2009 Suzuki DR200SE Review

Introduction

Suzuki DR200SE was introduced as a fun motorcycle which doubles the action and the excitement. A great way to learn trail riding, the DR200SE Dual Sport helps you build your confidence as you learn to ride. Weighing only 278 lbs (curb weight) and with a seat height of 31.9 inches, this Suzuki dirt bike offers a sturdy diamond frame, long-travel suspension and high-traction tires. Once the trails are mastered, the DR200SE still doesn’t complete its purpose as it is ready to take it on the streets, marking the beginning of another kind of fun.

History

1985 Suzuki DR200

Suzuki’s DR line of products was completed in 1996 with the new introduction called DR200SE, a motorcycle which promised a lot and until this day it kept its promise. The bike had a strong heritage coming from Suzuki DR200, the trail machine that introduced many people to trail riding throughout the eighties and until mid nineties. But Suzuki decided that their small dual sport motorcycle needed to be brought up to date and after a complete redesign the bike featured electric starter and pretty much all the characteristics encountered on it today.

In its first years of production the color available was yellow and although it changed decals through the years, in 2001 the bike was offered in a blue and white color scheme.

Suzuki DR200SE is being was sold in 2008 either black or blue painted so the blue and white color scheme was only a transition to more diversified colors, other than yellow. In 2009 they stick to simple Black.

2001 Suzuki DR200SE

Competition

2008 Yamaha XT250

Dual purpose motorcycles have always been enjoyable but also needed and that is why Japanese manufacturers try to cover every single kind of rider satisfying its every riding need.

Yamaha does exactly that with the 2009 XT250 model, a more potent piece of machinery due to the 249cc air-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke single-cylinder engine, one that reduces it to only 73 mpg, compared to Suzuki’s 105 mpg. Also, the seat height is exactly as in the case of the Suzuki (31.9 inches from the ground) while the long-travel suspension and 11.2 inches of ground clearance make it an ideal trail motorcycle.

The manufacturer’s retail price goes as high as $4,690 and you will also benefit of an electric starter so displacement and refinement makes the difference and ads the extra bucks in this case.

Exterior

2009 Suzuki DR200SE

When thinking about buying a motorcycle every rider or future rider in this case puts in balance the bike’s power to weight ratio, price and other important factors but even though he’s thinking at reliability, affordability and maintaining costs, the image in its mind puts a lot of weight on the “go ahead and buy it” thought. Suzuki understands a riders needs and satisfies them but sometimes the desire of owning a great looking motorcycle is bigger. This bike was designed as an always ready to go machine with a high front fender covering the front wheel which, like the rear wheel, features great looking spokes creating a cool look in contrast with the color available for the 2009 model: Black. The square headlight manages to show you the way in trail riding but the mirrors which complete the overall look of the bike have the purpose of reminding you where you started from.

 1  2 3

Next page