new update: two wheeled motivation

[Schumi]

I took a hiatus from the forums a few months ago but I like to check in every now and then.

I sold my Boxster S ending about 7 years of Porsche ownership.

I've been daily driving my 2006 Lotus Elise- in Los Angeles. It's been interesting.


In addition, with some cash from the sale of the 986S I found a steal-of-a-deal (seriously, I never get deals like this)

Suzuki DRZ400S, 2003, right here in the south bay. High miles, but looks factory-fresh almost everywhere. Previous owner was the original owner, very nice middle aged guy, who did everything in his power to keep this bike as nice as possible. Has the little mods and updates that are popular. Included every stock part that came off it. Plus a set of both dirt knobbies and street tires both on wheels. $500 Scotts steering damper, like new. Plus an actual truck-load of tools, parts, spare parts, random S*$@# from his garage that had to do with Suzuki, I took it all. For a steal. Bike has good power and rides like new.

Anyways, this is my foray into on-road 2 wheel things. Rick will be proud.

I did take it to El Mirage (first day I had it) and thrashed it in the dirt for a half day. But now I'm using it to commute. It has actually been more relaxing than driving the Lotus. It can hit potholes without fear of ripping the suspension off the car. As far as people seeing me, it's on par with the Lotus. I already have the honed mentality of "I'm invisible, everyone is out to hit me". It's required in the Lotus, when even a 'fender bender' can result in a totaled car and broken legs.

So these are my two practical vehicles now.

With dirt tires:


With streetable tires, and the Lotus:

[Rick Lee]

I would so kill for a bike like that. I took my license road test on one like that. Once I get my buddy's bike out of my garage, I can start looking.

[Schumi]

The big tank is a great addition. It's about 4 gallons. I've gone 160 miles on the first tank and still more to go.

There are tanks out there that are 25+ liters. You can do some distance on one of these things.

[turbo6bar]

I have a near twin to your bike, except mine is blue. I also have the Clarke 4 gallon tank. I'm getting around 60 mpg. It had a super loud MRD exhaust. High end power was awesome, but I had to rip it off, because my ears were ringing. I ended up with the stock exhaust. The stock exhaust chokes the engine, but the dB are much lower.

My biggest gripe is the lack of a sixth gear.

[on2wheels52]

Looks like it's set up nicely Mike.
I've had a blue '01 for ten years, the stock tank is good for 140 miles (longer than I can take the stock seat). It gets about 3/4 of my commuting duty, hasn't left the county for years.
Agree that 6th gear would be nice.
Jim

[Don Ro]

"My biggest gripe is the lack of a sixth gear."
.
Amen, Brother...the #1 complaint on the 400.
Mine's a 2010 and I like the sitting position, torque, & its ruggedness.
I got tired of the noise, too...put aft baffle/SA back on.
I can get about 20 miles out of the stock seat...gel seat in my future.
A bit tall for me at 5' 10"...I'll drop it down one day.
I use it to grocery shop.
.
Nice rig, Schumi. Congrats!
.

[Schumi]

My friend and coworker owns a 2002 DRZ400 that he has converted to a supermotard-style, with the smaller wheels and sticky tires. It is a terror. He has come one canyon drives with me in the Lotus and our other friend in his 996 Turbo, and the bike (almost) keeps up in the corners.

Funny, out at El Mirage on my first day with it, the first thing I said after a test ride out was "Man it needs a sixth gear"

I feel great about the purchase, I see it as a tank that is a solid investment considering that I paid - with the extra wheels/tires and all the extra parts -

$2700.

I added up all the aftermarket items and they total around $1500 worth of stuff alone. I'm not sure of the usefulness of a $500 steering damper on a dual sport but hey, I'll take it.

[yazhound]

Well here's my two cents... I have a DR 650, used mostly for off road, with some slight mods: pipe, carb rejetting, sprocket, bar risers, soft bags, bark busters, crash plate & light guard and dunlop 606s. It handles well in the twisties even with 606s (but they wear fast on slab), and it is just a tremendous all around bike. My best friend had both a dr650 and the 400. He ended up keeping the 650 as it is better on the hwy than the 400 (that 6th gear), and does well enough off road to make it the keeper for him. (He traded out the 400 for a street bike). Our hope is to one day travel the trans america trail. Time permitting is the biggy there.

I also have a BMW R1100 that sees very little use as the DR650 is just much more fun as my leanings are more off road than on. Oh yeah, and when on road I want to blast with the 911 !! Cheers! yaz

[nostatic]

upright riding position rules on the street. Probably not fun on extended freeway runs, but that is a great around-town choice. Just be careful out there. I don't commute by bike these days as it is fairly short and isn't worth gearing up for (and I won't get on the bike without full gear). I save it for the weekends and open roads.

[vash]

If I transfer to a closer project, I will buy one. I love those

[tedg04]

Congrats, I have a 06 SM version as well. Coming from a ZX10 - the thing is a slug (but what isn't?). It's still a lot of fun, just in a very different way. It has a Yoshi (loud) exhaust right now, I've debated getting a quieter one to see if I like it better on longer trips. But, I live less than three miles from work, and waking up the neighbors is a lot of fun, too.

[Hydrocket]

Here's my old one. I went the other way. I took the E model (more power, less weight) and made it barely streetable. I've owned pretty much every high power sport bike out there (and raced them), and my love is still supermotards first....dirt bikes second. Best bike I've ever owned by far is a supermoto. KTM 690 Duke.