I've put 32,000 miles on my 2021 in the last 8 months. Crossed the country mutiple times and run from Florida to Alaska and then up the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk. This bike handles all environments just fine and I'm majorly loaded. I will say that it's easier to go faster in the highway with a 14 tooth front sprocket instead of the 15 tooth as it puts it right on the power band. Glad to see you having fun.
I grew up where your riding, Hurricane and St George. In the 70’s and 80’s the enduro riding was fantastic. Going out to gold strike. Going to Mesquite up over Utah hill, up to Black rock. To many people their now. I’m looking at buying the DR650S now at 63. Miss those days !
For what it's worth my 2008 V-Strom 650 purchase used with 12,000 mi on it still was not broken in. Now it's got two cylinders and your Dr 650 only has one so there's that but I think modern synthetic oils do allow engines to break in very slowly. My now has 27,000 and feels fully broken in. Thanks for publishing this showing us your Dr I am considering a Dr adding it to my V-Strom for a more off-road flavor
The big factory front fender doesn't help much at higher speeds, tends to grab air and cause instability. I put the Acerbis front fender on my '22 and it helped quite a bit. I also put a front fork brace on and would like to tap it for bolts and lower the fender to a standard height so prevent stuff being thrown back up into my engine, the bike needs some kind of a mud guard to prevent that. Good demo though, thanks for posting it.
The DR is a true dual sport. Almost all the smaller bikes are great off-road, better than the DR even on tight stuff. On the road they just aren’t comfortable or safe with no roll on speed while going 75, especially when in hilly terrain. Keep the great content coming!
I had a 1990 DR650. In 1992 I rode from southern Spain to Switzerland. That's 1000 miles. Left at noon and got to Switzerland at 4AM, 16 hours later. Add food stops, coffee, tolls and gas stops and my average speed was between 100 and 110 mph and I was the slowest in the group. The Mistral wind was blowing pretty hard in southern France and twice I had the feeling my front wheel had jumped. But the DR650 is a dual sport bike and I rode to the top of Mulhacén, the highest mountain in Spain. I don't think this had been done before or ever since. Not because it's that hard, just because you piss off a lot of mountaineers and hikers. So, not really recommended.
I think the bike does fine on the interstate. I've ridden across Houston several times in I-10. The seat concepts comfort seat is a definite improvement over stock.
Second the seat concepts, I have the low version. After the cogent suspension upgrade the best money I spent on mine was the steel front brake line. Huge increase in front brake feel/performance for not a lot of money.
I have the Seat Concepts seat kit and I really don't like it. The cover is excellent, the foam is hard as a rock, harder than the original Suzuki seat foam if you can believe it. Won't buy from Seat Concepts again, are they trying to be funny by calling it a "Comfort Seat"? Well it isn't.
I've rolled 95mph on the speedo for hundreds of miles with no issues, but I try to stay at 90. Only mods that might matter are tm40 carb, Leo slip on and big bags (big wind resistance). 2 months ago I did 520 miles in a day. I don't recommend it but I was fine (decent seat, big tank, dropped pegs).
@@adventureguy4119 LOL! I only do big days like that to get to and from the fun stuff. Those 500+ mile thumper days are for the most part not very fun.
I ride my DR on the highway all the time. In fact it does well enough on the highway that i decided to sell my multistrada, so now the DR is my only adventure bike. 80 and under is no prob. Just get a windshield on there and a comfy seat.
Best advice anyone has ever given me for riding in the wind is to hang your knee out on whichever side of the bike the wind is hitting you on. So, if you have a stiff wind on the right, hang the right knee out as far as you can. It creates drag on that side, which reduces the effects of the wind pushing you over. It looks silly, but it helps.
I have owned both a KLR and a DR, and the DR is much more comfortable. Running up to 100 mph. It’s also more stable than the KLR. It’s even more noticeable on dirt. On dirt, the KLR gets very twitchy above 70, but I once passed a Toyota Tacoma that was doing 70 on a dirt road and I went by him on the DR doing 90.
@@randywood9060 I've never ridden a KLR because they're freakin' huge and heavy. But I do have a DR650 and I never notice any vibration even on the highway. The engine is counter-balanced, the handlebars have rubber mounts and bar end weights, and the foot pegs have rubber mounts. So all of that helps a lot to cancel vibration. It is a very smooth bike even on the highway at 75mph.
Word on the street is the stock tank will get around 120 miles but I really don't know, throw in all the variables and it starts to eat at the back of my mind at 100 miles. I always carry extra gas. I'll be replacing stock tank with the largest Acerbis tank in the very near future.
@@precipiceofgrind I've owned DR650's since '05 and I can tell you, 120 miles is about right for range. If you keep the bike stock, or mostly stock, you should expect about 53-56 mpg. Slightly more with non-ethanol fuel or avgas. I keep my DR650 stock except for the fuel/air screw which I always remove the brass plug and re-adjust it for better running. I also remove the PAIR valve system, you can get a block-off kit online and ditch that stupid thing, because it is noisy and does degrade throttle response a little bit.
I like the looks of the DR 650 compared to the KLR. From its inception 34 yrs ago and still going strong today, thats amazing.. Not much has change . Its legendary proven and loved all over the world .
I've done days of 1000+ miles on DRs. A big tank helps. I've crossed half of a continent in a day. The same DR can tackle sandy, muddy, rutty, rooty singletrack.
I ride behind a Madstad windshield which keeps the wind off my chest. I’m not sure why but the windshield helps reduce the shakiness & buffeting, my bike handles like yours if I lower the windshield. The biggest thing for me is riding with the right helmet. I’m amazed that you can talk into your comm system at interstate speed.
I had a DR for a few years and enjoyed it for backroads and trails. However, sustaining speeds of 70+ was just beating me up. It could do it, but was just uncomfortable. I have a '23 KLR now and it's MUCH better at sustained speeds. Is it as comfortable as my V-Strom 1050? No way. Does it do as well as the DR on trails? Nope. The good thing about the KLR is that it CAN DO pretty much everything I throw at it...just not the best at anything. Nice vid 😎
I also owned both the KLR and a DR. I felt like the DR was much less strained running up to 100 mph. And it was also much more stable when doing so. On dirt it was no contest at all, the Kawasaki was twitchy above 70 mph, but that DR was stable even at 90 mph on dirt. in my opinion, the only thing the Kawasaki has going, for it is a more comfortable seat and a bigger, gas tank, both of which are easily replaced on the DR. But a little wind on the motorcycle doesn’t bother me and I just felt like the windscreen on the KLR actually made it blow around more.
Accurate video. Years ago I had an '83 XL600, that bike was "fine" on the highway and a riot on back country canyon 2 lane roads. Dual sports are sport bikes in disguise on the snotty little routes, and while they may not be great at anything, ya gotta love how you can go everywhere on them. The one super power the XL had was wheelies. There were wheelies on that XL, a whole lotta wheelies 😂 Currently on a Husky 701 Enduro with Rottweiler Tuning, Yosh can and geared up 1 tooth in front from 15 to 16 as the mods unleashed a lot of power. Interestingly, the 1 tooth taller gearing is right on par with the DR's stock gearing. The 701 goes very smooth vibe free and easy at 70-75, above that the wind is a bit much on any dual sport, but it is very stable. It is also happy to rip right past 100 on it's way to 120 top speed if one is brave enough, I always stop at 100 cuz the Motoz tires I have on it aren't rated for that. On a normal two lane canyon road the 701 is legit holy shit fast and the brappiest thing I've ever been on. Really considered getting a pre modded DR-650 and doing the usual motor uncorking mods, suspension work and adding a nice Trail Tech dash and Acerbis gas tank, etc. Then the late mid life crisis kicked in and I got the 701. While I like the Honda 650L better for it's superior and easily modded to be better suspension, I like the stalwart oil cooled DR motor better than the Honda's. The 701 is a hoot with power for days and great handling on pavement, but for me the DR project is still a cool road not taken kind of thing. My 701 has been problem free but if ever goes all "KTM" on my ass, I'm going in the modded DR direction...
Thanks for posting the great informative video. I kept looking in the left mirror and at 75 mph I did not see any buzzing. For a big single that bike appeared to be pretty smooth. My ZRX comes in at 538 lbs curb weight and I get buffeted around when I get close to a truck. I would expect no less on the DR650. I'd love to have one but the seat is an issue. Height is one issue and comfort is the other. Barrry
I had a DR650 and I used to stand up on it while doing 80 mph with no problem whatsoever. And that bike will accelerate up to 100 mph if you do wanna get past a semi truck. I personally think it’s way better than the KLR650 at speed. And on dirt, the Kawasaki is twitchy above 70 mph, but I have had the DR 650 at 90 mph on the dirt and it was perfectly stable.
Oh yeah, the DR650 is superior to the KLR, especially off-road. Plus the DR has more power and less weight. And yes it's very stable off-road, even at high speed. It's weird how good it is in the dirt actually. Very well-designed dual sport that's for sure!
seriously considering get a DR650 to do the continental divide next year. Good to see it can hold up on the highway ok. I imagine a fairing would help a bit as well. Seems like a really good light adventure bike.
I have a DR650, this is my second one in twenty years. It does just fine on the interstate, no problems at all cruising at 80mph. It does move around a little in the wind, but it's not bad at all. And it has plenty of passing power even at 70mph. The thing I've always loved about the DR650 is you can travel on the highways, but it's also very capable off-road, like those gnarly 4x4 mountain trails, it handles all that stuff very easily. Great bike!
Completely agree. I own a 2019 and have no problem rolling for extended periods on the hwy at 75 and the motor doesnt seem strained at all. In my experience, that seems to be the sweet spot for hwy speed. Can it do 80-90? Sure, but it begins to strain a bit. Great job on the video!
I was pleasantly surprised, the DR did rather well on this ride. What really surprised me was how the stable the bike was. Yup, stoked with it! Appreciate you watching!
Either it's my KLR or it's just me and where I learned to ride... but with the wind and the terrible drivers here, I don't even like taking the bike on the 7 down by River Road, much less the 9... much less the 15. Sucks. I want to ride the thing all the time, but it's not real happy over 70 mph, and it's difficult to get anywhere down here without hitting highways. Great channel though. Found it when I was looking for Pine Valley hiking videos. Nice to see someone local who's into the same things I am.
DR and KLR both suffer on highway. I have and do take mine on the highway but ill admit it sucks. For roads with 70 as the limit you can expect 80 mph traffic passing you. DR's LOVE to scream up to 80/85 but they HATE holding it. Very vibey and unhappy there. Rode mine recently on 40 towards charlotte in 75mph + traffic. I was less than pleased. Looking for a sport tourer now for highway /distance riding. Ill never sell my dr. Most versatile, best bike ever made hands down. Everyone should have one in the stable but not amazing on high speed highways.
I recommend getting the 16 tooth front sprocket... 4500 on the tac at 70 mph in 5th gear. 3000 rpm at 55 mph in 5th. (I run 16T front/43T rear) You may use the clutch a little more off-road in some places; but, you will save about 500 rpms or so... And get a little better mpg. And, yes, it still has plenty of the torques :-) I have a gen1 ('07) FYI - If you are not already aware... Up one in the front is equal to down 3 in the back, essentially.
Maybe try gripping the tank more with your legs and relaxing your shoulders and arms more. I remember the wind, especially off big rigs, was intimidating when I started hitting the Interstates. This advise helped me a lot. Peace
Like all of the bikes I have owned. And my work van too. The speedometer is off about 5 miles an hour at higher speeds. You can be sure if it says 70 its more like 65. Check it with a GPS and you'll see. I LOVE MY DR!!!
Nice! I'd say you on your DR650 and me on my DRZ400 are probably equal in weight with the bike, the rider, and the gear combined. The DR650 handles the higher speeds so much better though. It doesn't sound so busy like the DRZ does. Not surprising, just noteworthy.
Nice! I bought a 2022 DRZ400s 6 months ago. I also had the "Death Wings" on them. I too bought the Tusk DSport tires. Wow - what a difference. The Trail Wings are very good for the street but not so great in the dirt - although I used them in the sand and they worked better than I expected. I only changed out my front tire so far. I added a rim lock and had to add weights to counter-balance it, right? OMG - the handling is VERY different now. The Dsport tires are SUPER hard and heavy. Plus, I put heavy duty inner-tubes in right? Now, at speed, because the wheel is so heavy, it feels like I'm riding a gyroscope! Pros to the front wheel Dsport: 1) Stability at high speed - I don't get jostled around as much. 2) Less friction on the street = faster acceleration and better fuel economy. 3) They are made of super hard rubber, so at low speed, it's easier to turn the wheel (less friction). 4) Very aggressive knobby: means better handling in certain dirt conditions. Cons: 1) The tire is very narrow so you feel like you're riding on the tip of an edge giving the feeling of less ground to tire connection. Feels "squirely" compared to the death wings. 2) Less confidence while turning on the street, but better confidence in the dirt. 3) For me, they aren't so great in the sand. I think it's because the tire is so narrow. But it is better than the death wings. 3) Wheel higher dead weight makes it harder to do wheelies, lol.
Just got the D Sports put on today, also with heavy duty tubes. Super stoked. I have the D Sports on two other bikes and think they are great. The 'Death Wings' were just fine on the street but out in the desert they were no bueno. The DRZ400 looks like it would be hoot, I'd definitely have one of those if I had spare funds! Stay safe out there!
@@CoachSteve4u I have the D Sports on my CRF300L and XT250, I kind of move around with the air to see what works best. What I've found with both those bikes is 15/14 in the front and 14/13 in the rear. Those pressures seem to work well for me, I primarily ride desert so rocky/sandy. The tech aired my D Sports to 22/29 today on the DR650 so I'll definitely be airing down before I head out into the desert.
@@precipiceofgrind Yeah I think that's my problem with my front tire in sand. I had it at 25 PSI. It was very squirmy in the sand. I have rim locks so I should be able to air way down.. I'll try 15 psi and see how they work..Thanks!
Awesome, I went to 14/43 for two lanes secondarys and carry the 15 for hiway. Running Motoz Rallz rear and Dualventure tubeless up front...great for my area...yup change the seat lol
Thanks for the ride. I in the market and have narrowed it down to the DR650, KLR 650 and KTM 390 Adventure. Rocky Mountain has a KTM on the floor and just got a delivery of KLRs that should be ready in a day or two. Can't find a DR locally so It's down to those two. I'll sling a leg over the KLR this week and then make up my mind. Frankly, I think it's going to be the KLR for the type of riding I want to do. Maybe I'll see you out on the trail sometime. Take care.
There is risk, but pull up into the draft. Get closer to the truck and the buffeting goes away, just far enough so you can barely feel the buffeting on your back. You’ll get pulled along. If you do chose to do that, you can ride in the wheel tracks of the truck, or centered, it gets a bit more air to your engine for cooling. But you can’t see what’s coming, hence the risk.
My DR is very good on the dirt, weights just about right, but on freeways I'd prefer to have a parallel twin. All vibrations and lack of top end power makes the DR not very suitable for long freeway sections even though I added a wind shield and heavily modded suspension. Waiting for a new Kove 800x Rally becomes available...
I took mine on a 1,000 mile round trip about 2/3 highway. It is pretty miserable on the interstate. It’s pushing pretty hard at 70 and that won’t keep up with traffic on I-10. It is tons of fun on two lane blacktop and that is where you should plan trips. Can interstate? Yes. Should it? No
hmm... dualsport seems fun but yea... perhaps not suitable for highway riding. street triple probably safer option...thank you for creating this video. it answered alot of questions for me.
Somewhat surprised about the speed, my 411cc Himalayan with it's 24.5 hp does 120 kph (75mph) on the flat with no headwind. I am planning to get a larger bike and I was thinking of the DR650, not sure that is the one to go for..... Things to ponder. What is its top speed?
I don't like how high the RPMs get on the highway. Im not comfortable pushing my DR to 80 for extended periods. But i thoroughly enjoy riding old highways where the speeds are under 65.
I never had a problem with the highway, but still like to find the most off beat path to places lol At 70 on the speedo, my gps usually reads about 63, so I go for an indicated 80-85 to find a sweet spot that won't get me run down lol
Cool video man !!! You are very lucky , i am jealous ! Here in Greece we can't find that bike. 😥 it would be very expensive to import this bike to Greece?
I can’t decide between getting the DR650 or a DRZ400 SuperMoto. 90% of riding will be on asphalt commuting to work but I’d still prefer to have trail capability.
I would regularly travel 70mph on a drz400 30 miles at a time. At around 72-73 the steering starts getting a little squirrely. Never tried the 650, though.
If I may... (and as you know sub'd and enjoy your videos). It is hard to see / determine looking at your riding gear through the mirror. But it looks like it is kind of flopping and the wind is grabbing it some.... not sure. Well anyway... I have owned the cheap ( expensive in that it is money wasted) gear from Cycle gear and similar, Klim, Aerostitch ( the worst imho) and Motoport. With motoport and Arai Nicky 6 corsair X, I literally slice through the air. No buffeting at all & quiet with ear plugs! The jacket is NOT caught by the wind like a sail. ALL M/C's are acted up by wind turbulence from tractor-trailer rigs. YA DONE GOOD MY FRIEND!
@@precipiceofgrind Had my Doctor up to 95ish mph (160kms) and it only took a few minutes at that speed to start having num hands and forearms but I was just happy it reached those speeds. 😁
@@precipiceofgrind I have a first gen KLR, do you think the DR motor is a tad stronger for highway speeds? not considering weight differences, pure power.
@@d.e.aguirre129 I'd love to get a Gen 1 KLR! However, I don't have any experience riding one. I have owned the Gen 2 & 3 KLRs though and I do think the DR motor has an edge over the KLR. I could be totally wrong though.
Mine did until I added the extended fuel screw so I could adjust the idle/low rpm mixture. Comes from the factory way lean. Mine was about 1/2 turn out, now I have it at 1 3/4 with the idle speed set right at 1500. Much much better a slow speeds.
The engine may be a bit noisy, but it's an old-style air-cooled engine with nothing to absorb the noise. There are some big parts slinging around in there, and solid valve tappets, so yeah it's little noisy. But it shouldn't be making any loud knocking or ticking sounds. If you have a newer DR, you might be hearing the PAIR valve rattling. I hate that stupid thing and removed it, and installed the block off plate. A lot of people think their engine is messed up when the bike is new, but it's not the engine, it's just the PAIR valve operating.
No, I don't get that issue. Dang bike sure makes a racket though, specifically the chain. It's tighten to spec but sure sounds like it flops around while riding.
Right on. I do 400-600 mile trips through the southern states, and sometimes in the summer. Brutal but if I’m in that traffic I don’t want it stalling and not being able to start, or major lack of power. Your input is thoroughly appreciated my friend.
You will NEVER be able to overhead a DR650 because they have a very large oil cooler that works extremely well. There are guys who ride these bike across the Simpson Desert in Australia, very deep sand, huge dunes, and very high temps all day long for days on end, and overheating was never an issue. The sand ruining their chains and sprockets was their only issue with the bike.
Some of these Commentors are Crazy. This bike is NOT Made for the highway. Prepare yourself for Misery. Getting Buzzed by semis, trucks, and large SUV's for hours does not seem like fun to me, and then throw in a firm cross wind. FORGET ABOUT IT! After 5 hours of your head being tossed around you'll be ready for bed.
My Dr.Z sm is abject misery on the open highway, but I thought it was due to its light weight. I was hoping the Dr 650 would solve that problem, but maybe not. Thanks for the input.
I don't think I would be wanting to be traveling at those speeds. and on interstate with vehicle traffic on that particular motorcycle. the fact is I don't like living that dangerously. no thank you I think I will pass and live a nice long life.
Hmm. At 80mph the wind tries to rip me off the seat and on a two lane a truck going by nearly pushed me off the road at high speed. In a high crosswind I'd have to lean at a 20° angle. These guys that tour countries on them have something wrong with their heads. But that's why God makes highway bikes.
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I've put 32,000 miles on my 2021 in the last 8 months. Crossed the country mutiple times and run from Florida to Alaska and then up the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk. This bike handles all environments just fine and I'm majorly loaded. I will say that it's easier to go faster in the highway with a 14 tooth front sprocket instead of the 15 tooth as it puts it right on the power band. Glad to see you having fun.
I grew up where your riding, Hurricane and St George. In the 70’s and 80’s the enduro riding was fantastic. Going out to gold strike. Going to Mesquite up over Utah hill, up to Black rock. To many people their now. I’m looking at buying the DR650S now at 63. Miss those days !
For what it's worth my 2008 V-Strom 650 purchase used with 12,000 mi on it still was not broken in.
Now it's got two cylinders and your Dr 650 only has one so there's that but I think modern synthetic oils do allow engines to break in very slowly.
My now has 27,000 and feels fully broken in.
Thanks for publishing this showing us your Dr I am considering a Dr adding it to my V-Strom for a more off-road flavor
The big factory front fender doesn't help much at higher speeds, tends to grab air and cause instability. I put the Acerbis front fender on my '22 and it helped quite a bit. I also put a front fork brace on and would like to tap it for bolts and lower the fender to a standard height so prevent stuff being thrown back up into my engine, the bike needs some kind of a mud guard to prevent that. Good demo though, thanks for posting it.
The DR is a true dual sport. Almost all the smaller bikes are great off-road, better than the DR even on tight stuff. On the road they just aren’t comfortable or safe with no roll on speed while going 75, especially when in hilly terrain. Keep the great content coming!
I had a 1990 DR650. In 1992 I rode from southern Spain to Switzerland. That's 1000 miles. Left at noon and got to Switzerland at 4AM, 16 hours later. Add food stops, coffee, tolls and gas stops and my average speed was between 100 and 110 mph and I was the slowest in the group. The Mistral wind was blowing pretty hard in southern France and twice I had the feeling my front wheel had jumped. But the DR650 is a dual sport bike and I rode to the top of Mulhacén, the highest mountain in Spain. I don't think this had been done before or ever since. Not because it's that hard, just because you piss off a lot of mountaineers and hikers. So, not really recommended.
I came here to comment the same exact thing. Even if you were 135 lbs going downhill, you wouldn’t reach that 😂
+ the wind on your back 😂 no shot
I think you mean 110 kph not mph 😅😅
I think the bike does fine on the interstate. I've ridden across Houston several times in I-10. The seat concepts comfort seat is a definite improvement over stock.
I'm looking very forward to the seat swap!
Second the seat concepts, I have the low version. After the cogent suspension upgrade the best money I spent on mine was the steel front brake line. Huge increase in front brake feel/performance for not a lot of money.
I have the Seat Concepts seat kit and I really don't like it. The cover is excellent, the foam is hard as a rock, harder than the original Suzuki seat foam if you can believe it. Won't buy from Seat Concepts again, are they trying to be funny by calling it a "Comfort Seat"? Well it isn't.
My seat concept seat is all day comfortable. Best thing I've done to my Dr@@BillySBC
Glad you finally passed the big rig. I wanted to see how that went and see it at "passing speed". Great video!
I've rolled 95mph on the speedo for hundreds of miles with no issues, but I try to stay at 90. Only mods that might matter are tm40 carb, Leo slip on and big bags (big wind resistance). 2 months ago I did 520 miles in a day. I don't recommend it but I was fine (decent seat, big tank, dropped pegs).
freaking legend
@@adventureguy4119 LOL! I only do big days like that to get to and from the fun stuff. Those 500+ mile thumper days are for the most part not very fun.
I ride my DR on the highway all the time. In fact it does well enough on the highway that i decided to sell my multistrada, so now the DR is my only adventure bike. 80 and under is no prob. Just get a windshield on there and a comfy seat.
Best advice anyone has ever given me for riding in the wind is to hang your knee out on whichever side of the bike the wind is hitting you on. So, if you have a stiff wind on the right, hang the right knee out as far as you can. It creates drag on that side, which reduces the effects of the wind pushing you over. It looks silly, but it helps.
I regularly ride mine on both highway/freeway with motocamping gear in tow.
I find it to be more the adequate with passing power if need be.
Ride on!
Engine doesn't seem to be straining at highway speeds. This bike seems to be able to do everything okay
It will hit 3 digits with a tailwind…. 70 is around 4700rpm with stock gearing Acceptable IMO.
People have traveled around the world on DR’s. They’re great bikes.
I have owned both a KLR and a DR, and the DR is much more comfortable. Running up to 100 mph. It’s also more stable than the KLR. It’s even more noticeable on dirt. On dirt, the KLR gets very twitchy above 70, but I once passed a Toyota Tacoma that was doing 70 on a dirt road and I went by him on the DR doing 90.
Does it have much vibration at highway speed? How does it compare to klr?
@@randywood9060 I've never ridden a KLR because they're freakin' huge and heavy. But I do have a DR650 and I never notice any vibration even on the highway. The engine is counter-balanced, the handlebars have rubber mounts and bar end weights, and the foot pegs have rubber mounts. So all of that helps a lot to cancel vibration. It is a very smooth bike even on the highway at 75mph.
Looking good D! Love that DR.
60-65 tops for me. MPG is a curiosity.
That camping trip was epic.
Word on the street is the stock tank will get around 120 miles but I really don't know, throw in all the variables and it starts to eat at the back of my mind at 100 miles. I always carry extra gas. I'll be replacing stock tank with the largest Acerbis tank in the very near future.
@@precipiceofgrind I've owned DR650's since '05 and I can tell you, 120 miles is about right for range. If you keep the bike stock, or mostly stock, you should expect about 53-56 mpg. Slightly more with non-ethanol fuel or avgas. I keep my DR650 stock except for the fuel/air screw which I always remove the brass plug and re-adjust it for better running. I also remove the PAIR valve system, you can get a block-off kit online and ditch that stupid thing, because it is noisy and does degrade throttle response a little bit.
@@precipiceofgrind have you replaced it yet? Are ya willing to sell the stock tank 👀
I like the looks of the DR 650 compared to the KLR. From its inception 34 yrs ago and still going strong today, thats amazing.. Not much has change . Its legendary proven and loved all over the world .
I've done days of 1000+ miles on DRs. A big tank helps. I've crossed half of a continent in a day.
The same DR can tackle sandy, muddy, rutty, rooty singletrack.
I ride behind a Madstad windshield which keeps the wind off my chest. I’m not sure why but the windshield helps reduce the shakiness & buffeting, my bike handles like yours if I lower the windshield. The biggest thing for me is riding with the right helmet. I’m amazed that you can talk into your comm system at interstate speed.
Carb upgrade is the best upgrade. Followed by some springs and emulators.
agree, tm40 makes life good.
Beautiful Hurricane/St George
I had a DR for a few years and enjoyed it for backroads and trails. However, sustaining speeds of 70+ was just beating me up. It could do it, but was just uncomfortable.
I have a '23 KLR now and it's MUCH better at sustained speeds. Is it as comfortable as my V-Strom 1050? No way. Does it do as well as the DR on trails? Nope.
The good thing about the KLR is that it CAN DO pretty much everything I throw at it...just not the best at anything.
Nice vid 😎
I can't argue, I love my KLR. Appreciate you watching!
I also owned both the KLR and a DR. I felt like the DR was much less strained running up to 100 mph. And it was also much more stable when doing so. On dirt it was no contest at all, the Kawasaki was twitchy above 70 mph, but that DR was stable even at 90 mph on dirt. in my opinion, the only thing the Kawasaki has going, for it is a more comfortable seat and a bigger, gas tank, both of which are easily replaced on the DR. But a little wind on the motorcycle doesn’t bother me and I just felt like the windscreen on the KLR actually made it blow around more.
Accurate video. Years ago I had an '83 XL600, that bike was "fine" on the highway and a riot on back country canyon 2 lane roads. Dual sports are sport bikes in disguise on the snotty little routes, and while they may not be great at anything, ya gotta love how you can go everywhere on them. The one super power the XL had was wheelies. There were wheelies on that XL, a whole lotta wheelies 😂
Currently on a Husky 701 Enduro with Rottweiler Tuning, Yosh can and geared up 1 tooth in front from 15 to 16 as the mods unleashed a lot of power. Interestingly, the 1 tooth taller gearing is right on par with the DR's stock gearing. The 701 goes very smooth vibe free and easy at 70-75, above that the wind is a bit much on any dual sport, but it is very stable. It is also happy to rip right past 100 on it's way to 120 top speed if one is brave enough, I always stop at 100 cuz the Motoz tires I have on it aren't rated for that. On a normal two lane canyon road the 701 is legit holy shit fast and the brappiest thing I've ever been on.
Really considered getting a pre modded DR-650 and doing the usual motor uncorking mods, suspension work and adding a nice Trail Tech dash and Acerbis gas tank, etc. Then the late mid life crisis kicked in and I got the 701. While I like the Honda 650L better for it's superior and easily modded to be better suspension, I like the stalwart oil cooled DR motor better than the Honda's.
The 701 is a hoot with power for days and great handling on pavement, but for me the DR project is still a cool road not taken kind of thing. My 701 has been problem free but if ever goes all "KTM" on my ass, I'm going in the modded DR direction...
Thanks for posting the great informative video. I kept looking in the left mirror and at 75 mph I did not see any buzzing. For a big single that bike
appeared to be pretty smooth. My ZRX comes in at 538 lbs curb weight and I get buffeted around when I get close to a truck. I would expect no less
on the DR650. I'd love to have one but the seat is an issue. Height is one issue and comfort is the other.
Barrry
I found this show after commenting on another one ,good info thanks.😊
I had a DR650 and I used to stand up on it while doing 80 mph with no problem whatsoever. And that bike will accelerate up to 100 mph if you do wanna get past a semi truck. I personally think it’s way better than the KLR650 at speed. And on dirt, the Kawasaki is twitchy above 70 mph, but I have had the DR 650 at 90 mph on the dirt and it was perfectly stable.
Oh yeah, the DR650 is superior to the KLR, especially off-road. Plus the DR has more power and less weight. And yes it's very stable off-road, even at high speed. It's weird how good it is in the dirt actually. Very well-designed dual sport that's for sure!
Nice video!!
seriously considering get a DR650 to do the continental divide next year. Good to see it can hold up on the highway ok. I imagine a fairing would help a bit as well. Seems like a really good light adventure bike.
I have a DR650, this is my second one in twenty years. It does just fine on the interstate, no problems at all cruising at 80mph. It does move around a little in the wind, but it's not bad at all. And it has plenty of passing power even at 70mph. The thing I've always loved about the DR650 is you can travel on the highways, but it's also very capable off-road, like those gnarly 4x4 mountain trails, it handles all that stuff very easily. Great bike!
Heard that! I absolutely love my DR650, trying to talk my wife into getting one as well!
I love my 2024. Got 4,000 miles on it already. I don't have a problem does great at 70. Its a little scary with high winds.
Completely agree. I own a 2019 and have no problem rolling for extended periods on the hwy at 75 and the motor doesnt seem strained at all. In my experience, that seems to be the sweet spot for hwy speed. Can it do 80-90? Sure, but it begins to strain a bit. Great job on the video!
I was pleasantly surprised, the DR did rather well on this ride. What really surprised me was how the stable the bike was. Yup, stoked with it! Appreciate you watching!
I dont know if my gps had hickup or what., but on one stretch it had recorded top speed of 91 MPH. Dont know if i really believe that or not.
Gonna go get mine next month can’t wait I have my permit lol I can ride just no bike yet
It’s a great bike, a bit heavy for off-roading, but sits well on the road. Lots of power…Cheers
Either it's my KLR or it's just me and where I learned to ride... but with the wind and the terrible drivers here, I don't even like taking the bike on the 7 down by River Road, much less the 9... much less the 15.
Sucks. I want to ride the thing all the time, but it's not real happy over 70 mph, and it's difficult to get anywhere down here without hitting highways.
Great channel though. Found it when I was looking for Pine Valley hiking videos. Nice to see someone local who's into the same things I am.
DR and KLR both suffer on highway. I have and do take mine on the highway but ill admit it sucks. For roads with 70 as the limit you can expect 80 mph traffic passing you. DR's LOVE to scream up to 80/85 but they HATE holding it. Very vibey and unhappy there. Rode mine recently on 40 towards charlotte in 75mph + traffic. I was less than pleased. Looking for a sport tourer now for highway /distance riding. Ill never sell my dr. Most versatile, best bike ever made hands down. Everyone should have one in the stable but not amazing on high speed highways.
I recommend getting the 16 tooth front sprocket... 4500 on the tac at 70 mph in 5th gear. 3000 rpm at 55 mph in 5th.
(I run 16T front/43T rear)
You may use the clutch a little more off-road in some places; but, you will save about 500 rpms or so... And get a little better mpg.
And, yes, it still has plenty of the torques :-)
I have a gen1 ('07)
FYI - If you are not already aware... Up one in the front is equal to down 3 in the back, essentially.
Maybe try gripping the tank more with your legs and relaxing your shoulders and arms more.
I remember the wind, especially off big rigs, was intimidating when I started hitting the Interstates.
This advise helped me a lot.
Peace
Like all of the bikes I have owned. And my work van too. The speedometer is off about 5 miles an hour at higher speeds. You can be sure if it says 70 its more like 65. Check it with a GPS and you'll see. I LOVE MY DR!!!
The dr650.....good at everything, incredible at nothing hahaha i love mine! Its perfect for just enjoying riding anywhere!
nice bike !
Thanks, appreciate you watching!
I have a 14 cog in the front for better offroad and still cruise at 75mph all day with great roll on power to 100mph top speed
Nice! I'd say you on your DR650 and me on my DRZ400 are probably equal in weight with the bike, the rider, and the gear combined. The DR650 handles the higher speeds so much better though. It doesn't sound so busy like the DRZ does. Not surprising, just noteworthy.
Nice! I bought a 2022 DRZ400s 6 months ago. I also had the "Death Wings" on them. I too bought the Tusk DSport tires. Wow - what a difference. The Trail Wings are very good for the street but not so great in the dirt - although I used them in the sand and they worked better than I expected.
I only changed out my front tire so far. I added a rim lock and had to add weights to counter-balance it, right? OMG - the handling is VERY different now. The Dsport tires are SUPER hard and heavy. Plus, I put heavy duty inner-tubes in right?
Now, at speed, because the wheel is so heavy, it feels like I'm riding a gyroscope!
Pros to the front wheel Dsport:
1) Stability at high speed - I don't get jostled around as much.
2) Less friction on the street = faster acceleration and better fuel economy.
3) They are made of super hard rubber, so at low speed, it's easier to turn the wheel (less friction).
4) Very aggressive knobby: means better handling in certain dirt conditions.
Cons:
1) The tire is very narrow so you feel like you're riding on the tip of an edge giving the feeling of less ground to tire connection. Feels "squirely" compared to the death wings.
2) Less confidence while turning on the street, but better confidence in the dirt.
3) For me, they aren't so great in the sand. I think it's because the tire is so narrow. But it is better than the death wings.
3) Wheel higher dead weight makes it harder to do wheelies, lol.
Just got the D Sports put on today, also with heavy duty tubes. Super stoked. I have the D Sports on two other bikes and think they are great. The 'Death Wings' were just fine on the street but out in the desert they were no bueno.
The DRZ400 looks like it would be hoot, I'd definitely have one of those if I had spare funds! Stay safe out there!
@@precipiceofgrind Nice! Do you air down before riding in the sand? Maybe I should do that.
@@CoachSteve4u I have the D Sports on my CRF300L and XT250, I kind of move around with the air to see what works best. What I've found with both those bikes is 15/14 in the front and 14/13 in the rear. Those pressures seem to work well for me, I primarily ride desert so rocky/sandy. The tech aired my D Sports to 22/29 today on the DR650 so I'll definitely be airing down before I head out into the desert.
@@precipiceofgrind Yeah I think that's my problem with my front tire in sand. I had it at 25 PSI. It was very squirmy in the sand. I have rim locks so I should be able to air way down.. I'll try 15 psi and see how they work..Thanks!
Awesome, I went to 14/43 for two lanes secondarys and carry the 15 for hiway. Running Motoz Rallz rear and Dualventure tubeless up front...great for my area...yup change the seat lol
Even stock it holds up at 70-75, it may get blown around a bit by trucks and the front fender catches air at higher speeds
Thanks for the ride. I in the market and have narrowed it down to the DR650, KLR 650 and KTM 390 Adventure. Rocky Mountain has a KTM on the floor and just got a delivery of KLRs that should be ready in a day or two. Can't find a DR locally so It's down to those two. I'll sling a leg over the KLR this week and then make up my mind. Frankly, I think it's going to be the KLR for the type of riding I want to do. Maybe I'll see you out on the trail sometime. Take care.
Well congrats on your future new bike! I enjoy both my KLR and DR. Don't have any experience with the KTM.
@@precipiceofgrind Bought the KTM 390 Adv this afternoon. Only 46 miles so far but I really like this bike. Can't wait til break in is done.
Did you get the KLR?
There is risk, but pull up into the draft. Get closer to the truck and the buffeting goes away, just far enough so you can barely feel the buffeting on your back. You’ll get pulled along. If you do chose to do that, you can ride in the wheel tracks of the truck, or centered, it gets a bit more air to your engine for cooling. But you can’t see what’s coming, hence the risk.
Forgot to say “Thanks for the video”, i hadn’t considered the Suzuki.
Sound advice! Appreciate you watching!
My DR is very good on the dirt, weights just about right, but on freeways I'd prefer to have a parallel twin. All vibrations and lack of top end power makes the DR not very suitable for long freeway sections even though I added a wind shield and heavily modded suspension. Waiting for a new Kove 800x Rally becomes available...
I took mine on a 1,000 mile round trip about 2/3 highway. It is pretty miserable on the interstate. It’s pushing pretty hard at 70 and that won’t keep up with traffic on I-10. It is tons of fun on two lane blacktop and that is where you should plan trips. Can interstate? Yes. Should it? No
hmm... dualsport seems fun but yea... perhaps not suitable for highway riding. street triple probably safer option...thank you for creating this video. it answered alot of questions for me.
how is your street triple in the dirt?
@@machupikachu1085 haha yeah that's a wild comparison
Somewhat surprised about the speed, my 411cc Himalayan with it's 24.5 hp does 120 kph (75mph) on the flat with no headwind. I am planning to get a larger bike and I was thinking of the DR650, not sure that is the one to go for..... Things to ponder. What is its top speed?
I don't like how high the RPMs get on the highway. Im not comfortable pushing my DR to 80 for extended periods. But i thoroughly enjoy riding old highways where the speeds are under 65.
I never had a problem with the highway, but still like to find the most off beat path to places lol At 70 on the speedo, my gps usually reads about 63, so I go for an indicated 80-85 to find a sweet spot that won't get me run down lol
They are really good at highway speed for a trail bike. The wheel base if fairly long.
At the start of the ride, I thought, “man that looks like hurricane!”…..
Cool video man !!! You are very lucky , i am jealous ! Here in Greece we can't find that bike. 😥 it would be very expensive to import this bike to Greece?
Rode mine plenty on the highway more than enough power
Only downside is the bike is Light get ready to get bucked around
I can’t decide between getting the DR650 or a DRZ400 SuperMoto. 90% of riding will be on asphalt commuting to work but I’d still prefer to have trail capability.
650 judging by the comments on this video
when i fall should I be trying to twist an fall on my shoulder or just break the wrist and be done with it
I would regularly travel 70mph on a drz400 30 miles at a time. At around 72-73 the steering starts getting a little squirrely. Never tried the 650, though.
Think the 650s are better highway
Seat Concepts to replace the 2x6 pine seat !btw stock speedo's are always wrong. Front fender is a sail, haven't found a cure for that.
Supermoto fender?
If I may... (and as you know sub'd and enjoy your videos). It is hard to see / determine looking at your riding gear through the mirror. But it looks like it is kind of flopping and the wind is grabbing it some.... not sure. Well anyway... I have owned the cheap ( expensive in that it is money wasted) gear from Cycle gear and similar, Klim, Aerostitch ( the worst imho) and Motoport. With motoport and Arai Nicky 6 corsair X, I literally slice through the air. No buffeting at all & quiet with ear plugs! The jacket is NOT caught by the wind like a sail. ALL M/C's are acted up by wind turbulence from tractor-trailer rigs. YA DONE GOOD MY FRIEND!
Did you come out onto I15 from Hurricane perhaps?
Yup
How’s the vibrations in your feet and hands around 70mph ?
No issues, my KLR is a different story though...hands numb at that speed!
@@precipiceofgrind Had my Doctor up to 95ish mph (160kms) and it only took a few minutes at that speed to start having num hands and forearms but I was just happy it reached those speeds. 😁
@@precipiceofgrind I have a first gen KLR, do you think the DR motor is a tad stronger for highway speeds? not considering weight differences, pure power.
@@d.e.aguirre129 I'd love to get a Gen 1 KLR! However, I don't have any experience riding one. I have owned the Gen 2 & 3 KLRs though and I do think the DR motor has an edge over the KLR. I could be totally wrong though.
What mic are you using its great
Its a purple panda lavaliere mic attached to GoPro media mod.
@Precipice Of Grind thanks
when you first got your bike did it jolt a bit in lower rpm's? im having that issue with my 2023 now
I don't think I noticed that with mine, hasn't been an issue.
Mine did until I added the extended fuel screw so I could adjust the idle/low rpm mixture. Comes from the factory way lean. Mine was about 1/2 turn out, now I have it at 1 3/4 with the idle speed set right at 1500. Much much better a slow speeds.
Yes mine did, have a play with the fuel screw under the carby.
Im on 15th fromt sprocket w 41t rear sprocket and i can hit 100mph if needed. Can cruise at 80mph om the freeway no problem
What did it come with? A 43T rear?
Do you notice if the engine gets loud at those speeds? Mine seems to, but might be normal for the DR, especially with the quiet stock exhaust
Hadn't really noticed to be honest.
The engine may be a bit noisy, but it's an old-style air-cooled engine with nothing to absorb the noise. There are some big parts slinging around in there, and solid valve tappets, so yeah it's little noisy. But it shouldn't be making any loud knocking or ticking sounds. If you have a newer DR, you might be hearing the PAIR valve rattling. I hate that stupid thing and removed it, and installed the block off plate. A lot of people think their engine is messed up when the bike is new, but it's not the engine, it's just the PAIR valve operating.
How is the buzzing out vibes at freeway speeds?
No as bad as the KLR650.
@@precipiceofgrind Good to know.
Does your DR shift clunky?
No, I don't get that issue. Dang bike sure makes a racket though, specifically the chain. It's tighten to spec but sure sounds like it flops around while riding.
How does it do it high heat, low speed for Long trips?
So far so good. I live in the desert, have had no problems riding in triple digit heat.
Right on. I do 400-600 mile trips through the southern states, and sometimes in the summer. Brutal but if I’m in that traffic I don’t want it stalling and not being able to start, or major lack of power. Your input is thoroughly appreciated my friend.
You will NEVER be able to overhead a DR650 because they have a very large oil cooler that works extremely well. There are guys who ride these bike across the Simpson Desert in Australia, very deep sand, huge dunes, and very high temps all day long for days on end, and overheating was never an issue. The sand ruining their chains and sprockets was their only issue with the bike.
People ride interstate across America on 125 Grom's.
I did 100 mile interstate run and it wasn’t really that fun. Trails all day.
if you are gonna run Interstates. Grab a Busa. DR is a badass bike. Who wants to be on an Interstate with a bike?
Some of these Commentors are Crazy. This bike is NOT Made for the highway. Prepare yourself for Misery. Getting Buzzed by semis, trucks, and large SUV's for hours does not seem like fun to me, and then throw in a firm cross wind. FORGET ABOUT IT! After 5 hours of your head being tossed around you'll be ready for bed.
My Dr.Z sm is abject misery on the open highway, but I thought it was due to its light weight. I was hoping the Dr 650 would solve that problem, but maybe not. Thanks for the input.
Couldn't agree more.
I don't think I would be wanting to be traveling at those speeds. and on interstate with vehicle traffic on that particular motorcycle. the fact is I don't like living that dangerously. no thank you I think I will pass and live a nice long life.
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No.
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NO that motor won't last. It's a thumper. The motor wasn't made for that.😂😂😂😂
But it’s a 650. What do you mean the motor won’t last ?
Hmm. At 80mph the wind tries to rip me off the seat and on a two lane a truck going by nearly pushed me off the road at high speed. In a high crosswind I'd have to lean at a 20° angle. These guys that tour countries on them have something wrong with their heads. But that's why God makes highway bikes.
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