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Suzuki DR 600R Dakar

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Make Model

Suzuki DR 600R Dakar

Year

1986

Engine

Four stroke, single cylinder, SOHC, 4 valves

Capacity

589 cc / 35.9 cu in
Bore x Stroke 94 x 85 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Lubrication System Wet sump
Compression Ratio 8.5:1

Induction

38mm Mikuni flatside carburetor

Ignition 

CDI
Starting Electric

Max Power

32 kW / 44 hp @ 6500 rpm

Max Torque

49.5 Nm / 5.04 kg-m / 36.5 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

Transmission 

5 Speed 
Final Drive Chain
Frame Semi-double cradle

Front Suspension

39 mm Kayaba forks, air adjustable
Front Wheel Travel 226 mm / 8.9 in

Rear Suspension

Single Kayaba shock, adjustable spring preload
Rear Wheel Travel 236 mm / 9.3 in

Front Brakes

Single 280mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

130mm Drum

Front Tyre

100/80-21

Rear Tyre

130/80-17
Dimensions Length 2215 mm / 87.2 in
Width     875 mm / 34.4 in
Height  1235 mm / 48.6 in
Wheelbase 1465 mm / 57.7 in
Seat Height 925 mm / 36.4 in

Dry Weight

136 kg / 300 lbs
Wet Weight 150 kg / 330 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

21 Litres / 5.5 US gal / 4.6 Imp gal

Consumption Average

4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg / 58.8 Imp mpg

Standing ¼ Mile  

14.6 sec / 143 km/h / 88.9 mph

Top Speed

163.9 km/h / 101.8 mph

This big-bore bomber has what it takes to slice through heavy city traffic at rush hour while giving you enough off-road capabilities to hammer down fireroads at high speeds or pick your way through some of the more forgiving single-track trails you may find.

Tight woods riding is not this machine's strong suit, although an offroad sprocket setup and rear knobby will at least give you a chance to pick your way through the tighter twisties if you really have to.

It´s predictable power delivery and stable handling even give you enough confidence to ride on the more mellow -- no big air, please, I'm old -- outdoor moto tracks you may find. It eats up those nice, berm corners well for a ´heavy´ bike. The generous amount of bottom-end torque also gives you the confidence to climb fairly steep slopes. If it starts to labour, just kick it down a gear and keep going.

Where this bike really excels is on those great dirt roads in the back-country and/or most probably thumping across the Baja. Speeds over 100 km/h are easily attained on this machine and it´ll track nicely with little effort on these kinds of roads. I find that when you´re really gunning it, you just stand up on the pegs and float -- like the rear swingarm says, Full Floater.

That said, our rides, in the Pacific southwest region of Canada, are a mix of decomissioned forestry roads, access roads and all the trails and dry riverbeds we can find over the course of a day's ride. The big bonus, of course, is the cavernous Dakar gas tank that gives you gobs of range. I haven't calibrated it yet, but I haven't run out of gas yet, either. As far as I can tell, it'll go at least 120 kms of on-the-throttle riding before getting to reserve. My two-stroke riding companions can only dream of that kind of mileage.

As for reliability, I've only had the bike for a couple of months. It cost me the equivalent of about Dollars 1,500 US. Talk about cheap thrills. But I've owned several Suzuki products, including one of its predecessors in the SP 500, and all they've ever done is run.

Mine has 31,000 kms on the clock and there is still plenty of compression. I had the fibre clutch plates replaced along with the springs at a Suzuki dealership for the equivalent of around Dollars 250 US, with oil, filter and labour all in. I will have to go back to have things like the front brake pads, compression release mechanism (intake), fork seals and, most probably, the coil tended to, but it'll probably be worth it.

Brendan

Source: Bikez