Hi, anyone with a DR200 workshop manual know the torque setting for the engine oil drain plug? Preferably in Nm.

Thanks in advance.

Per factory service manual DR 200 drain plug is 28Nm

Or better still, drill the head with a 2mm drill and lockwire it on. No worries about over-torquing OR it undoing.

Regards

Nigel inNZ

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The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription

Thanks.

Need to know for my Beta Alp (http://www.betamotor.com/moto/trail/...p200_main.html) that has a Suzuki engine.

Considering it as a travel bike after reading some of the posts in this forum regarding TS185s and DR200s. Opinions?

Does the Suzuki factory manual cover just the DR200 motor/a range of motors or the whole bike? I tried to get one from our Beta importer but it wasn't available.

Cheers,

Ian.

Nice looking bike! If you plan to travel light, I'm sure you will have a lot of fun on it. Are you planning on going places with a big distance between fuel sources? With only 6.8l total capacity, you are going to be looking for fuel every 150km or so. We plan on traveling on TS185s but with the TF185 14l fuel tanks. I must say the thought of a four-stroke's better fuel economy, with the oil prioces climbing, is becoming a bit more appealing

Regards

Nigel in NZ

__________________
The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription

I originally bought the Alp for classic trials but I've recently been looking around for a replacement for my current travel bike (KTM LC4). I've been reading some of the posts in this forum especially those on using the TS185, and as I already own the Alp I'm thinking why not travel on it?

My next big trip is another attempt at trans-Africa - just waiting for certain areas to become safe enough to pass through, and saving up the money. So a good fuel range is a requirement - for my planned route I currently reckon that 400km plus reserve will be needed.

On the Beta I've had about 30km/litre, unloaded, riding normally, on sealed roads. At one time an auxiliary fuel tank was available which I believe contains about 4 or 5 litres which should give me a range of around 300km loaded up - this all needs testing. For the rest I'm looking at carrying a 5 litre can as part of my baggage.

I guess travelling light must be something of a necessity on a small bike - but then IMHO taking as little as possible is always the wisest course. The only other problems I can think of are that the ride south through Europe will take a while longer than on a bigger bike and I question whether a small loaded bike will have enough torque to get through the soft sand often found in the Sahara? We'll see.

By the way I briefly rode a TS125 in the 80s - the model with a low slung exhaust pipe. Great bike - I don't think anything went wrong with it, but my riding wasn't so good - I crashed it once off-road and cracked 4 ribs that still hurt today.

Ian;

I have an 1991 Beta Alp (TR35) with the 2 stroke engine. Anyway, I also happen to have a 97 Suzuki DR200SE that I use for SOLO backcountry touring here in the USA and Canada.

The big bike/little bike debate will rage forever because each side has such strong arguments for their case. Though I also have a F650GSD the 200 equally gets the nod for the points that support the small bike argument (trail bike size, lightweight, simplicity). Though it takes MUCH longer to get somewhere I prefer the lightweight package DR200 (300-325lbs laden, less fuel) to the F650GSD (500-525lbs laden less fuel) for areas where the going may get rough. Both bikes have about the same range/tank at about 225miles or 375 km. Once I'm there I find my travel speed about the same on either machine; I like to smell the roses (or should I say the pine and spruce) when in the backcountry. I do find the the 200 to be less intrusive to the senses than the 650 as I plod along.

I also changed my final ratio from a 15:45 to a 15:42 for a nice 40-45mph/70kph cruise in 5th and a 35-40mph/65kph cruise in 4th. There is a slight improvement in top end performance but I view the 200 as a 50mph/80kph max machine; any more and it is overworking the engine and a taller final will just sacrifice "out of the hole" performance. I ride with taking care of the bike always in mind.

I have not RTW'd. There is just so much to see here in the USA and Canada(before they pave it all or turn it into one big strip mall) I'm not sure if I'll ever leave this continent but applaud those that do. Perhaps the day will come for me, until then....