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dr350-digest        Thursday, November 25 1999        Volume 01 : Number 205




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

Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 05:17:05 -0800 (PST)
From: john miller <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (dr350) DR350vsDR650

I would agree that the 650 would be more "at home" for
longer rides on the rode.In my opinion the 650 is more
a street bike than dirt worthy.The overall geometry of
the bike doesnt give a dirt "stance" like the 350.It
is heavier than the already healthy weighted 350 and
that will not be easy to ride in tight spots.I have
ridden a friends 650 and the bike has gobs of
power.There is a lot that can be done to a 350 for 500
bucks.Suspension upgrades as well as minor motor
tricks(mostly intake related) will improve its already
good offroad qualities.The 350 will still not be
comfortable for extended trips although i'm sure some
would disagree.I would say the 350 is 80/20 and the
650 is 40/60 off/on.Honda makes big bikes that are far
more dirt worthy 600cc+.It's hard to get the best of
both worlds where one lacks the other shines so it's
what you can live with that makes up your mind.I
bought my 98 DR350SE for the fun in the woods and can
use it for short trips.

- --- Joe Smith <[e-mail]> wrote:
> Hi Guys
> I am wrestling with a dilemma.  I have a chance to
> buy a very clean 98 DR650SE which would require
> selling my 93 DR350S.  The idea would be that I
> would have a bike that should be more at home doing
> a day tour of, say, 250 miles in approx. 70/30
> street/dirt road mix.  The problem is I really like
> the DR350 for what I imagine are its superior dirt
> qualities and lighter weight, since I have been
> riding fairly technical trails (and want to be able
> to keep doing this) this is something of an issue.
> I can't imagine the DR650 being much better than a
> passable dirt bike.  If I keep the 350 I will want
> to do something with the suspension (probably
> springs and oil) and probably replace the seat but I
> hate to spend a lot upgrading a bike that is
> probably only worth $2k or so.  I think at some
> point I could add a more pure dirt bike to the
> DR650, such as an XR400 or DR350 off roader when
> funds become available but for now I am kind of
> stuck with one bike.
>     Sorry to be long winded but I really would
> appreciate your advice and I'm sure all of you have
> much more experience with the DRs than I do.
> Thanks
> Joe S
>

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

Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 05:27:28 -0800 (PST)
From: john miller <[e-mail]>
Subject: (dr350) Thanks to Jesse

I wanted to take a minute to thank Jesse for helping
me solve a carb problem that there is NO WAY I could
have fixed on my own.My needle valve was stuck open
due to a small piece of rubber o-ring that broke off
the seat and got stuck inside the seat.I called him on
a Sunday and discribed my problem and I'll be damned
he knew exactly what the problem was.Thanks again he
was a huge help


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Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 10:08:29 -0600
From: Eric Myers <[e-mail]>
Subject: (dr350) RE: DR350vsDR650

Joe Smith Wrote:

I am wrestling with a dilemma.  I have a chance to buy a very clean 98
DR650SE which would require selling my 93 DR350S.  The idea would be that I
would have a bike that should be more at home doing a day tour of, say, 250
miles in approx. 70/30 street/dirt road mix.  The problem is I really like
the DR350 for what I imagine are its superior dirt qualities and lighter
weight, since I have been riding fairly technical trails (and want to be
able to keep doing this) this is something of an issue.  I can't imagine
the DR650 being much better than a passable dirt bike.  If I keep the 350 I
will want to do something with the suspension (probably springs and oil)
and probably replace the seat but I hate to spend a lot upgrading a bike
that is probably only worth $2k or so.  I think at some point I could add a
more pure dirt bike to the DR650, such as an XR400 or DR350 off roader when
funds become available but for now I am kind of stuck with one bike.
________________________________________________________

Joe,

If you're riding technical trails I think the DR650 would make that
challenge even more demanding.  At 350lbs wet, 50lbs more than your current
steed, I think you'd find that bike quite a handful if you dropped it more
than once or twice during an offroad excursion.  The 650 would certainly be
more than competent on fireroads and trails a 4x4 could deal with, I just
don't think that the added weight of that bike would make life enjoyable
off road.  Once relegated to road duty the bike would be a riot, especially
if the engine had a bit of life breathed into it.

The problem with the 350 is that it can't handle any long road trips, or
maybe I just can't handle riding that bike for any distance at 60+ mph on
the road.  It reminds me to much of my old Mazda pickup truck I had, no
passing power.

Putting a few bucks into your current ride isn't all that nonsensical.  If
the bike does what you need it to do, improving its capabilities makes good
sense.  When it stops making sense is when your demands move to far away
from what the bike was originally built for.  It is a jack of all trades
and master of none scenario which it fills quite well.

I don't know what your financial situation is but if I were faced with the
same dilemma I think I would buy a used DR650, keep the DR350, and if the
650 fits the bill, get rid of the 350.  If the 650 didn't meet my
expectations I would be able to sell it for at or near what I paid.  This
would allow me to broaden my perspective in a relatively inexpensive and
financially safe manner.

Good Luck,
Eric








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end


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

Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 11:52:39 -0500
From: "Jeff&Chris" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (dr350) RE: DR350vsDR650

I ride both bikes but only own the 350.  I have a Corbin seat for when I
want to do mostly road and simple trails. I do 150 to 300 mile days on it
and feel OK at the end. I could only handle about 150 miles before I got the
Corbin seat.  Intake modifications (open up top of air box a bit) help it
some on the street. I cannot handle the 650 on tight trails although I am
sure some could.  Also the 650 with standard seat is not a comfy as the 350
with the Corbin.

Jeff


- -----Original Message-----
From: Eric Myers <[e-mail]>
To: '[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>
Cc: '[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>
Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 11:19 AM
Subject: (dr350) RE: DR350vsDR650


>Joe Smith Wrote:
>
>I am wrestling with a dilemma.  I have a chance to buy a very clean 98
>DR650SE which would require selling my 93 DR350S.  The idea would be that I
>would have a bike that should be more at home doing a day tour of, say, 250
>miles in approx. 70/30 street/dirt road mix.  The problem is I really like
>the DR350 for what I imagine are its superior dirt qualities and lighter
>weight, since I have been riding fairly technical trails (and want to be
>able to keep doing this) this is something of an issue.  I can't imagine
>the DR650 being much better than a passable dirt bike.  If I keep the 350 I
>will want to do something with the suspension (probably springs and oil)
>and probably replace the seat but I hate to spend a lot upgrading a bike
>that is probably only worth $2k or so.  I think at some point I could add a
>more pure dirt bike to the DR650, such as an XR400 or DR350 off roader when
>funds become available but for now I am kind of stuck with one bike.
>________________________________________________________
>
>Joe,
>
>If you're riding technical trails I think the DR650 would make that
>challenge even more demanding.  At 350lbs wet, 50lbs more than your current
>steed, I think you'd find that bike quite a handful if you dropped it more
>than once or twice during an offroad excursion.  The 650 would certainly be
>more than competent on fireroads and trails a 4x4 could deal with, I just
>don't think that the added weight of that bike would make life enjoyable
>off road.  Once relegated to road duty the bike would be a riot, especially
>if the engine had a bit of life breathed into it.
>
>The problem with the 350 is that it can't handle any long road trips, or
>maybe I just can't handle riding that bike for any distance at 60+ mph on
>the road.  It reminds me to much of my old Mazda pickup truck I had, no
>passing power.
>
>Putting a few bucks into your current ride isn't all that nonsensical.  If
>the bike does what you need it to do, improving its capabilities makes good
>sense.  When it stops making sense is when your demands move to far away
>from what the bike was originally built for.  It is a jack of all trades
>and master of none scenario which it fills quite well.
>
>I don't know what your financial situation is but if I were faced with the
>same dilemma I think I would buy a used DR650, keep the DR350, and if the
>650 fits the bill, get rid of the 350.  If the 650 didn't meet my
>expectations I would be able to sell it for at or near what I paid.  This
>would allow me to broaden my perspective in a relatively inexpensive and
>financially safe manner.
>
>Good Luck,
>Eric
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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

Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 11:32:52 -0600
From: Eric Myers <[e-mail]>
Subject: (dr350) RE: DR350vsDR650

Joe,

I've got a '99 DR350 and it feels like a rock on the road.  My other ride
is a '98 VTR1000 Honda Superhawk.  I know what you mean by having another
bike, I've got four between the wife, son and myself.

I think your stability problem might be due to the tire(s) you have.  I'm
not familiar with them, but they might be the cause.

I'm going to drop a tooth on the countershaft as well.  I don't think it
will adversly affect the road performance of the bike and would help lend a
hand to front wheel antics.  In fact the last time I had the bike out on
the road...couple days ago, I felt that shortening the gearing would help
it hang up there around 70mph or so with better ease.

The cycle gear box is available from Jesse ...i'm sure he'll email you of
this fact once he reads these posts.  I understand that the box allows the
motor to breath much better for a nice 4-5hp increase.  On the DR that
would be huge, and I think very noticeable.

With regard to comfort, I couldn't agree more, and I understand that a Gel
seat might help or even a Corbin, for long rides...I don't know how they
affect leg position when manuveuring in the dirt.

At times I've thought of going to a 440 kit to boost street performance but
don't think I'll take that route.

For me, the debate is to ditch the VTR and DR350 buying a KDX220 and a
DR650 as replacements.  The 650 with some massaging could be a nice long
legged touring bike with the ability to take an excursion into areas I
would be reluctant to take the sportbike into given the opportunity.  I
think the hooliganism factor of a lightly massaged 650 would be
overwhelmingly delicious.

My decision will wait until my son is older since he's currently dictating
my offroad riding level right now.

Eric

Joe Smith Wrote:

    I don't mind the 350 as a street bike, except the seat is not good and
the thing feels awfully twitchy above about 50-55mph (it has Metzler
Unicross knobbies on it right now.).  When it falls, at 43 and my back
already bothering me, I am glad its no heavier than it is.  As the bike
sits
it has an IMS 3.4 gallon tank, dynojet kit and the snorkels have been
removed from the airbox (kind of wanted that Cycle Gear airbox but I
understand it is no longer made).  If I kept it the mods I would consider
are a better seat, luggage rack, heavier springs and oil, possibly the
Summers fork brace (seems expensive for what it is but I am told it works
really well).  Also I am going to drop the countershaft sprocket one tooth
for more pull off road, what does this do to the street performance in your
experience?


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

End of dr350-digest V1 #205
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