Suzuki DR400 Review

[XTreme]

HERE! (http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/dr400day.htm)

[nav18tor]

And that evolved from my SP370???

I dont think so

[Cupid Stunt]

Sooooo

Now we know what Pete wants, he wants a Sucksucky he does


:lg: :lg: :lg:

[XTreme]

I've posted about 30 reviews in here Terry. Doesn't mean I want any of them though....especially a Suzuki.
You'd be amazed at the number of guests who come here and read these roadtests, so they do help to bring people in.

[Cupid Stunt]

Originally posted by Pete@Feb 2 2005, 06:00 PM
I've posted about 30 reviews in here Terry. Doesn't mean I want any of them though....especially a Suzuki.
You'd be amazed at the number of guests who come here and read these roadtests, so they do help to bring people in.
18486



So what are yer thinking of Pete

Getting the TA dirty ?
Getting a 125 (no good for getting to the dirt via tarmac) ?
Getting a 125 and a trailer ?
Giving up getting dirty ?

Or hunt for a bike that's better suited for the dirt than a TA but will also do the two up touring ?

Fortunately for me I don't have the problem of two up riding cos my wife won't get on a bike, even with that, it's real hard to find a bike that will genuinely do it all well
All the CCM needs is a bolt on screen for the long distance tarmac, just so that anything over 80mph isn't too uncomfortable

[XTreme]

The TA's definitely staying Terry (in spite of what Alan thinks) cos I really like the bike.
The tax expires the end of this month and it's only done 1171 miles. Really looking forward to riding it again.
I gotta get this house sold before I buy anything else....but it will be offroad capable and with a bigger motor than the 250, so it's suited to road work in inclement weather.
I'll just look around at the time and see what's available....but as you know I'll only consider Jap...preferably Honda or Yamaha.

[ValleysDRZ]

Nice xt600 on an 03 plate at yammy dealer in Bridgend for the princely sum of £2,700, suits you sir

[XTreme]

Originally posted by ValleysDRZ@Feb 2 2005, 08:06 PM
Nice xt600 on an 03 plate at yammy dealer in Bridgend for the princely sum of £2,700, suits you sir
18510


I sold my 03 XT600 last September. I wouldn't buy another one. Very underpowered.

[ValleysDRZ]

With a change in gearing?

[XTreme]

I did get a smaller gearbox sprocket but sold the bike before I fitted it.
TBH....the XT600E was the last of the line and not a patch on the Tenere.

[Cupid Stunt]

I understand your penchant for Japanese Pete
But your limiting the available selection

I honestly cannot think of a good road capable bike that's also good for off road from Japan, even the DRZ 400S needs more power for road use, the KTM's are very heavy on servicing a bit too hardcore off road for any decent road comfort

If I could have got a Japanese bike with similar spec to the CCM I would have got one
My decision was based on getting a true dualsport that copuld handle itself off road and I could still do 200 miles of tarmac without discomfort.
They just don't make them any more

Maybe there's an older Jap bike that can be got, but my guess is that they are all underpowered in comparison to current offerings ?

[catteeclan]

Originally posted by Cupid Stunt@Feb 2 2005, 08:36 PM

I honestly cannot think of a good road capable bike that's also good for off road from Japan, even the DRZ 400S needs more power for road use, the KTM's are very heavy on servicing a bit too hardcore off road for any decent road comfort

If I could have got a Japanese bike with similar spec to the CCM I would have got one

18516


Xr650 not fit the bill?

[Cupid Stunt]

Originally posted by catteeclan@Feb 2 2005, 08:40 PM
Xr650 not fit the bill?
18517



I don't think so

One of the big problems with doing distance on a thumper is that, well they thump a lot, too much vibration

It was one of my main concerns when swapping out the Caponord, but after testing te CCM for a good hour or two I was pelasantly surprised
I didn't know it at the time but have since discovered taht it's something to do with teh fact the engine is from a Freewind and not the DR650 as originally thought, it has counter balancers and is known to be smooth
Though I didn't test ride teh XR I doubt the spec is the same as standard (top notch shocks and all that)

[XTreme]

XR650's a possibility...sometime in the future though. And not at the expense of the TA. That's going nowhere! B)

[catteeclan]

I've been on my brother inlaws xr650r and found it fine, as you know I've got a xl600lm-f and thats good to. I wouldn't say either is silky smooth but I could ride both as long as I like. Different people I guess.

Haven't been on a ccm or the big dr so can't comment realy.

If it has to be a jap bike what else, xr400 or perhaps another TA with mods?

[catteeclan]

Originally posted by Pete@Feb 2 2005, 09:01 PM
XR650's a possibility...sometime in the future though. And not at the expense of the TA. That's going nowhere! B)
18525


You'll have some fun with that for sure. Inlaws is geared down (65mph flat out), it'd go up the side of your house if you could keep the front on it. :D

[XTreme]

What I'll do is just bide my time and see what turns up at the right price.
We're coming near to the main bike riding season for me, so the ratbike wouldn't get used much anyway.

[catteeclan]

Your trust in the weather frightens me

[XTreme]

Trust me.....I know what I'm doing. :unsure:

[Suzuki Al]

:XT Alan:
Don't forget that the XT660 has been rated in tests as a better road bike than the TA. :lg:
And it is obviously more off-road capable, what with it being so much lighter and all :lg:
It is also more powerful than the TA: Faster and with better brakes.
The XT also handles better and is much more economical to ride.

2 up comfort? The TA would probably win.

Build quality? TA has better cosmetics and the engine is likely to last longer. Both are built in Europe, so corrosion is guaranteed on both.

Aftermarket? Both are well supported by 3rd party manufacturers.

But:There is no way on earth Pete can buy an XT is there?

[XTreme]

The XT just wouldn't fit the bill for what I need it for Alan.
Something around 400cc would be better for a ratbike I think.

[Tym]

Yo Cupid, come on over and i'll show ya how to do miles on a thumper :Julian:

[Cupid Stunt]

Originally posted by Tym@Feb 3 2005, 02:45 AM
Yo Cupid, come on over and i'll show ya how to do miles on a thumper :Julian:
18575



OK
As long as I don't have to bring my crane too, so that I can plant my bike in the snow to look like I rode it there

:Julian: :Julian: :Julian:

[Cupid Stunt]

I'd love to tour the US on my CCM with just some cash and a back pack

I don't understand all those mericans that head off to tour other countries when there's so much right there ?

[Pete Rock]

Originally posted by XT Alan@Feb 2 2005, 10:34 PM
Both are built in Europe, so corrosion is guaranteed on both.


I thought Transalps were only assembled in Europe

[XTreme]

Montesa factory in Spain! Ariba! :dancebanana:

[Pete Rock]

My dealer told me Italy

[catteeclan]

Is that the newer Pete. My 1999 was made in Italy.

[XTreme]

I always understood that the later ones were made in Spain.

[Pete Rock]

you are clueless Pete, the SLRs are made in Spain

[XTreme]

I'm right....as always! B)

From January 2002, the production of the Honda XL 650 SV model, known as the Transalp, will be built in the Honda Montesa factory, Santa Perpetua de Moguda in Barcelona.

The bosses of the company have decided to transfer from their Italian installations in Atessa the production of the Transalp, which has been manufactured there for five years. With this there will be four large motorbikes leaving the Spanish factory, Deauville, Vigor and the Varadero, these being models account for, with the Transalp, 50% of its total production. For the latter an annual production of 12.000 unit is foreseen, of which 95% will be for export.

Verified HERE! (http://www.repsolypf.com/eng/bienvenidoalinfinito/motorycompeticion/motos/noticias/actualidad/noticias.asp?PaginaID=9485)

B) B) B)

[yen_powell]

Originally posted by Pete@Feb 3 2005, 02:57 PM
I'm right....as always!ÂÂ* B)

From January 2002, the production of the Honda XL 650 SV model, known as the Transalp, will be built in the Honda Montesa factory, Santa Perpetua de Moguda in Barcelona.

The bosses of the company have decided to transfer from their Italian installations in Atessa the production of the Transalp, which has been manufactured there for five years. With this there will be four large motorbikes leaving the Spanish factory, Deauville, Vigor and the Varadero, these being models account for, with the Transalp, 50% of its total production. For the latter an annual production of 12.000 unit is foreseen, of which 95% will be for export.

Verified HERE! (http://www.repsolypf.com/eng/bienvenidoalinfinito/motorycompeticion/motos/noticias/actualidad/noticias.asp?PaginaID=9485)

B)ÂÂ* B)ÂÂ* B)

18653

Careful Pete, No body like a Know-all. Act dumb like the rest of us!!

[Pete Rock]

No wonder my dealer told me he had experienced quality losses in european made bikes, even the stickers, he says, aren´t like what they used to be. In my bike we already replaced the rubber between the head case and the cylinder, seems it wasn´t properly cleaned when assembled.