Long Range Dual Sport..... How cheap can you do it?

[Bob Morgan]

Can a dependable low mileage long range dual sport be had for $3500. I'm going to try.

Here is how far I've gotten....
Found an 05 DR650 with 3500 street miles on it just before Christmas. Sargent seat, stock seat, Dynojet kit, aftermarket aluminum adjustable kick stand, Suzuki tail rack, and matching tail bag. All systems are go.



Picked up for $2850 just East of Metro KC.

It was slammed down with a set of lowering links, that have been replaced with the stock links that came in the deal. Suzuki offered two height settings on the factory shock clevis, and I'm set on the low setting now, with the stock linkage.

Used luggage will have to be sourced to make the price point, and I wasn't in a rush, since I haven't even been able to ride it because my surgery, but lady luck stepped in, and for $460 Shipped, off ebay, I am now the owner of a, like new, complete TCI removable Pelican case setup.





I advertised the rack and bag currently on the bike for $125 on the DR web board and sold it inside of an hour.

Total investment to this point.......... $3185 That leaves me $315 to play with. I already have the TCI windshield setup for my WR, so all I need is the $60 brackets. The Plexiglas shield will work on either bike. It's a great system. Additionally the WR has the same rear rack minus the pannier racks so I also have the soft expandable tail bag that the TCI rear racks are designed to fit. 5 min to switch from one bike to the other. Now I still have $255 to spend. Skid plate for $80? Maybe, but that's not how I plan to ride it. Mostly moto camping, and traveling back roads. Rear tire has no more than 500 miles left on it, but I have a set of Avon "take offs" that will run for a 1000 miles or more. What about........... Highway pegs maybe? Better, larger tool tube? What do you think?

[troy]

I can't think of a better bike if your goal is super low-cost long-range dualsport. Sweet deal!

[phil denk]

Congrats Bob...That DR was truly a find. Look forward to helping you break it in !!!

[Savage]

Yes it can be done! I got my KLR for a nice price as well. Fantastic long range DS.
The DR seat sucks, so you're good there. DR's don't get the best mpg so I'd invest in a big tank and call it good. Great bikes!

[Bob Morgan]

Yes it can be done! I got my KLR for a nice price as well. Fantastic long range DS.
The DR seat sucks, so you're good there. DR's don't get the best mpg so I'd invest in a big tank and call it good. Great bikes!

I'll probably will get a tank someday, But for now I just want to ride it one season In SCREAMING Suzuki Yellow!
3.4 gallons, so should hit 150 miles on a tank, a little more if I get it jetted right, and ride easy.

I was holding my breath on my luggage deal because the seller hadn't responded to my emails, but I got one today so I think I'm in the clear.

.

[Bob Morgan]

I took a couple of fresh pics of the cleaned up bike, ready for luggage install.





Kind of like the way it looks all cleaned up like that.

[Savage]

Hey don't be knockin Suzuki yellow! Looks much better now that its not a lowrider.

[Bob Morgan]

Hey don't be knockin Suzuki yellow! Looks much better now that its not a lowrider.

I wasn't knocking it........... I Love It!

I looked and thought I had a pic of you on your DRZ, but I didn't. Share one for me!

[phil denk]

Wow, look at all that red in the background....Montesa heaven !!!

[katbeanz]

Looking good Bob! McB had a DR a while back with the Aqualine tank which I greatly admired. Nice score on the pelican set up!

[Savage]

Hey don't be knockin Suzuki yellow! Looks much better now that its not a lowrider.

I wasn't knocking it........... I Love It!

I looked and thought I had a pic of you on your DRZ, but I didn't. Share one for me!

I had to do some digging but I found some old pics.

Look how ugly she was when I brought her home.

[Motoracer13]

One thing I (almost) always do on a new to me bike is ALL fluids and filters changed. There are still people who have the belief that all oils are the same they just put it in different packages to make more money. On an older dirtbike I bought, the guy said he never liked the front brake. The bike was only 2 years old. I went ahead and flushed and rebled it, even took pads off and scuffed them and the rotor. Brake worked awesome after that. I went ahead and changed the oil and oil filter, the oil filter was half filled with metal shavings. When I asked him if he ever change the filter, he told me that dirt bikes don't have oil filters! This was from a dirt bike guy that rode his whole life! He even had a service manual that he gave me with it

[Motoracer13]

Oh, and Savage....diggin the front tire conservation!!!

[Savage]

Front tires aren't cheap ya know.

[Bob Morgan]

It took a while, but I finally received my ebay Pelican case setup. Went on easy, and looks good! Got my GPS mounted and wired, then fitted up my Wolfman tank bag. I was actually able to ride it back and forth in front of the house today for the first time.

[ozarksrider]

I like the luggage, looks like it can take a beating. Did you decide on a bash plate? Seems like I'm always kicking up a rock in unexpected places.

The whole bike looks good, now you just need to get it dirty!

[troy]

Looks ready for the Bald Eagle Ride this weekend.

[Bob Morgan]

Looks ready for the Bald Eagle Ride this weekend.

Oh. I'm sure it would do just fine! Now the rider/owner is another story completely.

I'm doing very well, and feel great! In the process of patching and painting one of our empty bed rooms right now. I'm probably still about 80%, and get tired in the afternoons. Signed up for a gym membership, and I should be back up to speed as soon as spring hits!

Have fun you knuckle heads, and ride safe. I'll be watching AJF's spot when you all leave.

[Bob Morgan]

I like the luggage, looks like it can take a beating. Did you decide on a bash plate? Seems like I'm always kicking up a rock in unexpected places.

The whole bike looks good, now you just need to get it dirty!

There are so many choices for the DR skid plate.......... 6 or 7 I bet. I'm actually hoping something used pops up on ebay. My budget took a hit because I had to cough up $66 for an un modified air box. The one on the bike has had a swiss cheese job done to it, and unless I put on a free flowing exhaust it's too much air to make it run right. It was a pretty good deal on the air box though........ everything was from a 2011 with no miles on it. Air box with the snorkel, rubber connector, air filter with cage, Throttle cables, passenger foot pegs, and a selection of jets. The seller said he was going to throw some other stuff in too. A spare filter was going to cost me $30 anyway, so I'm really only out $36 for all the other parts.

[Bob Morgan]

Well, it's finished for right at $3500 but no bash plate yet. A deal popped up on a used SW Motech center stand for about the same price as a bash plate, and I opted for that instead. I'll find a used plate someday, but I don't really need one for the way I plan to ride the DR. Here are a couple pics I took the other day when the weather finally got nice enough to move outside for a bit. No center stand in the pics, I just put it on tonight and it is a very nice piece.







Just for fun I did the math...... to buy a new DR650 (less sales and property tax), and purchase everything added on for list price you'ed be right around $8500 for everything. That doesn't include the soft bags, and windshield Plexiglas I already had. Taxes for me will be much less when it's all said and done.
You would have new tires though.