Looking at another DRZ400e in San Miguel

[Brakelate]

*Ask if it has the original sprockets and chain on it. If not, did they ever remove the front countershaft sprocket? (If so, look for seepage around the bottom frame rails. No need to remove the sprocket cover. Whatever it is, it will have been flung by the sprocket around, down and back. Some goo is expected -if it is gummy, it is old flung off chain lube- perfectly expected. If it is damp (oil) then that will be the VERY first thing. If it is absolutely spotless at the point the gear shifter lever bolts to the selector shaft on the transmission, then he has pressure washed it in very good fashion (hiding something ? -bad, or it hasn't ever been ridden - or much at all - good.)!

[jhwalker]

Nice shocks, Satan...

The DRZ can't come home yet because I am BROKE! I gave a 10,000 peso deposit and have a signed agreement, and the guy's mother likes me...

Mexican banks like most of the world's banks stopped taking US checks as deposits due to the FATCA reporting requirements to the US if they take a check.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/kuenzi-a ... 1404924705 This is worth a read if you ever contemplate moving out of the US...

The only way for me to get money in the bank here is to deposit/convert cash or use a bank wire transfer. My US bank, Chase, is at war with the owner of our Mexican bank CiBanco (Mellon Bank) so at this point they have not allowed me to wire monay. I have enough pesos to fill the staff pay envelopes until I return after leaving Sunday night for the US for some medical and to attend our 32nd annual charity tourney (we have been running it for the past 16 years after Terri's dad died).

THIS owner has not ridden it much, and he did not do the mods. His English is worse than my Spanish (I know, hard to believe) and it has been hard to find out why he actually owns it. The new tires make me conclude that the old tires were really worn, but the cobblestones here do that. I asked him about his off-road equipment (just to ask) and he does not have any...

I will know soon enough. And It fires in a heartbeat, wheelies easily, shifts nicely, so ???????

[jhwalker]

I am picking up a manual chain cam tensioner while up in the US. I see them listed from $39 to $119. They all look the same to me. I can go to sites to research, but does anyone have a favorite?

[mikedbike2002]

I am picking up a manual chain cam tensioner while up in the US. I see them listed from $39 to $119. They all look the same to me. I can go to sites to research, but does anyone have a favorite?

t

They are all basically the same! I use the $39.95 one and it's great.

[jhwalker]

I am picking up a manual chain cam tensioner while up in the US. I see them listed from $39 to $119. They all look the same to me. I can go to sites to research, but does anyone have a favorite?

t

They are all basically the same! I use the $39.95 one and it's great.

Perfect. thanks

[jhwalker]

I bought it. So, I am going to try to work on both the E and my S. I have not worked on my DRZ before. Busy, blah blah, but more like just lazy. The labor costs here in Mexico are so low, I have had to justify spending the time on a bike rather than on (for instance) learning Spanish better. I did bike maintenance back in the day but "the day" was a long time ago. I have had an L1 thru L5 spinal fusion for the past 52 years and it has never hurt to work on bikes until the last couple of years (years 70 and 71 ) I think the answer is to get a motorcycle work stand so I don't have to bend so much. I have friends at a fabrication shop in a nearby village. They could whip something up. It might be better to just buy a well-designed one, and have it shipped into Central Mexico. Thoughts?

The Clymer DRZ400 shop manual (I have two now ha ha) makes the DRZ look very easy to work on. True? or misleading ??? There seem to be a bunch of maintenance vids on youtube... Having the two bikes means that I can screw around with one and still have another to ride. Big bore kits?

[Tetge]

My brother purchased a commercial bike stand that lifts the entire bike up into the air and he uses it all the time. It does take up quite a bit of floor space but, I always am envious as he can get bikes up high enough to make working on them significantly easier.

Congrats on getting another DR-Z. They are nice little beginner's bikes and the lighter and more powerful one that you just picked up should be easier to ride. You could get big bore kits, but, they only increase the displacement 10% and by my observation, a hopped up DR-Z doesn't really stomp a stocker until you are rolling at highway speeds. This is partly because those that increase their power are prone to gearing the bike taller. And, some people end up with issues after installing the big bore kits, such as head gaskets blowing. But, cubes is cubes, and 10% more displacement can be noticed.

Personally, I just saw the pics and expected prices of the new Ducati Scrambler and I was very impressed and it might be a serious candidate for an upgrade from a DR-Z since in the pics the seat looks as if it might be comfortable and a Ducati twin would eat a DR-Z for breakfast since they say it has 75 HP and is 410 curb weight, full of fluids. My DR-Z, with the heavy seat and big tank weighs in at about 350 pounds and the 796cc Ducati has twice the displacement! And, it looks sharp.

[jhwalker]

My brother purchased a commercial bike stand that lifts the entire bike up into the air and he uses it all the time. It does take up quite a bit of floor space but, I always am envious as he can get bikes up high enough to make working on them significantly easier.

Congrats on getting another DR-Z. They are nice little beginner's bikes and the lighter and more powerful one that you just picked up should be easier to ride. You could get big bore kits, but, they only increase the displacement 10% and by my observation, a hopped up DR-Z doesn't really stomp a stocker until you are rolling at highway speeds. This is partly because those that increase their power are prone to gearing the bike taller. And, some people end up with issues after installing the big bore kits, such as head gaskets blowing. But, cubes is cubes, and 10% more displacement can be noticed.

Personally, I just saw the pics and expected prices of the new Ducati Scrambler and I was very impressed and it might be a serious candidate for an upgrade from a DR-Z since in the pics the seat looks as if it might be comfortable and a Ducati twin would eat a DR-Z for breakfast since they say it has 75 HP and is 410 curb weight, full of fluids. My DR-Z, with the heavy seat and big tank weighs in at about 350 pounds and the 796cc Ducati has twice the displacement! And, it looks sharp.

"They are nice little beginner's bikes" Why is it that the 3 oldest riders I know ride them? It will be interesting to see whether I can tell the difference between the S and the E the way that I am riding these days. We will see.

Remember the name of your brother's lift? I have plenty of room in the garage.

I hate to say it but I had the same thoughts about the Ducati Scrambler. But it might be too nice for down here. And as I said, I must take a 12 month hiatus from all new/different bike contemplations unless one of these 2 somehow goes kaboom. And then Terri would be very suspicious...

Having the two bikes will be nice when the boys visit and when friends who ride visit. The Garmin maps for the campo here often show no road when one is riding on a dirt road. Many of the roads are more like frequently-used paths that have been shaped by some traffic and run-off.

[Tetge]

I'll ask my brother about the lift. He is registered on this site, but, I don't think he checks it often. If you check the Ducati Scrambler, you will find that it has some dirt tires on it, so, it might surprise you when it comes to getting around on those paths. But, then again, I am getting to an age where I do not ride a lot of miles per year and where a bit more displacement might feel good, especially if I could figure a way to unlock some of those magical Ducati twin sounds.

Stay tuned.

[jhwalker]

I'll ask my brother about the lift. He is registered on this site, but, I don't think he checks it often. If you check the Ducati Scrambler, you will find that it has some dirt tires on it, so, it might surprise you when it comes to getting around on those paths. But, then again, I am getting to an age where I do not ride a lot of miles per year and where a bit more displacement might feel good, especially if I could figure a way to unlock some of those magical Ducati twin sounds.

Stay tuned.

I thought that I posted up all of the specs yesterday, but it appears that I did not actually hit submit.
I like them all, but this one is cool.
http://www.scramblerforum.com/threads/d ... ssic.1609/