Guys, I finally killed my DR motor - it is official, for 125 000 km that engine works without changing of any parts except decompressor shaft seal.
So my camchain snapped on last day on way to ferry back from Sardinia, but I got bike to my friend in Zurich by rented van.
I planned engine change or overhaul in August anyway, so if anyone got DR with relatively fresh motor but damaged otherwise or engine with under 35000 km - I am interested. This will save me some time and effort so I can still do planned offroad mountain passes in alps in August.
Anybody have spare engine with under 35000 km? :)
Moderators: ghulst, DR-Big, zappa.suzuki
thank you! It was great ride, with that suspension and Beringer brakes and on supermoto wheels with Supercorsa I pushed DR more than I pushed my sportbike 
I planned to rebuild motor anyway - 125000 km is a lot
BTW - guys, I can confirm that Sardinia is paradise for DR offroad. For type of offroad DR really made - open piste, hills, dust an rocks...and most importantly all is legal because it is "roads" and transfers.
I planned to rebuild motor anyway - 125000 km is a lot
BTW - guys, I can confirm that Sardinia is paradise for DR offroad. For type of offroad DR really made - open piste, hills, dust an rocks...and most importantly all is legal because it is "roads" and transfers.
wow, 125dkm without changing piston, cam chain and balans weight chain?
My chains started to make noises at 60dkm... you doubles the amount of kms, nice to know what the limits are!
My chains started to make noises at 60dkm... you doubles the amount of kms, nice to know what the limits are!
Suzuki DR 750SK Big '89
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Yes, I was surprised too.
I measured chains for limit before that last trip - camchain was still in limit, balancer chain was on last border of limit. I actually was worried about balancer chain more. But I did not rely on sounds (thou you are right), I was deliberately "following the book" of suzuki manual. Just wanted to try.
Compression still impressively close to limit but valve seats needs re-doing and lot of residue prevents good valves sealing. So - big overhaul in order.
I must say I ALWAYS checked oil level, sometimes couple times a day and never ran bike below middle level, I also used 10w50 syntetic and ensured that fuelling was spot on. But I did ride it very hard on asphalt. Of course I can't ride that hard offroad but I done 60-65000 km on DR since purchased it and always rode it hard on road and had minimum "highway riding", most on small twisty roads.
As I will disassemble engine I will report all information on what was service measurements of all components so that you guys will know how DR motor takes it with km.
On this last trip DR took 1.5 liter oil for 4000 km, of which 1300 km unfortunately was highway as I had to lead another 2 riders. But we did not exceed 140 kmph of real speed (about 155 on speedo).
I measured chains for limit before that last trip - camchain was still in limit, balancer chain was on last border of limit. I actually was worried about balancer chain more. But I did not rely on sounds (thou you are right), I was deliberately "following the book" of suzuki manual. Just wanted to try.
Compression still impressively close to limit but valve seats needs re-doing and lot of residue prevents good valves sealing. So - big overhaul in order.
I must say I ALWAYS checked oil level, sometimes couple times a day and never ran bike below middle level, I also used 10w50 syntetic and ensured that fuelling was spot on. But I did ride it very hard on asphalt. Of course I can't ride that hard offroad
but I done 60-65000 km on DR since purchased it and always rode it hard on road and had minimum "highway riding", most on small twisty roads.As I will disassemble engine I will report all information on what was service measurements of all components so that you guys will know how DR motor takes it with km.
On this last trip DR took 1.5 liter oil for 4000 km, of which 1300 km unfortunately was highway as I had to lead another 2 riders. But we did not exceed 140 kmph of real speed (about 155 on speedo).
If i recall right my both cam chains where replaced at 128mm measured between 21 pins, while service limit is set at 129mm.
The cam chains on my 2 dr 750s where having so much tolerance that they where hitting the engine housing and causing really small metal parts in my oil.
I think the service limit in the manual is wrong and should be set to 128mm. New cam chains measure 127mm if i remember right.
The cam chains on my 2 dr 750s where having so much tolerance that they where hitting the engine housing and causing really small metal parts in my oil.
I think the service limit in the manual is wrong and should be set to 128mm. New cam chains measure 127mm if i remember right.
Suzuki DR 750SK Big '89
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
I agree...in my case no hitting casings etc. but camchain had a bit more slack than I wanted. Balancer chain was really one that worried me.
And we all know about other mistakes in manual - like valve clearances for old 750 that are completely wrong.
I still do not know for sure what happened. Engine did not block, which is good news and there was no "clunk" that usually expected when piston hits valves. Rockers not bent too. I only getting bike back next week.
On other hand I used heavily engine breaking and rode in a way which is a bit too much for poor DR motor Sardinia roads have no hairpins, only corners (and no police ) so I was "pushing" it really hard. In fact I had to raise my foot off "inside" footpeg in most corners to let footpeg fold because it was hitting road too hard at that lean angle. BTW - that's another improvement I need to do on DR...the footpeg has weird design - instead of "grinding" off road it "digs" into road surface because of metal plate on it's rear side.
And we all know about other mistakes in manual - like valve clearances for old 750 that are completely wrong.
I still do not know for sure what happened. Engine did not block, which is good news and there was no "clunk" that usually expected when piston hits valves. Rockers not bent too. I only getting bike back next week.
On other hand I used heavily engine breaking and rode in a way which is a bit too much for poor DR motor
Sardinia roads have no hairpins, only corners (and no police ) so I was "pushing" it really hard. In fact I had to raise my foot off "inside" footpeg in most corners to let footpeg fold because it was hitting road too hard at that lean angle. BTW - that's another improvement I need to do on DR...the footpeg has weird design - instead of "grinding" off road it "digs" into road surface because of metal plate on it's rear side.update
Disassembled motor. Both chains are OK. Cylinder OK. in fact everything is OK except bent valves and marked (by valves) piston.
EXCEPT F..NG camchain tensioner SPRING!!!!
It broke and tensioner got retracted and camchain came loose and that's it.
For 125 000 engine state is amazingly good. In fact it just needs new rings, valves, piston, tensioner spring (from Hessler) and of course I will put new chains and valve seals.
Those tensioners like in Honda and in DR are worst imaginable design and everyone had problems with CBRs, VTRs - now DR joined
Why they didn't make it simple, like in Kawasaki or GSXRs - straight spring with locking mechanism.
Disassembled motor. Both chains are OK. Cylinder OK. in fact everything is OK except bent valves and marked (by valves) piston.
EXCEPT F..NG camchain tensioner SPRING!!!!
It broke and tensioner got retracted and camchain came loose and that's it.
For 125 000 engine state is amazingly good. In fact it just needs new rings, valves, piston, tensioner spring (from Hessler) and of course I will put new chains and valve seals.
Those tensioners like in Honda and in DR are worst imaginable design and everyone had problems with CBRs, VTRs - now DR joined
Why they didn't make it simple, like in Kawasaki or GSXRs - straight spring with locking mechanism.
Leo heeft er voor mij geregeld bij......Hessler geloof ik
greetz Futurist
greetz Futurist
Suzuki Katana GSX 750S '82
Dr 750 '89 SR41 en '90 SR42
DR 800 SR43 3X '95, '96, '97
Aprilia RSV Mille '99
Triumph Sprint ST 955 '99
Aprilia RST Futura '04
Triumph Daytona 955i ,06
Dr 750 '89 SR41 en '90 SR42
DR 800 SR43 3X '95, '96, '97
Aprilia RSV Mille '99
Triumph Sprint ST 955 '99
Aprilia RST Futura '04
Triumph Daytona 955i ,06