2007 Suzuki 200SE The Superbug
Why This One?
In the fall of 2007 friends convinced me I should ride Baja with them in the spring of 2008. I was afraid my BMW F650GS would be too big and too heavy on the dirt and sandy roads in Baja.
I had been to a Motorcycle Show in Spokane not long before I committed to going to Baja and had the opportunity to test-sit the small dual sports available, one after the other. They were all within just a few yards of each other, which I really appreciated. There was a Honda CRF230, a Yamaha XT225, and a Suzuki 200.
Test sitting the small dual-sports made me feel like Goldilocks. The Honda was way too tall, and the Yamaha was also too tall but I might be able to make it work, and while the Suzuki wasn’t just right, it was close.
I was hoping the Honda would work since I like Honda’s dependability but it was so tall I wouldn’t be able to make it work. Then the choice was between the Yamaha and Suzuki. The Suzuki fit me a little better and has a bigger fuel tank. The fuel tank was the deciding factor but I wasn’t ready to buy yet.
After deciding I was going to Baja I figured Barry should go too. I had decided that I would buy a Suzuki DR200 and I was starting to search for one. Of course, Barry had a better idea. This has been common over the last 15 or so years. The plan was similar to the plan he had about buying the F650. Buy the bike, he would set it up, fly to TX, and we would ride to Yuma to meet the rest of the group
In Yuma, we met up with the rest of the crew, and off to Baja we went. The DR200 was set up for touring and even though it is slow it works terrific for me. My first ride on that bike was over 3000 miles. . During this ride the bike was dubbed The Superbug and the name has stuck.
There have been many more fun-filled miles on that bike and I intend to have more fun on it in the future.
About the bike
Below is what topspeed.com wrote about the DR200SE:
“There’s never been a better way to learn how to trail ride than with the DR200SE. It weighs just 249 pounds and has a seat height of only 32 inches, so you can build your confidence as you learn to ride. Of course, after you have some miles on the trail you’ll begin to appreciate the DR200SE’s range of advanced designs. It has a sturdy diamond frame, long-travel suspension and high-traction tires, so it soaks up rough terrain and handles well on tight trails.
The DR200SE is also designed to help you discover the fun of street riding. It has all the features it needs to make it street legal, along with a wide powerband and smooth acceleration.”
The engine is a 200cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke. The power is smooth and very easy to control on the dirt. It’s an electric start and unfortunately doesn’t have a kick start. I learned early on, it’s easy to run the battery down trying to start it so I carry a micro start with me just in case. It’s not fast on pavement and struggles to maintain 55 mph but gets great gas mileage. 75 mpg is normal for this bike and has a 3.4-gallon fuel tank so it has good range on a tank of fuel. This is important to me while living and riding in the Pacific Northwest where gas stations can be few and far between.
There is 8 inches of suspension, and 10 inches of ground clearance, and this motorcycle came with a 31.9-inch seat height. Even though this is promoted at a “low” seat height it was still too tall for me so the padding was removed and replaced with a gel pad. The bike came with a blue seat that I didn’t care for so I had the cover changed to black. I can now touch with the balls of my feet.
This motorcycle is promoted as a beginner motorcycle and is easy to learn to ride. I might not be a beginner but this entry-level motorcycle works for me.