Ride Before You Lower
I would not worry too much about seat height with either bike. More important is how the bikes themselves suit you. Pick the best one for you and your travels ... go with it. Seat height is easily dealt with.
On the DL650 you can have a custom seat made ... lower. Or you can install
lowering links in the shock linkage and raise fork tube UP in the triple clamps an inch or so. (cheap and easy to do!)
With the DR650 for serious travel, you'll need a better seat for sure.
A custom one can be made a bit lower. But with the DR650 it comes with the ability to lower front and rear about 1.5 inch. Any good dealer should have informed you about that feature. If not, go elsewhere.
It's a quick change to lower it: change out a pin in the shock linkage and reverse preload spacers in forks. This set up should be FREE and part of the sale as it's a factory installed system and is detailed in the service manual.
If the factory lowering is not low enough you can add lowering links to the DR also and get another 2 inches if desired, and bring up fork tubes in triple clamps. We set up a DR650 for a woman 5'2" tall. It was fine ... balls of feet both on the ground!
I own a DR650 and am just 5'6" with 28" inseam. Absolutely no problem.
Once you've ridden the bike for a while and got used to it, I'm betting no lowering would be needed. You have plenty of leg length.
|