'91 dr650

[Guest]

Well I lost out on that trike, so I needed to find something else to blow my cash on. Enter the DR 650. I saw this bike this morning and thought it might be a good bike for one of my sons. Hopped on the 1100 to check it out this evening before the sun went down. The guy said it should run with a new plug, but the gas smelled stale and I'm sure the carb also has bad gas and maybe even water in it if it was filled with ethanol fuel. I was disappointed that it's a kick start only bike. I thought they came with a starter. He said a guy drove from Tampa before me and tried to start it, but it wouldn't fire up. He said it sounded like it wanted to. He passed on the guys offer of $400 and the guy passed on the $450 counter offer. I agreed on $450 and I'm heading back tomorrow when he gets off work with trailer in tow to pick it up. With a clear title, even if the engine is bad, I can make my money back parting it out.
https://daytona.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1991-suzuki-dr650/6464681667.html

 

[trevor]

Loved mine...bought it with a Honda xr600...paid $1500 for the pair...sold the Honda for $1200...not bad for $250...put another $700 into it.
I rode it for two years..no issues. Easy to start once you know the tricks. But kick starting go old for me...not fun on the trail, creek, etc....so I upgraded to a new one in November...have fun Rick!

 

[Guest]

Funny, that's what the guy said, "once you know the trick". Said it was like an anti theft device, but once you know the trick or magic sequence, it's a nonissue. I hope so, but it's not for me, even though I'm sure I'll ride it some. I've ridden similar bikes at work, but unless I need to go off road, they aren't for me. I don't care much for sitting so high or the buzz a single cylinder thumper does to my neither regions. lol This has a thicker seat than all of those did, so maybe it wont be so bad.

 

[Big T]

14k miles, doubtful that it doesn't have a lot of life left in it.

SSDB- new battery, change the oil, clean the carb, new O rings and it should start right up

 

[trevor]

Funny, that's what the guy said, "once you know the trick". Said it was like an anti theft device, but once you know the trick or magic sequence, it's a nonissue. I hope so, but it's not for me, even though I'm sure I'll ride it some. I've ridden similar bikes at work, but unless I need to go off road, they aren't for me. I don't care much for sitting so high or the buzz a single cylinder thumper does to my neither regions. lol This has a thicker seat than all of those did, so maybe it wont be so bad.

"anti-theft"...lol....guys on the pre-96 DR face book page always say..that "if your DR goes missing, just look in a two block radius from your home, where you'll likely find it abandoned....once they realize they can't start it"........mine had the top end done at 45,000 kms....great engine!

 

[NavyDad]

I had the little brother, 91 DR350. It too had a starting ritual and would fire up if the ritual was followed to the letter. Great bike for running around on the curvy, rough back roads we have around here. I put 5000 miles on it over a summer, but the starting ritual was too hard on my aging knees. If I ever come across a later model with the electric leg for a really good price I would grab it. They are a popular bike here in southeastern Ohio and the price usually reflects that.

 

[Guest]

What did you do?

What did you do?

OK past DR owners, spill it. Tell me you secret ritual. I may need a few to try till I come up with the proper combination. When I talked to the guy last night, he said it was a one full rotation pull the decompression lever slowly rotate the engine until you hear the click, then kick it over. Said it would start right up. Does this sound like your ritual?

I'm actually having the same problem with a couple of '08 Honda CRF250R dirt bikes I working on for a side customer. I still think it's an igniter issue, but there are no tests for that, but looking at some forum results, they seem to be prone to the secret ritual also.

 

[trevor]

OK past DR owners, spill it. Tell me you secret ritual. I may need a few to try till I come up with the proper combination. When I talked to the guy last night, he said it was a one full rotation pull the decompression lever slowly rotate the engine until you hear the click, then kick it over. Said it would start right up. Does this sound like your ritual?

I'm actually having the same problem with a couple of '08 Honda CRF250R dirt bikes I working on for a side customer. I still think it's an igniter issue, but there are no tests for that, but looking at some forum results, they seem to be prone to the secret ritual also.

For me Rick....I would leave the key in the off position and pull in the decompression lever, then push the kick start lever until I heard the click of the lever...then bring the kick starter to the top and give it a kick. When cold I would do this 3 times with the key off...then turn the bike on and do the same routine...and it would fire right up.
If it's warm, no need to do this....just the routine once with it on....cheers

 

[Guest]

For me Rick....I would leave the key in the off position and pull in the decompression lever, then push the kick start lever until I heard the click of the lever...then bring the kick starter to the top and give it a kick. When cold I would do this 3 times with the key off...then turn the bike on and do the same routine...and it would fire right up.
If it's warm, no need to do this....just the routine once with it on....cheers

Thanks Trevor. That sounds similar to what the owner said.

 

[Burque73]

Rick, your son is fortunate to have a talented dad who can take a yard find and revive it!

I hope the secret starting ritual doesn't discourage him. Looks like a fun bike.

 

[limeex2]

And from seeing someone break their foot on a Xr500 Honda from a kick back, wear a pair of boots. After you've done the ritual, kick it like you mean it.

 

[Burque73]

And from seeing someone break their foot on a Xr500 Honda from a kick back, wear a pair of boots. After you've done the ritual, kick it like you mean it.

Dang, no kidding!

 

[Guest]

Rick, your son is fortunate to have a talented dad who can take a yard find and revive it!

I hope the secret starting ritual doesn't discourage him. Looks like a fun bike.

Thanks Roger, we'll see how talented I am. I went and picked it up this evening. It is a little rougher than when I first looked at it. They always are once you take of the buyers goggles off, but I still forked over the cash and brought it home. Pulled the battery, spark plugs and drained the fuel from the tank and carb. I've got the battery on a charger to see if there is any life left in it and picked up the spark plugs and installed them. Mixed up some Dawn suds in a bucket, a squirt bottle of degreaser, a couple of MR. Clean Magic Erasures and some brushes to the boy and said have at it. It has the green tree mold and never cleaned grease and grunge all over it. He did a pretty good job, but will hit it again tomorrow in the day light.

 

[Guest]

These bikes are butter to kick over. The decompression works amazingly. If I remember right there are 2 decompression levers, and automatic to the kicker and a manual one up at the handle bar. If you have any issues kicking it over get in touch, I know the 'secret routine' that these bikes have..

 

[Guest]

I haven't really had the chance to mess with it much yet. I did try to give it a quick kick or two the next day. I put the battery on one of my chargers, but it failed my tester, so I'm not sure if it will effect it starting or not. It said bad/replace, but it has well over 12 volts and 89% charge, but only 2% health. Since it doesn't have to push a starter it should work. The lights came on, so we'll see. I pulled the decomp lever and it held. slowly pushed the kicker down until it clicked and the lever popped back and slow allowed the kicker to rise back up, but when I kicked it, it turned over way too easy. almost feels as it has no compression, but when it comes around to where you need to pull the lever it's like it's locked up. Pull the lever and go through it again and it just seems too easy. Sunday morning I'll try and see if it is getting spark.

 

[exdirtbiker]

Finally, something I know more than (some of ) you guys !!!

After owning several XL600R, and XR650R, here's "the drill". ( May be slightly Honda-specific)
Step 2: disconnect and remove that stupid auto-decompression cable attached to the kicker.
Step 3: slowly kick it until you feel the compression stroke. ( use decomp-lever as needed)
Step 4: kick a little more, until you are just after TDC on power stroke. Re-set kicker.
Step 5: Commit to it. If you have a XL600R, put your right hand on the cross bar to insure you do NOT twist the throttle while kicking.
Step 6: ride the rear tire into the sunset.

Yes, I skipped step one: re-jet carb, and install RickyStator. My XL600R started with your a$$ in the seat, minimal effort. That DR's 26 yr old stator is not up to the task...+
+
EDIT: does the Dr run without a battery installed, like the XL / XR?

 

[Guest]

It lives!

It lives!

Up date: I cleaned the carb two weekends ago, but I've been busy with other peoples bikes. I got the carb in last Friday night and tried kicking it, but it was like before. A whole lot of nothing, so I had to let it go until this weekend.

Yesterday I finally got time to check the valves. The exhaust were so tight I had to turn the adjuster a full turn before it eased up. With them both set a .0004, I buttoned everything back up, threw on the tank, pulled the choke out and on the second kick she fired up. After warming up a little I closed the choke and adjusted the idle. It sounds alright. I didn't let it run long, just long enough to see the charging system is shot. The decomp lever isn't holding like it was before adjusting the valves, so I'll need to reset it to spec.

I have mixed feelings, I wanted it to run, but now that it does, I have to fix everything else.:grumpy:

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Ive only kicked one bike worse than a dr650... my cr480.. my buddy gave me a dr almost identical to yours.. i road it maybe 4 times.. great bike to ride, terrible to start. Its still at his shop, where it'll stay lol.

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Always wanted to build something like this from one,

imageproxy by Brandon Hobock, on Flickr

On the e start engines you can get an 800cc big bore. Set up with a good carb and ported head with appropriate sized valves some have made a little over 70hp with these bikes!!! Could you imagine!!!

 

[exdirtbiker]

Ive only kicked one bike worse than a dr650... my cr480.. l.

With the kicker on the left side of the bike???
Been there, done that ! We had to mount the bike back-asswards, and kick in the usual swing while 2 other guys held the bike upright. Then dismount, and get on as expected ... and get traumatized by how fast it was.
And the Honda Headshake... holy bleep... !!!