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VINCE STRANG MOTORCYCLES YOUR DR 650 SPECIALISTS |
 Go to Horizons Unlimited, the website that's all about motorcycle travel. Travellers Community, Bike Travel information on the Bulletin Board, free Monthly Motorcycle Travel E-zine, Travellers' Stories, and plenty of tips and info! |
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Peter Brooker from Canberra sent us these photos of his remodelled 1997 DR650, and had this to say of his "new" bike... "Is there anything a DR650 cannot do? After several years of faithful service as a dirt road explorer and tourer, I retired my 1997 DR650SE from the dirt and remodeled it as a cafe racer for a bit of cheap fun on the road. Most of the changes are cosmetic following the look of a Manx Norton. Basic mods were:
Peter Brooker, Canberra" |
NEW PHOTOS ON OUR DRZ400 PAGE Ross (Mario) Worgan has sent us some photos for our DRZ400 Page. Feel free to email your photos to us at . |
DR650 GALLERY Check out our new DR650 Gallery!. Feel free to email your photos to us at and we will add your photos to our gallery. |
A COUPLE OF TESTIMONIALS... Sam Beckett now has 10000kms on his bike and emailed us again to let us know how much he loves his bike. He had this to say about a recent ride... "I commonly ride with three other DRs, none of which have suspension mods - one has a staintune pipe, and the others just stock bikes with big tanks - I've followed them down fast trails over mounds and through deep ruts etc, and you can see that they are wallowing and bouncing around - the suspension changes you made are a huge improvement, and completely change the character of the bike - it's always going to be a bit of a big heavy thing, but you can nevertheless ride it (almost) like a trail bike - some very steep and tight stuff in Talaganda NP on the weekend that I couldn't possibly have got through with the stock set up ..." "Hi Vince, All the bits turned up, and finally got around to getting them on. Just like to point out that steering damper is not just a gem but f***ing awesome, I would have bought this far earlier if I knew how good they were. Keep working on your web site, I wouldn't have done half what I did if it wasn't for your site. Your site is very helpful and you have helped turn a good bike into a great bike. I will be sure to visit your site first for any of my future needs. Thanks, Max Stevenson" "Vince recently upgraded my suspension. What a huge difference! The trip to Philip Island and back for the motogp was a real revelation. I came back through the Barry Way, loaded up with luggage, and the bike was just great to ride. Thanks, Greg Evans" "Vince, As time/miles go by, thought you might like to know that I just couldn't be happier with this bike. All the little mods are spot on - the suspension is just brilliant - rode a friend's DR650 the other day, and was astonished by the difference. Live in a great place for big trailies - by way of example, a nice day today (after a lot of wind and rain) and work was squared away, so took it out for a circuit through the Brindabellas - aside from 5 mins of tar as you cross the Barton H'way, all dirt roads - mix of open stuff through farmland where you can give it its head a bit, and some pretty steep gnarly/rocky trails as you get up into the mountains - several stream/river crossings - still snow around up there - approx 350km loop, with endless variants - will stay overnight in Wee Jasper one w/e, and explore some of the tracks toward Tumut - endless ... No complaints re' the big tank - a bit cumbersome at first, but you can get above it OK and I can't discern any handling issues - and the range it gives you just means you can take off for a day and completely forget about fuel - which is good when there isn't any ... Use a cheapie car satnav with Topo maps, and that works well - not lost yet, and travelling on roads (whole areas in fact) that I've never taken the car along ... Anyway, just perfect - got rid of the Dunlop 605 rear at about 2,700km, as the knobs were starting to split and I didn't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere - 2 or 3mm tread left at that stage - now using a Mitas E09 - infinitely better - good suggestion - (probably pretty similar to a Dunlop 606) - some road noise when on the tar, but just rips up those hills and handles the scree on top of hard packed dirt roads beautifully - if it wears OK, will stick with these from here on in. There you go - great bike - couldn't be better. Cheers, Sam Beckett" |
SAFARI TANKS We have done a stocking deal with Robin at Safari Tanks and VSM should now have a consistantly good supply of white and clear tanks, as well as stock of other colours. |
HAVE YOUR DR650 FEATURED ON OUR WEBSITE Would you like to see your DR650 featured on our website? If your DR looks pretty trick and you would like to tell everyone about it, or you've been on an interesting trip on your DR, send us an email with a few pics and some info, and we will get it on our website. Email Libet at |
VINCE'S PICKS Following the Simpson Desert Ride, Vince has picked his favourite modifications for his DR650. These mods really suited the hard going conditions out there. Not necessarily listed in order!
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MOTOMONKEY ADVENTURES Congratulations to Danielle Murdoch who has recently been named the 2010 recipient of the 'Nancy Bird Walton Sponsorship for Female Adventurers' from the Australian Geographic Society. Nancy Bird Walton has been a trustee of the Australian Geographic Society for ten years and in recognition to her years of service, Australian Geographic Society pays a tribute to her in by setting up a new sponsorship to commemorate her life. The Nancy Bird Walton Sponsorship for Female Adventurers provides funding for Australian female adventurers. Danielle is an avid Suzuki DR350 adventurer and Vince Strang Motorcycles is proud to have supported her in setting up her bike Check out Danielle's Motomonkey Adventures website |
NOTE ON THE DR650 IMS TANKS Please note: The DR650 IMS tanks will expand over time and use. The use of a fuel tank breather can also help the expansion process. |
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*** NOW WRECKING *** ****** DR650 2001 MODEL, MANY PARTS AVAILABLE ****** ****** DR650 2008 MODEL, 8000km's, BLUE, SOME PARTS STILL AVAILABLE ****** *** PHONE STORM ON (02)67210610 *** or email him at |
SIMPSON DESERT EXPEDITION
Experienced motorcycle riders, Ross Worgan and Vince Strang were recently part of a six rider attempt to be the first un-assisted motorcyclists to cross the Madigan Line in the Northern Simpson Desert. In 1939, scientist Dr Cecil Madigan, used seventeen camels to cross from Alice Springs to Birdsville. Madigan's camp sites have been marked with GPS locations and location pegs. Today a number of the camp sites are not accessible due to restrictions by the QLD section of the Simpson Desert National Park and various Aboriginal lands so the effective end of the line is the Hay River track on the eastern side inside the Northern Territory. The closest fuel point before the Madigan line begins is Mt Dare in South Australia and refuelling was next done at Jervois Station on the Plenty Highway, around 750 torturous kilometres later. A better route may have been to Birdsville except that Eyre Creek just west of Birdsville is still in flood. The bikes, five DR Suzuki's and one XT Yamaha, each needed to carry around 60 litres of fuel and 20 litres of water as well as food, sleeping gear, navigation and emergency equipment and other personal gear for what was anticipated could take up to 6 days. A thunder storm struck the Mt Dare area on the night before departure and an extremely wet clay pan of several thousand acres threatened the project within 15 km's of the start, however by mid way through the first day around 190km's had been covered and then all evidence of previous vehicle activity disappeared. Most of the group had GPS equipment and so set a course for the known "way points". It was not possible to follow another bike as the sand was too soft once the heavily laden machines broke the surface, low sand dunes heavily vegetated with Spinifex grass and brambles worsened the difficult going. Camp was made amongst some low twisted gum trees and the dozens of budgerigars fighting for nesting spaces kept the boys entertained while a dehydrated meal was prepared and a flat tyre fixed. Fingers of sunlight were piercing the dawns glow on the second day but with just a few dunes crested another puncture was suffered. It was almost impossible to avoid the iron hard stakes that litter the sand as the bikes bounced and bucked over the Spinifex. The predominant wind blows from west to east and forms the dunes over thousands of years so the west side of the dune has more vegetation and the eastern side is quite soft and steep. The Spinifex tussocks that can be up to a couple of metres across also have a drop on the east side. As the dunes became bigger, the excess weight of Craig's bike and Gavin's inexperience in the sand soon became evident. Both these riders quickly started to get exhausted and the group slowed dramatically as the desert bared its teeth. Due to the soft eastern face of the dunes it was not possible to go back but a track that runs North South between the dunes was within reach (it has been closed for years so gets very little traffic). Finally after six gruelling hours the North South track was found and a group decision was reached, Phil Hodgens and Bill Lavel, the expedition leaders would continue as just two would cover a lot more ground and Ross and Vince would accompany Craig on his Yamaha and Gav, who was now showing signs of dehydration, out of the Simpson toward Alice Springs. The Inverell rider's group now relied on Craig's navigation skills with his GPS. Sometimes the "track" just turned to grassland and other times was a bed of soft dry silt that couldn't be ridden on. After 140 km's a station was reached and the group spent the night there at the managers invitation, next day Ross spent several hours with his bike helping with a bullock muster. Mean while Hodgens and Lavel were making good progress having toughed it out and when almost exhausted camped near Madigan's camp eight. After another early start they soon got on to four wheel drive tracks that were still rough but reduced the need to navigate and by late that afternoon had met the Hay River track which they described as nothing but a floodway and very slow going for a couple of hours. On the morning of the forth day the two groups met up again at Batton Hill on the Hay River. After hand shakes all round they proceeded to ride another 550 km's to Boulia and journeys end, but Ross and Vince had one more camp out as they had heard of a good spot for Queensland's Red claw yabbies on the Georgina river. As for the group goal, you ask? At camp eleven there is a traveller's book placed there some years ago by the Land Rover club of Australia and yes Hodgens and Lavel with their Suzuki DR650's are the first Motorcycle entries in the book. The Inverell pair described their experiences as once in a life time and a true adventure having at times been well out of their "comfort zone", having to work as a team for a common goal and the wonderful camaraderie of the group. |
A BIT ABOUT VSM AND DR650'S.... Vince Strang Motorcycles has been involved in improving SUZUKI'S DR650s ever since it was released in late 1996. IT'S EASY TO BUY FROM VSM, whether it's new grips to genuine Suzuki spares for your DR (or any other SUZUKI, KAWASAKI, or HONDA) just call us for personal help, we accept all the normal payment methods including money! Most goods can be sent same day. VSM ran and prepared the Suzuki DR650 team, which was very successful in the Australian Safari in 1996 and 1997. Vince Strang personally prepared the 5 bikes used during these events and all finished in the top ten outright and collect a 2nd overall in '96 and 3rd overall in'97. Since then VSM has consistently sold the big single adventure bike all over Australia. Buyers come to VSM because we have a vast knowledge and supply of improvement parts and we care. VSM staff and riders have been adventure touring with modified DR650s all over Australia and other parts of the world ever since. VSM will prepare a DR650 to your personal spec's and we can alter suspension, exhausts, sump guards, hand guards, fuel tank, racks, gearing, jetting, wheels, rider's position, grip heaters, cam shafts and more. So basically you can buy this reliable all rounder to your order with our guidance. We normally require about 10 days to complete your order. At the beginning of May we completed a display DR650 with most of our recommended products fitted. Vince then had to take a 2500kms test ride out to South Western Queensland, the DR was excellent but Vince felt there could be some more minor "mods" to the suspension to further improve its feel in low speed sandy creeks and loose washouts. Anyway the trip was awesome because of the bike, the good mates, the campfire cooking and just being outdoors! If you require more information on this servce please contact us at |
| Vince Strang Motorcycles & Power Equipment | Honda, Can-Am, Suzuki, and Husqvarna |
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