the DR200 thread

[viverrid]

Originally Posted by nastyklx250

has any one ever put a bigger tank on a dr200

Nope, nobody, not never.

The stock tank is bigger than the stock tank on a DRZ-400. The stock tank is bigger than the first aftermarket sized tank for a DRZ (the 3.2). It surprised me that they would put such a BIG tank on the little DR-200 to begin with (we used to have one).

With 3.4 gallons and maybe 100 mpg (depending on conditions) it goes farther on a tank of gas than some cars. Propbably not much of a market for that conversion. Not saying you couldn't come up with some exotic mission that fewer than 100 people on the planet routinely ride, but if you really need that range, you are probably on a bigger bike to begin with!

[klxrdr]

Anyone running kenda 270s?

I need to get my wife off of those death wings.
After seeing those pics of their outstanding quality I went and checked the rubber on my wifes bike, an 07 with only 150 miles on it and guess what they are weatherchecked, top notch oem quality eh

[viverrid]

Originally Posted by klxrdr

I need to get my wife off of those death wings.

FWIW, we ran MT-21 (Pirelli) tires on ours.

[Python423]

heres some pics of my wife on her 2000 DR200

[Python423]

[Python423]

[Birdmove]

I'm thinking of getting a DR200.With gas prises at $3.40 + here in the Pacific Northwest, I'd like a smaller bike I could commute with and use for trail riding too. I'm about 5'10" or 11" tall and about 172 pounds-anyone my size riding one of these? I like the simplicity (air cooling,easily adjusted valves with screw type adjusters,large tank for a 200cc,long track record of reliability etc.). Are you owners really getting close to 100mpg?? If you are, I'm going in this weekend....

Jon

[Python423]

Originally Posted by Birdmove

I'm thinking of getting a DR200.With gas prises at $3.40 + here in the Pacific Northwest, I'd like a smaller bike I could commute with and use for trail riding too. I'm about 5'10" or 11" tall and about 172 pounds-anyone my size riding one of these? I like the simplicity (air cooling,easily adjusted valves with screw type adjusters,large tank for a 200cc,long track record of reliability etc.). Are you owners really getting close to 100mpg?? If you are, I'm going in this weekend....

Jon

for 5"10 or 11, I'd recommend something bigger. I think it'll be too small for you. maybe a KLX250 (new ones) for your height.

[steve gs]

Originally Posted by Birdmove

I'm thinking of getting a DR200.With gas prises at $3.40 + here in the Pacific Northwest, I'd like a smaller bike I could commute with and use for trail riding too. I'm about 5'10" or 11" tall and about 172 pounds-anyone my size riding one of these? I like the simplicity (air cooling,easily adjusted valves with screw type adjusters,large tank for a 200cc,long track record of reliability etc.). Are you owners really getting close to 100mpg?? If you are, I'm going in this weekend....

Jon

No problem with the weight because I have often ridden 2 up with daughter, 250 lbs combined less riding gear. The comfort issue is a little trickier. I have a 30" inseam and consider the seat to peg height at my minimum. I hope you have also checked out the Minimalist Tourer thread because the 200 has been thoroughly discussed there.

I'm running a 15:42 final and with speed/rpm discipline (about 4500-4800 rpm/42-45mph) I generally pull 290 miles before hitting reserve. Fills at this point are 2.7 gal. I may try a 15:40 final sometime this summer. The 200 is not a bike for 55mph+ roadways but once away from the urban insanity you can run at your own pace and enjoy the ride.

Another excellent performer is the Kawasaki 250 Ninja that will get about 85 mpg with a 15:42 final(not OEM). I can usually pull 85-90 mpg if I hold the rpm to 6000 or less. With this final, 6000 rpm equates to 60 mph. The ergos could be an issue so be honest with yourself.

Another great ride...

[viverrid]

Originally Posted by steve gs

...The comfort issue is a little trickier. I have a 30" inseam and consider the seat to peg height at my minimum....

I am 5'-10" and while I have ridden the wife's DR-200 in the woods, it is way WAY too small. My knees were up towards my chin. Transitions from sitting to standing sucked.

It is okay for riding around town on the pavement (no need to get up off the seat) but the bike is too small for woods riding. Also, the suspension is eak for trail use. On dirt roads it would be okay, but not in the rocks. I found the front suspension very harsh, probably because I was using up too much of the softer part of the suspension travel just geting on the bike. Compared to my DRZ it was awful.

For a taller person, KLX-250 dualsport. We have full-sized guys in our club who ride those.

[gdeiss]

I, too, am 5'10", 30" inseam, about 200lbs., and the dr200 is not too small for me but I'm glad it's not any smaller. I don't get off-road with it, don't ride aggressively, and am content with it's placid speeds. However, inside 30 minutes on the bike and my posterior is uncomfortable.

I like nearly everything about this little bike but seat comfort may end up being a deal-killer for me. In the attached pic (along the Salmon River just south of Cottonwood, Idaho) you'll notice the usually purple seat is covered by the much-discussed Walmart seat pad. I wish it improved the seat's comfort level for me but it doesn't much.

I don't need car-like comfort, but when trying to get comfortable becomes the main focus of the ride after just 20 minutes or so the fun starts fading fast. I'm sure my 55 year old butt just doesn't tolerate what it used to 40 years ago, and I know comfort is a subjective and personal issue. Still, there's got to be something out there that's better than this!

[viverrid]

Originally Posted by gdeiss

I, too, am 5'10", 30" inseam, about 200lbs., and the dr200 is not too small for me but I'm glad it's not any smaller. I don't get off-road with it...

Well, that's why. For 5'-10" (which is my height) it is okay to just sit your ass on it, as in street/road riding. It is when you are rising to standing that its inadequate pegs to seat height is apparent. Kind of like a jockey position (okay the Preakness was just on) but a jockey's ride is only about 5 minutes "up on the pegs".

[green hell]

i can fit two cans of guinness in the small chase harper bag i bought for the bike!

i've put about 250 miles on since getting the bike last week. once i hit 100 miles the engine seemed to smooth out a bit. and frankly, i'm not one of those break-it-in-too-gently sort of guys.

i hit as many dirt roads as i could last weekend, just to get my legs back for that sort of thing. there was gravel, hard packed dirt, loose (but shallow) dirt, and mud (though no standing water). i was feeling pretty good about things

today i mapped the backroads path to work, in case i decided to commute occassionally with this bike. sweet merciful crap! i got into some loose, deep dirt and the ass-end was trying to swap places with the front. after gracelessly recovering from that, i about worked up a 30mph high-side when i over-corrected riding in some deep hard ruts.

alright, i said to myself, don't get cocky.

ooooh, look! deep mud with standing water! how bad could that be?

why, pretty bad, thanks!

i kept it up, but i'm sure there was no skill involved on my part.

so with my ego in check, i've learned that you can put some really strong input into the handlebars to keep things vertical and not to think that i'm going to float over any obstacle in the road.

i did drill out the plug over the pilot and back it out about 1/4 turn. this has been standard procedure on all of the carbed bikes i've had in the past. at first i was unimpressed with my efforts, but once the bike warmed up a bit it seemed like the throttle response was improved somewhat.

i also have a 39 tooth sprocket coming soon, with the hope that it will make the sporadic highway run a little smoother.

so other than scaring the crap out of myself a few times, i'm pretty happy with my purchase.

tires may be next on the list of upgrades. these trailwings kinda suck in anything even vaguely deep, and i'm not good enough to compensate for them.

[steve gs]

Originally Posted by gdeiss

I, too, am 5'10", 30" inseam, about 200lbs., and the dr200 is not too small for me but I'm glad it's not any smaller. I don't get off-road with it, don't ride aggressively, and am content with it's placid speeds. However, inside 30 minutes on the bike and my posterior is uncomfortable.

I like nearly everything about this little bike but seat comfort may end up being a deal-killer for me. In the attached pic (along the Salmon River just south of Cottonwood, Idaho) you'll notice the usually purple seat is covered by the much-discussed Walmart seat pad. I wish it improved the seat's comfort level for me but it doesn't much.

I don't need car-like comfort, but when trying to get comfortable becomes the main focus of the ride after just 20 minutes or so the fun starts fading fast. I'm sure my 55 year old butt just doesn't tolerate what it used to 40 years ago, and I know comfort is a subjective and personal issue. Still, there's got to be something out there that's better than this!

If you like everything less the seat call one of the many "seat" guys and have it reworked. They can do wonders. I'm only 5'7" and 150# so I don't have the seat react in the same way as you heavier riders do.

For riding in a recreational trials mode I really liked the bike and even peg top seat dimension but not the large tank (the only circumstance where a big tank would be a negative) which gets in the way of the knees when standing on steep climbs. We all know the 200 is in no way a woods or trail blaster and I don't expect mine to be. It's a reasonable compromise that I can accept.

[Klay]

Originally Posted by steve gs

If you like everything less the seat call one of the many "seat" guys and have it reworked. They can do wonders. I'm only 5'7" and 150# so I don't have the seat react in the same way as you heavier riders do.

For riding in a recreational trials mode I really liked the bike and even peg top seat dimension but not the large tank (the only circumstance where a big tank would be a negative) which gets in the way of the knees when standing on steep climbs. We all know the 200 is in no way a woods or trail blaster and I don't expect mine to be. It's a reasonable compromise that I can accept.

I had good luck with a thick sheepskin seat cover as mentioned by our aussie friend above. A sheepskin seat cover will make a bad seat okay and a good seat great.

Surprisingly, my butt did okay on the 200 with the sheepskin on the seat from Minnesota to western North Dakota and back.