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More ramblings from Troy...

The DR350 is WEAK! WEAK I tell you!

I've got about 16,000 miles on her and the last 9K were added by me in the last 2 years. Most of those miles could be classified as "abusive". (Again, sabotaging myself if I ever plan to sell this bike. DOH! )

The cam chain is most certainly stretched causing the timing to be off, which explains some of why she does not run like a top these days. I surely need to rebuild the carb, too. She simply does not have the raw power to loft the front wheel. A skilled person can make it happen, but that ain't me.

So, I was thinking....I could spend thousands on another bike...or....what if I spent up to $1,000 on this old girl? For $450.00, Jessi at http://www.kientech.com will send me a jug (top of the motor) bored out with a new sleeve and the big bore kit to make the 350 a 435!


Another $329 gets me this super-duper, lightweight exhaust.
http://www.kientech.com/DR650FMFQSE.htm
Hardly seems worth $329 to me, but hey, if I'm going to frankenstien the ole' DR, let's go all the way, right?


What about suspension? I wonder if I can get upgraded (heavier duty) springs for the forks. What about the rear shock?

My goal is not the ultimate bike--wrong machine to start that build! I want MORE POWER and BETTER SUSPENSION. The easy route would be go get a new bike, right? But wouldn't a DR435 be cool?!

Jim Foley (Mr. Wizard), you want a project?

What are you trying to gain power and ride? Suspension would be some were in the $400.00 to $600.00 range if you do a revalve and springs + engine work $1000.00. I would think a different bike might be more $$ but may get you what you are looking for. But then I ride dirt bikes for DS'ing, so my oppion maybe skewed....

Hey Troy,
Come and ride mine - that should give you a good idea of what you will end up with. It's got the big bore kit (448cc), vortex airbox, and muffler mod. The suspension was revalved by precision concepts in Cal. I've got it setup for adv touring, not serious offroad (my XR600R is my offroad bike), its geared up so 70mph is easy. If you read some on Maximum Suzuki forums the cheapest way to more performance is not a big bore kit. The cylinder liner and installation is really expensive. They recommend to overbore 1or 2 mm and raise compression then spend money on cams, headwork, and pumper carb. It's just money!!

Give me a call
Jim

This is not a commet on Troy's (or anybody else's) DR 350 ... but ... that seems to be a lot of money and effort to put into a bike that is old and is using older technology. Rebuild the motor, replace the carb, revalve the forks and shock, higher compression, etc. All of a sudden a very reliable stock bike has been made into a parts monster. Reliability is bound to decrease (higher compression, etc). The DR is air cooled, and now you are pumping that much more gas into it and that much more heat out of it. If I read correctly, the bigger bore cylinder is a bored out OEM unit so the heat dissipating fins would be the same. Oh yeah, higher compression means more heat as well.

A DRZ400 is the next generation after the DR, and after market parts are readily available. One big plus is liquid cooling. More power per cc.

Considering Troy likes to ride the woods (Ozark NF), a bike with much better suspension, not more power, would probably be the most noticable improvement in riding pleasure.

My $0.02.

PS: I don't have a problem with effort into an old beast ... right now I am replacing the ball joints and front u-joints (axle) on my 94 Ford Exploder 4x4 that has already been totalled by an insurance company. But parts are cheap, reliability will be the same as stock (better as these parts are worn out), and I can wrench in the garage on my schedule. Modifying the Exploder to be the off-road machine it was never intended to be would not lead to pleasant results.

I'm in the same boat. I need to replace the base gasket on my '01 DR650. If I hire it done it will cost about the same as getting the high compression piston kit from Kientech. For a little more I can rejet, then for a little more I can upgrade the suspension.

Gasket replaced by dealer = $15 + $150
I do the work = $190 (high compression piston kit - includes gasket) + $55 (jet kit)
Not too far off for the benefit.

Weight is then an issue. The 2001 DR650 has a dry weight of 324 lbs. The 2001 DR400 has a dry weight of 291. Not a huge difference in weight.

Troy, we're probably just going to have to bite the bullet and go orange one of these days. Take a 2007 450 EXC street legal bike - Liquid cooled, 6 speed, 250 lbs dry weight, MSRP $8000 There's one on ebay at $5500 right now. Of course, if the stock seat is like Tom's 525 (like riding on a 2x4) and the 2.1 gallon fuel tank has to be upgraded for the longer rides, that's a lot of money to spend on an "incomplete" bike. Maybe if we could get enough people together, ready to buy we could get a really sweet deal.

I guess I would side with safiri - better suspension would probably be your best bet.

Here ends my late evening ramblings.

Troy,

Did you do a compression check to see if the rings have had it? If so, why not hone and oversize the rings, replace the cam chain and sprokets, rework the carb, add the COOL exhaust to open it up a bit and invest in GOOD suspension? I think Safari is right about the heat, and the new fat head may just twist the rest of the bike to pieces...

My 02.

I'm looking at a longer link and a stiffer rear spring on my bike...

Troy no matter how much you spend on your moped it will always be a moped.

Mr Wizard wrote:Hey Troy,
Come and ride mine - that should give you a good idea of what you will end up with. It's got the big bore kit (448cc), vortex airbox, and muffler mod.

Actually, this is the best advice. One ride, and I'll know if it's something that will appease. I'm in no hurry, Jim, but I'll get in contact with you.

will_kc wrote:I'm looking at a longer link and a stiffer rear spring on my bike...

The only guy ever to want a longer link on a KLR650! You are a big man. Seriously, you guys should have seen him sitting on my DR350. I think his chin was resting on his knees.

Regarding whether the little bike can handle the heat of the bigger kick and the tighter compression, I guess I'm not too concerned about that. I mean, if it's a blast to ride for 18 months, then the motor burns up, well, I got 18 months of fun...AND I get to buy a new bike! I can probably make a little buck parting her out on ebay.

Those who know me know that I am not a guy who buys toys new--I buy used. But Honda, hear this: I solemnly swear that if you will make me a new technology 400cc or 450cc dualsport machine, I will buy it new.

troy wrote:But Honda, hear this: I solemnly swear that if you will make me a new technology 400cc or 450cc dualsport machine, I will buy it new.

That is the real issue ... only 3 manufacturers make a 4xx cc bike that is street legal:

KTM has a seat LIKE a 2 x 4 ... and $8k.
Husky has a seat that IS a 2x4 ... and priced near the KTM. Both with great suspension.
Yamaha has the DRZ 400 at $6k new. Ok suspension.

None are FI.

I bet the Husky will be the first now that BMW owns them. In 01 they FI'ed the F650 single. The R boxers and K 4s have been FI'ed since the early 80s. The Japanese manufacturers have been experimenting with FI on some competition dirt bikes.

That actually is my advice, Troy. Wait. Ride the snot out of the DR until a few years after the FI DS bikes come out. Pick up one of those used.

Husky beats KTM again! The 2008 TE's are all Fuel Injected and they have improved the seat from what I have read. Also, Suzuki makes the DRZ 400 not Yamaha.

Husky beats KTM again! The 2008 TE's are all Fuel Injected and they have improved the seat from what I have read. Also, Suzuki makes the DRZ 400 not Yamaha.

Troy, for like the 100th time buy a KTM or a Husky! Keep the old DR for gravel road racing and commuting.

Hank Moody wrote:Husky beats KTM again! The 2008 TE's are all Fuel Injected and they have improved the seat from what I have read. Also, Suzuki makes the DRZ 400 not Yamaha.

Troy, for like the 100th time buy a KTM or a Husky! Keep the old DR for gravel road racing and commuting.

Husky and FI =

Yamaha = Suzuki ...

DOH!!!!!

What's this! Troy and his new bike?

Cool stache man!

I was proud of that stache. Unfortunately, it was lost in an accident involving a ground hog, 3 feet of rubber tubing, and 80 kilos of bananas. I still have the scars.

troy wrote:I was proud of that stache. Unfortunately, it was lost in an accident involving a ground hog, 3 feet of rubber tubing, and 80 kilos of bananas. I still have the scars.

That is a picture that did not need to be painted.