Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Every where

20180610_192916 by Philip Parkinson, on Flickr

Brilliant ..

I thought I'd revive this thread a bit with my latest DR650 (although I have owned it since last May )

This is a 2015 USA model that I nearly bought when it was new but has now made it's way to my ownership. There were a few niggles when I took it to France last June and a couple of small things to deal with since but overall it's probably the best one I've owned .

There were quite a few upgrades thrown at it from new and I have returned some things back to standard for simplicity of use , it is after all a simple air-cooled single that will take you anywhere..............

When it was new being upgraded in Zen Overland
Some goodies from USA
and how it looks now

Nice, always fancied a DR650 but they are quite hard to find, a later model anyway.

So, I am curious how the bike got over here?

The DR650 on the left is less than a year old, its a 30+ hour flight away though and one of the last to be registered in NZ before all bikes had to have ABS.
Thanks to Mr Cole who took the picture and supplied us with bikes for a tour of North Island including this beach which is also a road.

PHILinFRANCE wrote: ↑Sat Feb 19, 2022 9:34 pm Every where

20180610_192916 by Philip Parkinson, on Flickr

Remember that trip Bob

chunky butt wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:55 am

Remember that trip Bob

How could you possibly forget it

Snaf MKII wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:14 am The DR650 on the left is less than a year old, its a 30+ hour flight away though and one of the last to be registered in NZ before all bikes had to have ABS.
Thanks to Mr Cole who took the picture and supplied us with bikes for a tour of North Island including this beach which is also a road.
20230207_083330.jpg

In 2015 a dealer in Reading imported five new DR650's and five KLR650's, mine was one of them.
I have looked into importing one myself but it's not cost effective and a bit of a ballache. There is a dealer in Salisbury importing some at present but the prices are a bit tasty , the price has dropped on this one now, it was £7995 a couple of months ago.

https://www.americancruiseruk.com/bike/ ... -dr650-se/

I remember, back in the day, as they say, lol.. that the DR350 was reviewed as the dog's, but the dr650 was considered "too heavy" for 'off road'. Now that huge heavy monsters are glorified for their power 'off road', the DR650 is now not just acceptable, but desirable.

MCN did not give either bike a glowing report, but 'users' did, especially the 350. Ì bought a used one, 2 actually, based on its being 'the best all round dual sport bike', and indeed, despite the seat far too high for me, the engine was a mud plugging peach.

I sold it to Steve, on here, and sometimes wonder how it is now., though my crf250Rally is reliable and more modern.

Keep wondering if I will keep mine or trade this and the KTM 1190 in for a 990. Then I do another trip and flip back........