Once you effortlessly cruise by the massive BMW 1200GS's spinning out on a mild rock face or hear the 2-stroke guys literally complaining about being butt-hurt by the 2"x4" that is their seat than you realize that maybe all these purpose drive machines are just more than what's needed.
I put 17k miles on my DR over the past year. If you rode one with better tires than the horrible stock ones, an exhaust, and a jetted carb it is a totally different bike. I will keep this bike untill it is totalled. If the motor lets go then i will rebuild it until it cant be rebuilt. I also take mine off road all the time. The only thing i refust to do is jump it. I have done single track, sand pits, forging a path in the woods, and i still take it to work everyday.
And BTW, the XR650L is BARLEY better offroad. That was a terrible choice for a more dirt oriented street legal bike. The DRZ SMs are also quite a bit more expensive as well. You can usually get the 650 and buy warp 9 SM wheels for about the same price.
I used to have a DRZ400S and had similar dilemmas. Mostly rode it on the street ; Changed it for a V-Strom 650 2010 which i kept 1.5 year. Enjoyed it too but i wanted more power after 10 years of riding sub-70hp. Moved up to a Yamaha FJ-09 and i'm very satisfied ! If you like the high riding position and the idea of a torquey triple, I highly recommend trying one if you get the chance. It's a machine with a lot of character that will wheelie whenever you ask it, and even sometimes when you don't, so you know, at least you'll be in control of whether or not you indulge the incompetent, overbearing sods.
I had a 2001 KLR 250 and the one time I took it on a serious trail I had a miserable day. 50lbs lighter than the DR650 but the same tire issue and every patch of mud was like ice. I was 14 (AL laws) so I learned to drive on that bike and rode it to school year round for all of high school. That bike was compromised in almost every way but I loved that bike.
My buddy has an older Suzuki DR650. One winter he stored in my shed. When Spring arrived I rode it from Towson to his home in Cockeysville (don't giggle), MD, And as I am the owner of a Ducati ST2 I quickly discovered the glory that is the DR650... It may not be an true off-road bike... but DR650's eat Pot-Holes like a Cat eats a bowl of Canned (for humans) Tuna Fish!
5 Answers
Hettenbach
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Doug
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And BTW, the XR650L is BARLEY better offroad. That was a terrible choice for a more dirt oriented street legal bike. The DRZ SMs are also quite a bit more expensive as well. You can usually get the 650 and buy warp 9 SM wheels for about the same price.
Seb640
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binkley
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Marion
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