My Suzuki DL

[ErikGustav2]

This is my bike.
And my compromises between cost, weight, what load to carry , seat height, fuel ranch, needed modifications, reliability, maintainability, availability of extras and so on.

I have been thinking of several bikes. But this is where I ended.
It is my personal choice.
I do not claim that this is correct. Or better than anything else.
And I respect anyone's choice. (I am even happy that we do not all drive the same bike. So boring)

The intended use is long distance travelling. Including gravel roads.
Not long distance autobahn driving (For that I use a Kawasaki GTR 1400)
And not hard core off road driving, equal to endurance racing.
But it shall be possibility to take that small dirt road. To that interesting place.

The Bike itself is a:

Suzuki DL 650 XT, 2016.

I wanted the XT model with spooked wheels and 19" front wheel.
I found a used one at a local dealer one year ago.
It was almost new (3 000 km). Complete service just done.
Aluminium side cases and some guards where already included.
So it was a good deal.

Last year was a modification and test year.
But I liked the bike so much, that the test drives added up to 7 000 km. (Even the GTR was my main bike)
To prepare and test the modification for doing long travel this year. Target is South America when winter comes to Europe.
But you all know how it looks in the world today.
So I just need to wait and see.

This is the list of modification done to the bike

Driving position:
* The rear end is lowered 25 mm, by replacing the "dog bones"
* The from end is lowered 25 mm, by sliding the fork legs up.
* The seat is replaced with a thinner one. That reduces the seat height. But it will be compensated by adding an air cell cushion from Wild Ass
* Adjustable footrest kit is mounted. It lowers the position and gives much better support.
* The bar is raised 35 mm by adding spacer. Max what can be done and still keep the original wires and cables.

Guards:
* Crash bars
* Sump guard
* Chain guard in aluminium, replacing plastic one
* Hand guard kit. Protects both hands and the levers

To carry the luggage
* TRAX ION Aluminium case system
* TRAX ADV Top case system
* Small toolbox
* Tank ring for tank bag
* Tank bag. It will be replaced with one that fits the shape of the tank. I have a good one that uses magnets. But this tank is so plastic, so it does not work. I need to use the Evo tank ring (Or stripes)
(* Dry bags that are not part of the bike )

Miscellaneous
* Center Stand
* Extension for side stand foot
* GPS mount for Garmin. With power supply direct from the battery. With its own fuse. Includes a USB power feeding
* Cigarette lighter socket. To be used for air pump and USB adapter.
* GPS tracker. Hidden somewhere. To track that the bike is where it is supposed to be.

=
I will add more pictures, when I have resized them. So they take less space.

[scooby]

That looks and sounds like a well set up bike , very nice.

[Asgard]

I rented one of these a couple years ago and have to say they ride really well on the twisty stuff a very nice handling bike

[ErikGustav2]

Rear end
Front end
Seat

[ErikGustav2]

Foot rest kit
Raised bar (and 12 V outlet)

[ErikGustav2]

Crash bars
Sump guard
Hand Guard kit

[ErikGustav2]

Chain Guard

[ErikGustav2]

Side cases
Top Case

[ErikGustav2]

Small toolbox
Tank ring

[ErikGustav2]

Central stand
Extension for side stand