Dakota Dual Sport Riders

Dual Sport Motorcycle Forums => Suzuki => Topic started by: Hank on March 30, 2012, 04:58:50 PM

Title: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Hank on March 30, 2012, 04:58:50 PM
Since I was repairing some minor crash damage, I decided to take care of some much needed updates.

The handlebars have been mildly tweaked since I got the bike, although not enough to bother me unless I paid attention.  My OFF last Sunday tweaked them a bit further.   So new bars were in order, and while I was at that I thought some risers might be nice, and I finally got some bark busters as well.   Those of you who rode single track with me last June will remember me sniveling like a little girl because branches kept locking my front wheel.

The bars are Renthal "Jimmy Button" bend, with 2" Rox risers. The bars have a bit more rise and pull back than the stockers.  The bark buster/hand guards are cheapo (Chinese I'm sure) no namers from ebay.  I also put on some new Spider grips.

What a difference!  I can finally stand up comfortably!   The bark busters, while cheap no-namers fit the bars perfectly and are really pretty nice quality.  Not bad for 32 bucks.

I had to reroute the throttle cables inside the triple, which I hate doing, but that was my only option for now.  When the cables need replacing I'll get some longer ones.   I had no issues with anything else, other than it seems Suzuki glues their grips on their throttle tubes with something that will last longer than the pyramids.   It took me an hour to peel then wire wheel it all off.

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/jasonh_010/DRZ/2012-03-30_16-39-27_141.jpg)

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/jasonh_010/DRZ/2012-03-30_16-39-11_890.jpg)

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/jasonh_010/DRZ/2012-03-30_16-39-00_965.jpg)

Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: greatbuffalo on March 30, 2012, 10:39:41 PM
Some nice add ons. That headlight went back together well.
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Lee Bruns on April 03, 2012, 09:16:39 PM
Rock guard for the headlamp next.
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: greatbuffalo on April 03, 2012, 10:38:10 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Hank on April 04, 2012, 07:07:11 AM
I'm thinking a titanium headlight fairing.     8)
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Sportfaller on April 04, 2012, 07:50:22 AM
If I were riding a straight dirtbike I'd look pretty hard at one of these, and the lights are HID

(http://www.britanniacomposites.com/images/stories/lynx/DSCN0540-lg.jpg)


Canadian company called britannia composites, great stuff ans Ian is awesome there. this is what I'm running on the F800

http://www.britanniacomposites.com/index.php (http://www.britanniacomposites.com/index.php)
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: toadl on April 29, 2012, 06:58:49 PM
That glue is a good thing.  My heated throttle grip came loose today.  All of a sudden I was losing power.  After I pulled over I figured out it was just the grip rotating without the throttle.
I need some risers for my DRZ as well.  I was going to get some tusk 1 inch risers, although I'm debating if that will be enough.  I'm going to check into yours.  Handguards are a nice thing.  I learned that after having to ride home with no clutch lever.  Before that it was no front brake lever but that was easier to ride home without.  Hank, I wanted to show you my new DRZ wheels, also notice my walmart seat pad mod.  The mod helps keep the knees closer to the bike so they don't act like parachutes catching the wind.
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x406/todddl/p_00583.jpg)
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Hank on April 30, 2012, 10:06:57 AM
Wow, that's a different spin on a DRZ!   Looks good though.   Regarding the wheels, will they take a hard landing?

What bike did they come from?
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: JoniJo on April 30, 2012, 10:42:14 AM
I had a DRZ400E once.   :'(    JoniJo
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: toadl on May 03, 2012, 10:25:42 PM
Quote from: Hank on April 30, 2012, 10:06:57 AM
Wow, that's a different spin on a DRZ!   Looks good though.   Regarding the wheels, will they take a hard landing?

What bike did they come from?

They came off of a CBR600 F2.  I'll most likely bring them to the Fish N' Fry.  You could test drive.  It's not an easy mod. 
I took one jump in a ditch over a driveway.  I might have landed on something dead but the rims survived.  I think as long as I don't bottom out the suspension they will be okay.  They are mostly going to be for road use.  I do a lot of commuting in the Twin Cities on the bike and wanted a set of knobby tires for things like the trip to the Black Hills but did not want to have to replace them after a month.  The tires on these rims I hope will last a lot longer.
Those bar risers are expensive.  I wonder how ATV handlbars would look?
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: toadl on June 07, 2012, 09:12:22 PM
Thanks for the inspiration for getting handlebar risers, I think.  I never noticed the Rox risers, just the cheap $20 risers on ebay.  A couple weeks I did some rough single track and had a hard time standing up.  I kept balancing myself by pulling back on the handlebars.  I blamed the handlebar height (definately not skill related ;D).  I thought of your Rox risers and how I could adjust my bars farther foward and up.  I made a set that are similar to the rox (I'm cheap). The rise is 2 3/8.  My handlebars look a little funny and they feel funny riding down the freeway, kind of like ape hangers.  We'll see how well they work in about 2 weeks.  So, Thanks for the inspiration.  I think.
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x406/todddl/p_00630.jpg)
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Hank on June 07, 2012, 09:54:11 PM
Those look great!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: Dr Psyko on June 08, 2012, 02:39:08 PM
I've never seen anything like those, cool idea. Make them for a KLR and you'd be in business...
Title: Re: A few DRZ updates
Post by: toadl on June 08, 2012, 09:35:03 PM
Quote from: Dr Psyko on June 08, 2012, 02:39:08 PM
I've never seen anything like those, cool idea. Make them for a KLR and you'd be in business...
If I had a lot of free time then yes, otherwise I'd have to make a cast mold.  I think I have about 31/2 hours plus material.  So, It wouldn't be a great business unless I could sell them for KTM's.