Best green lane / winter bike ?

Fast Eddie said:
Thanks Ralph, what about the build quality and reliability of the CCM?
It’s the bigger 644cc Suzuki engined variant that piques my interest, not for the increased power, but for the increased ‘big single grunt’ grin factor.
But I don’t want to buy something that’s gonna be on the lift half the time... or turn to dust when used through a British winter...
Click to expand...

It might be different in the UK but DR650SE's (1996 to 2021) have sold by the truck load in Australia (The word is 2021 is the last buy new year here having no ABS)

I think they would cope with a harsh Winter, salt might get to some of the fasteners though (with the black oxide coating or whatever it is)

The engine (whole bike) has hardly changed from 1996 to date.

Third gear has been known to fail (I sent my complete gearbox clusters to Nova / UK so they could make a billet 3rd set) but for every one of those there will be someone who has done multi 100000 kms with no drama.

Around 34 HP stock, jumps to 38 HP with basic mods (Procycle did a 780 CC kit / 790 kit @ 50+ HP an one DR900 engine for the shop owner)

DR650 | ProCycle.us

procycle.us procycle.us

There is also the Suzuki Freewind which is a little more road inclined (same engine base but a bigger valve twin carburetor head - iirc)

The engines in general are fairy bulletproof.

The bikes themselves pretty much the same.
Sunday ride or RTW, they will do both easily. (They are a cross perhaps between a Massey Fergusson and a Morris Minor, just a no fuss, get her done bike)
I bought mine new in Jan 08 and a keeper bike.

This was 4000 kms from home after riding around the Gulf of Carpentaria, Darwin to Cape York (and back)
I tend to shop carefully and keep bikes forever (based on my history)

You have to laugh a little, the sales brochure (besides the decals and colours) has been the same one since 1996.

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/imotor-cms/files_cms/38855_suzuki-2019 dr650se-brochure-feb18-il.pdf

Cape.jpg
 
I think the DR650 is a great all season choice ! Which I suggested earlier if I wanted an all season bike for here , the DR would be my first choice for sure !
 
Time Warp said:
It might be different in the UK but DR650SE's (1996 to 2021) have sold by the truck load in Australia (The word is 2021 is the last buy new year here having no ABS)

I think they would cope with a harsh Winter, salt might get to some of the fasteners though (with the black oxide coating or whatever it is)

The engine (whole bike) has hardly changed from 1996 to date.

Third gear has been known to fail (I sent my complete gearbox clusters to Nova / UK so they could make a billet 3rd set) but for every one of those there will be someone who has done multi 100000 kms with no drama.

Around 34 HP stock, jumps to 38 HP with basic mods (Procycle did a 780 CC kit / 790 kit @ 50+ HP an one DR900 engine for the shop owner)

DR650 | ProCycle.us

procycle.us procycle.us

There is also the Suzuki Freewind which is a little more road inclined (same engine base but a bigger valve twin carburetor head - iirc)

The engines in general are fairy bulletproof.

The bikes themselves pretty much the same.
Sunday ride or RTW, they will do both easily. (They are a cross perhaps between a Massey Fergusson and a Morris Minor, just a no fuss, get her done bike)
I bought mine new in Jan 08 and a keeper bike.

This was 4000 kms from home after riding around the Gulf of Carpentaria, Darwin to Cape York (and back)
I tend to shop carefully and keep bikes forever (based on my history)

You have to laugh a little, the sales brochure (besides the decals and colours) has been the same one since 1996.

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/imotor-cms/files_cms/38855_suzuki-2019 dr650se-brochure-feb18-il.pdf

View attachment 21332
Click to expand...
Thanks, that’s interesting stuff TW. Certainly sounds like Suzuki are getting their monies worth out the development investment, almost as good as the Brit bike companies were !

I keep scouring ebay, I’m not sure when they were sold here and when they stopped. But they‘re not as plentiful on ebay as I guess they are over there.

Current ‘list of interest‘ the DR, Honda XR/XL 600/650, Yam XT660, CCM R30...
 
I have a BSA B40WD unit single, less than 300lbs, as a winter bike. The BSA Victor Special is too precious to me to be used wintertime.
Any old ex-military bike will do as a winter bike as they are built for all year service. Excluding the H-D WLA which is too heavy to raise up when you've laid it on it's side on an icy road. Don't ask how I know.
Two of my younger friends used old and cheap Kawasaki KLR as daily commuters until they could afford cars.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Thanks Ralph, what about the build quality and reliability of the CCM?
It’s the bigger 644cc Suzuki engined variant that piques my interest, not for the increased power, but for the increased ‘big single grunt’ grin factor.
But I don’t want to buy something that’s gonna be on the lift half the time... or turn to dust when used through a British winter...
Click to expand...
The only time I worked on the bike was to play with the accelerator pump in the FCR, other than that no problems I can recall. Not a bad bike, just too tall for me.
 
The DR 650 no question. I'm on the ferry coming back from two weeks in the South Island of NZ on mine.
 

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Its odd (or not) how many Nortons share space with DR's and Moto Guzzi's.
 
I suspect there are a few owners of the 3 you mention on here, Les ... as you know I have a Guzzi and watch Kijiji here patiently for a DR650 , for me the lowering kit offered from factory is essential , the ‘80 xl500 I had was not a challenge for my short inseam ,however all the 650 dual sports available these days are a bit too high for me .... sadly I would have to part with a bike to have a dual sport , just no room , just enough room on lift to store the ct90 I’m getting ready ....
 
Have you considered an Enfield Himmy ? Ok, It's not going to tear your arms out of their sockets but they have a lot of fans (including me) are made for rough terrain and will hold motorway speed. Check out Nathan the postman, itchyboots and others on YouTube.
 
cliffa said:
Have you considered an Enfield Himmy ? Ok, It's not going to tear your arms out of their sockets but they have a lot of fans (including me) are made for rough terrain and will hold motorway speed. Check out Nathan the postman, itchyboots and others on YouTube.
Click to expand...
I like the look of them.

But think that 24bhp would annoy the hell out of my mates !
 
I guess this is a Brit/Europe thing as there is only one Yank post on this thread but what exactly is a Green Lane?
 
This probably explains it better than I can but basically they are unmade roads in tracks or trails out in the country where vehicles are allowed to drive (I believe only in England & Wales) ...

glass-uk.org

So can I drive anywhere off tarmac?

The beginners guide to driving green roads Unsure of where you can legally drive off the tarmac? Then look no further, here’s the (almost) definitive guid
glass-uk.org glass-uk.org

As you can see there is a code of conduct.
 
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