what year dr650 is the best

[powerslave73]

Is there any bad year I should watch out for when purchasing a dr650? I think one is in my near future. It would be a 2003. Thanks

[john ryals]

I think 94 had paper base gaskets that would weep,95-96 starter torque gear not good,other than that there all the same cept different plastics.change oil&filter after hot on what ever you get and go through the whole bike maintenance wise and you should be fine.

[Wybs]

The bad base gasket was late 90's thru early 2000's, not sure when it ended. I tried a search but it would not cooperate. Other than that 96-present are the same bike. The base gasket is not that bad, a reasonable dealer will do it for $200. There's also a good chance if it had the bad gasket the P.O. would have already changed it.The new gasket can be identified by small grommets that stick out so they can be seen easily

editted to say of course the 2001, although mechanically the same, is really the best

[Lego70]

Is there any bad year I should watch out for when purchasing a dr650? I think one is in my near future. It would be a 2003. Thanks

I looked into my crystal ball and it's says you should buy it, ride it, and enjoy a fine piece of machinery. Seriously I've never heard anything negative about the 03 model. Like mentioned above sometime in the early 2000's they switched over the gasket but it's not a real big deal. Even the ones that weep won't kill the bike and it's not too expensive to have changed. Good luck.

[CaptTurbo]

The base gasket change over came in mid 2003 if memory serves. It is easy to spot if you can get a look at the bike. The metal gasket has a tab that sticks out on one corner.

[NordieBoy]

Starter clutch idler problem was 98-99.

Paper base gasket was 96-mid 2003.

NSU issues 96-

Crap header weld 96-

[kuyaoli]

your question was which year is the best, of course the 2009

[NordieBoy]

your question was which year is the best, of course the 2009

Yep. It's got the fastest paintjob.

Other than the 2001 of course.

[boatxr]

the ones (mid 2003 on) that use this head base gasket.

if you don't see this circled tab on an 03 than it has the old design which will eventually leak oil & cost $$$ to fix. besides that all else is the exact same.

[beemerwolf]

mine is one of the good 2003 models

the previous owner lived down the road from a couple of BMW Motorheads straight from Germany that just love to tinker & tune

these 2 boys befriended the previous owner just so they could work on his bike I think

well, this particular 2003 DR650 flat out RUNS!!!!!!!

the throttle response is very crisp & it will lift the front wheel in the 1st 3 gears easily................I say hurrah to those 2 German Tuners:smirk:

[fbritt5]

I have a 2001 and suffer no problems with the stock base gasket. Just lucky so far I guess.

[Ga-thump]

2008 is the best year and the blue ones are the fastest. They have 163HP at rear wheel stock, and and can do 88MPH in first gear, and have a faster top end than a Hyabusa. They also get 90 miles per gallon. Really!!!!!

[Bob Onit]

2008 is the best year and the blue ones are the fastest. They have 163HP at rear wheel stock,

Sorry to break it to you but, the black ones have 170 RWHP

[NordieBoy]

Sorry to break it to you but, the black ones have 170 RWHP

Only on a DynoJet dyno...

[powerslave73]

I think we are getting a little off track here. I found a 2003 with less than 1000 miles on it for $2500. Think I'm gonna pull the trigger.

[canon del cobre raider]

2008 is the best year and the blue ones are the fastest. They have 163HP at rear wheel stock, and and can do 88MPH in first gear, and have a faster top end than a Hyabusa. They also get 90 miles per gallon. Really!!!!!

MINE IS BLUE ALSO, BUT I'M SHORT 3 PONNIES, I WAS ABLE TO GET ONLY 163 HP. I THINK I WILL SELL IT , NO ENOUGH POWER ANYMORE

[canon del cobre raider]

2008 is the best year and the blue ones are the fastest. They have 163HP at rear wheel stock, and and can do 88MPH in first gear, and have a faster top end than a Hyabusa. They also get 90 miles per gallon. Really!!!!!

MINE IS BLUE ALSO, BUT I'M SHORT 3 PONNIES, I WAS ABLE TO GET ONLY 160HP. I THINK I WILL SELL IT , NO ENOUGH POWER ANYMORE

[jdlindberg]

the ones (mid 2003 on) that use this head base gasket.

if you don't see this circled tab on an 03 than it has the old design which will eventually leak oil & cost $$$ to fix. besides that all else is the exact same.

So is this something a guy with some wrenching experience can fix? I'm looking at a '98 for $1850 list and don't know if the seal has been changed or if it's a good deal for that matter.

[jdlindberg]

Starter clutch idler problem was 98-99.

Paper base gasket was 96-mid 2003.

NSU issues 96-

Crap header weld 96-

Hi, can you tell me about the NSU issue and the "crap header weld"? The weld, if it what it sounds like may be an issue to fix, but the NSU, can i fix that with some wrenching?

Thx,

jon

[LukasM]

Hi, can you tell me about the NSU issue and the "crap header weld"? The weld, if it what it sounds like may be an issue to fix, but the NSU, can i fix that with some wrenching?

Thx,

jon

Yes to both. Header weld (at the flange) can be ground down and the NSU needs some bolts loctited in:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135295&page=1321