Suzuki DR650 Adventure Bike Build
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2024
- Shop Our DR650 Motorcycle Build!
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The DR650 itself has been around for a long time, and since the mid-nineties, Suzuki hasn’t given it any major updates or significant changes. The model has stuck to a big, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that’s proven to be exceptionally reliable and mated that to a 5-speed gearbox that‘s surprisingly capable, even at highway speeds. This made the DR650 a great candidate for our build because it had a history of being rock solid, there are plenty of parts available, and the bike itself is affordable enough not to set you back too far after the initial purchase.
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Great build! I have owned the DR, KLR, and XRL, and the DR is the best overall. The XRL might have a bit better suspension off road, but is top heavy, and an absolute slug above 70mph. The power goes flat above 70, and it's also very twitchy above 70 on dirt roads. The KLR is also twitchy above 70 on dirt roads. The DR however, is rock solid stable even up to 90mph on dirt roads. On the highway the DR motor pulls up to 100mph nicely, and just feels like it does not mind doing it. The KLR feels almost like you are hurting it when you run it up to that speed, like it isn't liking it. The DR does it smoothly. The DR is way lighter than the KLR as we all know. People always say how the KLR is so superior on the highway, and I disagree. It just has a better seat and bigger tank. I would rather have the DR, and put on a good seat, and bigger tank. Then, to me, it beats the KLR on the street. And no matter how much you spend, the KLR will still be way too heavy, and no amount of money will fix that. Plus, the DR valves are super easy to adjust, and the oil cooler is way less vulnerable than the radiators on the KLR. The DR engine is actually designed around oil cooling, with ports that spray that oil under the piston skirt. It's not just an add on, it's part of the design.
Thanks for writing that up. I just bought a DR, so that helps to hear
@@KLRJUNE My KLR was not too twitchy on pavement, but on dirt roads it was, and I think it is the spindly front fork to blame. The fork is wimpier than the DR fork, and has more stress on it with the extra weight, much of which is on the front with radiators, fairing, and big tank. The spindly KLR fork is well documented as a weakness. It should have a beefier fork than the DR, not smaller, since it has so much more load on it.
Finally found and bought a new 2023 DR today! Nobody seems to stock them here in Georgia. Time to trash that 2x4 that Suzuki calls a seat! Rode it home 107 miles and it killed my butt inside of 30 miles! Great video for me to get started with the farkling!🤔😎👍
Holy crap this 5-6 thousand dollar bike went up to 15,000 plus with this build. Awesome stuff on the bike but one of the great features of these bikes is the durability to price point, but admit if i had the extra cash i would put a handful of these parts on mine!!!
Great to see a DR build. After buying an 08 model with just over 4k mi I've added a good amount of accessories from Rocky Mountain like Tusk high-rise bar & rear rack w/Wolfman bag, tires, lowered foot pegs, Acerbis skid plate and handlebar guards. I installed heavier Cogent fork springs along with Racetech GoldValves and it made a HUGE difference! Now I'm about to tackle the rear shock rebuild doing the same mods. The great thing with buying a used DR is that even after adding the accessories you want/need the whole package is still usually less than $5k. Try that with a BMW!! After only having street bikes this bike has been such a blast to ride and work on. I did my first 90mi dual-sport trail ride in NJ and am looking to explore more next year. Thanks for all the great products!
Seems every build I see of the 650, all but the engine and frame are completely replaced.🙃
I like this version the most. Happy riding!
I bought my first DR650 in 1994, a used 92 model when I was 19 years old. I literally rode the hell out of it for 50k miles. Rode ST, SM and several long trips. Even raised my pit bull to ride in the milk crate from 8 weeks old up until he busted the sub frame. The DR is a great bike and I eventually went back to owning another new 2005 model. It's true the big DR can be whatever you want it to be and that's why Suzuki won't change it also its design is grandfathered it with CARB and EPA
Liberty Tree p
How did he bust the sub frame?
Lots of Respect for Justin,
I am from India and I don't have these bikes,but I still watch videos of RC ATV MC videos,just for you people's professionalism.....
Keep going
Thanks a lot! I appreciate that! - Justin
+Rocky Mountain ATV MC .... I bought and built then soon after sold a 2005 SM DR650 . 10 years later the guy reached out to me and had me go through it . I had installed a clear Clark oversized tank and it was still in perfect condition. While I had his bike I installed a LED running light which illuminated the whole tank and you could just look down and see your fuel level and night . Also the tank light gave I little more visibility of the bike to others on the road.
@@rrandydduke be like having a good girlfriend back ,temporarily !
@@rrandydduke If love to see how that looked.
Best DR build I’ve seen. It’s perfect.
Thanks a lot!! It has been a fun bike - Justin
I would have added a big bore kit!
@@ibdaffy what's that?
I have owned the Safari fairing before, but now have the Yenkro fairing. There is no comparison! Yenkro makes it for both the Safari and Acerbis 6.6 tanks. The hand and CNC machined Yenkro is more of a rally design, better dash, fiberglass is better material, and the whole tower pivots in a crash, protecting your dash accessories. Plus it gives you a much better headlight. And the mounting takes all weight off the handlebars and fuel tank, it stands alone off the front of the frame. Yes, you have to order them from Australia, but it is worth the money, hands down! My Safari fairing didn't survive my first dual sport ride, cracking badly with just two offs. Other than that, I have done most of what you have here!
Remember to remove the front chain roller that does nothing and usually breaks off and makes a big hole in the frame
Just moved up from a 92 to a post 96. Will keep the 92 as a buddy bike. Looking forward to doing many of these mods. Great video as always guys.
.....IMHO: That's AWESOME!!!! I am looking for an "Adventure bike, that is totally adequate for making long trips on the Interstate, to get out to the Offroads, and fire-trails, so that I can go into the boonies, and enjoy those places, off the beaten path! I'm NOT trying to "Race Off-roads"!!! I just want a bike that can get in and out of difficult places, without being too small for the Highways. This looks like the best "compromise" bike, so far. THANKS!!!! GREAT Overview, and Mods!
*guloguloguy* - you got the right idea sir. These bikes are great for that style of riding and lots of accessories are available for them as well. Thanks for watching our videos. Have you watched our "HOP" Hooked on Phoenix ride? Check it out: th-cam.com/video/pjeXMfiPRYY/w-d-xo.html
Nice maybe some more armour and a better rear fender set up. Very nice though
@@douglasrhine4640 like what?
@@zero2sixty420 frame guards, case savers. etc.
@@douglasrhine4640 I see lots of case savers in the mod videos, didnt even noticed they didn't include them.
Upper chain roller delete is a must and drop a tooth in the front... Idk what high way speeds are for you out that way but I cruise 70 mph with the bike still... I've had mine since 2011 still greatly enjoy riding it
I heard Everide mention ya'll a lot in his videos, but you earned my subscription and business with this vid. I just got a new DR650 and have been shopping around to figure out where I'm gonna get extras, and you guys laid out exactly what I want to do with it. Buying panniers through you now.
*FrontSight* - awesome to hear! We're glad we are able to help you out in the farkles department. Thanks for the sub!
Great bike build! I installed Ricor intimidators in the forks and an FCR41MX pumper carb.
I left the stock exhaust on the bike an the bike runs fantastic
thanks! I might try the ricors too. So far the suspension feels good (for ADV riding), but the shock does rebound a bit quick. I will play with some things there.....Justin
This is the only bike that I truly feel could be the first and only bike you’d ever need.
If you're going to get fat-bar adapters, go all the way and get the GPR fat-bar / steering stabilizer package. It may not make you a better dirt rider, but is makes the D606's on my '06 feel much safer on the road. Good for stream crossings too. Pro Taper Woods Low bars work well with that setup. I just put on the new Oxford Adventure Pro heated grips with the battery-saving controller built into the left grip - no panel to mount, The Magura Hymec hydraulic clutch is the solution to the chronic clutch cable problem. I'm sure the Rocky Mountain build has Emulators in the fork along with the RaceTech springs; worth while. The Gold Valve in the shock is a bigger spend...
That is one of the best bike builds I've ever seen. Great job! The DR650 is a very capable round the world adventure bike if kitted out correctly!
Thanks *bhmavrik!* We are loving the DR650. Great bike, thanks for watching!
Rocky Mountain ATV MC - How much did the mods cost in total??
Such a beautiful bike you guys built. I've not done a lot to mine, but did add an AE Engineering dash, that looks good and provides two accessory outlets and a Ram mount. Just installed a set of Enduro Engineering handguards tonight, to my new ProTaper EVO Adventure bars. They make riding much more comfortable now. I recently installed a DG V2 slip-on exhaust. It sounds great and more importantly, dropped around 6 or 7 pounds and you and really feel the weight reduction. My first change was tires, the "Deathwings" that came stock, weren't cutting it, so i went with Michelin T63s front and back. They were great, but unfortunately, Michelin stopped making them. :-( I'm going to try Tractionators before a trip to Tennessee in March and give them a try.
I've never rode a dr but I've always liked them. I've had xr650r,klr650,vstrom 1000 and rode a drz400 once but never a dr650. Maybe my next bike.
Nicely done! If you're after even more fun, the pumper carb upgrade totally transforms the bike!
What's that?
I slapped on the 790 big bore kit from procycle.. I have around 12k on mine, not one issue and tons more power/torque . The charts they have claim about a 18hp / 18 Torque increase from stock Never dyno'd mine but I can confidently say I expect the same results if I ever dyno mine. Makes a huge difference especially while hauling a ton of gear for extended trips and MPG before/after is pretty much same and barely noticeable, it actually increased a bit while loaded with gear. I can also say the suspension setup that was mentioned by "Lost in PA" from Cogent dynamics is absolutely amazing, much safer and superior on/off road to everything else I have ever tried.
I seriously doubt you get that much power from simply the big bore kit. MAYBE if they are comparing 650 from factory (no jetting/tuning) to one that has big bore with tune.
I would have thought that it would have been kind of obvious this is compared to bone stock 650 to one that has the big bore kit and tune. One doesn't normally put on a big bore kit and not tune and jet it, it's kind of a given. You are after all increasing the displacement by 140.
No, I meant one does not usually go from bone stock to big bore. Compare apples to apples (650 with jet kit, vs big bore with jet kit)
What I've done to my farkled DR650 was selling it and get a Kato 690 enduro, couldn't be happier.
how do you compare them in terms of vibrations and on-road capability? i have 790 and looking for something lighter (but not as light as my enduro bike)
How about adding a MOSFET regulator rectifier along with the higher output stator, then you'll have more electrical power and the oil temp will actually be lower (read up on MOSFET RR's for an explanation).
I just did the NSU updated, I have an 07 DR650, drz400 front forks, built rear shock, jetted carb opened air box mod. Tusk side racks, factory rear rack. Wanting to upgrade my seat also.👍
SeatConcepts, love mine
Cogent Suspension, pumper carb, exhaust, lithium battery, oversized bars, acerbis skidplate, and braided brakelines. I went for a lighter more performance oriented build. Its a fun plush riding bike now that weighs around 350lbs full of fuel.
Cool build, Id be curious to know how much it adds up to...
Speedytrip 2 much
The bike build videos are my favorite segments of your channel. My dad has dropped a small fortune with you guys after your drz400 video, and I'm sure I'll do the same after you release your xr650l video
Thanks *Turner Randoph* for watching. We'll throw the XR650L to the list. Cheers!
I added an 805 beer sticker , the best mod for the money
Seat concept seat is a must
It will do 99 MPH. I do it all the time. Live riding the bike anywhere any time.
Don Potter actually over 110 easily
Really happy to see this build, Justin....turned out great!
I dropped one tooth on the front sprocket. Better off road performance very little top end change. They are great bikes. I agree with the seat upgrade. All day comfort.
SeatConcepts is awesome. $169 + shipping
I think your accessories cost more than the bike itself.
ronenfe they do I did the math
Right, but I think they went overboard on tank and fairing. You can do it much cheaper, I did.
@@Andriig75 Could you elaborate please? Parts list perhaps. I don't know much, would like some advice.
I agree
Close! I have a $10,000 DR myself lol
More DR650 videos please!
Oh yeah,...by the way the DR is about 70lbs lighter than the KLR...no big deal.
Ha ha! it is quite a bit lighter; you are right! I think that is why it is so much better off-road!....Jusitin
Lol
@@rmatvmc Plus several more inches of suspension travel front and rear.
@@nomadben Only 1 inch more than a Gen 1 KLR... but still much lighter!!!
RMATVMC, I do not have an off-road bike yet. I have never ridden off-road on a bike. I am deciding where to start. There's this DR650 (featured in this video), the Himalayan, KLR, but.....maybe too tall for me (I'm 72"). I know a 21" front wheel is a good choice to have. Suzuki DR-Z400 is a good place to start, I think. To start riding off-road, I would like to start on some fire roads or light trails to help with confidence. I am curious to know about the handlebar vibration out of single cylinders. I have already had carpal tunnel surgery in both wrists. There may be a Himalayan 650 coming. There is a lot to choose from and that is good. I would need a more comfortable seat. Not a '2X4'. I hear good things about the Kove 450, but mostly enduro-type usage.
Justin your and the whole teams videos. Tyler could do a great buy and build on this bike... he has proven the tusk panniers strength for sure. Anyways our older pre 96 bikes are mainly the same but some little differences. Either way a pumper carb like the tm40 and the new variable (96 n newer) and preset (older bikes) advanced timing CDI takes this motor to a whole new level!
Ok fat fingers should say I love your and the whole teams videos.
Thanks a lot Russ, I appreciate that! I didn't want to do anything to the motor (yet). I like to keep things somewhat simple. However, I have hear of an 800cc kit I am tempted to try. between that and some carb work this could be a monster!! - Justin
Put a Tm-40 Flat slide on it. Makes a world of difference.
There is nothing that looks cool on this bike (to me) but it's on my list because its a hecking good bike.
Low tech bike means no worries when you're out in the Gobi desert!
I'm beginning to think the pristine-condition 1996 DR 650 with 3,400 miles on it, and significantly upgraded already might be a great buy. Anyone think I'd be nuts to buy such an old DR? It's truly a looker, very clean.
Springs being stiffer make the shock overheat quicker,and kick back harder. Especially with all the weight piled on this bike build.Cogent works.
Sweet, bad ass looking bike.
Awesome build for the mighty DR, one thing I would add especially since you up the spring rate in the rear is a race tech gold valve. Did it to mine and can't say enough good things about it.
I think I will try that. It does rebound a little faster than I like....Justin
@@rmatvmc did you do this Justin? How did it work out?
this look like a blast to ride, I would love to ride one of these across the rocky mountains in` the summer but I have a yz 250 f so I don't really want to turn it into a adventure bike.
*Evan Bakki* The 250f's are nice and lightweight. If you're wanting to go on longer adventure rides you may want to look into a dual sport bike. They come equipped with all the electrical needed to get on the road legally. Thanks for watching!
Perfect bike, perfect video and very good explanation on the mods. Thanks
hey Justin, what's your favorite so far of the adventure bike builds you've done?
I cant wait to pick one up on Saturday 😍
lucky!
Good for you
Where is the kitchen and bathroom? My mods were plastic skid plate(metal sucks), remove front fork reflectors, remove and block pair valve, remove carcoal gas tank vent, remove upper chain roller, remove airbox snorkel, drill fuel screw plug out, add shim washer on carb needle, and wire a power plug to front accessory wire terminal for garmin. There that’s it, everything else is good to go as stock, love seat (ride my WR450F), love tires (truthfully kenda 270 are in my garage for future), love gearing, love pegs, and yes I will change handlebars but stock works also. You guys built something I just don’t care a hoot for but maybe your viewers do.
good video, been thinking about one of these!
it would be cool if they did a retro bike build like a '95 ktm 620 rxc, It would be cool to see what could be done with it
What a great build! Well thought through and tons of helpful tips to improve reliability. I'll be saving this video for the future if I ever decide to get one of these
thanks!
So there are alot of problems with the DR650's that need to be rectified and Suzuki have not bothered to implement any changes to correct this since 1996 . . . ?
The airbox mod is controversial and something I'm not going to do. On the other hand, you left the stock gearing? I find the bike is geared too tall for technical riding so dropped a tooth on the front.
Otherwise, nice work. I will look closely at the tank/fairing mod you did. Looks awesome and I want to carry more fuel than the stock tank does. I'm looking forward to getting to know mine more come Spring.
Awesome suspension 👍
Justin,swap that large tailight for the smaller model that comes on the dr250.That 650 tailight will eventually break off due to its weight being so far away from its mounting point on the fender
Justin, what was the final wet weight of this awesome and comprehensive DR650 build? Any chance Rocky Mountain ATV & MC still has that info to post?
I didn't upgrade much on mine. Just the exhaust skid plate and case saver. Did the air box mod and jetted the carb.
Did you remove the front chain roller that does nothing and usually breaks off and makes a big hole in the frame?
Yes I did and I put a flush mount screw back in
Neutral sensor screws fix? That is a must, not very hard to do if you can do it yourself
love the build mate, curious about the YZ front fender, looks great, any particular model YZ fender ?
I put the YZ forks on mine. Bearings from allballs and cogent /olins rear shock. Still looking for an 18" rear wheel......
Oh this was 2 years ago.
Warp9 makes 18" rears for them with cush hub. You might have to email them for it as the wheel building tool on thier site is a little buggy.
I'm serious here is Rocky Mtn ATV listening? I'm interested in this exact bike brand new. The black 2021 model? How much will this bike cost with all these upgrades? Ball park figure. I'm moving to Southern Idaho in about a month and plan on stopping by your Utah store.
maybe get some plex valves make the front end so much better even with factory springs
Super cool bike.
Great video. Is the aluminum gear pedal shorter than stock?
And just a remark, I wouldn't put a red thread lock on a part that I may have to maybe replace in the future, blue medium strength is more than enough.
Having a lot of trouble getting bike tiers hear on the island, so limited to what I can get, what do you think of the Michellin Anadee Wild Dual Sport tires for the DR650 and the Versys 300 X I have the Versys X and getting my second DR 650 and first thing going on is the 5.3 gal gas tank. the stock tank is way to small for this type of bike. also will go with Trekker mounts side and top as those are the bags I have for the versys so will be able to use on bought bikes. But no faring for this bike I love the feel of the wind on my chest, that is the draw back of the Versy X witch I will have for rain days and colder weather, I have a problem with understanding why you would not want to feel the wind on your chest, that is one of the great things about riding a bike, Just hold your self up with your guts not your arms. I am middle age at 71 yr. so most rides are under 500 Km but when I was in my younger years would do up to 1000 miles a day.Those were the days when every thing was in miles and gas was sold by the imp. gallon. for less than .50 cents. I can even remember .32 cents a imp gallon.
Thanks for the upgrade update. Barry from OZ (Cross training enduro skills channel) chronicles his upgrades and raves about the suspension tweaks from a company in OZ. Is it possible to add a kick start option (in case your battery dies)?
Barry also has a great vid about just that(not needing a kick start)! Great video to watch: th-cam.com/video/GnVW8Vcgnpg/w-d-xo.html
No start up???
I had a 1996 DR 650 SE and i didnt change a thing , Even the stock bars i was happy with... Its waay more fun to ride than the outher brands like the XT 660 . I had a huge problem tho , The engine "stole" ? (stoped) when i was riding a trail and i puched the startbuttom in before the engine stoped rotating completely and the startmotor sprocket hokked up . Result : The left enginecover and the left enginecase craked on the inside....
What about the basics case protection and a smash plate.
This has super good audio and video quality, but I'd suggest filming it in 24 frames per second instead of 60, to give it a softer more cinematic look?
I just love the dr650 and it looks awsome with the ekstras..but they dont sell them here in Norway anymore.:((
Hello, where can I get the accessories that you put on it, for example the face of the motorcycle
You can see the build list here www.rockymountainatvmc.com/Sales/2309/Bike-Build-2014-Suzuki-DR650?
A ? for comparison. A KLR needs frame bolts, thermobob & ‘ doohickey’ upgrades. Apart from the minor things mentioned is the DR more robust?
great build and video! How have the graphics held up on the gas tank? All the graphics I've put on plastic tanks blister due to gas fumes "breathing" through the tank walls. Even perforated graphics.
No, I ride stock, and locate caves for my adventuring.
People laugh at the shovel I carry but that digs my
entry to explore where the DR-650 has never been.
It would be nice if I could get my ride up and down
vertical entrances. As is, its just me on 150 feet of
11 mm static rope, underground.
I like the DR better off road than on the street really
Great job with the build, and thank you for all the helpful, vital info!
Glad to help!
I'm waiting on the new 2025 dr650s thanks for info
No problem! Thanks for watching.
Nice bike hard to get a Dr 650 here in the UK . Unless a old one cheers Neil
I am curious. How much did the modifications cost?
About 5k.
@@smartacus88 including labor?
@@zero2sixty420 Unfortunately no. If you have any know-how you can do a lot of this yourself. Most of it isn't very complicated.
Couldn't find the headlight cowl on your site. I was wondering if I was missing it or if you guys didn't carry it.
I’m very curious what’s the weight of fully loaded bike like that? Compared to similar set up klr?
The DR650 weighs 366lbs without anything added. After add-ons (including the bigger tank) and loaded luggage around 460-470lbs.
The KLR650 weighs 460lbs without anything added. With add-ons and loaded luggage you may be about 540-550lbs.
You should look into cartridge emulators for the forks if you're still doing stuff to this bike. I'm assuming you've gotten more power out of the jet kit. Do you know how much? Any plans on swapping the carby?
My question is.. I can buy a Dr 650 for about $1000 less then a klr.From what i can see the klr is a turnkey adventure bike but the dr would cost me quite a bit too get up too snuff for long distance riding..What bike would u recommend?
Great build. What tachometer did you use? Most discussions mention the Vapor but I just want a tach.
Check out our bike build page under *electrical* www.rockymountainatvmc.com/Sales/937/Suzuki-DR650-Bike-Build
Trail Tech. Thanks for watching *MrGeoffois.*
Wo gibt es das Sicherungsblech für das Ritzel zu kaufen ?
Gruß aus German
Have u ever done a build on a Kawasaki klx250s. I own one and was wondering what to do with it for off road use.
How have the tank decals held up over time? I have found on a lot I look at stickers always peel off.
*OnTheBackWheel* Tank decals have held up really well. The trick is to clean the surface really well. Have you watched our "How to install graphics" video? In that video we give you some tips and tricks: th-cam.com/video/B9uPPTkqSN4/w-d-xo.html
Rocky Mountain ATV MC thanks I'll have a look at that video. A lot of ppl that were saying on the natural tanks the fuel vapour leaks out which causes it, good to hear you guys haven't had any issues.
I wanna see that beast ride!!!!
I've had my 2011 DR650SE up to 115mph with stock gearing, and there was a little bit left yet to go... might have been able to get 120 out of it, but it was starting to squirm a little so I let off.
You sir are a daredevil! Be careful out there!
stock suspension and tires too? Mine feels a bit unsteady at 65 mph
Hi Justin, great jobs on builds! So now that you have done a DRZ400 and DR650 adventure bike build. Which one would you pick as your driver?
*stormperformance* the DR-Z400. Thanks for watching!
Is this a good bike for Rocky mountain riding, Alpine loop trail and the likes? I'm thinking of trading my 2014 vstrom 1000 for one of these.
is it possible to swap the 17 inch rear wheel in to 18 inch rear wheel
Great build...thank you
Thanks *weirdshibainu* for watching! Cheers.
7 gallon fuel tank bet it feels top heavy when filled up
*dansherman1980* it is noticeable, but not as bad as you would think. Justin can still wheelie this thing and ride those tighter technical trails no problem. Its something you just get used to and once you do, you feel comfortable. We will take the fuel range factor all day. These fuel tanks are sweet. Thanks for watching.
Is the fairing no longer available in 2024? I'm not seeing it on the website.
We currently don't have fairings for the DR650
That’s very well done.
One of the best things you can do is to upgrade to a TM40 pumper carb. Procycle sells these carbs that are direct bolt in. Its a world of difference over the stock carby IMO.
Haven't taken the plunge, did my stock rejet, airbox mod, full FMF exhaust, got much better Powe, torque, engine response, and getting 60 mpg not babying it. Recently went to my local bike shop open house. They had a free Dyno. Got 43hp 41 ft- lbs. Heard good things about TM conversion. $$$. Enjoy your Dr . In in PA, where you at?
Good info.