Hi guys,

The DR650SE jumped out at me when I saw it in the show room and took it for a ride.

I'm planning to do an around the world trip with a pillion from Singapore to the UK

How comfortable is the bike for the pillion?

What modifications do you recommend to increase pillion comfort?

Cheers,

J

If both of you are willing you can ride just about anything.

In reality take your passenger on a ride on the bike you are looking at, go on a long day trip, at least 200 miles, spend at least 1 1/2 hrs at a time on the bike with no stops. You will then have a pretty good answer of what you have to adapt/change so that both of you are comfortable.

Comfort becomes an issue the longer you have to sit on the bike at a stretch and if you get into the 400-600 mile days then it becomes very important. Keep the passenger happy & you'll be happy.

__________________
1971 BMW R75 project,
2013 Suzuki DL650A

Hi J

Here is a link to my thoughts on the DR650:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-america-53258

Similar topic on DRRiders:

Two-up Questions : General DR650 Discussion

I put a lot of time and money into my DR build for our SAmerica trip, you don't have to spend a bunch of cash to make the DR better, Id suggest upgrading the suspension and seat as a minimum - especially for riding 2up. I used a Corbin seat on the DR and Lisa had an AirHawk inflatable cushion to give her some more cushioning and room behind the seat.

As Cycleman suggests, go for a long ride and see what you can and cannot live with. Fortunately there's lots of aftermarket parts available from Procycle:

Suzuki DR650 Parts, Accessories, & Performance - ProCycle

There's also some build photos on our Blog (link in my signature) under 'Trip Prep'

Let us know how you get on.

Heres the Seat/AirHawk cushion:

__________________
Cheers
Grif

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

1) You will need to do something with the seat!

2) see 1.

Not the greatest choice 2-up IMO, can do it, surely, but never as comfortable as a DL650, for example, and depending on routes, you could find the engine a bit lacking for 2-up and heavy load, especially on big roads. The DR650 is mostly meant to be ridden solo. YMMV.

How I dream this bike was available in the UK.

When they do come up for sale, they're either ragged or really overpriced.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Me too.

A couple of years ago, I missed the one and only one I've seen in the right condition for realistic money because I couldn't get the cash together.

It must be worth getting a few shipped in. Where are they most available; Aus or USA ?

The DR650 engine is strangled by emissions legislation - in North America the carb is set VERY lean and has an EPA blanking cap over the fuel screw, luckily with this removed and the mixture richer, the carb jetted, slide drilled, needle raised, air box opened up and a free flowing exhaust (GSXR 1000) fitted the DR650 is transformed and has plenty of grunt for 2 up riding with full panniers. A lot of guys fit a TM 40 pumper carb too and you can buy big bore kits and big valve heads for the DR - lots of upgrades available out there.

With a 16 tooth front sprocket my DR will sit at 70 mph all day even at altitude - true compared to a multi cylinder (V Strom 650 for example) bike it doesn't have the overtaking ability at higher speeds, but with some work the engine really pulls well for a 650 Thumper and I can still get 75 mpg if I cruise at 60 - 65 mph/ 100 - 105 kmh

__________________
Cheers
Grif

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

I would not put the DR650 on a list of good bikes to do 2 up long distance. For solo riding its great although I did have my seat re shaped as the standard was not good for my bum.

For some reason using it 2 up it just doesn't work. The seat seems short and the rider gets all hunched up. Friends of ours did RTW 2 up on a 660 Tenere with no issues.

When we did Australia to UK my 'mods I wished I'd done' was 1. Better seat, 2. Better brakes. The XT has both

Best of luck

Cheers

__________________
www.wollongongtowoolwich.co.uk

I have a DR in New Zealand. Probably standard US spec. I weigh 90 kg and with 2 panniers it starts to run out of power near 100 km on any slope or head wind. I would say it's too small and lacks grunt for 2up

I´m not questioning the DR´s ability at all. Just saying, that a twin (such as DL650) is, by design, better suited for two-up touring. Downside is, it´s also a heavy (and top-heavy) pig by design, and suffers, when it gets to any surfaces with little traction. But at least for me, if I go two-up then I´ll stick to anything that even remotely resembles a road. For this, the DL is still very capable.

Pecha72

I totally agree with you, the V Strom is a far better 2up bike on asphalt, more room, more power, smoother, faster , 6 gears, ABS etc etc.

I am just trying to point out that the DR engine can be improved quite easily with fairly inexpensive modifications.

I nearly bought a V Strom for SAmerica 2up, but went with the DR, which is far from perfect 2up, but as long as the rider and pillion are not too tall/big it CAN do it, its also cheaper to buy, simple to maintain and repair when crashed, lighter and handles better on gravel.

Thought needs to be put into what you will do with the bike AFTER your trip, if you are going to sell it overseas and lose money why buy an expensive bike? I use my DR currently for long weekend dirt trips riding solo carrying camping gear - on rough loose gravel/rocky doubletrack forestry roads - much more fun on a DR than a V Strom.

The DR's brakes can be improved easily with a steel braided front hose - or a larger disk kit - or both. The Yamaha XTZ660 is a great bike, unfortunately Yamaha doesn't sell them in North America - I know they sell them in Russia, probably in rest of Asia as well, worth looking at too for the OP.

The DR has compromises like any other bike, but for the OP's trip from Singapore to the UK - as long as they are both not too big physically - with a few modifications it will be a good choice.

__________________
Cheers
Grif

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

Ignore this simple fact at your peril - it's with a complaining pillion who you can't ditch.

__________________
Dave

I just bought a DR
Going to change the seat, get a safari tank and maybe change the position of the pillion handles

Well Done!

__________________
Cheers
Grif

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