Im looking to lower and upgrade the Dr's suspension - Mrs Gipper and me are planning a 2up trip to SAmerica - the stock suspension is bad enough when im riding on my own - let alone 2up with panniers

Im looking at a rear shock rebuild and Eibach springs front and rear - with possibly dropping the rear shock mount as per workshop manual or some Kouba lowering links.....

anyone else ride a DR650 2 up ?

what has worked for you ?

The Safari tank is a good fit - nice to finally have a decent range......Im also looking forward to getting the Corbin seat fitted when it arrives, several hours on the stock seat is something to be avoided - I though they might have improved it since my last '96 DR650 - but it feels even worse........or maybe its me getting older........!!!

Photo was taken on highway 1A, by Castle Mountain

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Well - I kept my damping bog standard. It pogos badly, but I got used to it. In the back I have a heavier spring. It needed it badly, bottoming out solo without luggage on French back roads.

My former gf had her suspension upgraded by Hyperpro in Holland. New front springs, thicker oil f&r and the shock re-shimmed. She likes it, but for my way of thinking they overdid it. It's like a sports bike now. You can buy their bits online (I think) or through dealers. Check out their web site. Good stuff and they know what they are doing.

Don't forget to seriously change your transmission ratio. I run 15/45 solo. You need a few more teeth in the back and I suggest you carry a spare 14 tooth front, unless you stay on tar seal.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

I put a heavier Elka shock on the rear, upgraded the front end to a stiffer spring rate and increased the oil viscosity. Bike handles much better with a load and the front end does not dive with a fully loaded safari tank. Is your wife comfortable on your stock seat together with panniers? Not much room back there.

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Central America, South America & Africa on DR650's - BLOG

Thanks for the replies guys,

I agree with you Peter - going too hard with the suspension is not the right way - so I am looking at a bit of a compromise with spring rates and cost !

Daryll, yes the stock seat has very little room for Lisa, luckily she is quite petit and Im only 5'10 and 185 lbs in riding gear, hopefully the Corbin seat will be a big improvement - I used to tour on a TTR 250 with Ortileb panniers, which teaches you to pack light !!!

The Elka shock looks very well made - how has it performed ? what spring rates have you been using fr/rr ?

Ive been looking at a rear shock rebuild/DIY drop in kit from Cogent Dynamics:

MotoCD - Suzuki DR 650 Suspension

__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

If you follow the big DR650 thread on ADV you can get feedback on suspension on the DR and everything else ... from A to Z. Allow about two months to read the whole thread!

Actually, you can chat one on one with Rick at Cogent and other vendors that do DR parts right on that thread as they chime in all the time.

But overall, Rick at Cogent Dynamics has a good rep. and so far his shocks seem to hold up. Probably one of the more inexpensive options to get good damping out back. Talk to Rick to custom tune your shock to work for your trip. Talk to users of his shock, get direct feedback. 3 or 4 guys at least who've bought them. (probably more?)

At your height I would NOT lower your DR. With two on board W/ luggage, even with proper springs, your DR will set down a bit. Should be no problem touching down. The extra ground clearance will really help you hitting Topes, potholes and such at speed, fully loaded. Don't give up ground clearance, the DR is short on it to start with.

The Corbin is pretty good two up. My GF was pleasantly surprised at the ride, but she has only done short trips. Only problem was VIBES through the pillion pegs. Maybe rubber isolated pegs could help? My GF is only 4'11, 100 lbs. so she fits. I'm only 5'7".

I've got an Ohlins shock and have upgraded the forks as well. Bit stiff on highway but good when loaded for travel and doing rough roads or off road. Quite composed really (at modest speeds) Goes where you point it and stays in control ... no wallowing.

I would not fill your Safari when going off road unless really necessary. When full, the Safari really makes the DR a handful off road. I had to ride a friends bike out of some tricky conditions. Not fun. Keep it light if you can.
Have fun.


My buddies bike in BG with white Safari tank .... too much gas, with luggage. Got ugly later.


Steeper than it looks. 50/50 tires no go ... too loose too steep. I took over and rode it down, he rode my bike. Jesus, what a handful!

Those Elka's perform really well and prefer them over the stockers. Though I haven't ridden a bike with the cogent rebuild to make a fair assessment to another rebuild/new aftermarket shock. I bought 2 rear shocks, and dealt directly with the guy in Montreal and he worked out a deal. If I remember correctly the rear is either 7.3 or 7.5, have the info somewhere. Prior to me re-doing the front end, the bike was handling badly on dirt with even a 1/2 tank o the Safari.
I agree with Mickey D., full tank safari + dirt - skill = bike napping a few times (don't ask me how I learnt that).

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Central America, South America & Africa on DR650's - BLOG