xr650l or drz400

[rainycoastguy]

OK Chaps...I'd like some informed argument over which bike is better for me. I want a simple easy to maintain dual purpose bike, relatively light, for local island exploration, runs to town, and general dicking around. I run a Tiger (girly) for the serious stuff, and I like to do my own maintenance. I generally keep what I buy for a long time and a serious fear with the Tiger is that the "brain" will die and I won't be able to replace it, or the FI will FU and I'll be F*****! I've been offered both the above bikes for a great price - new '08's and I want to make a decision this week so please respond. If none of the above mattered I'd buy a KTM 690E, if I could find one but I fear that hi-tech could be a liability in the future especially if the economy keeps going down. To most of you guys I'd probably be classified as an old fart but I can still lift up a downed and loaded Tiger so both the Honda and the Suzuki seem like light weights to me. Try to keep it short and simple if you would and don't wax too esoteric OK. Thanks.

 

[claw]

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floored has a drz i had a hard time telling him to oil the chain he does little to no work to it other than going riding alsocheaper insurance than the 650.

 

[franhoser]

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if you decide on the 650 i have a 08 DR650 for sale too. Bit cheaper then the xr and reliable and easy to work on as well.

 

[xr8d]

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OK, I'll admit up front that I am biased, but I picked the Honda for it's simple (old) low tech engine, and great suspension. In the real world, both are great bikes, there are probably more DRZ's in this club than any single bike. But the Honda has wonderful tractor-like low end grunt to idle through the tight stuff without the clutch work of the smaller bike. Both bikes are very close in weight, and the extra 250 cc's only means you pay higher insurance, cause it will not outrun a DRZ, they are very close in acceleration. My suggestion is to test ride used versions of each if possible and pick the one that gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling.



Good Luck!!:hb:



Jon.

 

[Floored]

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claw wrote:

floored has a drz ...................he does little to no work to it other than going riding..........

Giving away my secrets to a long lived DRZ huh? Besides, not everyone needs a KTM that requires a lot of work but still sputters when going through a puddle:mb:.

 

[SmokinJoe]

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I went through this a year ago too did months of reading up articles and studying. I went with the DRZ400S. Its like $6500 new out the door, totally reliable/bulletproof, and you can muscle it through the forests and tighter trails. The 650's are just too big youll end up losing your footing and dropping them.400cc isnt the best on the island highway, it screams at 130km/h but theres always the old island highway to travel up and down on. The accessories are unlimited on the DRZ and you can customize it to your riding style. The honda xr650l is a nice bike, lots of torque but id keep it on the logging roads and stuff, when it comes time to muscle your bike through stuff push pull or drag you'll like the smaller bike.

my 2 cents

Marte

 

[franhoser]

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where do you get a "out the door" $6500 price for a brand newdrz?

 

[SmokinJoe]

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Sorry, it was $6500 plus tax now that i think about it. It was exacally this time last year haggled with coquitlam suzuki and richmond motorsports, went with richmond they had a blue 2008 drz in crate.

 

[franhoser]

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thats a good deal you got. I doubt you find that this year. Looks like they are all in the 7000-7500 range with freight and pdi charges. Maybe it was cause of the dollar being so high compared to the $us. I think you are talking 7500-8000 "walk out price for a new DRZ plus minimum of $1000 of must have accessories this year.

 

[SmokinJoe]

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no you just have to haggle, be ready to walk awayis what I'm talking about. I did it back and forth between the two largest sellers in the lower mainland and went with the best deal.

Igot the bike for $6000, 500 pdi, and 7200 after taxes, sticker price was 7299 plus pdi and taxes. I'm only saying this to make ppl aware "sometimes" theres room for movement on the sticker price, it only took me one afternoon to make the deal. I told them I was from the island and I came down for the weekend to go home with a bike, whoever had the best price was going to get the business. I grew up in Delta and had a place to stay. This is the time of year to make the deals, your prolly not going to move them much come late spring. Every dealer isn't going to move, you won't get the smaller dealers, or local dealers able to compete with that.

If you have anymore questions about it just pm me

i still vote DRZ :tup:

 

[Dan]

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I recomend the DRZ as well.

I have the XR650L. Its a really nice bike, but too heavy and too tall for any low speed trails.

 

[rainycoastguy]

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I'd like to thank all of you who have made contributions. I have had an offer on a 2006 xr650l with 9500 highway klics accepted for $4000. It has sat for a year so I anticipate a few minor issues but it rode and ran well so fingers crossed. My back-up deal was a new '08 DRZ with 0 klics for $7071 out the door. That is a super deal and it is available. Once the Honda is is my possesion I'll feel free to let anyone else interested in the DRZ know where it is. I have to say that I was hoping the Honda would fall through.

 

[XmikeR]

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Good choice! I suggest getting a few sprockets. 13 front for trail, and 15 for hwy. Lots of easy to do mods. check out thumpertalk and look for dave's mods. Have fun!

 

[bigwavedave]

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I think that you made the right choice. I have a 650R and ride it everywhere. the 650L isn't that much heavier. I have ridden the last two weeks on some pretty tight singletrack with a guy on a 650L and he went everywhere with it. it's an awesome bike. the motor really is a tractor. just my two cents, though.

Dave

 

[Tonyw]

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Enjoythe Big Red Pig, I have an o7with 7000km. I would like something lighter, and would part with in mybe.

 

[bajaman]

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Want a DRZ 400e daulsported...twinsport has one for sale in the for "sale forum",06 for $4000.00,great deal:clap:.I copied his to daulsport mine..great bike,I love mine:tup:.

 

[emeraldsea]

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Suzuki raised price's this year, likely due to the economy and the Cnd$.

Taking delivery of my 09DRZ400s tomorrow $7962.02 out the door.

 

[RoscoeP]

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Nice 06 DRZ 400e at Jack's Motorcycles. In nice shape, low miles! Lots of extras. Cheers:hb:

 

[bajaman]

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RoscoeP wrote:

Nice 06 DRZ 400e at Jack's Motorcycles. In nice shape, low miles! Lots of extras. Cheers:hb:

That's twinsports bike...had it here for sale on the DSBC site for a long time,no one bit.:shock: