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#dr650

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Public
thefathippy

Some of you may remember my despair last year when my Suzuki DR650 died, stranding me outback. In Feb I sold the remains as a parts bike, horrible noises, not going, partly dismantled, missing non-key bits.

Even as he looked he started talking about fixing it, and I discouraged him.

Today, out of the blue, he contacted me - all fixed, has a NSW blue slip, ready for rego! I'm really glad he fixed it, and really glad I didn't do the work. 😂



Public
Neil E. Hodges

Suzuki DR650 - The Motorcycle that Built a Community


Special thanks to MXrob and the heroes at Drriders.com!

The same bike since '96, they sure do make'm like they used to. The DR650 might look like a tired ol’ pony but with enough wrenching, tastier parts, and a little help from the DR community, ol’ faithful can strangely start to look like the unicorn we’ve all been waiting for.


#motorcycle #suzuki #dr650

YouTubeSuzuki DR650 - The Motorcycle that Built a CommunityBy FortNine
Public
thefathippy

So this is why I've never parted out a bike... I'm selling off my leftover bits in a specialised DR FB group. I was hoping someone would take the OEM kit, and someone the aftermarket. All pickup. Nope. This bit will go here, this other bit there, so in between figuring out postage and negotiating prices, I'll be wrapping and posting. 😂

Oh well. At least I'll get a few bob in my pocket and some storage space back. Can't really complain 🤷😂

#motorcycles
Public
thefathippy

N-1 😱

Goodness me. I've just sold my bike.

Don't panic! I have 5 others...err... 2 work... 🤦 Tbh, one will never run - it needs parting or scrapping, one's a project, but is turning into parts for a runner, & one will be back. I should probably reassess my needs...

My dead has gone, after 45000km of mostly fully loaded outback dirt, & terminal engine noises. It moves to a new life as a parts/upgrade bike.

Oddly, I'm not sad. I loved it, but lost faith and moved on.

#motorcycles
Public
thefathippy

Like many tightarse adv riders (mostly 😂), I made a pair of tool tubes from drainage pipe. Strong, & worked really well. Tubes and puncture gear in one, other tools & bits in the other. For that fated last trip, I replaced bulky with small kit, & repacked. I only needed one tube. It had been off the bike for a while, but I mounted it the same way. Well almost.

Turns out that this trip the pipe was touching my exhaust. 🤦 Amazed I didn't smell it!

My emergency heavy duty motorcycle tube with a large hole burnt through it. My finger gives an idea of scale
A black pvc tool tube sitting on a yellow bin lid. A hole has been melted through the pvc.
Public
thefathippy

Dadaah! I've only done around 50km so far, including about 15-20km of pretty easy local dirt.

I loved how easy and natural it is to gently lift the front wheel off small ramps - the just laughed at my feeble attempts. 😂

I was pleasantly surprised to find I had no trouble getting a foot down, even when I stalled on some rock steps in the wrong gear.

Accessories are on their way, so I'll soon be kitted out for adventures again. Huzzah!



A bright orange KTM 690 trail bike, taken from the right rear. The background is the front of a house with a timber deck and some pots
A bright orange KTM 690 trail bike, taken from the left front. The background is green bushland and a concrete drive.
Public
thefathippy

Well, it happened. I lost faith in my . Sure, anything's fixable, but I don't know if I want to. It's been a good bike, mostly (breakdowns aside) doing what I asked, taking me places I wouldn't have gone. But...

I just put a deposit on a , a significantly more powerful, modern, slightly lighter, dualsport/chookchaser, capable of taking me anywhere a DR could, more quickly... Time will tell if reality agrees. I definitely enjoyed my test ride. 😎


Public
thefathippy

As you may have read, my made terminal engine noises in the outback, & was trucked home.

When parked, I thought it was making spinning /whirring /grinding /knocking sounds. Now, just knocking.

The oil was watery thin, & stinks of petrol - possibly contamination from when I later removed the tank & some drained from the hose, or possibly a sign that petrol somehow leaked into the oil. 🤷 Whatever, my oil wasn't doing much. /2

youtu.be/UBuCTmS671M?si=Yj1QSZ


YouTubeSounds terminal to meBy thefathippy
Public
thefathippy

So I took my out for an adventure ride to the Aussie outback. A fantastic adventure. Until it wasn't. My bike now sounds like it's about to explosively self dismantle. Luckily it wasn't a day earlier, when I'd really been out the back of beyond. I made it to a town (pop 81) at the end of the weekly bus service. The bus is taking me & bike to Adelaide. I'm flying home, & the bike will go on a truck. Any further away & I'd be hitchhiking!

Bloody! 😭


A motorbike parked at the base of an orange/red sand dune in the Australian outback. Merty Merty station (like a ranch, but bigger)
Look at it. Can you see what's wrong? No you can't. It mocks me by looking normal. A dusty Suzuki DR650 motorcycle, loaded with luggage and a gigantic translucent fuel tank. My helmet is hung over the mirror. It looks ready to take on the world, but ain't going nowhere with a dead engine.
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