Ninja Rat----DR650 frame & swingarm???

[BeemerWolf]

Hmmmmm.........

I am standing here looking at this totaled Kawasaki Versys frame
sitting right next to a DR650 frame & motor with not much else attached.

Watching the afternoon mountain rain, I scratched my chin & pulled out my
handy dandy 10 ft tape measure.
---The space btwn the swingarm mounts just might be about the same.
---Maybe a handy guy could weld up a good combination of shock mounts
on a Ninja Frame to allow an easy bolt on of that DR650 shock.....or maybe even
an Ohlins or Cogent shock?????.......

Hmmmmm........

What about if we went THE OTHER WAY and tried to move than Kawasaki 650 Twin
motor over to the DR650 Frame??? A quick measurement of the engine looks like
there might be some space.

...............anyone ever think seriously about this, or even try this??

I know that back several years KAWASAKI & SUZUKI shared some models and even some technology.

There are several of you that have moved this 650 Twin VERSYS/NINJA motor over to the KLX frame,
but would mounting it into the DR650 be the ultimate merger of the 2 companies???

Anyone care to comment, brainstorm, or even share their current build between these bikes??

[elgato gordo]

Seems like it may be possible based on the recent KLR threads. I think it may be easier to get some decent travel out of the DR suspension because the shock is close in dimensions to existing long travel stuff.

The KLR mods did take some major frame welding to allow the exhaust pipe to exit the engine.

[2fast4u]

One problem will be the gas tank. The Versys is fuel inj. and has a fuel pump in the tank not to say it can't be done just not easy fix.

[bk brkr baker]

So far the 650 twin has been shoe-horned into KLR frames , not, KLX frames . Even though the KLR and KLX were built at the same time by Kawasaki around 650 single motors , there are big differences in the frames.
The KLR is conventional big top tube over the motor style , while the KLX is a perimeter frame. It looks to me like the KLX frame would offer some advantages over the KLR because of the open space above the motor.
Who'll be the first to try ?

[dentvet]

I thought the klx seemed promising, too. discussion didnt make it very far

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=693609

[bk brkr baker]

The only thing in that thread about a KLX was the discussion of KLX 250 forks and that SamM said the KLX 650 frame was narrow.
I don't have a 650 twin motor to measure or try , but, I do have a KLX 650 frame. I'll take some pics and measurements.
If the powers that be at Kawasaki ever checked these threads and had 1 ounce of balls maybe they'd get off their asses and build this on a production line.
The bike I'd like to see would be tucked in , have generous grond clearance with frame tubes runniung under the motor for protection, light as possible and have the best available suspension. That's not too much to ask , is it ?