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dr350-digest          Thursday, April 8 1999          Volume 01 : Number 013




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Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 11:04:39 -0700
From: "Jack Alexander" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Re: (dr350) Kouba links...

Thanks Norm for explaining what happens with the links.

I have a set of Kouba links.  I like them.  I put them on right before a two
week trip to Baja and thought they made a big difference.  Especially late
in the trip when my shock was toast.

I am still playing with ride height and sag.  In the deep sand in Baja - I
left the front up and left the sag at 4".  It helped with stability,
especially since I suck in riding deep sand.  Now I have dropped the front
and have the sag set at 2.5 - 3 inches (I have to look - it is written on my
side panel - I am still experimenting).

I am 5'6" and initially bought the links so I could touch on one side or the
other.  With the reduced seat height I can touch on both sides and paddle
when I have to.  Dropping the ride height helped me save some tip overs in
the rocks.  I drug the cases more in deep ruts and in big rocks.  But
dragging the cases is not a big deal when going slow when you can stick out
a foot to save it.

Since Norm decided to back his links with a guarantee it seems like a no
brainer.  They are cheap and improved my DR.  I installed my in 20 minutes
or less and fooled with other stuff while I was at it.

Disclaimer - I only know Norm as a happy customer - his level of personal
service is great.  I have a hand-written set of setup instructions.
Hopefully he has his instructions on the computer now so he can spend that
time riding.  He has also followed up with phone and email help.



jack

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Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 15:43:47 -0600
From: "Kurt Simpson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (dr350) Park City Motorcycle Week...

As some of you know the Steamboat Springs Motorcycle week is history...the event will now take
place in my home state in beautiful Park City. Check out this website for info.

http://www.parkcitymotorcycle.org/PCMC%20Week.html

Let me know if anyone is interested in developing a Dual Sport Rally in conjunction with the
event.

Kurt Simpson
Salt Lake City

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Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 15:51:01 -0600
From: "Pokluda, Gino F" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (dr350) RE: (klr650) Park City Motorcycle Week...

I'm going.  My neighbor and I were just discussing what we were going to do
for a road trip this year and this is it.  Maybe I'll have my SV650 by then,
I hope, I hope, I hope...

Gino, anyone have any good lottery numbers or lines on a race horse, Pokluda

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 16:10:43 -0600
From: "Kurt Simpson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (dr350) RE: (klr650) Park City Motorcycle Week...

>for a road trip this year and this is it.  Maybe I'll have my SV650 by then,
>I hope, I hope, I hope...


Ohhh Frankie must be quite a lady...quite a lady...I think you better save your money and buy a
Hawk instead...it is prettier anyway..

Kurt

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 16:15:53 -0600
From: "Tim Bernard" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (dr350) Introduction..NDR

One thing I would like to add is that all words typed should be acceptable
to all ages & not turn this into an "R" rated list like the KLR list is.
Happy trails
Tim
- -----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Simpson <[e-mail]>
To: Scott Aldrich <[e-mail]>; [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Cc: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Wednesday, April 07, 1999 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: (dr350) Introduction..NDR


>
>>  Sounds good.  I don't what's allowed or discouraged for posting to
>>this medium, so I'll go ahead and post this and see if I get flamed for
>>doing it:
>
>I want to run this list the same way we run the KLR list.
>
>We encourage all listers to use the regular subscription as opposed to the
digest version
>because you have much more control in the regular subscription....most
especially the use of
>"filters" in your email program. In order for the filters to do any good we
need posters to be
>courteous and acknowledge that some folks are on the list only because of a
narrow interest in
>DR350 specific info. They have no need for "affinity"...the compromise is
this. All posts that
>are not DR specific..and I do mean specific should have NDR in the subject
line...it can only
>be NDR and it stands for No DR content. It must be NDR because it allows a
person to set a
>filter on all posts with NDR in the subject line and route them to a
special folder or,
>alternatively, to trash them so that it is as if they never saw the post at
all.
>
>This works folks if we just exercise discipline. It makes for a lot of
peace and a friendly
>place to be. Notice I have NDR in my subject line. Given this courtesy
there are only two rules
>which I feel strongly about...
>
>1. No personal insults or diatribes
>
>2. No discussion of issues which become controversial...there are forums
for gun control,
>wilderness values, religion, etc.
>
>I'd like this to be a friendly place to be...kinda of like dropping in at
Fred Hink's garage
>shop and kicking the tires, laughing, and talking as the world spins
by...mostly about bikes
>but sometimes who knows...last night we had a long discussion about bears
on the KLR list and I
>thought it was a riot...scared me half to death because I'm going to ride
in bear country this
>year....
>
>Thanks for the bandwidth,
>
>Kurt
>
>
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 17:25:51 -0700
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (dr350) (dR350) Carb Info Request

Dan,

I cannot help w/your carb situation (mine is a pumper) but certainly *do not*
have your swing arm braced. I did mine twice; once inside, then the second time
on the outside, both with some improvement but with resultant warpage - beware:
it is not worth the trouble/risk.

I suppose you want to eliminate the DR "bucking bronco" effect. If so then get
the Kouba links - they eliminated the side hopping for me.

John




Dan Schewe <[e-mail]> on 04/07/99 03:02:04 PM

Please respond to Dan Schewe <[e-mail]>

To:   "'[e-mail]'" <[e-mail]>
cc:    (bcc: John D Gill/RSS/Rockwell)
Subject:  (dr350) (dR350) Carb Info Request




Good Day All!

Has anyone messed around with the two air jets located on the intake bell
of the carb?  My DR is the '94 SE model with the BST33? (vacuum actuated
slide).  I'm wondering if those jets should be changed only if an
aftermarket pipe is added or big-bore is added, I'm running the stock
exhaust.  I'm running the XJ needle and spring, main jet 137.5, and a pilot
jet of (can't remember), but its one size bigger than stock.  The bike runs
great up to 3/4 throttle, but it tends to miss when cracked wide open.
 I've tried to richen the main to a 140 and have tried raising and lowering
the needle with both the 137.5 and 140 mains, but can't get it perfect - it
either runs a little rich or a little lean.
Has anyone seen how they brace the DR's rear swingarm - I can have the unit
welded at my workplace, but I'm curious how they protect the "spaceage"
adhesive used between the rough aluminum casting and the bolted / glued
extension arms from the heat, and to minimize warpage if the finished
product.

Has anyone played with the carb?

Dan

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 17:58:32 -0700
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Intro & questions {was: (dr350) to all you electric people

Hey ya Scotty! Glad to see you made the list.

You can buy a pumper carb for the DRS(e) but they are $300+, and you will need
the dirt manifold and air box boot, maybe even the throttle housing. I think
Stroker has a kit for the DRS; White Bros. does.

There was a DR dude (George Kovacs <[e-mail]>) who earlier listed the
diff. bet. the dirt & street. *My* comment was the pumper that came with the
dirt vers. performs better than the DS CV unit, in that it does not rely on
engine vacuum to pull the slide up (the cable does it all, hence a quicker
response) and has a small pipe and pump which squirts gas into the airstream
when the throttle is cracked (prevents the four-stroke hickup, common to XRs and
the like).

Yep; sTeVe pretty much left the fold, but each to his own. At least he did not
go full red (XR400). BTW, I finally rode one, and it does feel better than a
stock DR in the suspension department, is slimmer, and does turn better but all
in all not much better than the stock DR. I actually think the DR has a better
motor down low, wheras the XR will pull higher, longer.

Now my DR(MX)441 is a different story altogether. The XR owner just shook his
head in disbelief after riding it, saying "that's a DR?" The rush sensation when
whacking the throttle caught him off guard.

John





Scott Aldrich <[e-mail]> on 04/08/99 07:53:11 AM

To:   John D Gill/RSS/Rockwell
cc:   [e-mail]
Subject:  Re: Intro & questions {was: (dr350) to all you electric people




[e-mail] wrote:
>
> George,
>
> The swingarms are the same; the shocks: different, not in o/a length when
> extended but when compressed - the dirt version gains 1" net greater travel @
> the rear axle.
>
> Us non-elect., dirt-only folks will let you gladly keep your button; we like
our
> pumper carbs. I have to keep an eye on my DRS buds so they don't take that
piece
> of gold when I'm not looking.
>
> John

Hiya John!  Imagine meeting you here :-)

  So why are you comparing the electric start to carbs?  Are you saying
that the electric start models can't have the carb changed to a pumper
type?

  BTW, excuse my ignorance but what is a pumper carb?  I've heard of
slide carbs and Constant Velocity (which the DRSE has), but not a pumper
carb.

  sTeVe recommnded going with the WB carb kit and Cycle Gear air box
before he turned into a DR hater :-)

  Ya know, they say ex-smokers are a smokers worst nightmare, I wonder
if that applies to ex-DR owners also...

- --
Scott Aldrich / UN*X System Administrator

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 20:39:54 -0700
From: Doug Bragg <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (dr350) DR350 center stand

I have one of Dual Star's stainless racks and love it.  Once Mike Walburn
and I strapped a chainsaw to it on a trail clearing ride for his event, the
Tarmac To Timberline, a killer dualsport event the weekend after September
in WA state.
See photos of past year's rides at
http://members.tripod.com/dougb1969/dualsport/dualsport.html.

I'm new to the list.  I ride a 94 DR350SE that I bought new in May 1994.
 So far it has 10,400 miles on the ticker.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 20:43:46 -0700
From: Doug Bragg <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (dr350) new to list (Re:)

I have been running the Pirelli MT-21 on the front and rear, as do all of
the people I ride with in WA state.  I can usually get 2000-2500 miles on
it.  More agressive riders get less mileage out of them.  This year I am
going to try a different front at the recommendation of Mike Walburn - a
Dunlop K139.  (He runs it on the front and a MT-21 on the rear of his KTM)

- -----Original Message-----
From:    Scott Aldrich [SMTP:[e-mail]]
Sent:    Wednesday, April 07, 1999 2:28 PM
To:    [e-mail]
Subject:    (dr350) new to list (Re:)

[e-mail] ("Lees, John W") wrote:

> Hello I am new to the list.  I have a ' 93 DR 350 S I just bought.  My
> question is what is the best value in tires for that bike as I will do
> more street than trail; The guy I purchased it from had "full on
> nobies" on it, I know on the street it will not last long.
>
> It is quite a mixed bag on the opinion of the guy's selling tires
> around here (Portland, or.)  .  I also noticed that most tires (dual
> sport are 80/20 or 20/80 (street/dirt) .  Is there a 70/30 or a 60/40
> ?  Any input to this post will be appreciated.  .  .
> Please help.

  That's because there really is no such thing as a Dual Sport tire.
If the tire is good on the road, meaning long lasting and offers good
traction, then it's a piece in the dirt.  The stock tires for the '98
that I bought worked great on the street, but they were scary in the
dirt.

  There was a significant noticeable difference in dirt riding, even
just fire roads, when I put on knobbies.  If you haven't ridden dirt
with full knobbies, then you won't understand the difference.

  If you're going to do any dirt riding, then the best tire is
probably the Pirelli MT-21.  People report getting over 2000 miles on
them, and that's about as good as you're going to get for a good dirt
tire.

- --
Scott Aldrich / UN*X System Administrator

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 20:53:32 -0700
From: Doug Bragg <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (dr350) Seat height for short guys like me

I am 5'9" and both feet touch the ground with the stock suspension.
What few other new model dual sport bikes are still on the market, most of
them I can't touch the ground with both feet, or if I can, just barely.
 That's one reason I am still riding my DR.  I would really like a new
bike, but they are all too tall for my liking.

Doug
Tacoma, WA

- -----Original Message-----
From:    Darren Blin [SMTP:[e-mail]]
Sent:    Wednesday, April 07, 1999 4:22 PM
To:    [e-mail]
Subject:    (dr350) Seat height for short guys like me

Hey folks

This mailing list is a godsend! I have recently obtained my motorcycle
license after a long absence of not riding (I used to put around the
backwoods in 68 Yamaha mini-enduro when I was a young lad). Now, at the
age of thirty, having never owned a vehicle of any type, I am looking at
buying a DR350SE. My question is this: How comfortable is this bike with
people around my height (5'8")? Will I be on my tip-toes when I put my
feet out? How much can you adjust the "pre-load" to accommodate your
stature? Maybe some DR350SE bike owners out there who are around my
height could inform me.

Set me straight please.

Darren Blin
Bikeless in Toronto Canada

1998 Size 10 Airwalks

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 18:34:01 -0700
From: Doug Bragg <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: (dr350) Finally found one!

I like my Clarke tank.  The Acerbis tank is vey ugly and hangs down too far
in my opinion.  Most of the DR riders I encounter at dualsport events that
have a larger tank use the Clarke.  I think I've probably only seen one or
two Acerbis tanks.  I've heard that IMS tanks are not easy to get on the
bike - fit issues.
My Clarke tank bolted right up.

- -----Original Message-----
From:    Bryan Nolastname [SMTP:[e-mail]]
Sent:    Thursday, April 08, 1999 4:58 AM
To:    [e-mail]
Subject:    (dr350) Finally found one!

Hallelujah!!!  I finally found a used DR!  Its a '95 SE w/ 3K miles, 1
owner, in what "sounds" to be very good condition.  Owner says he has
receipt showing the initial valve adj. was done by dealer.  I've
wrestled w/ myself over this issue (and nearly kicked my own ass in
process!) of whether to buy new or used.....thought I'd have to go new
because I just couldn't find any used DRs around.  I'm gonna have to
drive 6 hrs to get this baby, but at $2400, its exactly HALF of the
out-the-door price of a new 99 SE.  With the lower initial investment,
I figure I will be able to put alot more goodies on it without feeling
guilty about blowing more $ (wife factor)...maybe even a Thumper
big-bore kit!

FWIW...Yesterday I sent a fax to the 7 Suzuki dealers in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth area, stating that I had cash & wanted to buy a used
DR350 (dirt or dual sport), and would consider buying a new one if the
price was right.  3 of the 7 called me back w/ nobody having any used
ones (none could even remember having any used DRs recently), and the
best out the door price (including 6.25 tax & all BS fees) for a new
99 SE was $4751.  One seemingly honest dealer told me his invoice cost
on the 99 SE was $4006.

Now, I'm off to read the archives about aftermarket goodies to start
making my list!  I know there's alot of talk over which tank (IMS,
CLark, Acerbis) is best....anyone want to make a recommendation here?
 -which is largest capacity?

Finally, anyone know of any particular quirks on the 95 SE's that I
should pay special attention to when I go to see the bike tomorrow?

Take care-
Bryan in Dallas
95 DR-SE (just a day away!)
98 ZX-6R (for sale $6K, perfect cond)


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End of dr350-digest V1 #13
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