school. But, old-school or not,
they are admittedly comfy. They
are so comfy, in fact, that you
never want to get out of them.
Their funky handlebar position
-
ings certainly don't encourage
you to stand up, either—they
are both positioned so low
they feel like they are in your
lap. Most DR owners raise the
handlebar mounts, and all XR
owners trash the stock handle
-
bars for something taller with
a normal bend. (Where did they
come up with these in the first
place?) Overall, both bikes are
acceptably comfortable—more
so the Suzuki—but only in the
sitting position. Neither bike is
conducive to standing, and their
small 1980s-style footpegs only
worsen matters.
Starting procedure for both
bikes is the same: reach for their
handlebar choke levers, hit the
starter button, and be patient while
they take their sweet time warming
up. There are zero rider aids to deal
with (not even ABS), no menus to
scroll through, and no modes to
choose from. Just go ride.
Once underway, as you grab
a handful of throttle and click
through the gears for the first
time, you'll quickly notice the
DR is smoother than the XR in
just about every way. The DR's
footpegs are rubber-mounted,
and handlebar tips have small
weights to quell vibration. They
work. Mind you, the Honda
doesn't vibrate badly, just more
so than the Suzuki.
The Honda and Suzuki deliver
similar retro-type power—lots of
torque and no revs. Again, the
Suzuki delivers its power in a
smoother, more seamless man
-
ner than the Honda. You feel ev-
ery power pulse with the Honda,
but not so much with the Suzuki.
However, some people prefer the
feel of a pulsating engine over a
rippleless, velvety smooth one.
The choice is yours.
Regarding fueling, both bikes
are rough around the edges
COMPARISON I 2023 SUZUKI DR650S VS. HONDA XR650L
P108
The DR is no featherweight.
