Suzuki DR650 SE

G

GDS

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Sep 19, 2013
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Hi

Who has one and what is your opinion on the bike?

I'm in the process of buying a 2013 model. All my previous bikes I owned was in the R20k bracket and did not bother with insurance. I know this was not a clever thing to do. Luckily the one I had a fall with no other cars or bikes was involved.

This one I will get insured. Who is the best insurance house to go with for a bike?
 
What price bracket are you in? And what kind of riding are you looking to do?

I wouldn't say there is anything wrong with the DR650, but it is a bit outdated. It is after all essentially unchanged since 1992. But on the flip side it's close on bullet proof and easy to DIY just about everything on the bike
 
It was in the 60k. I had a look at the other options like the older GS650, KLR650 and the Honda XR but I think the DR stands out because of it durability, not that the XR is bad.

I'm going to use it to commute ( About 20KM a day) in the summer (Cape Town) and the the odd trip to the farm in the Ceres Karoo. I'm not going to ride an enduro race with it soon:). One thing I will change is the petrol tank as 13L is not much.

After the dealership warranty is over I will do the servicing and repairs myself.
 
Personally I got very tired of my 650 on longer trips, but work and back it was a pleasure. And since you're only doing the odd trip far away I think it'll be fine. One thing that did stand out for me was some of the other bikes have ABS which was important for me
 
DR650 is good, light and nimble but not much in the way of wind protection if you intend on doing longer trips. Carb as well so easy to fix once it breaks.

KLR650 is heavier but has more wind protection, but lots of stuff to break when it falls over (I have one, but a 2004 model)

XR650L isn't bad either, legendary Honda reliability and the guys over at wilddog.za.net rave about them

For your price point I would probably consider looking at a nice 2nd hand BMW F800GS, but they can get pricey when it comes to servicing and maintenance. A Honda Transalp 650 is also a very nice bike, not as light on fuel as the single cylinders but very comfy and a breeze to ride. Once you get going the extra weight melts away

Good luck :)
 
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