[bighammer]

I feel it more in the mud or loose sand. It can feel like a heavy pig when bogged down and has a mind of its own in ruts.

 

[Gabriel Engel]

Motonia, the bike I had previous to my DL650A was a Honda CBR300 but i do have over 35years of riding experience (gosh just realized I'm getting old). Just takes getting used to. The only time I feel the weight is when moving the bike around in the garage or backing up. Once I'm rolling the weight quickly disappears, especially as you speed up. Lots of great tips here such as feathering the clutch and apply a little rear brake and never grabbing the front brake when doing slow maneuvers.

 

[oldjeep]

Did any of you guys make a big jump from say a 250cc to a 1000cc?

Not me. I went from a perfectly balanced Yamaha FZ1 to a DL1000 (still have both). Their stock wet curb weights are nearly the same (509 vs 520). But the DL1000 carries its weight a lot higher.

 

[McGyver777]

Hello everyone,

...any tips for handling a 650XT, 1000XT, or 1050XT that differ from standard motorcycle tips....?
Cheers
- Motonoia

Here is a non-standard suggestion:

Half tank of gas.

Full tank is dang heavy. While the half tank will slosh a little more, the lower weight can help if the bike is more top heavy than you like. And you can work up to a full tank.

Ensure your packing is also low as can be at start. Take off the luggage racks and top box and learn the bike unloaded.

Also, get strong enough to pick it up from an "almost drop" also helps. I have now twice brute force stopped a couple drops mid travel with strength alone (once at a stop sign, too much front brake, and once at a gas station where cement was lower on right than expected and foot went lower than balance comfort point and I had to "grunt it back up.")

Plenty of parking lot practice with figure 8s, reversing travel figure 8s, non-flat parking lot practice, and emergency stoping on uneven ground will get you right.

Also, never ever stop with an idea of being "stuck" to the seat in the middle. The trick is to realize the ground is too low ASAP and for you to slide off to a side saddle before the bike starts falling and thus stop the drop before it happens. This way if your foot "wiffs" the ground because it was too low you are already sliding that way to catch the bike.

Now in turns, counter weigh the turn by shifting to outside of turn...this is an advanced technique that can cause problems if you aren't a good rider already.

 

[Motonoia]

Here is a non-standard suggestion:

Half tank of gas.

Full tank is dang heavy. While the half tank will slosh a little more, the lower weight can help if the bike is more top heavy than you like. And you can work up to a full tank.

Ensure your packing is also low as can be at start. Take off the luggage racks and top box and learn the bike unloaded.

Also, get strong enough to pick it up from an "almost drop" also helps. I have now twice brute force stopped a couple drops mid travel with strength alone (once at a stop sign, too much front brake, and once at a gas station where cement was lower on right than expected and foot went lower than balance comfort point and I had to "grunt it back up.")

Plenty of parking lot practice with figure 8s, reversing travel figure 8s, non-flat parking lot practice, and emergency stoping on uneven ground will get you right.

Also, never ever stop with an idea of being "stuck" to the seat in the middle. The trick is to realize the ground is too low ASAP and for you to slide off to a side saddle before the bike starts falling and thus stop the drop before it happens. This way if your foot "wiffs" the ground because it was too low you are already sliding that way to catch the bike.

Now in turns, counter weigh the turn by shifting to outside of turn...this is an advanced technique that can cause problems if you aren't a good rider already.

This is all excellent information, thank you for taking the time to share. I appreciate it!

 

[jathkajoe]

Pirate650,
I moved from a '03 Concours to a '06 DL1K. Totally agree the ZG full tank is more top heavy.

 

[armando_m]

I share your feeling of the bike can be top-heavy. I have dropped it I don't know how many times, always at low speed or when stopping. It is now a few months since the last time I visited it unintentionally visited the ground.
It has being mentioned but what helped me is:

• Practice riding slow using the friction zone, very useful when riding behind really slow traffic
• slow turns, figure eights, challenging slalom, u-turns from a stop
• add limits to your practices, rarely a tight u-tun is needed in an open space practicing tight u-turns in an open space is not the same as turning around in a narrow road in the middle of nowhere, so practice your turns in between cones.
• practice stopping in dirt, gravel and uneven surfaces
• I can not reach with my full feet, so I practice stopped sliding from side to side on the seat so one foot is on the ground, then the other
• when slowing down make sure you are shifting down to a proper gear, releasing the clutch to accelerate while in a tight turn in 3th, 4th gear will make you fall
• and learn how to pick up the bike

 

[Kilian]

Hello everyone,

I am curious if there are any tips for handling a 650XT, 1000XT, or 1050XT that differ from standard motorcycle tips. I know these bikes are not as top heavy as some other bikes out there, but when I sit on one I feel like I am in an SUV compared to driving around in a car. Are there any good tips/tricks out there to make managing the weight of these bikes a little easier?

For reference, the heaviest bike I have owned is a 2020 Yamaha XSR700 which is 410 lbs. This bike feels feather light compared to a 650XT because of how low the weight is kept on the bike.

Cheers
- Motonoia

Hey! A big thing for me was just knowing to keep the bike upright (vertical) as much as possible at walking speeds and while stopped. Once you get a feel for the top heavy weight distribution, then you'll get used to it.

Like other people mentioned, just ride ride ride, and you'll get it... enjoy!

 

[BobW]

I guess this is a point of view issue. I also went from an FJR1300 to my V-Strom. It doesn't feel abnormally top heavy to me at all. Any bike has a maximum lean angle that you can hold up with one leg. Don't stop at that angle and you won't fall over. If you ride any bike in the dirt long enough you will fall over.

 

[bwringer]

There's a specific technique whereby even a smallish person can pick up a large, heavy bike safely. Even us galoots need to learn this so we don't damage our backs.

It came in quite handy when I got knocked off my Vee in a low-speed smush with an errant Ford in a roundabout.

Youtube University should get you a good demonstration.

 

[MA-Rider]

When coming to a stop, keep your eyes looking ahead, not down, and try to keep the front wheel straight.
After riding a Honda ST1300 the V-Strom feels featherweight. 😬

 

[Mrchips0401]

Hello everyone,

I am curious if there are any tips for handling a 650XT, 1000XT, or 1050XT that differ from standard motorcycle tips. I know these bikes are not as top heavy as some other bikes out there, but when I sit on one I feel like I am in an SUV compared to driving around in a car. Are there any good tips/tricks out there to make managing the weight of these bikes a little easier?

For reference, the heaviest bike I have owned is a 2020 Yamaha XSR700 which is 410 lbs. This bike feels feather light compared to a 650XT because of how low the weight is kept on the bike.

Cheers
- Motonoia

did anyone mention the gas tank capacity differences in your two bike comparison? Believe there is about a 1.5 gal added advantage for the Suzuki (which would be about 10 pounds of added weight) as well as the center of gravity of the gas tank is considerably higher than your Yamaha Which would accentuate the top heavy feel.

 

[RBruceRogers]

My first bike (at age 62) was a 2009 DL1000. After that I went to a 2006 ST1300 and then a 2013 DL650. I miss the power of the bigger bikes until I rev the DL650 hard, and then I realize it has more power than I am using. The better gas mileage & lighter weight of the DL650 are pleasant. I miss the weather protection and high speed smoothness of the ST1300, but I don't miss the summer sizzle.

 

[Thatwasclose]

Hello everyone,

I am curious if there are any tips for handling a 650XT, 1000XT, or 1050XT that differ from standard motorcycle tips. I know these bikes are not as top heavy as some other bikes out there, but when I sit on one I feel like I am in an SUV compared to driving around in a car. Are there any good tips/tricks out there to make managing the weight of these bikes a little easier?

For reference, the heaviest bike I have owned is a 2020 Yamaha XSR700 which is 410 lbs. This bike feels feather light compared to a 650XT because of how low the weight is kept on the bike.

Cheers
- Motonoia

I don't know if this is a common experience, but after i changed my fork oil I set my preload lighter (front forks) and was surprised by the enhanced agility that really made the bike turn more sharply and lean into the corners much more.

I didn't like it (at all) and have since increase the preload again and the bike is handling normally again.

 

[Kramer]

I’m a little height challenged at 5’6”, so I bought the OEM Low Seat - it does mitigate the size and weight when stopping. When stopping, I slide on the seat a little to the left, and use the left-foot-down method - works great.

Backing while on the bike is not an option for me. For backing out of my garage or parking spot, I stand on the right side of bike (kick-stand down) with right hand on right grip and left hand on passenger handle and push the bike.

 

[Rednaxs60]

Best money spent to alleviate any concerns regarding handling your bike is to take a course. As mentioned, a bike is only heavy when not moving, or going very slow. Don't have to take courses all the time, but do it once, practice what is taught. Better handling/riding through good instruction. Money well spent - meet some great people as well.

As for the weight, the DL1000 is a featherweight after riding my '95 Goldwing 1500 at close to 900 pounds wet, or my '85 GL1200 Limited edition Goldwing at 820 pounds wet. It's all perspective.

Good luck.

 

[bwringer]

Yep. skill is the great equalizer.

I once had a group of moto-friends over and offered to let someone ride my KLR650 to dinner if they wanted to see what the dirty side was like. To my surprise, the stumpiest in the group, a 5'2" or 5'3" gent, raised his hand, and I tossed him the key. He literally LEAPED up into the very tall saddle, and off we went. He had not the slightest trouble riding in the city; at stop lights, he slid to the left and supported the bike with one foot, while keeping his right thigh hooked over the seat. When the light turned green, he timed the jump/slide maneuver into the saddle perfectly with releasing the clutch. Pretty amazing, really.

I'm a 6'1" galoot, and my Vee is also set up very firm and tall, with raising links at the back. A smallish but highly skilled 5'6" or 5'7" ish friend has ridden it a few times with no trouble.

 

[ZagiFlyer]

The "Advice on Riding" post contains just about everything people in this thread have offered, plus additional advice.

 

[14ozarkstrom]

Great tips just took My dr650 out on a maiden voyage very different from the kz1000 I rode 30 years ago I live on gravel will practice and take a riding class

 

[Slim Shady]

Yep. skill is the great equalizer.

I once had a group of moto-friends over and offered to let someone ride my KLR650 to dinner if they wanted to see what the dirty side was like. To my surprise, the stumpiest in the group, a 5'2" or 5'3" gent, raised his hand, and I tossed him the key. He literally LEAPED up into the very tall saddle, and off we went. He had not the slightest trouble riding in the city; at stop lights, he slid to the left and supported the bike with one foot, while keeping his right thigh hooked over the seat. When the light turned green, he timed the jump/slide maneuver into the saddle perfectly with releasing the clutch. Pretty amazing, really.

I'm a 6'1" galoot, and my Vee is also set up very firm and tall, with raising links at the back. A smallish but highly skilled 5'6" or 5'7" ish friend has ridden it a few times with no trouble.

Hi, what raising links did you use?