I hear you. 28 inseam here . At least I don’t bump my head a lot at my height. I had a DR650 for a while. I commuted with it mostly in heavy traffic. I’d keep my right foot on the brake and hang over to reach the ground with my left. Couldn’t touch both feet down at once even tippy toed.
I
really wanted to like the DR650. Olde Skool, well-proven engine, Simple (Kinda like what Noraly commissioned of late). Hugely popular in Oz (and elsewhere).... as one down-under reviewer put it "With the DR650, if you can't find enough accessories for it, you need professional help for your shopping disorder".
I have the height for it, but what stopped me was the stock-suspension. Nobody would mistake me for an MX rider, pro or otherwise, but I kept coming across even low-skill level (like me) people out-riding the suspension. That ^, and my laziness and budget, took me to my KLX300, as the factory suspension is a good match for my needs.
(I don't always (!) believe the internet
. I did visit the local Suz dealer, and sat on a new DR650 in the showroom - @ my 185#, I did find the front end way to easy to dive).
Not hating on the DR650 at all.... for a casual mixed-street ride, and light 2 track, the stock suspension may be OK for a light rider. With the suspension appropriately upgraded/tuned, that DR can turn into a fantastic platform, with very different capabilities than my KLX300. Wish I could remember the name of the legendary Oz tuner of DR650s..... maybe about 70 y/o now, runs a Honda shop too, down under..... one of those guys who's forgotten more about those engines, than most people will ever know....
I like my KLX300, but with more tune-time and $$, I could def see myself rolling with a DR650.
Rgds, D.
