DJ Conversion. Saddle Bags and Safe speed for motor - Page 2 - Suzuki Volusia Forums : Intruder Volusia and Boulevard Forum

scorpion46 · 11-26-2012, 10:58 AM

As far as the DJ drive goes. I added one last year and noticed a drop of about 20-25% in RPM's at hi-way speeds(60-65). It gives me a very smooth ride and a lot of peace at hi-way speeds without the constant buzzing.
Keep your eyes out and you can pick one up here. I am not a mechanic but it took me about 2 hrs. to install mine.( That includes BEER BREAKS.) A lot of the time was just loosening bolts.

pbryon · 11-26-2012, 11:11 AM

DJ Drive is well worth it--there is a tips and tricks on install thread out there somewhere. I remember starting it.

As for saddlebags, I used Easy Brackets, and I loved them. I used them with Saddleman XJumbo bags.

One thing about Easy Brackets, Ghost Brackets, or anything like them and semi-rigid saddlebags is that it might be wise to reinforce the bag. Folks have done it on the inside or the outside of the bag, with aluminum, plexiglas, and other things. I used a quarter-inch birch sheet, and cut it to fit exactly inside the bag, then mounted the brackets through that. Really helps with bag sag if you load them up.

nonlinearedits · 11-26-2012, 01:07 PM

Ignore this, I am a complete idiot.

nonlinearedits · 11-26-2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpion46

As far as the DJ drive goes. I added one last year and noticed a drop of about 20-25% in RPM's at hi-way speeds(60-65). It gives me a very smooth ride and a lot of peace at hi-way speeds without the constant buzzing.
Keep your eyes out and you can pick one up here. I am not a mechanic but it took me about 2 hrs. to install mine.( That includes BEER BREAKS.) A lot of the time was just loosening bolts.

Yea, someone earlier in the thread directed me at the Kruze drive, I think I'm going to go that route when I get some spare cash flow.

How is the low-end of the deal? I'm about 225lbs, will I have trouble getting it up to speed with the taller gears? My wife is like 125, she rides with me occasionally. So the max weight on this thing will probably be like 350. (I'm hoping to ditch this beer gut at some point.)

Whiskey · 11-26-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbryon

One thing about Easy Brackets, Ghost Brackets, or anything like them and semi-rigid saddlebags is that it might be wise to reinforce the bag. Folks have done it on the inside or the outside of the bag, with aluminum, plexiglas, and other things. I used a quarter-inch birch sheet, and cut it to fit exactly inside the bag, then mounted the brackets through that. Really helps with bag sag if you load them up.

Actually, I'll add to that by saying that you really need to watch the bag sag on the exhaust side. I didn't notice that mine was sagging down onto the pipe and it actually started melting the leather onto the pipe. I pulled the bag up off the pipe, but now I've got a burned spot on the bottom of the bag and black stuff on the top of my nice shiny V&H pipes. I cleaned most of the stuff off of the pipe, but hopefully the last remnants will burn off in time since I'm not really sure what I can use to get it off without messing up the chrome.

Darth Tater · 11-27-2012, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonlinearedits

Yea, someone earlier in the thread directed me at the Kruze drive, I think I'm going to go that route when I get some spare cash flow.

How is the low-end of the deal? I'm about 225lbs, will I have trouble getting it up to speed with the taller gears? My wife is like 125, she rides with me occasionally. So the max weight on this thing will probably be like 350. (I'm hoping to ditch this beer gut at some point.)

Just got my Kruz drive back yesterday (had an assembly/shipping issue on the first pass).

Weather and time allowing, I hope to have in and tested out in a few days. I'll let you know how she does. (I got you beat by about 30 lbs.)

MoDZuKi · 11-28-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonlinearedits

Yea, someone earlier in the thread directed me at the Kruze drive, I think I'm going to go that route when I get some spare cash flow.

How is the low-end of the deal? I'm about 225lbs, will I have trouble getting it up to speed with the taller gears? My wife is like 125, she rides with me occasionally. So the max weight on this thing will probably be like 350. (I'm hoping to ditch this beer gut at some point.)

In short..NO No problems getting upto any speed with a Modded drive. I used to be 375 and zero issues. I am now 220 and still occasionally have my GF on the back (very occasionally) and again zero issues. The bike (2006M50) doesnt even notice the drive is different only just a hair more throttle and feathering out of first.
The difference in driveability and safety (YES I said safety ) is remarkable. I say safety because you do not have the feel you need to shift half way around long intersections. In fact the drive saved my Butt as I was about to be T boned in an intersection, the drive gave me the ability to quickly punch the throttle with scads of breathing room to spare in the RPM range in 1st and I was able to nimbly get out of the way. Without it , I am sure I would have been caught mid shift and hit.
Food for thought. Bigbird123 and I do the drives.
I have 2 in production now.
Cheers
D

nonlinearedits · 11-28-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M50Dave

Food for thought. Bigbird123 and I do the drives.
I have 2 in production now.
Cheers
D

I was actually PMing BigBird123 about the drive, I won't have money to spare until late winter most likely unfortunately, but I'd def like to get one from you guys. Hope all the spare rears aren't gone by then! lol

OzriderC50T · 11-29-2012, 03:27 AM

I was worried about the engine revving when I got mine.

Find a nice stretch of road and push the thing to the rev limiter through the gears, you wont worry about it to much after that. You'll be going way faster than cruising speed before you run out of gears, let alone revs.

Two Red Ryders · 11-29-2012, 12:20 PM

Only evaluation I found that listed both pros and cons from a DJ drive evaluator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEVEN40iL

So, I have logged over 2 weeks on the new drive. It definitely does take getting used too.

The Good:

- Longer gears

- Lower RPM's = Less Vibrations

- Ability to get to higher speeds in lower gears

The Bad:

- Gas mileage actually decreased! Before the drive swap, I was getting 250 kms to a tank. Now I got 233 kms to the tank. Will see how the next tank goes.

- I find, because of the taller gears, the engine feels and sounds like it is working harder (could be why I am using more fuel)

- Before the drive swap, most of my turns in intersections were done in low 2nd gear. Now low 2nd gear has no balls. So for me to make that same turn, I have to be in high 1st, which I do not like all that much, because while in high 1st, if you let the throttle off even a bit, the bike bucks pretty hard. Not something you want to happen in a turn!

- 5th gear no longer has any balls either. I understand the drive was meant for 5th to be in a lower rpm, but if I am cruising along in 5th and need to pass, I can no longer just roll the throttle and go because the bike really hesitates. I have to downshift to 4th, pass, then get back into 5th.

I am sure over time I will get used to these issues. I still think this mod is well worth the money and you should do it if you can, but thought I would bring these issues out in the public, because when I was doing my research, I didn't find any of this.

Hope this helps anyone looking into this mod!
My DJ Drive Impressions after 2 weeks

From reading a bunch of other comments everyone who has one likes the lowered rpm for slab driving. The comment of one guy "The DJ drive essentially changes the bike to a four speed with 5th as an overdrive gear." seems to sum up the DJ Drive. Before I went to a DJ drive, I would consider first peaking the HP with Pipes, Intake, and a FI controller. All of these mods claim to improve MPG for me just riding more relaxed like when the wife is on the back improves my MPG to 50+.

11-26-2012, 11:11 AM	#12 (permalink)
pbryon Senior VR Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Saratoga County, NY Posts: 2,341 Thanks: 56 Thanked 239 Times in 140 Posts	DJ Drive is well worth it--there is a tips and tricks on install thread out there somewhere. I remember starting it. As for saddlebags, I used Easy Brackets, and I loved them. I used them with Saddleman XJumbo bags. One thing about Easy Brackets, Ghost Brackets, or anything like them and semi-rigid saddlebags is that it might be wise to reinforce the bag. Folks have done it on the inside or the outside of the bag, with aluminum, plexiglas, and other things. I used a quarter-inch birch sheet, and cut it to fit exactly inside the bag, then mounted the brackets through that. Really helps with bag sag if you load them up. __________________ '02 Volusia --> '03 VStrom 1000 --> '05 R1200GS

11-26-2012, 01:07 PM	#13 (permalink)
nonlinearedits VR Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: SE PA Posts: 189 Thanks: 50 Thanked 23 Times in 17 Posts	Ignore this, I am a complete idiot.

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