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1996 SUZUKI DR650 | Reader's Ride

ADB reader Chris Ashton shows us his 1996 Suzuki DR650.

WHAT 1996 Suzuki DR650 (The Pig)
WHO Chris Ashton
WHERE I GOT IT Private sale nine years ago from Armidale, NSW
HOW MUCH $1800

DR650

WHY I BOUGHT IT

I picked this bike as I work on the reefs up north towing ships for six months a year, then have the rest of the year off – I needed a hobby! I wanted an adventure tourer, but also be able to strip it down and have some fun with my mates out on trails, even if I am just a little slower.

WHAT I DID TO IT

Well, once you start it’s hard to stop: Front and rear suspension upgrades, Barkbusters, B&B bashplate, Pivot Pegz, custom peg lowering mounts, Barrett exhaust, re-jetting, opening up the airbox, seat re-building, Safari 30L tank, 12v power outlet, Ram mount, Oxford heated grips, Funnelweb air filter, sidestand switch removal, Hel brake lines, TAG handlebar, ‘bar risers. For adventure riding I add rear racks and soft panniers, 10w LED lights a centrestand and Wolfman tankbag.

Heated Grips

Only people who haven’t used heated grips think badly of them!

HOW DOES IT GO?

I have had a lot of help from Clive at Motorcyclebiz with the setup of the bike. He has helped with suspension, re-jetting and anything else. A top-end rebuild was done two years ago and about a year later a bottom end, due to stripping the teeth off the engine’s output shaft. After all that has changed on it, the old DR goes well for a bike of her age – there is about 98,000km on her!

SHOULD I BUY ONE?

For an adventure machine, I would recommend this bike to anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much. Mind you, the parts do add up! I also ride it with my mates on trails, but it ain’t quick, is heavy and not too happy – but is still very enjoyable.

5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CHRIS’S SUZUKI DR650

1 Holden wheel nuts act as spacers for the Pivot Pegz

2 The Safari tank is so swollen it holds 37 litres (instead of the standard 30L)

3 The seat was too hard for Chris

4 The sidestand switch can cause issues

5 He does the Watagan Rally on it.

Spacer

Yep, those are Holden wheel nuts acting as spacers!