Grat video, The 800 dr is very beautiful. In my opinion, I think it has a lot more character than many modern adventure bikes, including the 800 v strom Thanks for sharing
I road a 700 DR in Malaysia when working there, what a great bike. My now wife had never been on a bike before & she Loved it too we then want & bought a Yamaha thunder race and continued to enjoy bikeing. MY best wishes to you from the Philippines ♥️💪👍😉😀😁🏁🛺🏍️🐑🇵🇭🏴
Great review and very interesting, and I also loved Freddies ride on his channel. It was very amusing . I've watched this channel from the start and it's one of my favourites. I love your more modern classics that you've been reviewing and riding. I ride/ restore 1970s 80s Japanese bikes. I have a 1978 Honda CX500, 1981 Suzuki GSX750, and 2008 Triumph Bonneville 2008.. Great channel, and I love the direction you're taking the channel. I also like the older bikes you feature and the reviews and opinions of the lady riders. Keep up the great work, Alex
Hey Paul, ah, thanks so much for your kind words. We really enjoyed making this video and riding the bikes (I rode all of them a lot). Comment like these are very encouraging, thanks again, Alex
I've owned an 800 the same as this (the red version), and currently have an 88 750 and am working on another 91 bike for a friend. My 750 came from Switzerland, my 800 from Italy, and my friend's from France: I think most of the bikes in the UK will have been imports, but the mph clocks on this blue bike certainly point to it having been a UK model from the start. I think it'd be fair to say that, in their time, these bikes were much more appreciated in mainland Europe than over here. There are a couple of things about this one that are different from any other I've seen before: as well as everything else that gives this bike its rarity, I'd go so far as to say these might possibly make it unique. The first and most visible was the absence of handguards but you accounted for this by saying you'd taken them off because they flapped (I actually fabricated a keeper to stop this happening on mine). Next, the silencers: most versions I've seen came with heat guards of one type or another (a metal hoop or a wire grille) but this one doesn't and there are no fittings to suggest it was ever meant to have them. Also, most versions had a front disc guard, but again it isn't just missing, there don't seem to be any lugs on the fork for fitting one. I guess it goes without saying that I prefer the DR, too.
I have heard that the DRBig can have starter issues. My neighbour had one laid up with a bad starter clutch. He still didn’t want to sell it to me though!
This rarely happens with the 800 model (like this) which was developed from the original 750 version introduced in 1988. The 800 gained a redesigned starter system and an auto-decompressor whereas the earlier bike had had a manual type with a lever on the handlebars. On the early bikes, it was actually turning the engine off via the ignition - the abruptness of it - which could produce 'backwaves' from the rolling mass of the crank, and owners found that the decompressor lever wasn't just for starting the engine but also provided the best way for turning it off.
Use a high quality 3/8 or 1/4 inch drive socket of the correct size to tighten mirror,the high quality items have thin walls,the cheap tools try to make up for lower quality materials by beefing them up but then you can't get them I everywhere.
Very interesting review. And fascinating DR history with the Paris Dakar focus. A pleasure to ride with you, Alex!
Right on Freddie, you too mate, it was a great day out eh!
Grat video, The 800 dr is very beautiful. In my opinion, I think it has a lot more character than many modern adventure bikes, including the 800 v strom
Thanks for sharing
I road a 700 DR in Malaysia when working there, what a great bike. My now wife had never been on a bike before & she Loved it too we then want & bought a Yamaha thunder race and continued to enjoy bikeing. MY best wishes to you from the Philippines ♥️💪👍😉😀😁🏁🛺🏍️🐑🇵🇭🏴
i would just love to ride/own one of these. Ive got the 650... great bike.
Great review and very interesting, and I also loved Freddies ride on his channel. It was very amusing . I've watched this channel from the start and it's one of my favourites. I love your more modern classics that you've been reviewing and riding. I ride/ restore 1970s 80s Japanese bikes. I have a 1978 Honda CX500, 1981 Suzuki GSX750, and 2008 Triumph Bonneville 2008.. Great channel, and I love the direction you're taking the channel. I also like the older bikes you feature and the reviews and opinions of the lady riders. Keep up the great work, Alex
Hey Paul, ah, thanks so much for your kind words. We really enjoyed making this video and riding the bikes (I rode all of them a lot). Comment like these are very encouraging, thanks again, Alex
Great stuff lads love the old dr800 thumper❤
Beautiful machine,ya gotta love the big thumper
I've owned an 800 the same as this (the red version), and currently have an 88 750 and am working on another 91 bike for a friend. My 750 came from Switzerland, my 800 from Italy, and my friend's from France: I think most of the bikes in the UK will have been imports, but the mph clocks on this blue bike certainly point to it having been a UK model from the start. I think it'd be fair to say that, in their time, these bikes were much more appreciated in mainland Europe than over here. There are a couple of things about this one that are different from any other I've seen before: as well as everything else that gives this bike its rarity, I'd go so far as to say these might possibly make it unique. The first and most visible was the absence of handguards but you accounted for this by saying you'd taken them off because they flapped (I actually fabricated a keeper to stop this happening on mine). Next, the silencers: most versions I've seen came with heat guards of one type or another (a metal hoop or a wire grille) but this one doesn't and there are no fittings to suggest it was ever meant to have them. Also, most versions had a front disc guard, but again it isn't just missing, there don't seem to be any lugs on the fork for fitting one. I guess it goes without saying that I prefer the DR, too.
The old is nicer
The big is a WAY better looking bike. I want one!!
Wow…like your riding skills 👍
Thanks, that's very nice of you to say
I have heard that the DRBig can have starter issues. My neighbour had one laid up with a bad starter clutch. He still didn’t want to sell it to me though!
This rarely happens with the 800 model (like this) which was developed from the original 750 version introduced in 1988. The 800 gained a redesigned starter system and an auto-decompressor whereas the earlier bike had had a manual type with a lever on the handlebars. On the early bikes, it was actually turning the engine off via the ignition - the abruptness of it - which could produce 'backwaves' from the rolling mass of the crank, and owners found that the decompressor lever wasn't just for starting the engine but also provided the best way for turning it off.
Looked a real hoot.
I like the yellow paint job best.
Use a high quality 3/8 or 1/4 inch drive socket of the correct size to tighten mirror,the high quality items have thin walls,the cheap tools try to make up for lower quality materials by beefing them up but then you can't get them I everywhere.
Ah, yeah, I tried all my sockets but none of them fit, thanks
@@TheClassicMotorcycleChannel usually has to be a Facom, Snap-on or other higher end stuff, silly money I know but usually does what's intended. 👍
what about milage brother?
Who owns the BIG and is it for sale?🕊️
Suzuki Bikes in the UK own the bike
4:57 Yikes! 😮😄
Hahaha weeeeee
Only 53 horses not a lot for 800cc