Don't really want to sell the DRZ at this point so I want to explore all the available options for making long distance treks to the dirt more tolerable without making it suck once I get there. The bike currently has a Clarke 3.9 tank, 41 tooth rear sprocket, Kuba #1 lowering link, and Shinko 244 dual sport knobbie tires. I also ordered a front fender stabilizer brace that I haven't put on yet from here: http://www.procycle....ges/drz400.html

The few thoughts I've had so far were to...

1. Change the Kouba .75" lowering link to the 1.25" link and put some 1 inch handlebar risers on and raise the forks 1.25" as well.
2. Leave the knobbie Shinko 244 on the rear but go back to a more street worthy front tire to reduce high speed vibration and wobble.
3. Have a steering dampener installed and maybe even sell my Seat Concept seat and get a high priced Rick Mayer or Sarge seat.

What other options are there?

Edited by Excite-Bike, 12 March 2012 - 12:46 PM.

perhaps the answer is no?

Can you list your specific objections?  It sounds like they might be instability at speed. Could be that trunk and soft bags on the back are not helping much.

I have better road tires, other than that, my DRZ is about the same and has no instability.

Noble, on 12 March 2012 - 04:45 PM, said:

Yes, instability. Seems to be all over the place from bad road surfaces, passing trucks, and wind. Also gets scary handlebar wobble at highway speeds.
My local mechanic says to dump the Shinko 244s and put on a set of Continental TKC-80s.

Anyway, why exactly do people say the DR650 is so much better than the DRZ for long hauls?
I saw a quote somewhere that said the DR could be modded to be much more dirty friendly than the DRZ can be modded to be street friendly, but he never said why.

My bike wobbles at about 90mph, but it sounds like yours is worse.  I had a kawasaki that wobbled.  It ended up that the rear wheel was not mounted straight.  My fault.
My complaint is that the DRZ is not very relaxing to ride on the freeway, but I wouldn't think the DR would be any better.
I think the Steering damper would only be masking a problem.

Did you balance the tires?  Check steering head bearings?  I just mounted some 244's...before that I was riding on MT-21's and didn't have a problem at highway speed.  I won't know about the shinko's for a couple weeks.  I grew up in the wind, so I don't seem to notice it as much as others.  That said, from a crosswind perspective, the DRZ is pretty light.  Outside of filling your bags with bricks there's not a lot to do.  The DRZ should track straight as an arrow.
If it were me, I'd do this:
Check tire pressure
Check for bent wheels/loose spokes
Spin tires, look to see if they have any hop to them
Check steering/swingarm/wheel bearings for play
Check balance on tires (out of balance usually makes a shake around 55-75mph)
Go ride

Have you set up the suspension at all or checked the sag?  You're probably best dealing with that and changing tire pressures between asphalt and dirt.  Removing that tube holder from the front fender may help a bit too.
Steve

thumpty dumpty, on 12 March 2012 - 05:44 PM, said:

Repair Order Recommendation
Test rode unit to verify "front wheel wobble" - at time of riding did not feel wobbles
Noted that:
Front rim is straight and true
Front end alignment is normal
Spokes are all tight
Steering bearing adjustment is correct
If wobble came after new tires installed - may consider trying different tires (TKC-80 recommended)

Cleaned and lightly oiled K&N air filter
Checked coolant level to be ok.
Checked oil level, needed 250 ml to top up (advise customer that larger singles will burn more oil at freeway speed and to check oil often when used on the freeway...)

i think front wheel wobble is because of the fender.  where did you get your soft bags. They dont look like Dirt Bagz, which i have.  Thank you for listing the site where you buy stuff for the bike.  very nice.

Front fender is getting aero, the sumo guys either switch fenders or drill 1" holes on the back of the fender to let the air out.  Depending on tire, rain grooves may cause some head shake.

The tail trunk is a sail so that is part of the problem. I really don't know that a DR650 is better for long hauls.  I have my doubts about a DR650 off road.  My well warn DRZ400 does not use any oil on or off the road.

SteveROntario, on 12 March 2012 - 05:51 PM, said:

Not yet, waiting for the bar risers to arrive for that.

Will try this again, brand new laptop and highspeed internet and so many adds on this site it freezes up and takes minutes just to load a page. Anyway.

I ride the highway all the time and it used to be downright dangerous passing,being passed or following a tractor trailor or big vehicle. I put a supermoto front fender with the vent in the rear on and my high speed wobble vanished. I run ammo cans for saddlebags and a tail trunk. The whole problem was air getting under the fender and lifting on the front end. Now I just sail right by the big trucks without worry.
I see you have a supermoto looking fender but cant see if it's vented in the rear.

crudstud, on 12 March 2012 - 06:32 PM, said:

Front fender is for a Suzuki RM.
Saddle bags are from OSI.
I posted the site link because I have never seen a fender brace before and don't know anything about them.

Edited by Excite-Bike, 12 March 2012 - 06:48 PM.

A riding instructor once said to me that front end wobble has a lot to do with riding technique and riding gear more than the bike it self. Changing how you sit and hold the bike can make a big difference to how the front end behaves at high speeds.

You could always buy a wide range gearbox and have it installed. Steering dampners will help.

So the general consensus in the DRZ forum is that the DR650 is in fact NOT a significantly better bike for long hauls on the freeway?
The bike I have now is just as good? No mods warranted?

Edited by Excite-Bike, 12 March 2012 - 07:24 PM.

i'd say ditch that strunk then load the bike up how you would when riding and go get the suspension setup.

my bike is a utter mess.... as far as you'd think for highway stability. i run 15/44 gears, tall seat concepts seat (i think i should have gotten the normal one) front tire isn't balanced, rear tire isn't balaned and rim is not true by a good bit. the bike has the suspension setup well and a steering stabilizer but i keep it set loose. i ride my bike 60+ miles on the freeway to get to the dirt and do it just about every weekend. weekend before last i rode 60+ mph through 10-20 miles of rough dirt roads and 80 mph for 60+ miles on the freeway after my buddy fell and broke his collar bone. bike didn't skip a beat.

Excite-Bike, on 12 March 2012 - 07:22 PM, said:

You seem to be ignoring all suggestions being made to you... I've had 3 drz's and none had the type of wobble you describe. Something is wrong somewhere.

buddoggin, on 12 March 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

My actual question has gone unanswered and all the focus has been on how to remedy wobble on a DRZ.
Is the entire reason they say the DR650 is better on freeways than the DRZ because of handlebar wobble?

Edited by Excite-Bike, 12 March 2012 - 08:14 PM.

Excite-Bike, on 12 March 2012 - 08:11 PM, said:

My FZ1 is better than both on the freeway. I guess it comes down to what you want out of a bike. If highway comfort is what you
value most then the DRZ may not be your bike. You may need to go with the Harley mod... Seriously though, ride a dr650...
If you like it better... buy it!

Edited by buddoggin, 12 March 2012 - 08:28 PM.