DR650 owners past and present...

[TW_rider]

Just trying to get a feel for this new bike of mine, and what some owners think of it as a whole...
As it is, I'm having a bit of a tough time with the carburator...anyone else experience the same frustration? I'm finding it VERY twitchy and mid-range has a series of flat-spots that can be quite unnerving.
Most of the talk over at ThumperTalk and ADVRider involves disassembling the carburator and "shimming" the needle and/or drilling the slide and/or re-jetting. Seems like an awful lot to go through just to get one's bike to run PROPERLY...is this common with ALL makes?
Why isn't this just done at the factory? I know they have emission standards to satisfy, but if people are just going to rip them out and redo it...?

I did my homework before buying this model and was quite pleased with what my research turned up as far as reliability, ease of maintenance, etc. but when you run into problems right off the bat, it tends to sour the experience (which should be a good one!) and leave you questioning whether you made the right decision.

 

[aheath73]

Like you said, there's a ton of information on both TT and ADVrider regarding the DR650 and it's carb. This summer marks the third season on my '09 DR650...

So far I've bought an extended fuel mixture screw to richen it up slightly, I've removed the snorkel on the airbox and slapped on a FMF Q4 muffler, as well as a 14-tooth CS sprocket. As far as the carb's internals go, I've just left it alone... All of my changes are reversible if I don't like them. I haven't cut or chopped or drilled a thing...

The bike does have some flat spots and it likes to surge a bit, but it's been nothing scary and I like the fact that I'm leaving the reliability side of things intact. I really can't say that I've been frustrated or freaked out by it... maybe you got a carb lemon??

Like anything, you can pull it all apart and make endless improvements and adjustments..... For my camping machine and commuter with logging roads and the odd (not too) gnarly trail thrown in, I've been loving my DR. Tackling the B-route at last year's Orca Run with some fantastic riding partners was a real eye-opener as to what this bike is capable of....and how much of a dirt novice I am.... Bummer that I missed it this year...

I just have to remember it's a "dual sport" and enjoy it for all the places it can take me.......

 

[hockeydad]

I own a 2005 that is bone stock and I fine it runs fine. Starts easy, but wants to run on the choke for at least the first 3kms.
It backfires a bit on decel but nothing serious. I took the snorkle off - but it really made no difference - in fact after I put it back on, it seemed to run a slight bit better.
I've heard that it runs better with carb mods, etc... but it runs fine stock. Not the best bike for slow trail riding but I don't think its to do with jetting but more the gearing.
just my 2 cents.

 

[Buck]

My 08 is bone stock and surprisingly runs fine so I'll leave it alone. The 03 got the works, Dynojet, Q2, open airbox, fuel screw.. has way more power and uses more fuel. My first, an 02 was very lean like yours but shimming the needle fixed that. The carb is easy to tune, most carbed bikes have the same problem and run way better with a JD or DJ jet kit.

 

[Phoenix]

Six years of riding my DR with no carb modifications. Yes it pops on decel, yes carb mods would make a difference, but generally I continue to ride it as is and have adjusted to it's stock quirks which I don't notice because I don't have anything else to compare it to. If I think back to new these quirks smoothed out after break in and even more so after about 6,000 kms of throttle abuse. Mine seems to shine now when fullly warmed up and thrashed in the three quarter to full throttle range, no flat spots or surging either. Drilling the slide and shimming the needle with 50 cent washers isn't that big of a job to fatten up a known lean running bike. You made a good decision for a reliable easy to work on bike, don't give up yet.

Cheers, Alex.

 

[Farp]

I bought a brand new DR650 and about 2 months after I got it I put an FMS muffler on it. I sold it over a year ago and I still have the stock muffler on a shelf in my shed. Barely used, if anybody want to give me $60 for it, it's yours. PM me if you're interested.

John

 

[Shuswap]

TW.....maybe just leave it alone till you get a few more miles on it? Then, research what works, KEEP IT SIMPLE .....usually you're just trying to give it the fuel it NEEDS to run right. There is no economy in a stuttering stumbling engine....but the manufacturers seem to be pressed into running lean.

I don't think you'll find it all that big a deal to implement the carb mods, once you get into it and maybe someone with the same model bike will offer to keep an eye on you as the procedure unfolds. I've ridden a brand-new stock DR650... with flat spots that encourage the rider to just move to full throttle right away to avoid the unpredictable stumbles. I've also ridden my JD-kitted DRZ and off-idle up to midrange is an absolute wonder in rideability and progressive power. As far as I can tell the only thing changed on the DRZ by the prev owner (who set it up) is the needle. This is a simple thing to do.

The manufacturers have a set of goals they pursue and we riders have a slightly different set of goals. At least these easy and safe mods are possible!!

 

[tomcycle]

I too am an DR650 fan, had two of them but have moved on since and alway think that I should buy another one for a FSR bike

Motorcycle Consumer News http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/home.aspx (my bible) did a three part artical on performance and handling modificatons, I found the last one which includes carb and exhaust
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/features/June2010ProjectDRIII.pdf

Remember these guys are more street than off road, so not everything they do makes sence

Tom

 

[TW_rider]

Decided that I would turn the mixture screw to the "rich" side of things and it seemed to make a bit of an improvement. The surging is still there, but not as dramatic as before...more noticeable in the higher RPM band now.
Did a 30 mile combination of city, highway and FSR tonight, just to get a better feel for her and all was well until we got about a mile from home where she coughed and died...3 times! Once she re-started, all was well but when it happens 1/2 way through an intersection...!

I need to make some kind of mod....

Did any of you take notice of the HEAT coming off the pipe? I could feel the heat at my ankle...you have to remember that up till now, I've been riding a 200 and before that a CT90, so I have no idea if this is "normal" on a larger bike!

 

[joker650]

Ok...
PAST and PRESENT.


99 DR650 was the best bike I evarrr bought(up to that point)
The bike that keeps giving )

 

[TW_rider]

Ah yes...I've seen this bike of yours often, as the pictures float by on the home page! Interesting to watch the progression of the "little guy" from then to now having two of my own...

Did you ever have to make any mods to the carb? The dreaded NSU fix? Chain roller? Header weld? I keep reading about all these things!
I'm sure that once I've ironed out most of the bugs, she'll be a great ride...

 

[LetItRoll]

Great "Dual Sport" bike, I have put over 50,000km on one (all stock), the lean spots and surge that are common stock usually are easy to get used to and work around, and usually wouldn't cause any serious ridability problems. Any sudden unexplained dying doesn't sound normal at all and more likely is caused from different issue like partial plugged pilot circuit which happens fairly easy with the poor shelf life of most of the fuel now, if the bike sat for a month or 2 without being started, sometimes that is all it takes. If you are still dealing with the issue try running some Sea Foam (carb cleaner additive) through the next tank, that stuff works real well and may help you eliminate some other possibilities.
good luck

If actions speak louder than words, I think I should be riding more and talking less.

 

[Buck]

Did you ever have to make any mods to the carb? The dreaded NSU fix? Chain roller? Header weld? I keep reading about all these things!
I'm sure that once I've ironed out most of the bugs, she'll be a great ride...

These bugs you refer to are pretty minor, except the NSU but I've not come across that one. I tossed the upper chain roller mid trip last week on the BCBT Ride, got tired of the rattling. My other DR's have the upgraded bearing type. The upper roller is not necessary, just fill the frame hole with a blob of silicone to keep dirt out. Smooth out the header weld only if you do the carb and airbox mods. I put on 2,000 km last weekend on the stock '08 and got an amazing 500 km per tank... IMS 20 liter.

 

[TW_rider]

Spent the past weekend up around the Cache Creek area, doing some DS'ing along the BackValley road as well as the Deadman Valley. Since the dealer repaired the diaphragm (was pinched from the factory) and drilled out the mixture screw so that it is accessible, things have been a whole lot better.
I have since removed the chain roller after reading too many horror stories about those things tearing holes in the frame. Also installed an MSR skid plate and a 14T counter sprocket, to make it a bit more rideable on the hills!
After this weekend of riding, I brought it back to the Dealer for its "First Service" (oil change and valve adjust) and now she runs great!

Next on the list of mods? A SEAT CONCEPTS replacement...the stock seat is like sitting on a 2 X 4.