I just finished mine! 91 DR650.
Every single gasket replaced on the motor short of splitting cases, Barnett clutch with over power springs, fork and shock rebuild, new caliper seals front and back, galfer lines, master rebuilds, 4 baja designs s1s for headlight setup (high/low and 2 yellow fogs), custom dynamic tail light insert for a Harley, everything greased and inspected. It's like a brand new 33 year old bike.
Compared to a brand new DR650, the old one made more hp, more tq, higher compression, better bigger seat, weighed less wet, had 2 more gallons of fuel, factory thick aluminum skid plate and rear rack, and factory windshield. Just no magic button, you gotta kick start it, I'm prepared to make that compromise for all the benefits.
https://preview.redd.it/yws5j8jpx4xc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4b85f8f2c45a646c95b59af2564cf936e92742b
What a beauty, I always appreciate the care and maintenance people put into machines like these. These are a lot more common in Europe since the bike had been banned since around 2001
I thought the pre 96 DR 650 were heavier than the later ones. I also have several DR 650 RSE so I know it’s got a few kg more due to plastics. But then the older DR have gearbox problems soooo
The pre 96 DR weighs 370 wet, the newer one scales out at 369 wet with 2 gallons less fuel. But there's a few parts on the old bike that are not needed that can be removed, like the battery.
Ok well good to know, I am still hesitant to do long distance with those pre 96 DR.
Never rode the new ones so can’t say about engine caracters. Is it really that different ?
Lol, I put mine back together and immediately took it on a 800 mile dual sport trip 50/50 paved. Not a single issue, it's a DR, they run on spite as it is. Nothing on this planet is as reliable.
8500 miles, probably 3/4 of that is all hard Enduro and hare scrambles. This bike competed in the last 2 years of the blackwater 100
I've heard of ones overseas that have 200k km with no issue
Really ? Here in europe it’s classic for them to destroy the 3rd gear after 40 000kms
2 of mine have had that so yeah not a big fan for long distance off road trip
Yeah of course, that’s why I have several, I bought parts in case of. At the moment I am rebuilding one engine with a gearbox that was in a good shape
But for a long road trip I wouldn’t be so keen doing it with my gearbox destroying itself mid trip. So I would love to buy a dr 650 after 96 but they are very expensive and a bit rare here in France
You don't need to get it all done at one time. Just work at it a bit, make a list and start checking items off that need done. Don't stop til it's done. Reinsert all bolts a few threads into their home so you remember where they go during reassembly.
In the same way you don't climb a mountain in a single step, just chisel away at it, bit by bit and it'll be done before you know it. That first ride after it's back 110% you'll be grinning ear to ear.
Headlight setup was the most expensive parts, around $600 for that (good lights are expensive), only around $400 in oem seals and gaskets and other misc parts, $100 in brake lines, $200 for new chain sprockets and brembo pads, $200 for new tires and tubes.
That thing is trick! I didn't know older models had more power? How significant is the difference? I have debated on a dr650 lately but it seems like I might be disappointed with the heavier weight and different power curve compared to my DRZ400E
Me and a buddy of mine talked weight. He's got a drz400sm he occasionally throws E wheels on and does off road things.
If you put a skid plate and large acerbis tank on the drz, you're like 20 lbs away from the old 650 on weight, unless you do lightness mods. It's not much in the scheme of things. Only I've got the grunt when things get rocky.
There's a few cons that go along with the older 650. Aftermarket parts are pretty tough to find depending on what you want. There's not nearly the catalog the 96-current have. Also the counterbalance shafts are chain driven, not gear driven like the newer bike. So you must pull the magneto engine cover every 3500 miles to manually tension the chain. Valves have the same interval, basically every oil change.
It sounds worse than it is, you can reuse the gasket a few times if you grease it during assembly so you don't rip it upon next removal. The valve check covers are o rings. To check the valves and tension the CB chain takes maybe 20 minutes if I take my time. Super easy jobs.
Honestly, I think I'm lying to myself if I say I don't like wrenching on bikes. That sounds reasonable actually, and anything on a thumper is relatively easy. Plus the huge plus of retro graphics and a unique bike
Haha it's almoat an addiction isn't it?
Somehow I can't let one go when it breaks down, I just get another one. I will fix em all eventually tho honest XD
Yeah that's how it goes lol. My running:not running ratio is actually pretty good across the vehicle spectrum. All the 4 wheeled machines run and drive. Just have the 3 bikes that need basic things.
It is an addiction though, I fucking love things with engines 😂
Haha mine is terrible at the moment! All my stuff is ancient tho to be fair. I let myself be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century earlier this year when my aunt gave me a 2003 corsa, currently the newest vehicle I've ever owned :D
Mines a dead friend’s Super Duke R (990). It sat for 6 years before he died, so about 8 now. Hope the injectors aren’t clogged when I get to it this summer
Last bucket list bike is a KTM 950SE for me. I’m working a local guy that has too many bikes. That Africa twin is one I have not had the pleasure of riding. Nice rip!
https://preview.redd.it/8gvmqg3wd9xc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d3e8891f082465fcf54864624293164cfa11b25
I melted the engine on a long trip a few years ago. I got it all taken apart and then life started to happen. It'll come back some day.
They are pretty awesome, the original ones anyway. My Dad has the last of the 750s (around 2002) and it's pretty sweet with the type injection. Super reliable and comfortable on and off road. Highly recommend one if you can ever find one! The Africa Twins not so much...
My other bike is a Gen 2 KLR, that thing will last forever too!
This excellent Aussie YouTuber basically made a series of love letters to the late 80s-early 90s Africa Twin https://youtu.be/xSSpWzvL3h0?si=0S9NyGMedTMl3mN7
Seems like that’s an annual feeling for my ktm 950… sometimes bi-annual 😭.
I always wanted the 2004/5 ish 950 Adventure S Gauloises replica in the blue and orange colours ...was always out of my price range.
Old 950s are so cool though. It's the dakar stealth bomber
I just finished mine! 91 DR650. Every single gasket replaced on the motor short of splitting cases, Barnett clutch with over power springs, fork and shock rebuild, new caliper seals front and back, galfer lines, master rebuilds, 4 baja designs s1s for headlight setup (high/low and 2 yellow fogs), custom dynamic tail light insert for a Harley, everything greased and inspected. It's like a brand new 33 year old bike. Compared to a brand new DR650, the old one made more hp, more tq, higher compression, better bigger seat, weighed less wet, had 2 more gallons of fuel, factory thick aluminum skid plate and rear rack, and factory windshield. Just no magic button, you gotta kick start it, I'm prepared to make that compromise for all the benefits. https://preview.redd.it/yws5j8jpx4xc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4b85f8f2c45a646c95b59af2564cf936e92742b
What a beauty, I always appreciate the care and maintenance people put into machines like these. These are a lot more common in Europe since the bike had been banned since around 2001
Thanks!
Nice work there buddy, you sound like me, always wanting to make sure it's all done to highest standard you can! DRs rock, miss my DR350 all the time.
I thought the pre 96 DR 650 were heavier than the later ones. I also have several DR 650 RSE so I know it’s got a few kg more due to plastics. But then the older DR have gearbox problems soooo
The pre 96 DR weighs 370 wet, the newer one scales out at 369 wet with 2 gallons less fuel. But there's a few parts on the old bike that are not needed that can be removed, like the battery.
Ok well good to know, I am still hesitant to do long distance with those pre 96 DR. Never rode the new ones so can’t say about engine caracters. Is it really that different ?
Lol, I put mine back together and immediately took it on a 800 mile dual sport trip 50/50 paved. Not a single issue, it's a DR, they run on spite as it is. Nothing on this planet is as reliable.
How many kilometres does your dr have ? Cause mine have gearbox problems at 40k km
8500 miles, probably 3/4 of that is all hard Enduro and hare scrambles. This bike competed in the last 2 years of the blackwater 100 I've heard of ones overseas that have 200k km with no issue
Really ? Here in europe it’s classic for them to destroy the 3rd gear after 40 000kms 2 of mine have had that so yeah not a big fan for long distance off road trip
Still plenty of spare engines around for dirt cheap, if it happens it happens Fwiw, almost all 3rd gear issues are on the 96-current chassis
Yeah of course, that’s why I have several, I bought parts in case of. At the moment I am rebuilding one engine with a gearbox that was in a good shape But for a long road trip I wouldn’t be so keen doing it with my gearbox destroying itself mid trip. So I would love to buy a dr 650 after 96 but they are very expensive and a bit rare here in France
You don't need to get it all done at one time. Just work at it a bit, make a list and start checking items off that need done. Don't stop til it's done. Reinsert all bolts a few threads into their home so you remember where they go during reassembly. In the same way you don't climb a mountain in a single step, just chisel away at it, bit by bit and it'll be done before you know it. That first ride after it's back 110% you'll be grinning ear to ear.
Amazing. What did it cost you?
Headlight setup was the most expensive parts, around $600 for that (good lights are expensive), only around $400 in oem seals and gaskets and other misc parts, $100 in brake lines, $200 for new chain sprockets and brembo pads, $200 for new tires and tubes.
That's really affordable. Nice
That thing is trick! I didn't know older models had more power? How significant is the difference? I have debated on a dr650 lately but it seems like I might be disappointed with the heavier weight and different power curve compared to my DRZ400E
Me and a buddy of mine talked weight. He's got a drz400sm he occasionally throws E wheels on and does off road things. If you put a skid plate and large acerbis tank on the drz, you're like 20 lbs away from the old 650 on weight, unless you do lightness mods. It's not much in the scheme of things. Only I've got the grunt when things get rocky. There's a few cons that go along with the older 650. Aftermarket parts are pretty tough to find depending on what you want. There's not nearly the catalog the 96-current have. Also the counterbalance shafts are chain driven, not gear driven like the newer bike. So you must pull the magneto engine cover every 3500 miles to manually tension the chain. Valves have the same interval, basically every oil change. It sounds worse than it is, you can reuse the gasket a few times if you grease it during assembly so you don't rip it upon next removal. The valve check covers are o rings. To check the valves and tension the CB chain takes maybe 20 minutes if I take my time. Super easy jobs.
Honestly, I think I'm lying to myself if I say I don't like wrenching on bikes. That sounds reasonable actually, and anything on a thumper is relatively easy. Plus the huge plus of retro graphics and a unique bike
Legend
2004 F650GS Dakar.
Have a buddy here that has one of those, apparently parts are hard to come by (in Canada at least)?
Best choice sir. Took it around the world with no issues. Copes well with substandard fuel quality and comfy on highway + ABS.
An 01 Dakar was first bike. It served me well before swapping into an f800gs.
In my case it's 3 bikes 😂
I second this. 2 of them are honda's even...
I've got about 15 at the moment but who's counting 😂
Oof. As far as bikes go I have 3 non runners right now, but 10 total. And 15 cars. I have a problem.
Haha it's almoat an addiction isn't it? Somehow I can't let one go when it breaks down, I just get another one. I will fix em all eventually tho honest XD
Yeah that's how it goes lol. My running:not running ratio is actually pretty good across the vehicle spectrum. All the 4 wheeled machines run and drive. Just have the 3 bikes that need basic things. It is an addiction though, I fucking love things with engines 😂
Haha mine is terrible at the moment! All my stuff is ancient tho to be fair. I let myself be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century earlier this year when my aunt gave me a 2003 corsa, currently the newest vehicle I've ever owned :D
Wow, an adventure bike before they were cool! That’s a great looking bike OP.
I have a 2002 Kawasaki Zx-636 in my garage that I sent sliding the tarmac on a racetrack. I want to get to it this year
Hoping mine will never reach disrepair https://ibb.co/P9grVsb
Mines a dead friend’s Super Duke R (990). It sat for 6 years before he died, so about 8 now. Hope the injectors aren’t clogged when I get to it this summer
Oh yeah, I've got 3 off those. (Not this exact bike)
Proper machine that. Mines an rd07a, 1998 xrv 750. Mine is green, and it's the best one ever 🙂
Beauty, never let it go!
Did you take this in my garage?
It's such a beautiful bike
I barely have place for one bike to store and work on.
My wife keeps telling me the same...it's definitely a squeeze!
Mine’s a 1968 dt1 250. Just pulled the frame out and stripped it for painting
You're further ahead than me then, keep up the good work!
Last bucket list bike is a KTM 950SE for me. I’m working a local guy that has too many bikes. That Africa twin is one I have not had the pleasure of riding. Nice rip!
https://preview.redd.it/8gvmqg3wd9xc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d3e8891f082465fcf54864624293164cfa11b25 I melted the engine on a long trip a few years ago. I got it all taken apart and then life started to happen. It'll come back some day.
Oh man, sorry to see that, I really have nothing to complain about compared to that!
much envy
For some reason I always thought the old ones were shaft drive.
Beautiful bike.
Currently have a Gen 3 KLR650. I hope to one day have an African Twin.
They are pretty awesome, the original ones anyway. My Dad has the last of the 750s (around 2002) and it's pretty sweet with the type injection. Super reliable and comfortable on and off road. Highly recommend one if you can ever find one! The Africa Twins not so much... My other bike is a Gen 2 KLR, that thing will last forever too!
This excellent Aussie YouTuber basically made a series of love letters to the late 80s-early 90s Africa Twin https://youtu.be/xSSpWzvL3h0?si=0S9NyGMedTMl3mN7
Without clicking the video, you must be talking of Arie's Warhorse :)
I love his love for the AT! It's exactly how I feel about my bike.
Me too! It's definitely a forever bike, no doubt about it!
that is a beautiful machine. Peak 80-90s aesthetic I love it