Bush Pig

This post is copied from the Devils Creek DR Blog.

The Suzuki DR650 has been in production since 1990 with minimal change. At some point along the way, it became known as the Bush Pig.

It's been a little over three years since selling my first Bush Pig, a 2016 Suzuki DR650 (the Devils Creek DR) in June 2018. Yesterday, after deciding to move back into the larger bore thumper, I purchased another DR650. This one is a 2012 model year with 16,000 miles that I purchased in a private sale in Bartow, Florida. 

The seller listed the motorcycle for $5,500 on Facebook Market Place. We agreed on $4,500 for the motorcycle that was loaded with adventure accessories, as follows (some of which the seller was not aware of):

• Acerbis 5.3 Gallon Tank (Seller listed the tank as the Acerbis 6.6 Gallon Tank.)
• Sargent Comfort Seat
• Tusk Panniers
• DirtRacks Sidecase Brackets and Tail Rack
• Pelican Top Case
• RallyWorx Screen
• Barkbuster Handguards
• JNS Bash Plate
• Warp 9 Racing Wide Foot Pegs
• Unknown Brand Accessory Fog Lights
• Sealight LED Headlight Bulb
• SW Motech Center Stand
• Magnetic Oil Drain Bolt
• Many recent maintenance and servicing items including the countershaft oil seal cover, but excluding the neutral sending unit modification, were also included. New battery, chain. The seller advised that it's using a 13t front and standard rear sprocket. The actual countershaft sprocket turned out to be 14 tooth. The deal included a new SunStar 14 tooth sprocket in its retail package. Not sure where the confusion is coming from. Seems like a fairly simple area.

The KBB and NADA pricing put this model year at around $3,500--$3,800 in a retail setting, but the additional accessories, most of which I intend to keep, move the value into the price I paid. So, I'm fairly satisfied with the price. 

Additional photos:

The seller said that the DR was running 13/42 final drive (stock is 15/42) and included a new SunStar 14 tooth sprocket in the deal. I pulled the sprocket cover when I got home and it was actually a 14 tooth countershaft sprocket. The rear was 42 tooth. 

The bike has a fresh Shinko E-804 front and 75% worn E-805 on the rear. Generally, a used motorcycle with fresh tires is a good indicator in a private sale (i.e. seller wouldn't go to the expense and effort of tire swap if the bike has problems). 

The seller said he was not the first owner, but he did state that he rode the motorcycle to California. When I initially looked at the title, I looked only for the indications of it not being a clean title. However, I subsequently noted that the title date was 12/3/2020 and the mileage was 15,472 on the transfer date. That indicates that the seller added only 894 miles to the odometer; not exactly enough miles for a trip to California.

Well, all that aside...

The first serious ride will be the two-day Fall TransFlorida Adventure Rally that kicks off in Palatka, Florida on November 18. That'll be the real test for this old Bush Pig.

Updates:

This is a good example of why you should go over your pre-owned motorcycle with a fine toothed comb. All the maintenance that the seller said had been done, but someone missed the badly deteriorated air filter. This filter was devoid of oil, rotted and brittle.

Also, the airbox cover is missing. Given that the four screws that hold it in place are still in place, I'm going to assume that leaving the cover off was an (unnecessary) attempt to increase air flow into the airbox. That is a bad mod for Florida where are air quality is so bad and full of particulate. I once had a warranty claim on a Yamaha TW200 rejected because of particulate matter in the oil ... or maybe they were just being pricks.