DL650 In The Dirt

Let me preface this by saying that I've never ridden a dirt bike. In my world, "dirt riding" means gravel roads, dirt roads, and front yards. Period. I wouldn't take it onto a dirt bike track, through a lot of mud, in sand, snow, or ice - on purpose.

But this is a blog about riding in the mountains - and if there is one constant when it comes to mountain riding, it's that conditions will change. Most of the best mountain riding is done in remote, rural areas. You're going to get chased by dogs. You're going to see cows. You may spot a llama or an ostrich. old men will try to kill you with tractors. Cell phone reception seems like a distant dream - if it's not coming from a satellite, you ain't picking it up.

In these remote areas, the main challenges are 1) weather conditions, and 2) road surface conditions.

1) Mountain weather comes up fast and leaves just as quickly. The weather on one side of a tunnel or a pass can be sunny and warm, and it can be cold and raining on the other side.

2) Road maintenance varies. Some roads, like the Blue Ridge Parkway, are nearly flawless for the most part. Others, especially in rural areas, are chewed-up, bombed-out and depleted. Even paved roads may have loose sand, and trailers kick up gravel on the insides of turns. Also, paved roads abruptly, unexpectedly may turn into dirt or gravel roads, then change back to pavement again, then back to gravel, etc.

Not being a dirt rider per se, I can say that the Strom is a great bike for rough roads, dirt roads, and gravel roads. Why? Because first, you have excellent control over the bike - you have handlebars! You have a high, SUV-type seating position to see what's coming up. You can stand up on the pegs easily. You have a 19-inch front wheel to minimize bumps and help you maintain control. Finally, the cable-operated clutch is light and easy to operate without fatigue, which is critical, because slow dirt riding requires a lot of clutch work.

Liquid cooling means you can chug along all day at 5mph. The large gas tank and excellent fuel mileage - 45-55mpg, easy - mean you can wander for hours without getting stranded.  Also, the bike has excellent ground clearance to clear obstacles and ruts.

It's not a dirt bike - but it is "dirt-bikey" enough to get you where you need to be in the mountains.

The Bikes - Suzuki DL650

If you have to have only one bike for riding in the mountains, the Suzuki DL650 should be very high on your list. It's cheap, powerful, relatively light, and you can load it down with a lot of gear. While it's not a true dual-sport bike, it is the better choice when road- or weather conditions deteriorate, which they quickly can when one is riding in the mountains. 

I have a lot of add-ons (aka, Farkles) on my bike. The most critical is the luggage - I have basic Givi hard saddlebags - E36N's - and an E46N topcase with a backrest for my lady. This upgrade instantly transforms your basic Strom into a cross-country-capable hauler. I can load all three bags down with stuff, put my wife on the back, and we can GO.

A lot of people wonder about the power difference between the DL650 and the DL1000. I've never ridden the DL1000, but I can tell you that I've never felt slow on the 650. With my wife on the back, I'm not going to be hot-dogging it, anyway - not if I want everyone to stay happy! I weigh about 215, and my wife weighs about 115, so we weight about 350 with full riding gear. We probably pack close to 70lbs in the bags. The DL650's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 926lbs, and the bike itself weighs about 450lbs, so carrying capacity is about 476lbs, and we get pretty close to that number on a regular basis. The goes up the mountains and down the mountains with absolutely no problems. Power and handling are still what I would consider sporty.

One thing people don't realize about the DL650 is that it has a greater carrying capacity than the DL1000 based on the GVWR - it even has a greater carrying capacity than the Honda Goldwing at 418lbs! Trust me, if YOU'RE bringing your wife or girlfriend, SHE'S bringing a lot of stuff!

Riding solo on the DL650, with minimal load, the bike really feels sporty. It's not as fast as the VFR, but it really starts pulling in the upper rev ranges.

Welcome to Hidden Drive!

I am creating this blog to share motorcycles stories, review equipment, and talk about the best motorcycling routes and hidden gems in the Appalachians (WNC, TN, VA, GA). I will also discuss safety issues, maintenance, tools, riding techniques, and whatever else crosses my mind!

My current bikes are a 2009 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom, and a 2007 Honda Interceptor (25th Anniversary Edition).