From: owner-dr-digest@lists.xmission.com (dr-digest) To: dr-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: dr-digest V1 #175 Reply-To: dr-digest Sender: owner-dr-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-dr-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk dr-digest Saturday, June 17 2000 Volume 01 : Number 175 (dr) DR650 Re: (dr) How do you adjust the spring and other suspension questions (dr) FW: DR650 Re: (dr) FW: DR650 RE: (dr) FW: DR650 (dr) Riding DRZ400S at altitude ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri Jun 16 11:32:27 2000 From: ScottoBme@aol.com Subject: (dr) DR650 Hey everyone! Kurt has mentioned my enthusiasm regarding my DR so I thought I would give out some facts. 1. I am of the vertically challenged size so the DR was a perfect fit. I liked the KLR for all of its abilities, the DR just happened to fit me! ( Thank goodness) 2. The DR 650 is quite capable of poking along single track to cruising at 80-85 on superslab for hours in moderate comfort. I traveled 2419 miles in 9 days from Los Angeles to Moab and back. I traveled 500 miles of straight superslab at the beginning and at the end of my trip, took different secondary paved roads as well as riding as much dirt roads via the Dixie and Manti-La-Sal National Forests as I road accross Utah from Zion to Moab. Now... I must tell you that this DID NOT occur on the stock seat (nonononononono). I installed a Corbin seat in the built up modified version and the seat is a godsend! My butt did not hurt at all for the entire ride. I was amazed! I also installed the IMS 5.0 gallon tank and carried with me 4 sig bottles to have my capacity match the KLR's I was travelling with. 3. The stock suspension was great for onroad travel but was waaaayyyy to plush for off road. Corrected this with ordering the progressive springs for both front and rear from Dual Star. Installation was a snap and the bike has a very capable feel to it now. I was significantly loaded down for my trip to Moab and hit many ruts, rocks and the like at 50-70 mph, including getting some air and the suspension literally soaked it up never once coming close to bottoming. I LOVE IT!!!!! I was able to ride the White Rim trial quite aggresively and the suspension just seemed to float me over the rough stuff!! I did nothing special to the forks regarding valving. I am just running the stock weight oil at the appropriate level per the manual as progressive suggests. I did nothing to the rear shock other than play with the dampening and preload to get the sag where I wanted it and to have the shock feel the way I wanted it. ( I guess I am a touchy feely type of guy) A side effect of the seat and suspension is the increase in seat height of around 1 to 1.5 inches. 4. In order to carry all my crap I ordered a set of original racks from Tim Bernard at Happy Trails and a rear rack to match. The racks are of excellent quality and handled my HUGE bag on the rear rack as well as my Tourmaster Cortech saddlebags. 5. To help with the interstate riding I bolted a surplus KLR windshield to my headlight cowling. This helped bunches in minimizing the sail effect my torso produces. 6. To keep my right side up I ran a set of Metzeler Sahara 3 Enduro tires. I have to say I really like the tires. These grip very well in the tight twisty pavement sections accross the Utah desert at speeds I really should not mention. I am still shocked that I road fully loaded as agressively as I did. However, the bike setup with the tires and progressive springs felt like it was on rails. Never once did the bike "feel" like it was getting out of control. (Can't say that much for the rider hehehe) The tires even worked pretty well in the sand. But now that the long interstate riding is over, I will be switching back to my Mt21's. Fuel economy on the DR is great. I averaged 40 mpg on the interstate sections, fully loaded in the windy desert doing 80-90mph. But off the interstate, at all various speeds from sea level to 10,000 feet I averaged 48 mpg. That ain't all bad! :) Exhaust and Carb are all stock. If you want to see a picture of my bike loaded just prior to departure, please follow the link (address) below: http://members.aol.com:/scottobme There are two pictures available at this time. Feel free to contact my via email if you have any questions. Scott Bower 98 DR 650 Redondo Beach, CA - - to unsubscribe to dr, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe dr" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 10:14:15 -0600 From: njkouba Subject: Re: (dr) How do you adjust the spring and other suspension questions Brett, Bryan pretty much sumed up the sag procedure. I would just like to add a couple of things. After setting the race sag, the free sag should be between 1/2" to 3/4", if it is more, a LIGHTER spring is required, and if it is less a HEAVIER spring is required. Before attempting to change the spring preload apply some lubricant to the shock threads and sometimes after loosening the top jamnut you can turn the spring and all with you hand. (If you have a grip like a vise) This list has an archives library (below) that will keep your interest for days if you search SAG, KOUBA LINKS, or just about anything that has to do with the Suzuki DR's. Thanks Kurt Simpson for this option, I know you spent a lot of time getting it right. You done good. Suzuki changed the forks on the DR350SE for the 1998 models and gave them an external compression and rebound adjuster, but removed the spring preload adjuster. They are better overall but are still a little lite on the springs. Norm http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=dr350 - -- Dr. DR Suzuki DR Suspensions http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/2299 Bryan Ply wrote: > Brett, > Here's the procedure that I use : > 1.) Get a hammer and a flat headed screwdriver (one of the double > fisters works the best) > 2.) Loosen the top nut counter-clockwise > 3.) Lift the back wheel up off of the ground > 4.) Hit the bottom nut clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to > loosen. > > Note : We did this with my fathers DR and it took a baby sledge hammer > to get broke loose. > > To measure the back supension : > 1.) Lift the back tire off the ground measure the distance between the > hub nut of the wheel and the fender. > 2.) Next put the back wheel back on the ground and measure the distance > from the hub nut to the same point on the fender as before. > 3.) Next you need to get on your riding equipment on and stand on the > foot pegs. Have someone measure the distance from the hub nut to > the fender. > > Now time for the math: subtract the distance in step 3 from the distance > in step 1. This is called race sag and should equal about 100mm or 4in > (1mm=.038in) Next subtract subtract the distance in step 2 from the > distance in step 1. This is called free sag and I think that it should > equal 25mm or 1in. (Please correct me if I have wrong on the number). > Repeat the steps until you get the race sag at 4in. If the free sag is > not 1in then you will probably need a new spring. Contact either Norm or > Jesse, they can get you a spring that will work. > > Bryan Ply > 99 DR350 (my ride) > 98 DR350 (pops ride) > 88 Quadracer (wife ride) > > Hello everyone. I am fairly new to dirt riding and I just started > adjusting > the suspension on my 98 DR350SE and I have a couple of questions. > > How do you adjust the preload on the spring? I thought that the > upper "nut" > had to be loosened counter-clockwise and then the inner "nut" could > be moved > clockwise to tighten and counter clockwise to loosen. I can't seen > to get > the upper "nut" to move. The manual says you need a special tool and > doesn't > go into any more detail, I have read articles for other bikes saying > you can > use a hammer and punch. > Does anyone have the recommended settings, or something to start > with, for > the suspension and fork? I am a New England trail rider and weigh > 170 lbs. > I remember reading in an article that the front fork changed in 1998 > for the > DR's, is that true? > > Any help would be much appreciated! > Thanks, > Brett in CT > 1998 DR350SE > - - to unsubscribe to dr, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe dr" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 11:57:43 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: (dr) FW: DR650 - -----Original Message----- From: dust@dorje.com [mailto:dust@dorje.com]On Behalf Of ScottoBme@aol.com Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 10:12 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: DR650 Hey everyone! Kurt has mentioned my enthusiasm regarding my DR so I thought I would give out some facts. 1. I am of the vertically challenged size so the DR was a perfect fit. I liked the KLR for all of its abilities, the DR just happened to fit me! Thank goodness) 2. The DR 650 is quite capable of poking along single track to cruising at 80-85 on superslab for hours in moderate comfort. I traveled 2419 miles in 9 days from Los Angeles to Moab and back. I traveled 500 miles of straight superslab at the beginning and at the end of my trip, took different secondary paved roads as well as riding as much dirt roads via the Dixie and Manti-La-Sal National Forests as I road accross Utah from Zion to Moab. Now... I must tell you that this DID NOT occur on the stock seat (nonononononono). I installed a Corbin seat in the built up modified version and the seat is a godsend! My butt did not hurt at all for the entire ride. I was amazed! I also installed the IMS 5.0 gallon tank and carried with me 4 sig bottles to have my capacity match the KLR's I was travelling with. 3. The stock suspension was great for onroad travel but was waaaayyyy to plush for off road. Corrected this with ordering the progressive springs for both front and rear from Dual Star. Installation was a snap and the bike has a very capable feel to it now. I was significantly loaded down for my trip to Moab and hit many ruts, rocks and the like at 50-70 mph, including getting some air and the suspension literally soaked it up never once coming close to bottoming. I LOVE IT!!!!! I was able to ride the White Rim trial quite aggresively and the suspension just seemed to float me over the rough stuff!! I did nothing special to the forks regarding valving. I am just running the stock weight oil at the appropriate level per the manual as progressive suggests. I did nothing to the rear shock other than play with the dampening and preload to get the sag where I wanted it and to have the shock feel the way I wanted it. ( I guess I am a touchy feely type of guy) A side effect of the seat and suspension is the increase in seat height of around 1 to 1.5 inches. 4. In order to carry all my crap I ordered a set of original racks from Tim Bernard at Happy Trails and a rear rack to match. The racks are of excellent quality and handled my HUGE bag on the rear rack as well as my Tourmaster Cortech saddlebags. 5. To help with the interstate riding I bolted a surplus KLR windshield to my headlight cowling. This helped bunches in minimizing the sail effect my torso produces. 6. To keep my right side up I ran a set of Metzeler Sahara 3 Enduro tires. I have to say I really like the tires. These grip very well in the tight twisty pavement sections accross the Utah desert at speeds I really should not mention. I am still shocked that I road fully loaded as agressively as I did. However, the bike setup with the tires and progressive springs felt like it was on rails. Never once did the bike "feel" like it was getting out of control. (Can't say that much for the rider hehehe) The tires even worked pretty well in the sand. But now that the long interstate riding is over, I will be switching back to my Mt21's. Fuel economy on the DR is great. I averaged 40 mpg on the interstate sections, fully loaded in the windy desert doing 80-90mph. But off the interstate, at all various speeds from sea level to 10,000 feet I averaged 48 mpg. That ain't all bad! :) Exhaust and Carb are all stock. If you want to see a picture of my bike loaded just prior to departure, please follow the link (address) below: http://members.aol.com:/scottobme There are two pictures available at this time. Feel free to contact my via email if you have any questions. Scott Bower 98 DR 650 Redondo Beach, CA - - to unsubscribe to dr, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe dr" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 17:10:59 -0000 From: "Mark Sampson" Subject: Re: (dr) FW: DR650 > 4. In order to carry all my crap I ordered a set of original racks from Tim > Bernard at Happy Trails and a rear rack to match. The racks are of > excellent > quality and handled my HUGE bag on the rear rack as well as my Tourmaster > Cortech saddlebags. Kurt, I looked at the pictures of your bike---and your travel setup is superb!!!! Just looking at your bike makes me want to go on an adventure!!!! ` Now-----I'm not real familiar with the happy trails racks. Do these merely hold your soft saddlebags off of the muffler and bikes side panels??????? And do they fasten to the racks--and how/?? I may put something similar to what you have on my transalp, as I'm not really wanting hard bags. Thanks, Kurt!!! Mark Sampson didi@acworld.net 2000 Suzuki DRZ400S 1999 Yamaha TTR250 (to old to kick) 1997 BMW F650 (Little Red) 1989 Honda Transalp--the bike that almost does it all!!!!!!! All GPS equipped of course!!! - - to unsubscribe to dr, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe dr" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 16:33:28 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: RE: (dr) FW: DR650 > > Kurt, I looked at the pictures of your bike---and your travel setup is > superb!!!! Just looking at your bike makes me want to go on an > adventure!!!! > ` Now-----I'm not real familiar with the happy trails racks. Do these > merely hold your soft saddlebags off of the muffler and bikes side > panels??????? And do they fasten to the racks--and how/?? > I may put something similar to what you have on my transalp, > as I'm not > really wanting hard bags. > > Thanks, Kurt!!! > > Mark Sampson > didi@acworld.net > 2000 Suzuki DRZ400S > 1999 Yamaha TTR250 (to old to kick) > 1997 BMW F650 (Little Red) > 1989 Honda Transalp--the bike that almost > does it all!!!!!!! > All GPS equipped of course!!! Actually, that post was from Scott Bower who has a very similar setup. I'm just now setting up the photography for the DSN shoot on the project bike. Tim made racks for both Scott and I...I think Scott went with Tim's "original" racks...for soft luggage...I went with two sets: the original and what Tim calls Northwest racks for soft luggage, cooler luggage, GIVI's, or Ortlieb clip-ons. He makes racks for TransAlps his web page is www.happy-trail.com he's a good friend of Norm Kouba from this list... and they are both Boise residents...I also recommend the Top of the Line Rack... Kurt - - to unsubscribe to dr, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe dr" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 12:50:45 -0000 From: "Mark Sampson" Subject: (dr) Riding DRZ400S at altitude I will be riding my new DRZ400S in about a month in Colorado, probably always being above 6,000ft. with excursions to 13,500ft. I know this is a new bike, but was hoping someone would have some experience here. I have been riding at altitudes like this before on different offroad machines---but they had your standard slide carbs and definitely had to be rejetted. The DRZ400S (street legal model only) has a vaccum slide carb and I was hoping not to have to do anything to it---but I bet I will. So help me out guys. I've had many street bikes up at altitude, with them having vacuum slide carbs (no jetting changes) and they did pretty well with mainly just a loss of power---which is a given no matter what you do. Any help would be appreciated!! Mark Sampson didi@acworld.net 2000 Suzuki DRZ400S 1999 Yamaha TTR250 (to old to kick) 1997 BMW F650 (Little Red) 1989 Honda Transalp--the bike that almost does it all!!!!!!! All GPS equipped of course!!! - - to unsubscribe to dr, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe dr" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of dr-digest V1 #175 ************************ - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.