Custom DR650 - "The Best Dual Sport in the World!"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ย. 2024
- Check out Marek's custom Suzuki DR650!
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I should have mentioned, a lot of the more expensive mods, mainly suspension items have cheaper options. Intiminators for the stock forks, reworked stock shock, rejetted stock cv carb. Mine is just is almost as modified as one can get without breaking into the motor. Off the cuff video, should have practiced more!
All good bro, very informative. Getting one this week actually :)
Bought one 2020 for next season! Cant wait to modify it
It really is the best bike in the world. I’ve owned loads of motorcycles and currently a DR650 with a CRF450L. The DR is well sorted and I much prefer riding that generally, unless the dirt gets a little gnarly.
It's definitely a well balanced bike between dirt and pavement. I might get one to do a custom scrambler build out of one day. Or possibly a DRZ400.
The DR650s have their own little cult I swear lol it's the same as the KLR Gang, you either love them to pieces or you hate them.
Yup, but we're not going at
each other like Mongols vs
Hell's Angels. I met my first
KLR owner at a biker event
hosted by the Alky Angels.
The only mod I've made on mine was to change the stock seat to one made by Sargent Cycle. I'll definitely be adding the barkbuster handguards as I've already experienced one bent clutch lever and one broken brake lever on falls. Just wanted to comment that one does not need to make all the mods in this video to make the DR650 one badass dual sport.
I'm thinking about getting once myself, to do a custom bike build with it since the frame can take a standard gas tank.
I’m getting 790, with big cams and CRF450R fork, +3k other mods
Nice!
Almost all my friends say my DR is trash and i should save all the money i spend for mods to buy a proper bike but... no "proper" bike in this world will be that reliable, cheap to repair and can bring me everywhere. I spent well over 2500€ in one year on my 2000 DR which has now 73.000km on the clock and never had an issue which is why i can spend so much in mods... i dont have any repair costs. Just some oil and chain wax for maintenance and thats it. I dont need to worry if there is a scratch on it.
I will show them all that the DR650 is a superior breed of machined beeing. Their eyes will fall out when im coming to the spot with a 790cc motor and rip that pesky ktm 690 apart. And all of that for less than 10 grant.
I will show them carburetors are better than EFI, that a steel frame has such a big advantage over aluminum, that its the best sounding single cylinder, that it is in every way superior (besides the weight). Even though most of that stuff isnt really important but im just a 20 year old with a mind of a 50 year old and my friends are 16 to 25 years old with the minds of 18 year olds
Sorry once i start i cant stop with this.
In my eyes the DR650 just has soooo much potential and is the best bike in the world. I will never sell it. If one day the motor breaks ill rebuild it and ride it until i die (or until it gets stolen which happens a lot here but in that case ill buy another one and start again)
Yeah it's a cool bike, and you can do some great custom stuff with them. I really want to do a Scrambler build out of one.
How long did your clutch last? About to hit 6400km on mine(bought used at 2600km) and it needs to be replaced.
Bought my '09 DR used (barely) at the beginning of '10. The guy put the bbq grill rear rack on it, and still have it on. Aside from the occasional knee bash throwing my leg over it, its a pretty cool rack. Very nice bike you have! 👍
Yeah they're cool bikes. Marek has since moved to PA, and is going to be doing the TAT later this year on his DR.
I use my DR-650 to locate karst exposures in temperate rain forest,
seeking cave entry, for exploration. Sometimes, I park underground
(usually within lava flows). Recommend the Modoc National Forest.
That's super cool!
@@ScramblerStories More so
under old lava flows within
Modoc National Forest. As
some exploration encounters
year-around ice inside to go
climb upon. Some things are
seen within that ice. I always
hope to find another Saber-tooth
Tiger.
@@jcee2259 That's super cool!
Great bike, thanks for the review!
Thanks, appreciate you watching!
Killer setup man. Great video.
Thank you!
You didn't mention the aftermarket windshield, who makes it. I had a DR and put on a Bajaworks windshield which blocked the wind, but the wind noise was loud.
Nice mods but i do notice she is not as responsive as mine is, she revs up slowly. Has your carb and air box mod been done?
This I do not know. I'll bug my buddy whose bike it is. There were a bunch of mods that he forgot to mention.
Really comprehensive- thanks!
Redington Rd? Looks like it . I shoot up there quite a bit. Thinking about picking up a Honda CB 500X adventure bike to replace my 02 sportster. Ever ride one???
Yeah that is Redington road. I've never ridden the CB500x, but it seems like a nice little bike. Amanda from As the Magpie Flies has one, and she likes it. th-cam.com/video/IG_KmruTmt4/w-d-xo.html
Certainly a lot lighter than your Sportster. Personally I'm more interested in the Terene 700, or a maybe the new Tigers when they come out. I want a 21" front tire.
I think I saw this bike earlier when I search google for DR650 fork guards or something like that?
As an owner of a highly modified one, I'd say buy a used one that's highly upgraded and save a lot of money. Or save up a little more and get something like a used ktm 500. It's a good starter and commuter bike. If you don't want a daily driver and have riding experience, get something more modern. They're good bikes but it can become a money pit. I'm just at the point where I'd rather trailer a squad of guys to a riding area with aggressive tires on actual trail bikes, vs commute all they way out on a dr and be on 50/50 tires, forced to carry everything I need on the bike.
Did that bike originally have an 7-8 gallon safari tank on it? The bike looks familiar.
I think when Marek bought it, it already had this tank on. He bought it from a guy in Colorado.
I think I meet the guy that built that bike in Grand Jct. I bought some parts from him, excellent bike.👍🏼
Best adv frame and motor... Everything else you should change. Just kidding, great bike and mods!
Hahaha right! Marek brings controversial opinions with him!
Good thing about the DR is that it's totally ridable as a stock bike right up through one that's even more modified than this one. Every mod will make it better and better, or you can just keep it stock until something breaks and upgrade as needed. Only thing is, the DR seldom breaks and the aftermarket for them is huge, so if you buy one you may not be able to resist spending lots of money upgrading it.
Agree . Even though I will get the Tenere 700 when it finally gets here I will still play with the DR650 and make it better and better . Wish I had roads like that close to me that I could ride .
@@hardworkingamerican8847 Did ya get the T700 then? :D
@@SweWince
As a matter of fact I did , on my birthday last month . Crazy . First time on it and I had to go over a 13 mile bridge that crosses the San Francisco Bay . Dang wind was blasting me the whole time 35 40 mph at a 45° angle . Wasn't much traffic so that helped but that was my first time on any highway sized bridge at freeway speeds . Instead of trial by fire it was trial by wind . But that was reversed today as I helped evacuate my aunt from her home as a large fire was threatening the town she lives in . It's been a crazy day . Hope no one loses anything and can go home soon .
@@hardworkingamerican8847 Dang, initiation by fire and wind separately then! Sorry to hear about the fire, hope everyone is fine with you and everyone around you. Is the 650 collecting dust then or did you sell it?
@@SweWince
There's a tiny spiderweb on the crappy hand guard but that little bastard or maybe it's cousins have been bugging me since nearly day one . I was going to start it up today with the Tenere and install the Outback Motortek crash bars on the Tenere but that plan changed quick . Took the DR650 with us to Lake Tahoe last month on our annual trip to the mountains , I didn't ride it there I had it in the back of my truck and just went on small adventures . It was a blast .
How did get a DR 350 rear wheel to work on the DR650??? Any modification, or was it a spoke and rim replacement on the 650 hub?
I'll ask Marek to reply, but I think that wheel may have already been on the bike.
@@ScramblerStories Any updates 😅
@@aaha1046 Sorry, forgot about you! Wheel was already on when he bought the bike, but it is a DR350 wheel.
is the dr650 any good stock or does it need all this extra stuff?
I think it's a good starting point, but it's a bike made for a price point. Plus most bikes need a little tweaking to the rider. My friend Simon has one that's closer to stock that he's been traveling around the world on. Look up Tacbike on instagram.
It also depends what one uses it for. I've seen plenty of stock DR650s riding about. If I get one, must have changes for me are a larger fuel tank, tapered handlebars, wider foot pegs, folding shift lever, crash protection, and probably better suspension. I've only ridden Marek's, so perhaps the stock suspension would be ok for me. Seems like it's pretty meh from the factory according to other owners online.
@@ScramblerStories thank you for the detailed response. I live in Los Angeles so I'm wondering just how many trails I'll actually be going lol. I've done so much research my heads going to explode but it's nice to be able to talk to someone whos actually ridden then bike. I'm going to do a test ride here pretty soon. Last random question for you. I'm going back and forth between the ducati scrambler full throttle edition and this. I know this can obviously handle more off road than the scrambler but do you have any opinions on out of the box "fun" between these two options? Have you ever ridden scramblers before vs the dr650? Thanks!
@@KyleJosephBuckley Don't forget you got tons of great off-road riding in the desert, east of LA. I think there's plenty of options around some of the local mountain ranges too. I haven't ridden the Ducati, it's not my cup of tea. However I do have a Triumph Street Scrambler that I love. I can't say I'd prefer a DR650 over my scrambler, but it also depends on the kind of riding you want to do. The Ducati, like my Scrambler is a street bike that you can get away with taking off-road, pending your skill and the difficulty of the terrain. I've taken my off the beaten path many times. That being said, the DR650 is far more capable off-road. Lighter with a lot more suspension travel. A scrambler is going to be a lot more fun on the pavement, where the power is more usable. It'll also be more comfortable for longer distance riding. Of course modern bikes are fuel injected too, whereas a DR is still carbureted. Though I wouldn't be too bothered by that.
Ducati does make the Desert Sled, which will be closer to the off-road capability of a DR, while still being a badass bike on the street. But then you get into the question of do you really want to take that expensive of a bike off-road? Alternatively, you could do a sweet custom scrambler build on a DR650. www.google.com/search?q=DR650+scrambler&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjOpsPM_prpAhWyMX0KHYN0BrIQ_AUoAnoECAwQBA&biw=1571&bih=928
My problem with dual sports is that they aren't the most attractive. Make a custom bike, and you solve the looks issue and have a unique bike. This is something I've been considering to do with a DR, but I'm also trying to do a round the world trip. So I might just focus on getting an adventure bike in the future, and worry about a custom DR for the future. Hope that helps a little, good luck!
Scrambler Stories awesome advice thank you!!
i liked your video very much. Can you please tell what bike the triple trees came from. thanks
RMZ450
badass 💪🏻
Marek seems to think so too!
What year are the forks and triple tree? Does it matter for the swap?
I'm not sure. Doubt the year matters, but I think there's an issue with his triple trees, where the fit is not quite right. He bought it with those forks already installed.
@@ScramblerStories right on. Thanks for the response. 🤘🏽
RMZ swap seems overdone. Ricor Intiminators with stock springs or Cogent DDCs with straight rate springs work well.
The only question I have is; how do you make ennough money working and then have time to enjoy such an awesome hobbie?
That is the million dollar question, which if I had a million dollars, I'd have an answer!
"Best in the world" in who's opinion?
Marek's obviously, since it's his bike. But you know, there's quite the fanbase around the DR 650 that feel the same.
I am trying to understand why buy a bike to dual sport that admittedly you have to completely rebuild? Cool if its your thing but...you know. odd
Well he bought it like that. Most bikes could be improved. However to your point, it's a more street oriented dual sport with modifications to make it more dirt orientated. I can't talk, I ride a street bike off-road!
The BMW R1250 GS is not the best value for money because it is ridiculously expensive but it is the best adventure bike because it covers long distances much better than the DR650. In saying that the DR650 is much better value for money than the BMW.
One of the worst things motorcycle content creators can do is have fast and aggressive music playing over the action shots that are barely moving. The music in this video should be more like a bed time lullaby for children.
Sorry, no FPV drone for me, so the rider needs be slow enough I can actually film them. Hoping to have one someday in the future, to be able to keep up with people racing.
Pardon my sarcasm but, "The best dual sport in the world," that needs new front and rear suspension, new seat, new tank, new carb and, ... and, is there anything that doesn't need be replaced? Those Japanese engineers must be pretty dumb putting that shit together....OK. I know I'm gonna get hate for the comment above but, after all said, I wouldn't mind owning this bike as possible future replacement for two of my smaller rides. The bigger tank seems like nice option but, I just looked at modified version yesterday at nearby dealer and Acerbis extended tank looked very soft, thin and exposed as well as way to close to the oil cooler radiator. Would that be legit concern if tank is punctured? Also, the mounting point for that cooler also kind of makes it little exposed. Any experiences with that? ( I used to work with Japanese engineers. They are good guys but, engineering is compromise like most things in life.) :-)
oknevals you will no doubt notice that nearly every owner of every bike modifies them one way or another to suit the purpose they require.
Walk into a dealer and purchase a new adventure style bike and he will sell you a load of options, be it crash bars, bashplate, hand guards, exhaust, suspension mod's, the list is endless.
What makes the DR so good is you have a low purchase price to begin with, and you can modify it any way you want at a lower price.
WhiteDRguy 650 ...sure, they’re a great base for building a dual sport / adventure bike, but I don’t agree that a lot of bikes need upgraded suspension. A lot of (sure, more expensive) bikes have suspension that’s well and truly capable. I be never touched my WP suspension, other than adjusting it for the ride conditions
Best dual sport after the upgrades!
DR is cheap and there are 1001 aftermarket parts so people can change them in their search for nirvana. And still feel that they have a low cost bike. It’s a basic tractor that is easy to live with.
It not air cooled, it's oil cooled.
Incorrect, its Air & Oil cooled
Best? Not at all. Too heavy, too thirsty, not even that reliable. I'd much rather use a Honda crf230L or 250L than this old thumper. The title is pretentious but without merit.
Well that's why it's in quotations, it's Marek's opinion. Although also an opinion shared by many on the DR, because it's well rounded. Is a Honda 250L better? Well it's cheaper new, fuel injected (which I like but there's an argument for the simplicity of carbureted), and better off-road. But the DR is easier to work on, better on the street, better for traveling long distance. The Hondas you mentioned lean towards the dirt, which are definitely better if you lean towards riding in the dirt.
The best dual sport is really subjective and based on the needs of the rider. Marek previously owned a Husaberg (which is a dirt bike, not a dual sport), but that would always be his first choice off-road. He likes the DR as a dual sport because it's balanced well between dirt and road.