After my original DR650 had the crankshaft bearing fly through the engine, causing complete failure...I bought a 2nd hand 2008 Canadian DR650 and rebuilt my old bike with a repainted original frame (2010 model) to keep the VIN number for future traveling. The paint wasn't the best quality but it's a nice trial anyway.

Upgrades/repairs include:

- used the 2nd hand bike's Keihin FCR 39 carburetor, works great
- bought new Acerbis 21 L tank, clear/natural colour and painted black with strips to see where fuel level is
- new stickers...courtesy of my brother
- used the other wiring harness as mine had melted down and had a terrible wiring job done it by me earlier
- added a chain oiler
- added LED light onto front fender (not in pic)
- used higher gauge wire for the headlights/LED run off a relay switch to increase power. The relay is turned on/off by the stock light dimmer switch
- added heavy duty switch to turn off ALL lights, for sneaky times and when battery goes low
- new SPI grip warmers
- stock seat...but a nice new sheepskin donated by a Harley rider!
- front fender brace...was mainly for my Wolfman fender toolbag...but seeing I lost that and $200 of tools (shitty bag, don't trust the site, you need permanent retaining straps)
- upgraded fork springs... .47kg/mm and new fork oil
- replaced bike fluids...brake, oil etc
- cleaned carb, oil cooler
- added magnetic sump plug and magnetic ring on oil filter for metallic nasties in the oil

May yet do a stator rewire for more output and loctite my NSU screws.

What do ya think of it?!?!

More pics at Akubra Around The World

__________________
'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

Looks great! Does the stock rear spring offer enough support?

Nice job.

Hey Brian
It Darrell from Edmonton. I was wondering how your trip went after you left Alberta last year. I was able the title the 2008 and make a decent bike out of the parts and others I had sourced. So I went to go for a ride and had a starter gear failure. Disaster. I was really disappointed.so i started thinking and then I remembered reading you post about your choices you had when you had the bad situation with your 2010 motor. So I decided on a whim to call and see if they had a boxed up. Motor and they still had it. So off I went on the weekend paid for the works and Iam busy perparing the transfer. I wanted to write you a note to say your engine cases will live on along with the frame which I purchased from you. Talk about recycling or one mans junk is another's treasure. Lol
So I have a lot of work behind me but as you can tell I never give up the fight is not over lol
Don't know if your on here much but would like to let you know the rest I this story.
Hope all is well
Where are you of too next?
Darrell smith.