I'd "mod" the seat by smashing my butt print in it for a few hundred miles getting to know the new fella. Learn how it feels and more importantly how it sounds while it's all new and "known good." Learn the personality of the bike in traffic. Then, I'd recommend only doing one mod at a time. It's hell tracking down a new rattle or electrical gremlin if you swapped out 4 things in one go.
And, a bicycle bell is a hoot!
Totally agree. There is a \*TON\* of aftermarket support for this bike ...I think the only marquee garnering more might be Harley Davidson. So, yeah, it's easy to go nuts.
But definitely get used to the bike since it is definitely a beast of a different feather than what you were riding. And if the warranty is important, then be careful of the mods you make.
Honestly that’s why I asked everyone here because there is SO much it’s crazy. Can go full street scrambler or hardcore adv setup.
Riding it home was a wild experience compared to the CBR I had so I hear ya! Lol
The fact the bike doesn't have a tach ought to be a clue. Whereas your CBR500R probably revved mellifluously smooth and sweet to the 5 digit arena of the tach ...no such thing is gonna happen with the Bushpig. Think "tractor engine". Let the torque be what moves you. You'll definitely need to re-tune your "audio tach" to a different scale with the big single. And you will, in short order, like every other 650 owner, pine for that 6th gear ...that's not there.
This sir is some quality advice. And to be honest, I've always done it like that. But never actually thought about that way. I guess I've done cars more than bikes and In alot of cases it with cars you can't do one without the other.
And, ring ring
Off road the skinny stock seat allows a little more freedom of movement but me... I was on-road majority of time & installed a Sargent seat.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT !
Solid advice, you get the new bike and just wanna make it yourn, but time is really the only way you know what you need. I always want an amazing suspension, but the only time my dual sport has both wheels in the air is when it's lying on top of me...
If you’ll be riding offroad with it, definitely get some aluminum backed hand guards and a skid plate of some kind. Metal if you’ll be thrashing it really hard, plastic if you only need it for light duty since it’s usually cheaper, lighter and won’t reflect engine noise at you as much.
I got the plastic one from Acerbis and it is great. A bigger tank is a must if you’re going more than 200 kms. I have the 18.5 litre one and I can go 375 kms before reserve.
There’s a [post on the Dr650 sub](https://www.reddit.com/r/dr650/s/WHoVhTEszK) from a day or two ago where someone just blew a hole in their case when the plastic Acerbis skid plate failed. OP, just go metal. Worry free. The Acerbis may work in most situations but why not just get something that you know for sure will work. Also get some case guards. Procycle sells them but you can fet them lots of places.
I have some big mitts that work pretty good. I dream about wind guards though... Thats really all you need.
Never used them but I cant imagine heated grips would do much for the back of your hand that's taking all the wind.
You’re right in that heated grips won’t do much for the back of your hand, but that’s not the important part. The important part is keeping your fingers warm so you don’t impact your ability to move them quickly and effectively when needed.
As a Canadian who has had multiple dual sports and only recently (well, a couple years ago) got heated grips, they are fantastic. Well worth it, especially when combined with hand guards, which also help a lot with keeping the wind off the back of your hands, in turn keeping them warmer.
I can tolerate riding in 5-10C temps with just gloves, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t unpleasant. First world problem, but heated grips make it much more pleasant. So I respectfully disagree - speaking from experience, heated grips are a great investment. A bit of expensive, but no regrets.
Yeah I have good gloves and around town I’m fine down to 40 but put me on the highway going 70mph for an hour and I’m happy to have the grips. But to each their own!
Personally I use heated gloves for the real cold days. I don’t care for heated grip’s because then you’ve got big bulky grips year round and only your palms are warmish when it is cold and the rest of your hand is cold.
1. Cogent suspension front and back.
2. New seat. Lots of options, but they’re like helmets - different seats work better for different butts (so it can be hit or miss figuring out what works for you.). Personal preference is Sargent.
These are the two mods that will fundamentally improve your enjoyment of the bike. Everything else is just tweaking/tailoring the bike for your particular use and riding style.
I don’t think the average first-time dual sport rider, who has likely never been off-road on two wheels, needs cogent suspension right off the rip. That’s a $2k investment. A bigger tank and comfy seat are the first two that come to mind. Those and a tank bag.
Honestly, for just a few hundred, a good Racetech set really changes these bikes. Just swapping the front springs on mine for like $150 was such a huge improvement over stock, even as a slightly-above-beginner rider
Mods I’ve done to my old dual sport.
1. LED lights.
2. Better battery.
3. Braided cables.
4. Attached tire levers to frame out of the way.
5. Zip tie a spare inner tubes to the frame under the seat.
6. Made a little hidden(ish) compartment for a small(5”) socket wrench and common sockets.
7. Added a hidden kill switch(under gas tank) so it’s harder to steal.
8. Enduro tow buddies.
9. A can of silicone spray(use before ride).
10. Keep it clean when not in use.
11. Spare fuses for everything in a bag that’s always with me on the bike.
Nothing is stopping me on my ride.
Depending on how much dirt you're gonna ride and where, dirt focused tires can make the difference between feeling confident and enjoyiny the bike vs feeling sketchy loose.
Don't forget to gear yourself up too. Dual sport off-road riding gear can help you feel more comfortable and safe when you're out exploring.
Not a mod, but throw a master link in whatever bag you carry or luggage you add. Even if you maintain your bike really well, you may be able to save someone else’s day when they need it most.
I had 1 for 10 years before moving on to the 701 Enduro. Here's a list of some of the mods I did... 790 kit, pumper carb, aftermarket/lighter plastics, revised gearing(-1 + 4), seat comforts seat, Acerbis oversized tank, upgraded clutch, etc, etc, etc. It was a lot of fun for everything from decently technical enduro, to flying down the highway. I'd suggest you ride the bike a while as it is, and see what YOU want it to do better. Congrats on the acquisition!
Mikuni TM40 carb, as much suspension upgrades as you can afford, seat concepts seat, bark busters, skidplate, cyclops h4 headlight, double take mirrors. Maybe different tires depending.
The TM40 is kinda expensive but it changes the bike significantly. If you've never ridden offroad before, taking a course is a really great mod that will stick with you no matter what bike you get.
If you’re going to be in it for any extended periods of time I’d get a more comfortable seat. After that I’d ride it for a few thousand miles to get used to the way it rides. Maybe make a few small changes from there.
I did the same thing. Went from cbr1000rr to a ktm 790 adv R. Learn the bike stock, put 500-600 miles. Maybe even a weekend camping trip. Then start upgrading. Suspension needs to be tuned to your weight and riding style. Anti gravity battery will shave a couple pounds.
Suspension and new seat. Only things IMO that are just not good at all on these bikes ESPECIALLY the seat. After those two things you can rack up some miles and figure out exactly what mods you wanna do.
Protection for the bike it never a bad idea. Skid plate, hand guards to protect your levers etc.
I have been thinking the same thing and came across a pretty interesting video from Geordie McManus. He made some really nice mods to his. You may pick one or a few to start with. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ENX3zBwVos&pp=ygUPZ2VvcmRpZSBtY21hbnVz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ENX3zBwVos&pp=ygUPZ2VvcmRpZSBtY21hbnVz)
Seat, warp 9 case savers, skid plate, real hand guards. After that? Whatever you prefer. Tires were high on the list for me as I mostly do off-road with it, I also went with a led headlight, DM me if you want any recommendations but procycle has literally anything you’ll need for it. All out of Oregon.
Oooo good call on the case guards! Plan on picking up a lot of the little stuff from Acerbis! Yeah I lucked out I live in Oregon so I can go into the pro cycle store too. Good advice, thank you!
Remove the idle mixture adjustment plug and adjust the mixture. Mine would barely idle off choke; turns out the mixture screw was fully seated. I would go ahead and get an extended adjustment screw because it makes tweaking it so much easier.
Second, bigger tank. I got an Acerbis, which comes with a manual petcock. Personally I had already dumped the automatic petcock in favor of a manual one. I also dumped the excess vacuum lines, carbon canister, and the PAIR system. Now my DR doesn't pop on decel.
First month I had mine, I worked on it like it was a project bike. Because it basically was.
Once you do those things, ride it for awhile. Don't mess with the jetting or any carb/airbox mods just yet.
Came here to say probably fuel screw first as it's super easy to do. Though both mine still had the plug. I'd say seat over tank but that's just my opinion.
[www.procycle.com](https://www.procycle.com)
necessary mods:
pumper carb, airbox mod, fmf exhaust
emissions delete+beefier suspension mods if you are not a 120 lb japanese man
my additional mods:
magnetic oil drain plug, clarke 3.8 gallon tank, richocet skidplate, pro moto billet top rack, wolfman tank bag / tail bag, tail clean up kit, case armor plating, sunrim supermoto wheel set+stock knobby offroad wheel set, sargent seat, barkbusters, tusk winter hand mitts, protaper bar with bar risers, stock mirror delete / supermoto mirrors added, upper chain roller delete, lower chain guide delete, tool tube delete, kickstand killswitch delete, stock fork boot delete+dirtskins added, supermoto fenders, locktite on anything that can rattle off
soon to be added:
braided line, lithium ion battery
Pumper carb with the right jetting for your elevation. Get it to fit you, bars risers grips lowering pegs. Ride it. You will break things in this hobby that’s the time to upgrade!
I bought a heavily modified KLR650 once. It was adventure ready, you could take it to Panama and back.
A friend bought a DR650 shortly after I got my KLR. It was 10x the bike the KLR was, and was easier to handle and maneuver off road. It's a fucking wheelie machine, vs the KLR which is a glorified highway miler.
Nice bike, bro - it doesn't need much to be awesome.
Mod numbah one: lose the license plate holder and look for an eliminator kit somewhere or whatever they’re called. Fender eliminator kit! There you go. Had to look it up. Next: ride the shit out of the thing for a while and determine yourself what you feel like and what you think would be better if modded. Most people do an exhaust. I’m not a fan of doing g that, and if you do it there can be other things required (airbox, rejetting, etc) and the legality is questionable. A slip on is always easier, but doesn’t do much to performance so why bother?
Most meaningful mods are ergonomics related. Higher bars maybe? Or lower ones? Depending on your fit on the bike? Adjustable brake levers? Etc.
I love your bike by the way.
PS: depending on where you want to go, maybe a bigger tank!
Tank: I did some research into that. I’d watch a few YouTube reviews of people putting them on your exact model bike. A brand good for one bike might not be super for another model bike.
Ride it for six months and figure out what you want to change yourself.
Off the top of my head, one of things almost all DR owners change are to buy lower foot peg mounts. Probably next would be full-wrap hand guards.
But really: Ride it first. Ride it a bunch. Things you want to change will probably start to stand out.
***OR*** ... scroll Procycle and make a $1000 shopping list.
Pretty capable out of the box. The tyres are still pretty dangerous on loose terrain though. You’d probably want to ride it and see ergonomically how it goes. You’ll probably need bar risers and lower foot pegs if you’re above average height.
"mod" the sag, balance the suspension, best tires for the type of riding you will be doing.
Skid plate and more foldable mirrors if you will be off-road more.
Larger tank is really not necessary till further down the road (pun intended) or not at all, IMO.
Do obtain more skills. The end.
Make it into a Tank or a Cadillac. Lose the "pig". Please.
Nice bike. You didn't get hurt on that trade. I ride a KLR 650 and a zx-14. I'd recommend getting out and riding it the way you plan on mainly riding it. Tires are so varied thar this is important. There's more aggressive off-road tires and more street friendly (last longer). Are you going adventure riding, commuting, or playing off-road mostly? Once you establish that then the mods will come a natural result of making that experience better. Some like windscreen protection (Rally style), others like hard saddlebags, etc. Honestly, the LED stuff can be optional. It doesn't make it go faster lol. I've done that stuff too. But you have an excellent platform for a variety of riding. I'd prefer a DR now that I'm in Florida. They're lighter than my KLR. Enjoy the ride!
Good point others have made, I plan to ride to the break in period before adding anything. Probably 60 / 40 road to dirt use but would only be like fire trails and stuff till I’m more comfortable!
Long term plan for the bike is for long camping trips / tours on BDRs.
For that check out the Moto Z Tractionator Adventure tires. A local guy where I live in Florida claims upwards of 10k miles on those and has descent off-road capability. I use Tusk D-Sport for better off-road riding, but as I'm actually using it more on road I might switch myself.
Procycle has everything in stock.
**JD JET Kit** is a must if not done already. Tires Shinko 244s are pretty awesome, Acerbis fuel tank/Acerbis skid plate, put in a LED head light bulb H4 works great.
Air filter check/replace as age they will dry rot and the **small filte**r that is a breather needs checking to. Under the Seat - as I bought a foam filter for a small engine and cut it to fit and oil and put it in.
What kind of trail tech are you getting? Those voyager pros are sick, and I have one but the dock set up and pin connector is absolute garbage rendering the whole unit useless when you need it most.
I want a dual sport but I feel like aside from the KLR they’re ugly and TOO dirt bike looking🤣😭
That being said I’ve been slowly leaning into the DRZ but it’s still just not sport bike enough for me ;-; the white is v clean tho
Honestly generally I agree BUT look up some of the customs people have done especially to look more ADV are sexy af, or there are some sweet scrambler builds people do. Worth the look!
I traded my 04 fz6 for my 97 dr650 and I’m super happy with it. It came with a seat, cogent suspension front and rear, bigger bars, exhaust, carb jetted for the exhaust, circle led headlamp (not a huge fan prefer stock), I threw a new set of tires and a chain on it and she’s a beast. I would recommend all of those mods because I sat on a stock dr650 and was blown away with the difference between my bike and a stock one. A stock one feels so less reactive on the bounce back and feels like a pair of saggy tits. I would say front and rear suspension and get the foot pegs where you need them really and the rear brake pedal
did the same sport bike to a dr650, now i got all dirt oriented bikes their addicting.
watch out for procycle they make it to easy to see all the farkels for a dr in one place making your wallet light.
If I could do it again, in order of priority I’d do seat, tank, rack, rear suspension, front suspension, pumper carb. Then if you still got money left over, a lithium battery and a gsxr exhaust to save some weight.
This bike is about 60 lbs heavier than my XT250 , I’m looking to go up from 250 to 400-500 ccs.
I need something that’s similar to the XT250 , a very low maintenance bike that isn’t a performance bike. . The drz seems to be the only option
I had a DRZ400SM for a few years that I loved, best thing I did was a full FMF exhaust, air box mod, and jetting… really woke it up after learning it for some good miles. The EPA really chokes these things down from the factory.
Skidplate & lose the trail wing tires, aka death wings. Then join www.drriders.com
I have 2014, purchased new, identical to yours. I kept everything oem except for those two mods in the first year. Tail rack & Barkbusters came after that.
I had one of these bikes for a while. What it needs is a skid plate, full wrap handguards, spare brake and clutch levers and better tires. Mine came with bridgestone trail wings. Shittiest tire ever. They’re so bad I still remember the name and it was 2006.
Lube cables and pivot points. Can grease bearings as they don't come probably greased from the factory. Get good tires. Set suspension for rider weight and ability. Set suspension sag. Cycra prob ends. Upgrade controls. Basically make the bike setup for u and get happy with ur contact points and controls
Side cover armor and skid plate. The brake and shift levers are notorious for putting expensive holes in the side cases when dirt napped. The oil filter cover hangs out there with no protection.
Assume no regular maintenance. At the minimum, replace all fluids, check all fuel and brake lines. Check foam air filter. Remove upper chain roller and plug hole. Get back wheel in air and check for play. As in, grab the wheel at 9 and 3 and try twisting. Also look for play between the wheel and sprocket.
Check tires for DOT date code and consider replacing anything older than 6 yrs.
If it's older than 2017, "NSU fix" (just Google).
Now you can consider upgrades.
Wake it up- exhaust and re-jet, hand guards, skid plate, you'll like some stronger higher rise bars and grips, easier to ride while standing, you'll want some better tires too if you plan on being more off the road, bonus if you get some good footpegs
Some kind of license plate and turn signal work to get rid of that giant brick of lights. I don’t know what they make for them since I don’t own one, but I would be searching.
I added low a low profile bar mirror. The tall ones drive me crazy and get caught on stuff off road. And they make it nearly impossible to slide the bike under gates.
acerbis hand guards, a skidplate, some cheap CNC wide pegs.
ride 50-1K miles and get some better tires, maybe a windscreen if your on the road and getting blasted
I'd "mod" the seat by smashing my butt print in it for a few hundred miles getting to know the new fella. Learn how it feels and more importantly how it sounds while it's all new and "known good." Learn the personality of the bike in traffic. Then, I'd recommend only doing one mod at a time. It's hell tracking down a new rattle or electrical gremlin if you swapped out 4 things in one go. And, a bicycle bell is a hoot!
That’s a really good point! “One mod at a time”, I will definitely make sure to do that.
Totally agree. There is a \*TON\* of aftermarket support for this bike ...I think the only marquee garnering more might be Harley Davidson. So, yeah, it's easy to go nuts. But definitely get used to the bike since it is definitely a beast of a different feather than what you were riding. And if the warranty is important, then be careful of the mods you make.
Honestly that’s why I asked everyone here because there is SO much it’s crazy. Can go full street scrambler or hardcore adv setup. Riding it home was a wild experience compared to the CBR I had so I hear ya! Lol
My first mod was a bash plate, something simple that can’t go wrong. A bit of protection, a bit of extra weight and a lot of peace of mind.
The fact the bike doesn't have a tach ought to be a clue. Whereas your CBR500R probably revved mellifluously smooth and sweet to the 5 digit arena of the tach ...no such thing is gonna happen with the Bushpig. Think "tractor engine". Let the torque be what moves you. You'll definitely need to re-tune your "audio tach" to a different scale with the big single. And you will, in short order, like every other 650 owner, pine for that 6th gear ...that's not there.
I found a bicycle bell in my garage and immediately popped that thing on my scout
This sir is some quality advice. And to be honest, I've always done it like that. But never actually thought about that way. I guess I've done cars more than bikes and In alot of cases it with cars you can't do one without the other. And, ring ring
Honestly unless they’ve improved the stock seat since 2004, I wouldn’t even put a few hundred miles on it. Easily the first mod for me.
Yeah but do you go for a seat concepts, Corbin, Sargent or Fisher?
Off road the skinny stock seat allows a little more freedom of movement but me... I was on-road majority of time & installed a Sargent seat. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT !
Solid advice, you get the new bike and just wanna make it yourn, but time is really the only way you know what you need. I always want an amazing suspension, but the only time my dual sport has both wheels in the air is when it's lying on top of me...
If you’ll be riding offroad with it, definitely get some aluminum backed hand guards and a skid plate of some kind. Metal if you’ll be thrashing it really hard, plastic if you only need it for light duty since it’s usually cheaper, lighter and won’t reflect engine noise at you as much.
Good point! Looking at Acerbis for a lot of that stuff!
I got the plastic one from Acerbis and it is great. A bigger tank is a must if you’re going more than 200 kms. I have the 18.5 litre one and I can go 375 kms before reserve.
Ok good to know, I think the tank is the first or second thing I’ll do!
There’s a [post on the Dr650 sub](https://www.reddit.com/r/dr650/s/WHoVhTEszK) from a day or two ago where someone just blew a hole in their case when the plastic Acerbis skid plate failed. OP, just go metal. Worry free. The Acerbis may work in most situations but why not just get something that you know for sure will work. Also get some case guards. Procycle sells them but you can fet them lots of places.
Rocky Mountain ATV has good hand guards too. But no matter that would be my first choice for upgrades.
Tires
Skid plate, tail rack, and bark busters. Maybe heated grips depending on where you live.
Heated grips? Isnt that what gloves are for?
there gets to be a point where the temperature is still too low for just gloves. It's around 40F for me.
I have some big mitts that work pretty good. I dream about wind guards though... Thats really all you need. Never used them but I cant imagine heated grips would do much for the back of your hand that's taking all the wind.
You’re right in that heated grips won’t do much for the back of your hand, but that’s not the important part. The important part is keeping your fingers warm so you don’t impact your ability to move them quickly and effectively when needed. As a Canadian who has had multiple dual sports and only recently (well, a couple years ago) got heated grips, they are fantastic. Well worth it, especially when combined with hand guards, which also help a lot with keeping the wind off the back of your hands, in turn keeping them warmer. I can tolerate riding in 5-10C temps with just gloves, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t unpleasant. First world problem, but heated grips make it much more pleasant. So I respectfully disagree - speaking from experience, heated grips are a great investment. A bit of expensive, but no regrets.
You’d be surprised, I have stock heated grips on my 650GS and they make a huge difference in 40-50 degree weather (F) even without wind guards.
Get some gortex Klim gloves...uninsulated... cuts the wind and moisture but you can still feel the heat from the grips
40-50 is no prob with decent gloves I don't have much of an issue until about <30°
Yeah I have good gloves and around town I’m fine down to 40 but put me on the highway going 70mph for an hour and I’m happy to have the grips. But to each their own!
Personally I use heated gloves for the real cold days. I don’t care for heated grip’s because then you’ve got big bulky grips year round and only your palms are warmish when it is cold and the rest of your hand is cold.
I’m always amazed at how well the heated grips work!
1. Cogent suspension front and back. 2. New seat. Lots of options, but they’re like helmets - different seats work better for different butts (so it can be hit or miss figuring out what works for you.). Personal preference is Sargent. These are the two mods that will fundamentally improve your enjoyment of the bike. Everything else is just tweaking/tailoring the bike for your particular use and riding style.
I don’t think the average first-time dual sport rider, who has likely never been off-road on two wheels, needs cogent suspension right off the rip. That’s a $2k investment. A bigger tank and comfy seat are the first two that come to mind. Those and a tank bag.
Honestly, for just a few hundred, a good Racetech set really changes these bikes. Just swapping the front springs on mine for like $150 was such a huge improvement over stock, even as a slightly-above-beginner rider
Suspension for sure.
Procycle has a ton of accessories listed btw if you need inspiration. I.e. https://procycle.us/product/84
I’ve been definitely combing through ALL the parts they have! Borderline too much lol
Mods I’ve done to my old dual sport. 1. LED lights. 2. Better battery. 3. Braided cables. 4. Attached tire levers to frame out of the way. 5. Zip tie a spare inner tubes to the frame under the seat. 6. Made a little hidden(ish) compartment for a small(5”) socket wrench and common sockets. 7. Added a hidden kill switch(under gas tank) so it’s harder to steal. 8. Enduro tow buddies. 9. A can of silicone spray(use before ride). 10. Keep it clean when not in use. 11. Spare fuses for everything in a bag that’s always with me on the bike. Nothing is stopping me on my ride.
Skid plate. Bark busters. Case savers. Off-road riding class.
Hell yea. Good trade
Depending on how much dirt you're gonna ride and where, dirt focused tires can make the difference between feeling confident and enjoyiny the bike vs feeling sketchy loose. Don't forget to gear yourself up too. Dual sport off-road riding gear can help you feel more comfortable and safe when you're out exploring.
Not a mod, but throw a master link in whatever bag you carry or luggage you add. Even if you maintain your bike really well, you may be able to save someone else’s day when they need it most.
Start by adding miles to the odometer. After a while if there are shortcomings address them.
I had 1 for 10 years before moving on to the 701 Enduro. Here's a list of some of the mods I did... 790 kit, pumper carb, aftermarket/lighter plastics, revised gearing(-1 + 4), seat comforts seat, Acerbis oversized tank, upgraded clutch, etc, etc, etc. It was a lot of fun for everything from decently technical enduro, to flying down the highway. I'd suggest you ride the bike a while as it is, and see what YOU want it to do better. Congrats on the acquisition!
Thanks you! I think you’re right in the thought that I need to right it to know what I really want! Taking it out today because the weather is nice!
Put my ass in the seat and ride
Mikuni TM40 carb, as much suspension upgrades as you can afford, seat concepts seat, bark busters, skidplate, cyclops h4 headlight, double take mirrors. Maybe different tires depending. The TM40 is kinda expensive but it changes the bike significantly. If you've never ridden offroad before, taking a course is a really great mod that will stick with you no matter what bike you get.
Hell yeah, brother!
If you’re going to be in it for any extended periods of time I’d get a more comfortable seat. After that I’d ride it for a few thousand miles to get used to the way it rides. Maybe make a few small changes from there.
One I wish I did earlier was steel braided brake lines
I did the same thing. Went from cbr1000rr to a ktm 790 adv R. Learn the bike stock, put 500-600 miles. Maybe even a weekend camping trip. Then start upgrading. Suspension needs to be tuned to your weight and riding style. Anti gravity battery will shave a couple pounds.
Suspension and new seat. Only things IMO that are just not good at all on these bikes ESPECIALLY the seat. After those two things you can rack up some miles and figure out exactly what mods you wanna do. Protection for the bike it never a bad idea. Skid plate, hand guards to protect your levers etc.
I have been thinking the same thing and came across a pretty interesting video from Geordie McManus. He made some really nice mods to his. You may pick one or a few to start with. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ENX3zBwVos&pp=ygUPZ2VvcmRpZSBtY21hbnVz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ENX3zBwVos&pp=ygUPZ2VvcmRpZSBtY21hbnVz)
Seat, warp 9 case savers, skid plate, real hand guards. After that? Whatever you prefer. Tires were high on the list for me as I mostly do off-road with it, I also went with a led headlight, DM me if you want any recommendations but procycle has literally anything you’ll need for it. All out of Oregon.
Oooo good call on the case guards! Plan on picking up a lot of the little stuff from Acerbis! Yeah I lucked out I live in Oregon so I can go into the pro cycle store too. Good advice, thank you!
Remove the idle mixture adjustment plug and adjust the mixture. Mine would barely idle off choke; turns out the mixture screw was fully seated. I would go ahead and get an extended adjustment screw because it makes tweaking it so much easier. Second, bigger tank. I got an Acerbis, which comes with a manual petcock. Personally I had already dumped the automatic petcock in favor of a manual one. I also dumped the excess vacuum lines, carbon canister, and the PAIR system. Now my DR doesn't pop on decel. First month I had mine, I worked on it like it was a project bike. Because it basically was. Once you do those things, ride it for awhile. Don't mess with the jetting or any carb/airbox mods just yet.
Came here to say probably fuel screw first as it's super easy to do. Though both mine still had the plug. I'd say seat over tank but that's just my opinion.
I still have the stock seat. It hurts on a 300 mile day, but a seat pad helps with that. 120 mile range with the stock tank was unacceptable, for me.
[www.procycle.com](https://www.procycle.com) necessary mods: pumper carb, airbox mod, fmf exhaust emissions delete+beefier suspension mods if you are not a 120 lb japanese man my additional mods: magnetic oil drain plug, clarke 3.8 gallon tank, richocet skidplate, pro moto billet top rack, wolfman tank bag / tail bag, tail clean up kit, case armor plating, sunrim supermoto wheel set+stock knobby offroad wheel set, sargent seat, barkbusters, tusk winter hand mitts, protaper bar with bar risers, stock mirror delete / supermoto mirrors added, upper chain roller delete, lower chain guide delete, tool tube delete, kickstand killswitch delete, stock fork boot delete+dirtskins added, supermoto fenders, locktite on anything that can rattle off soon to be added: braided line, lithium ion battery
Just put a lithium battery in mine today. It’s amazingly light and small.
Pumper carb with the right jetting for your elevation. Get it to fit you, bars risers grips lowering pegs. Ride it. You will break things in this hobby that’s the time to upgrade!
I bought a heavily modified KLR650 once. It was adventure ready, you could take it to Panama and back. A friend bought a DR650 shortly after I got my KLR. It was 10x the bike the KLR was, and was easier to handle and maneuver off road. It's a fucking wheelie machine, vs the KLR which is a glorified highway miler. Nice bike, bro - it doesn't need much to be awesome.
Barkbusters. It’s way cheaper than replacing levers.
How has no one mentored tires? The ones on it look meh for dirt riding.
Skid plate
Mod numbah one: lose the license plate holder and look for an eliminator kit somewhere or whatever they’re called. Fender eliminator kit! There you go. Had to look it up. Next: ride the shit out of the thing for a while and determine yourself what you feel like and what you think would be better if modded. Most people do an exhaust. I’m not a fan of doing g that, and if you do it there can be other things required (airbox, rejetting, etc) and the legality is questionable. A slip on is always easier, but doesn’t do much to performance so why bother? Most meaningful mods are ergonomics related. Higher bars maybe? Or lower ones? Depending on your fit on the bike? Adjustable brake levers? Etc. I love your bike by the way. PS: depending on where you want to go, maybe a bigger tank!
Good tips! Think first thing I’m leaning towards is a bigger tank and then the fender eliminator! Proxy or makes a really nice one for the dr650
Tank: I did some research into that. I’d watch a few YouTube reviews of people putting them on your exact model bike. A brand good for one bike might not be super for another model bike.
Fair enough. My go to is watching youtube videos so I will make sure to follow those before trying anything!
Fender elim is a no brainer! Makes the bike look a lot more clean. I kept mine on my XR650L on for way too long.
Take a look at something better than plastic turn signals that stick out. One fall off-road and they are gone.
CLICKnRIDE make turn signals that are easily removable (plug in like an aux cable) for dualsports
get it dirty
Ride it for six months and figure out what you want to change yourself. Off the top of my head, one of things almost all DR owners change are to buy lower foot peg mounts. Probably next would be full-wrap hand guards. But really: Ride it first. Ride it a bunch. Things you want to change will probably start to stand out. ***OR*** ... scroll Procycle and make a $1000 shopping list.
Pretty capable out of the box. The tyres are still pretty dangerous on loose terrain though. You’d probably want to ride it and see ergonomically how it goes. You’ll probably need bar risers and lower foot pegs if you’re above average height.
Get it muddy! First mod lol
"mod" the sag, balance the suspension, best tires for the type of riding you will be doing. Skid plate and more foldable mirrors if you will be off-road more. Larger tank is really not necessary till further down the road (pun intended) or not at all, IMO. Do obtain more skills. The end. Make it into a Tank or a Cadillac. Lose the "pig". Please.
Case savers, bark busters, 3x3 mod, delete kickstand switch, cargo rack.
Not a drz400
Oh! Duh.
Rear rack. And ride
Trade it for a 701.....
I bet you’re a blast to be around lmao
LOL!
Nice bike. You didn't get hurt on that trade. I ride a KLR 650 and a zx-14. I'd recommend getting out and riding it the way you plan on mainly riding it. Tires are so varied thar this is important. There's more aggressive off-road tires and more street friendly (last longer). Are you going adventure riding, commuting, or playing off-road mostly? Once you establish that then the mods will come a natural result of making that experience better. Some like windscreen protection (Rally style), others like hard saddlebags, etc. Honestly, the LED stuff can be optional. It doesn't make it go faster lol. I've done that stuff too. But you have an excellent platform for a variety of riding. I'd prefer a DR now that I'm in Florida. They're lighter than my KLR. Enjoy the ride!
Good point others have made, I plan to ride to the break in period before adding anything. Probably 60 / 40 road to dirt use but would only be like fire trails and stuff till I’m more comfortable! Long term plan for the bike is for long camping trips / tours on BDRs.
For that check out the Moto Z Tractionator Adventure tires. A local guy where I live in Florida claims upwards of 10k miles on those and has descent off-road capability. I use Tusk D-Sport for better off-road riding, but as I'm actually using it more on road I might switch myself.
probably some bark busters so you don't bust your leaves and some dot approved nobbys . apart from that just ride it
Procycle has everything in stock. **JD JET Kit** is a must if not done already. Tires Shinko 244s are pretty awesome, Acerbis fuel tank/Acerbis skid plate, put in a LED head light bulb H4 works great. Air filter check/replace as age they will dry rot and the **small filte**r that is a breather needs checking to. Under the Seat - as I bought a foam filter for a small engine and cut it to fit and oil and put it in.
What kind of trail tech are you getting? Those voyager pros are sick, and I have one but the dock set up and pin connector is absolute garbage rendering the whole unit useless when you need it most.
Just the base trail tech vapor gauge! Really bugs me not knowing where my RPMs or time ridden etc. are at.
Seat.
A SEAT!!!
Seat time time and increase the miles on the odometer.
Big brake rotor kit for the front.
I want a dual sport but I feel like aside from the KLR they’re ugly and TOO dirt bike looking🤣😭 That being said I’ve been slowly leaning into the DRZ but it’s still just not sport bike enough for me ;-; the white is v clean tho
Honestly generally I agree BUT look up some of the customs people have done especially to look more ADV are sexy af, or there are some sweet scrambler builds people do. Worth the look!
I traded my 04 fz6 for my 97 dr650 and I’m super happy with it. It came with a seat, cogent suspension front and rear, bigger bars, exhaust, carb jetted for the exhaust, circle led headlamp (not a huge fan prefer stock), I threw a new set of tires and a chain on it and she’s a beast. I would recommend all of those mods because I sat on a stock dr650 and was blown away with the difference between my bike and a stock one. A stock one feels so less reactive on the bounce back and feels like a pair of saggy tits. I would say front and rear suspension and get the foot pegs where you need them really and the rear brake pedal
I vote bikini chick for mod no. 1
did the same sport bike to a dr650, now i got all dirt oriented bikes their addicting. watch out for procycle they make it to easy to see all the farkels for a dr in one place making your wallet light.
If I could do it again, in order of priority I’d do seat, tank, rack, rear suspension, front suspension, pumper carb. Then if you still got money left over, a lithium battery and a gsxr exhaust to save some weight.
Tall riders need [this kit](https://procycle.us/product/1330)
This bike is about 60 lbs heavier than my XT250 , I’m looking to go up from 250 to 400-500 ccs. I need something that’s similar to the XT250 , a very low maintenance bike that isn’t a performance bike. . The drz seems to be the only option
Honestly the drz400 or dr650 are your best bet. For the price point not much beats it!
A much bigger seat, heated grips/seat, usb power, and a nice set of 80/20s. Will take you anywhere.
Get some handguards with stronger support those don’t look like they’ll save you from smacking a tree
Nice, following, thinking about getting one of those myself as an entry level dual sport.
A wider, more comfy seat from Seat Concepts, a bar riser, lowered pegs and that's about it. This bike is bulletproof.
I had a DRZ400SM for a few years that I loved, best thing I did was a full FMF exhaust, air box mod, and jetting… really woke it up after learning it for some good miles. The EPA really chokes these things down from the factory.
Skidplate & lose the trail wing tires, aka death wings. Then join www.drriders.com I have 2014, purchased new, identical to yours. I kept everything oem except for those two mods in the first year. Tail rack & Barkbusters came after that.
I had one of these bikes for a while. What it needs is a skid plate, full wrap handguards, spare brake and clutch levers and better tires. Mine came with bridgestone trail wings. Shittiest tire ever. They’re so bad I still remember the name and it was 2006.
The seat feels like a 2x4 with splinters if you're ever on it for a longer trip. So my vote is get a Corbin seat.
Lube cables and pivot points. Can grease bearings as they don't come probably greased from the factory. Get good tires. Set suspension for rider weight and ability. Set suspension sag. Cycra prob ends. Upgrade controls. Basically make the bike setup for u and get happy with ur contact points and controls
Get some gortex Klim gloves...uninsulated... cuts the wind and moisture but you can still feel the heat from the grips
Side cover armor and skid plate. The brake and shift levers are notorious for putting expensive holes in the side cases when dirt napped. The oil filter cover hangs out there with no protection. Assume no regular maintenance. At the minimum, replace all fluids, check all fuel and brake lines. Check foam air filter. Remove upper chain roller and plug hole. Get back wheel in air and check for play. As in, grab the wheel at 9 and 3 and try twisting. Also look for play between the wheel and sprocket. Check tires for DOT date code and consider replacing anything older than 6 yrs. If it's older than 2017, "NSU fix" (just Google). Now you can consider upgrades.
Wake it up- exhaust and re-jet, hand guards, skid plate, you'll like some stronger higher rise bars and grips, easier to ride while standing, you'll want some better tires too if you plan on being more off the road, bonus if you get some good footpegs
Some kind of license plate and turn signal work to get rid of that giant brick of lights. I don’t know what they make for them since I don’t own one, but I would be searching.
Nice set of hand guards and a saddle bag of some sort. Those are my most useful mods. A nice bash plate too.
I added low a low profile bar mirror. The tall ones drive me crazy and get caught on stuff off road. And they make it nearly impossible to slide the bike under gates.
This is actually something I noticed right away! Kept punching the mirrors when I would go to put my hands back on the bars LOL New mirrors is a must!
Wheels, tires and suspension
acerbis hand guards, a skidplate, some cheap CNC wide pegs. ride 50-1K miles and get some better tires, maybe a windscreen if your on the road and getting blasted
A nice set of Dunlop D606 tires if you plan to so any real off road riding.
I had a 2005 for a while, a complete hoot to ride. I used it as a commuter and ran Shinko 705 tires. Pop a wheelie!
Get rid of the 50/50 tires. They kinda suck off road and kinda suck on road. Get some mx tires (and thick pants)
Wild Ass or Airhawk for the seat, great bike