the DR650 thread

[joefromsf]

Originally Posted by Adv Grifter

This is a marked BLM trail from Trona Airport up and over and down into the valley on into Goler Wash. Goes from West to East. I don't know Butte Valley.

That was going to be my guess. Route is sometimes called Fish Canyon or Manly Escape Route. Riding that on the wee-strom I bent the front rim and had to stuff a tube in there.

Butte Valley is the valley between Mengel Pass and Warm springs Canyon, where several the cabins are. Name probably associated with Striped Butte.

[PPCLI-Jim]

@ phreakingeek wow after seeing the damage that rock caused has made me think about that shark fin on the case. I've been considering removing it as i have a hand made skid plate made from 1/4 " checker plate. gonna add some guards to cover a little more area but I always have wondered if it was safer to have it removed, or leave it there in close proximity to the plate. If I hit the ground hard enough, it may cause the plate to flex enough to have the same issue you just had. Seems you have answered my question sorry about your luck . I have heard clangs and knocks off the plate during rides, Every time I do a oil change I check it over and make sure its still in good shape seeing lots of dents but nothing to devestating . Before i start thinking about an extended ride a ride to South america or RTW for example I will start with a fresh one.

[dljocky]

FDR72, is that Long Run Road?
Man, that was a hit. Were you able to get a truck in there to get you out, or did you have to push it?

Originally Posted by phreakingeek

That was FDR72 in the GW Forest...VA side.

[Albie]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

Not that I'd trade my DR for one, but you wont have that issue with a KTM, as you can practically walk under them

Yup, of course the down side to a lot of clearance is I've dropped my KTM's cause my legs are too short.

[DockingPilot]

Originally Posted by Albie

Yup, of course the down side to a lot of clearance is I've dropped my KTM's cause my legs are too short.

You just have the wrong riding boots is all mate.

[phreakingeek]

Luckily we had just crested the top of the mountain...about 10 miles in. So my riding buddy Mark towed me back to the top and I coasted most of the way down. Only had to stop 3 or 4 times for Mark to pull me through a few 100 yards of slight incline...then back to coasting. It was strange rolling down the hill at 30mph with no engine noise.

we left the bike at the church down at the bottom while i rode pillion back to the truck where we'd parked. While we were gone, some nice locals took the opportunity to alter the color scheme of my black DR with orange and green paintballs. Just glad it wasnt lead projectiles...

Originally Posted by dljocky

FDR72, is that Long Run Road?
Man, that was a hit. Were you able to get a truck in there to get you out, or did you have to push it?

[MADurstewitz]

Originally Posted by ER70S-2

I can't find it in the service manual, but MADurstewitz had the same question, maybe a PM to him. ADV8 just rebuilt his with the new gear set and may also have information.

Just found this. In my case, the bearing with the pin is the one that failed. I managed to trace it to a Chinese manufacturer, which might be why. The pin was simply a rolled piece of steel inserted into a hole drilled into the race. Very dodgy workmanship in my opinion. I measured it and replaced it with an appropriate SKF from simplybearings. I replaced all of the bearings with SKF, actually.

Anyway, to your question, that bearing is the input shaft bearing behind the clutch. I used loctite bearing retainer to hold it in place without the pin. The rebuilt engine just turned over 10,000 miles with no issues.

[dljocky]

Yeah, coasting along with no engine can be a bit weird. Glad you are ok.

Seriously........paintballs!

Maybe not so funny then, but some humor in it I guess.

Originally Posted by phreakingeek

we left the bike at the church down at the bottom while i rode pillion back to the truck where we'd parked. While we were gone, some nice locals took the opportunity to alter the color scheme of my black DR with orange and green paintballs. Just glad it wasnt lead projectiles...

[ER70S-2]

Originally Posted by MADurstewitz

Just found this. In my case, the bearing with the pin is the one that failed. I managed to trace it to a Chinese manufacturer, which might be why. The pin was simply a rolled piece of steel inserted into a hole drilled into the race. Very dodgy workmanship in my opinion. I measured it and replaced it with an appropriate SKF from simplybearings. I replaced all of the bearings with SKF, actually.

Anyway, to your question, that bearing is the input shaft bearing behind the clutch. I used loctite bearing retainer to hold it in place without the pin. The rebuilt engine just turned over 10,000 miles with no issues.

Thanks MAD

Has that 10,000 miles all been with the 790?

[Sierra Thumper]

Originally Posted by Foot dragger

Yah,I rode my DR on the gnarlier tracks out in Death Valley once,that was enough.
400 lb bike with not much ground clearance leads to smashing impacts on a regular basis.
Its not so much a problem with how many skidplates you have but the fact its too close to the ground.
Line choice of course can help,dont hit the big ones.

Yep thats my biggest issue with the DR, not enough ground clearance, and suspension too soft for semi-aggressive off-roading in rough situations. You can fix the soft suspension, not quite as easy to fix the ground clearance issue. Its no fun having to worry about punching holes in cases when you want to wick it up a bit, and maybe catch a little air over a water bar or such

[UberKul]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

Yep thats my biggest issue with the DR, not enough ground clearance, and suspension too soft for semi-aggressive off-roading in rough situations. You can fix the soft suspension, not quite as easy to fix the ground clearance issue. Its no fun having to worry about punching holes in cases when you want to wick it up a bit, and maybe catch a little air over a water bar or such

The compromise is to run less sag than you would on a normal dirt bike. More air time but less dragging the belly.

[blackcap]

Originally Posted by MADurstewitz

Just found this. In my case, the bearing with the pin is the one that failed. I managed to trace it to a Chinese manufacturer, which might be why. The pin was simply a rolled piece of steel inserted into a hole drilled into the race. Very dodgy workmanship in my opinion. I measured it and replaced it with an appropriate SKF from simplybearings. I replaced all of the bearings with SKF, actually.

Anyway, to your question, that bearing is the input shaft bearing behind the clutch. I used loctite bearing retainer to hold it in place without the pin. The rebuilt engine just turned over 10,000 miles with no issues.

thankyou good sir. now i can order that one from suzuki just incase i cant find any bearing retainer and all the others can come from FAG or SKF (as long as they havent come from SKFs china operations haha).

[dljocky]

I have my shock wound so tight, I'm afraid to tighten it much more, and the big dr still seems to have a lot of static/rider sag.
Maybe i should tighten it up some more?

Originally Posted by UberKul

The compromise is to run less sag than you would on a normal dirt bike. More air time but less dragging the belly.

[acesandeights]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

Yep thats my biggest issue with the DR, not enough ground clearance, and suspension too soft for semi-aggressive off-roading in rough situations. You can fix the soft suspension, not quite as easy to fix the ground clearance issue. Its no fun having to worry about punching holes in cases when you want to wick it up a bit, and maybe catch a little air over a water bar or such

I think though in the 650cc class it's not really lacking in ground clearance over other 650cc class bikes? It's only about 1/2" lower than a KTM 690 for example. I wouldn't "worry about punching holes in cases" if you catch a little air over a water bar, especially if you've already addressed the soft suspension. Hell, you might be able to overcome that 1/2" with taller tires on the DR.

[Albie]

Originally Posted by phreakingeek

Luckily we had just crested the top of the mountain...about 10 miles in. So my riding buddy Mark towed me back to the top and I coasted most of the way down. Only had to stop 3 or 4 times for Mark to pull me through a few 100 yards of slight incline...then back to coasting. It was strange rolling down the hill at 30mph with no engine noise.

Coasted for close to 15 miles on my DR down a winding gravel mountain road earlier this year in CO. The guy that was in the lead was on a DRZ, and I had to keep getting on the brakes because the DR is so much heavier.