Suzuki DR650: All Things To All Riders

[advrider]

Go ahead, I dare you: Name another motorcycle that is as versatile as the Suzuki DR650.

Sure, it’s kinda heavy for off-road. Sure, it’s kinda slow for high-speed street riding or road touring. Sure, it’s kinda old-fashioned, pretty much unchanged since 1996. But for every one of those problems, there’s a kinda-sorta fix.

For starters: If you aren’t satisfied with your DR’s off-road performance, the problem might not actual be your bike; it might be you. Sort of. Below, YouTuber Barry Morris, the Godfather of DR650 Videos, shows you how capable the bike is in the bush, with no real changes:

But don’t think that he’s afraid to turn wrenches and upgrade his bike. Morris has had many videos over the years, showing how to better-equip your DR for the dirt (here, for example). For another perspective, see SKIDS n STUFF’s take below. Helpfully, he shares cheap-as-free tips, but also advice on more expensive updates.

What if you aren’t looking for more dirt performance; you want to build a tourer, able to haul a lot of stuff for long distances? You’ll find a lot of info right here on the ADVrider forum, but one of the clearest-presented setups I’ve seen online is the following one from Rocky Mountain ATV. Obviously, RMATV wants to sell you the products they use for the video, but if you’re looking for a general overall how-to, use this for inspiration and get the bits elsewhere if you want.

Not everyone wants to muck around off-road or haul themselves and their kitchen sink across country, though. Some people just want to build a bike that reflects their personality or mindset. And, guess what? The easy-to-mod DR650 works well for that, too!

So tell us: What have you done to your DR650?

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