much less than half a KTM and will cost much less than half to maintain and will last much more than twice as long. Some things would be nice. A six speed and EFI mostly but it's easy to live without those things to save big $$$. Also, for who I am and what I do, the KTM wouldn't be any more fun, and at my stage of the game fun is all I'm after. It's not a race!

[SpudRider]

Amen on all points, brother. :)

[MICRider]

Very true on the fun part! I don't bounce like I used to so I prefer to minimize the tumbles if at all possible :).

Sold a few bikes this year as well, I let go of my Wing (still feel bad about that, I let it go dirt cheap as well :( ), I've also gotten rid of my WR, an absolutely fantastic bike, but just not for me. Oh well, variety is the spice of life right? :tup:

[SpudRider]

Very true on the fun part! I don't bounce like I used to so I prefer to minimize the tumbles if at all possible :).

Sold a few bikes this year as well, I let go of my Wing (still feel bad about that, I let it go dirt cheap as well :( ), I've also gotten rid of my WR, an absolutely fantastic bike, but just not for me. Oh well, variety is the spice of life right? :tup:

Do you still have your KLR650? What bikes are left in your stable?

[MICRider]

Do you still have your KLR650? What bikes are left in your stable?

Yup, still have my KLR, that one's a keeper :).
Just it and the 70 left now... Oh, I've still got my sons GIO quad, but he's way too big for it now so will be selling it as well.

[Weldangrind]

Do you plan to buy something for your son to ride?

[MICRider]

Do you plan to buy something for your son to ride?
No, sadly he has no interest in motorcycles or ATV's. Lol, it's a solo passion on my part.

[FastDoc]

Hard to replace a KLR. There's no current bike on the market that is more versatile. Great value too.

[MICRider]

How do you find the DRZ on the highway when meeting bigger vehicles Doc? That's one of the reasons I got rid of the WR250R, it was very "unsettling" meeting transport trucks, especially if there was a side wind too boot!

[FastDoc]

It is a pretty capable bike. It will top out somewhere in the low to mid 90s, although that is merciless on the motor. It really could use the sixth gear, but has no problems pulling freeway speeds up a hill, headwinds, anything really. It seems to have pretty stable steering geometry, does not appear to get particularly upset by winds, etc. At least no more then any other small to midsize motorcycle.

It weighs 317 pounds wet. That is 18 pounds more than the Kawasaki 250 that I used to have. It's really hard to tell the increased weight, it is not that bad. It is not what I would call a great single track tight technical woods bike, but for what I use it for (fire roads, off-road Adventure touring etc., it does fine.

[FastDoc]

A WR250 would be a significantly superior trail bike, but as we know, everything is a compromise.

[Darkrider]

I will definetly be keeping tabs on this, The DR has always interested me and when it comes time to get a new to me bike next year its probably going to come down to the DR, the XR650 and the Zong RX3. I am also interested in hearing what you think of the Trailwings after having them for awhile. I am kind of interested in possibly fitting them to my Yamaha DT250 since i now know they are available in the right sizes for it.

[SpudRider]

Doc,

Do you have a spare C/S sprocket you can measure with digital calipers? I am wondering if the C/S spline measurements below are accurate. ;)

http://www.jtsprockets.com/fileadmin/code/images/large/jtf432.jpg

[FastDoc]

I don't know, but regearing is not a great option for me.

Suzuki designed this bike as a dirtbike first. The 'E' model predates the 'S' model.

As such it has a close ratio transmission. So, if I gear it high enough to calm it down on the highway first will be too high. It's a little higher than I would like as it is.

What some guys do, and sounds like a good idea, is to gear it up to work on the highway, and use a Rekluse to make it easy to ride at very low speeds over the rocks and single track and such.

Rekluse's sound appealing and are popular out here but I've never ridden a bike with one to see if I would like it.

[FastDoc]

I will definetly be keeping tabs on this, The DR has always interested me and when it comes time to get a new to me bike next year its probably going to come down to the DR, the XR650 and the Zong RX3. I am also interested in hearing what you think of the Trailwings after having them for awhile. I am kind of interested in possibly fitting them to my Yamaha DT250 since i now know they are available in the right sizes for it.

Sorry I missed this question.

I like the Trail Wings an may use them again when this set wears out. They are a good 50-50 tire and that's what I need.

It looks like they will last about 3,000 miles, and for me that's a long time especially on a semi-powerful bike loaded for travel.

They are smooth and quiet on the road, and I think contribute to the DRZ's 60+ MPG economy, which translates to long range (my goal).

They are good in hard dirt and rock conditions where I ride the most, and good on gravel which I ride a lot also.

I have not had the pleasure much, but I understand they are poor in mud, sand, snow and softer conditions.

[Darkrider]

Sorry I missed this question.

I like the Trail Wings an may use them again when this set wears out. They are a good 50-50 tire and that's what I need.

It looks like they will last about 3,000 miles, and for me that's a long time especially on a semi-powerful bike loaded for travel.

They are smooth and quiet on the road, and I think contribute to the DRZ's 60+ MPG economy, which translates to long range (my goal).

They are good in hard dirt and rock conditions where I ride the most, and good on gravel which I ride a lot also.

I have not had the pleasure much, but I understand they are poor in mud, sand, snow and softer conditions.


So more or less the same limitations as the Dunlop "Universal Trials" tires that are currently on the bike. The main reason im moving away from these tires is mostly because there is a pretty good chance they are either the originals to the bike or a set that was fitted to it early in its life. Thus they are aged hardened and showing some signs of dry rot.

[SpudRider]

I don't know, but regearing is not a great option for me.

Suzuki designed this bike as a dirtbike first. The 'E' model predates the 'S' model.

As such it has a close ratio transmission. So, if I gear it high enough to calm it down on the highway first will be too high. It's a little higher than I would like as it is.

What some guys do, and sounds like a good idea, is to gear it up to work on the highway, and use a Rekluse to make it easy to ride at very low speeds over the rocks and single track and such.

Rekluse's sound appealing and are popular out here but I've never ridden a bike with one to see if I would like it.

Yes, I understand, Doc. However, if you have a spare C/S sprocket, please do measure it with digital calipers. I think this Suzuki C/S sprocket might fit the counter shaft of the Zongshen RX3. ;) I am mainly interested in the two spline dimensions of the interior. :)

http://www.jtsprockets.com/fileadmin/code/images/large/jtf432.jpg

[FastDoc]

Sorry Spud, I was on the wrong wavelength LOL. I don't have another one, I'd be happy to measure it next time I need to take it off.

[SpudRider]

Thank you, Doc. :)