I was looking for a bike to replace an aging Honda 100 Trail camp bike/gofer/pit bike and I came across a '98 DR200SE online with only 238 miles on it at a really good price so I jump in the truck and drove like a banshee, not knowing what to expect to find when I got to the guys house. He opened the garage door and the bike was, A BEAUTY! Pristine, not a mark on it, the forks were clean, the undercarriage was clean, and it even had the little "zits" on the tires. But, and this is a big "BUTit was from out of state and here in California they don't allow vehicles with less than 7,500 miles on it to be registered here. Their attitude is; "Take it back where you bought it" So the bike had a major flaw, that and the fact that it had been sitting in the guy's garage for the last 3 years and WOULD NOT START! We pushed it up and down the driveway and nothing. I took a gamble on the little Suzuki and made an offer and he took it and I was the proud owner of an illegal bike that didn't run! (But it was sooooo clean!) Anyway, a carb overhaul ($45), a new battery ($75) and a fuse ($.50) and it ran. I changed the oil and filter and ran it for about 10 miles and changed it again. Yuk! But the shifting got easier every time and she was up and running, except she was illegal. Well, I figured out a way around it. Got it licensed and insured and started riding it! My first ride of about 60 miles had me wishing for a softer seat; the stock seat will give you a bad case of "Monkey Butt!" Maybe a gel foam insert or pad or something. It's okay around camp or around town, but it's a plank! The electric start sure has me spoiled, you just get on and press a button and it goes! The wife, the boy and all the friends love it! Low seat height, low center of gravity, mild power band makes for a simple, easy bike to ride. The stock gearing is too low; I was wishing for a 6th speed at 45mph. I bought a smaller rear sprocket off the Internet and installed it and now the little Suzuki will cruise at 55mph with little or no loss of low-end tractability. I also bought a rear rack and installed it and now can bungee stuff on it. I plan to mount a crate on it to further the effectiveness of the little Suzuki. I recently loaded this bike into the back of the pickup and hooked the travel trailer up and went to the lake and got into ALL kind of trouble with it; gathering firewood, exploring the back roads, found some BLM land and explored that, found some oil company land, rode it on the train tracks, rode it on the freeway, and it just does it all pretty good. The bike needs better tires for off-road use. I've put 1,000 miles on it, no probs. Hop-up parts are non-existent. It's expensive new. If you want a bike that is faster and has more features, buy a Kawasaki KLR-250. (I have one as well). If you want a cute little bike that everyone can ride, and learn on, and around camp and exploring off the beaten path, get a Suzuki.
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