Adventure Bike Rider Forum

as the title suggests im thinking of getting a second bike just to use for a spot of green laning as i think the 690 will be more for road work and events as a main bike.

i have found one local for a reasonable price and am going to have a look at it next weekend.

obviously it would be nice to have both electric and kick.

im guessing if valve clearances are correct and carb set up correctly they should be fairly easy to start.

thanks in advance.

Phil

If they're well set up then it's not a problem, the later kickstarts '93 -'95 are easier as they have the auto decompessor.

its a 1997 model with only 9000miles on the clock. looks ok in the pictures but hard to tell just how good it is until you see it in the flesh. after all it is an old bike and suzuki arnt exactly known for their rust repelling finish.

Hi Phil , myself and 2 mates have dr's, they have a 97 and a 98, both very easy to kick over,in fact the 97 model has been started by hand :woohoo:
Mine however is a 93 and even with the auto decomp head it can be a right bugger to kick over! It has a different carb to the 97 model so you shouldn't have any trouble with the one your gonna look at
Cheers (thumbs)

I did.

Then I stupidly sold it and got a Husqvarna.

The Suzuki was easier to start than the Husky..and the Husky was electric start only!

Excellnet bike. I always thought the DR 350 far better then the DRZ400. It's one bike I wish I had not sold .

The DR350 is a great bike, as you say if it's set up OK then starting shouldn't be an issue.
It's the gearing that makes it so good, with a taller 6th gear .

I got the electric start DR350 .. and it starts really well, even after being dropped, or after riding through water,
I had a kick start one many moons ago (90's), before it got nicked, and that was one hell of a bwggr to start, at any time. I used to think it was like kicking over a 600cc bike, and since I now have a 600cc bike that is difficult to start on the kickstart (kickstart only) .. I can see they are about the same compression, unbelievably.

the DR (kickstart) used to do over 90mph on the road but then overheat and slow and stop .. I never knew anything mechanical so just kept kicking it, so to speak. I wonder now if it had a high compression piston? (and I have learned a bit now on my present DR)

I have had guidance now, off Richard Simpson, on how to kickstart a big single .. and .. when I feel a bit fitter and weather better, I shall give it a go on my 600, which I have only ridden twice. I can see that it needs a good carb clean and general service and checking the play on the auto de-compression cable ... mostly its the carb, I am sure.

I suppose the point of all this rambling ... is that single cylinder ingins (with kickstart only) can be hard work unless you keep ahead of them with maintenance ( and have very tough boots and good strong ankles and the correct technique)

I had one new in 1991 with kickstart & it was a nightmare to start,especially when dropped

Luckily it got nicked & with the payout I bought a Honda XR

Much better starter & bike all round

hi Phil..

firstly what you done to that ktm :laugh: :laugh: grown some fairings etc.. (thumbs)

Ive ridden a dr250 with just kick start and its fine ..get the knack to starting it as each bike is different.and even when dropped or hot it starts after a few kicks...unless you`ve caught the kill switch and not noticed :whistle: ..they aare good bikes but wont ride anywhere like a ktm..so you wont look aas cool and fall off more .