Professional Review of a Suzuki Dr 650 Motorcycle
2019 Suzuki DR650S Review:
Lowered, and Dirt and Street Tested
I love me a single. There's nothing quite like the satisfying, secure pull of all that torque, especially on a mid-size engine, and so it's no surprise I was immediately at home and happy on the 2019 Suzuki DR650S dual sport motorcycle. Yes, I am predisposed to the genre, having started my 2-bike street life on a dual sport cycle, then I'll make that disclaimer upfront.
There is cipher sexy or particularly modern about the DR650S. The basic model has been effectually for nearly 30 years, with precious few upgrades. The turn signals, headlight, mirrors, plastic, and dash look rather last century. But who cares? What'southward of import is how well the DR650S does its dual jobs—handling commuter and around boondocks duties during the week, and striking the clay on weekends for a fleck of play. The DR650S a peachy bundle, as information technology is reliable, low-maintenance, and will accept you simply nigh anywhere with a smile on your confront.
The SOHC air-cooled motor with an oil-cooler uses a 40mm Mikuni carburetor, so you volition need to apply the choke when starting on all just hot summer days. Once warmed up, the 644cc thumper is ready for duty. Yes, you will have to go along tabs on how many miles you've ridden since you last put gas in the 3.4-gallon tank, as there is no fuel gauge. Just reset the tripmeter and brand sure you can accomplish the petcock without looking in instance y'all demand to flip to reserve while on the freeway. (Yeah, that might have happened to me once.)
The 2019 Suzuki DR650S is tall, as ane would expect from a true dual sport machine. The standard 34.viii-inch seat height is too big of an ask for me, especially in the dirt. Nevertheless, Suzuki designed the DR650S to exist easily lowered, and gifting back 1.6 inches, I tin touch more than toes downwards at a stop.
To drop the chassis, spacers are removed from the fork legs and daze, and the upper shock mounting betoken on the frame gets moved. Break travel is lowered to eight.7 inches at both ends, compared to 10.ii inches in the standard configuration. Ground clearance is also reduced from 10.4 inches to 8.9 inches. When doing this, the Suzuki Low Side Stand ($60) must be installed, and we added a Suzuki Accompaniment skid plate ($160), as reduced footing clearance ways the cases are more susceptible to impacts.
At 366 pounds, the DR is reasonably light as street-legal 650s go, and information technology's non an issue for me and my xxx.5-inch inseam. Suzuki as well offers a Low Gel Seat ($200), just it has the effect of raising the relative height of the handlebars and footpegs, thus irresolute the original well-conceived ergonomic rider triangle. Also of import is that the lowering procedure is factory-canonical, and then information technology doesn't produce undesirable handling or suspension behaviors.
Information technology's difficult to over-emphasis how dissimilar the DR650S feels with the lowered chassis. Years ago, I tipped over a DR650 on an uneven street when I was unable to bear upon down to the tarmac at a finish. In this lowered configuration, the DR650S actually feels more similar the novice-friendly DR200S than a large thumper.
Dual sport bikes make dandy commuters, and the DR650S is no exception. The upright ergonomics and taller saddle, even with the lowering kit, give me excellent visibility when I'm mingling with four-wheeled traffic, and the long-travel suspension takes care of the poor road conditions both on the surface streets and freeways. The DR650S is also narrow, making information technology easier to navigate traffic and confidently maneuver at slow speeds, even without being flat-footed.
At freeway speeds, the upright seating, wide handlebars, and lack of windscreen make themselves known, only simply when the needle on the analog speedometer is dancing in the mid-70s. I don't find the windblast to exist a large problem, though my commute is under twenty miles each way. Reassuringly, the motorcycle is totally stable at these speeds. The counterbalancer does a good job of managing the single cylinder's vibration, with petty fizz translated through the pegs, bars, or seat. The sensible foursquare mirrors—as vintage as the speedo—reflect a sharp image at nearly all rpm.
The Bridgestone Trail Fly tire philharmonic handles the diamond-grooved motorway surface surprisingly well with their semi-knobbed tread pattern. So, fifty-fifty though the DR is too narrow in the tank surface area for me to become a good grip around with my knees, I experience totally secure on the motorcycle. It does not wander or feel vague at speed.
Adding to throughway speed confidence is the well-matched 290mm unmarried disc in the front. With less rubber touching the route courtesy of the blocky dual sport tread, one rotor gets the job washed. There's the expected front end-end swoop when yous get hard on the brake, but I wouldn't give up the plush ride.
1 of the most enjoyable things virtually the DR650S is its torquey engine. It pulls from idle all the mode up through the top gear, and I don't find myself needing to downshift to overtake on the freeway. Even though it's a five-speed, I never institute myself hunting for a sixth gear. The powerband and wide-ratio transmission are perfectly dialed, making the DR an easygoing ride just well-nigh everywhere. There is so much satisfaction from a bike that needs no minding, all the same can advance smartly.
On the weekend, the DR650S does a fine job on moderate clay roads and trails. I expected I might find it a fleck of a handful equally it'due south not the lightest dual sporter available, and it's a 650. I usually stick to smaller engines when I tackle the dirt. At 115 pounds, I don't need the actress ability, nor the seat height that comes with a full ten inches of suspension travel. Thus, I was particularly happy to exist testing the lowered version of the DR, as the confidence that comes from being able to touch down when things are shifting under your tires is huge.
Losing ane.5 inches of travel due to the lowering is immaterial relative to the intermission's capabilities, and brings the center of gravity that much lower. The DR'southward 21-inch front bicycle tracks over rocks and ruts reliably, with the aired-down Trail Wing safety doing a better-than-expected job on slippery hard-pack, and when picking through loose, stone-scattered conditions. I wasn't riding technical single-track, only I wasn't sticking to fire roads, either.
The DR's willing and amusing manners are especially appealing off-route. The low-stop grunt and smooth power delivery allow me to pick my way through tricky sections, and so roll on the throttle and shift up for a colina climb. Experience at the front brake lever is appropriate for off-road conditions with a soft initial engagement. Similarly, the rear pedal doesn't overreact to input.
When transferring betwixt off-road sections, the Suzuki DR650S makes for a very fun canyon motorcycle. The dual-sport prophylactic works for this application, and the motor makes everything easy. Even with the soft suspension, the DR650S holds its lines through corners well. Once yous get used to information technology, you can make pretty good fourth dimension on the DR due to its relatively light weight and abundant torque.
As expected on a dual sporter, the DR has hand guards, dirt-wheel style handgrips, and a firm narrow seat—though nothing similar the high-performance Euro dual sport motorcycles. The handguards are more for wind protection than taking on errant branches on trails.
The 2019 Suzuki DR650S continues to be a solid dual-sport workhorse that enjoys a solid fan base. No bells and whistles needed, as this well-developed all-effectually bike delivers an uncomplicated reliable ride at an impressively approachable cost.
Photography past Don Williams
RIDING Mode
Helmet: Fly Racing F2 Carbon MIPS
Goggles: EKS Brand GOX Apartment Out
Jersey, gloves + pants: Fly Racing Women'southward Calorie-free Racewear
Torso armor: Alpinestars Stella Bionic Jacket 2
Hydration: Fly Racing 90 Hydro Pack
Articulatio genus brace: Pod K4
Boots: Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro
Get the Gear You Encounter Here at MotoSport.com!
2019 Suzuki DR650S Specs
ENGINE
Blazon: Unmarried cylinder
Displacement: 644cc
Bore x stroke: 100 10 82mm
Compression ratio: nine.5:1
Valvetrain: SOHC, 4 valves
Cooling: Air w/ oil cooler
Fueling: 40mm Mikuni BST carburetor
Starting: Electric
Lubrication: Wet sump
Transmission: 5-speed constant mesh
Final drive: DID 525 O-concatenation
CHASSIS
Front end suspension; travel: Meridian-adjustable fork; ten.2 inches (8.seven inches equally tested lowered)
Rear: Height-adjustable, linkage-assisted, spring-preload and rebound-adjustable, piggyback-reservoir shock; ten.2 inches (eight.7 inches as tested lowered)
Wheels: Wire-spoke w/ aluminum rims
Tires: Tube type
Front tire: 90/ninety x 21; Bridgestone Trail Wing 41
Rear tire: 120/90 x 17; Bridgestone Trail Fly 42
Front brake: 290mm floating disc w/ iv-piston caliper
Rear brake: 240mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 58.seven inches
Seat superlative: 34.8 inches (33.two inches every bit tested lowered)
Ground clearance: 10.4 inches (8.9 inches every bit tested lowered)
Fuel capacity: 3.4 gallons
Adjourn weight: 366 pounds
Colour: Solid Black
2019 Suzuki DR650S Price: $6599 MSRP ($6819 as tested)
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Source: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2019/10/22/2019-suzuki-dr650s-review-lowered-dual-sport-motorcycle/