
DR 600
Library entry covers 1984-1989
Published source
Suzuki DR600S Service Manual, Periodic Maintenance Chart p. 2-1 (chart in miles, km and months)
Factory workshop manual. Covers 1985-1989 (DR600S service manual).
Open the source58 items for a 1987 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.
How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)
- Engine cycle
- Four-stroke
- Engine lubrication
- Wet sump (oil in crankcase)
- Oil filtration
- Replaceable cartridge or spin-on filter
- Valve gear
- Overhead cam, screw/locknut adjusters
- Ignition
- Electronic (CDI / transistor / ECU)
- Charging
- Alternator / stator with rectifier
- Battery
- Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
- Fuel system
- Single carburetor
- Cooling
- Air / oil cooled
- Primary drive
- Gear or chain inside engine, shares engine oil
- Gearbox oil
- Shares engine oil
- Clutch control
- Hand lever, cable
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front suspension
- Telescopic fork
- Rear suspension
- Swingarm, twin shocks
- Front brake
- Disc, hydraulic
- Rear brake
- Drum (or band / belt rim)
- Wheels
- Spoked, tubed
- Sidecar
- No sidecar
1987 Suzuki DR 600
On the road: every 200 mi
1 item-
Check engine oil levelPre-ride / on the roadGuideline
Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.
On the road: every 300 mi
2 items-
Check lights, horn, brake light switchesPre-ride / on the roadGuideline
-
Check tire pressuresPre-ride / on the roadGuideline
On the road: every 600 mi
1 item-
Lubricate drive chainPre-ride / on the roadFactory
Manual: Drive chain - clean and lubricate. Factory: Clean and lubricate every 1 000 km (600 miles)
On the road: every 4,000 mi or 12 months
1 item-
Check chain slack and rear wheel alignmentPre-ride / on the roadFactory
Manual: Drive chain - I. Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
Every 1,000 mi or 6 months
1 item-
Adjust rear drum brake and rod / cable linkageBrakesGuideline
Every 2,000 mi
2 items-
Clean / inspect air filterFuel and airFactory
Manual: Air cleaner element - clean. Factory: Clean every 3 000 km (2 000 miles)
-
Check brake pads and discsBrakesFactory
Manual: Brakes - inspect. Factory: Inspect every 3 000 km (2 000 miles)
Every 3,000 mi or 12 months
7 items-
Check throttle cable(s) free play and returnFuel and airGuideline
-
Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)Final driveGuideline
Non O-ring chains on old machines: remove, clean, soak in hot chain grease or lube, refit with the master link clip closed end leading.
-
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)Final driveGuideline
-
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivotsRear suspension and frameGuideline
-
Grease and check center / side stand and springsRear suspension and frameGuideline
-
Check spoke tension and wheel trueWheels and tiresGuideline
-
Check wheel bearings for playWheels and tiresGuideline
Every 4,000 mi or 12 months
15 items-
Change engine oilEngineFactory
Manual: Engine oil and oil filter - R. Factory: Initial 600 mi/1 000 km/2 months; columns 600/4 000/7 500/11 000/15 000 mi
-
Chassis bolts and nuts - TEngineFactory
Factory: Tighten initially, then every column
-
Check and adjust valve clearancesEngineFactory
Manual: Valve clearance - I. Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
-
Check cylinder head bolt torqueEngineFactory
Manual: Cylinder head nuts, exhaust pipe bolts and muffler connections - T. Factory: Tighten initially, then every column
-
Inspect, clean and gap spark plugsEngineFactory
Manual: Spark plugs - C. Factory: Clean at 4 000 and 11 000 mi columns
-
Replace oil filterEngineFactory
Manual: Engine oil and oil filter - R. Factory: Replaced with engine oil every column
-
Carburetor idle rpm - IFuel and airFactory
Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
-
Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled waterIgnition and electricsFactory
Manual: Battery (specific gravity of electrolyte) - I. Factory: Every column from 4 000 mi
-
Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivotPrimary and gearboxFactory
Manual: Clutch - I. Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
-
Balancer chain - IFinal driveFactory
Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
-
Check steering head bearing adjustmentFront endFactory
Manual: Steering - I. Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
-
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork bootsFront endFactory
Manual: Front forks - I. Factory: Every column from 4 000 mi
-
Lubricate brake cam spindles, check linings and drumsBrakesGuideline
-
Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codesWheels and tiresFactory
Manual: Tires - I. Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
-
Automatic de-compression lever - IControls and cablesFactory
Factory: Initial 600 mi; then every column
Every 4,000 mi or 4 years
2 items-
Replace fuel linesFuel and airFactory
Manual: Fuel line - I; replace every four years. Factory: Inspect every column; replace every four years
-
Inspect brake hoses; replace old rubberBrakesFactory
Manual: Brake hoses - I; replace every four years. Factory: Inspect every column; replace every four years
Every 6,000 mi or 12 months
6 items-
Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jetsFuel and airGuideline
Ethanol fuel varnishes old carbs quickly in storage.
-
Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-outIgnition and electricsGuideline
-
Check swingarm bushes for playRear suspension and frameGuideline
-
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and dampingRear suspension and frameGuideline
-
Lubricate control cables and lever pivotsControls and cablesGuideline
-
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check driveControls and cablesGuideline
A dry speedo cable whips the needle and eventually kills the instrument.
Every 7,500 mi or 2 years
2 items-
Replace spark plugsEngineFactory
Manual: Spark plugs - R. Factory: Replace at 7 500 and 15 000 mi columns
-
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowlFuel and airFactory
Manual: Fuel strainer - C. Factory: Clean at 600, 7 500 and 15 000 mi columns
Every 10,000 mi or 2 years
2 items-
Compression test (or leak-down)EngineGuideline
-
Change fork oilFront endGuideline
Some early telescopic forks are grease filled or use very small oil quantities. Check your manual.
Every 12,000 mi or 2 years
2 items-
Replace air filter elementFuel and airGuideline
-
Grease swingarm pivotRear suspension and frameGuideline
Every 15,000 mi
1 item-
Replace brake linings / skim drums (wear based)BrakesGuideline
Every 18,000 mi
1 item-
Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)Final driveGuideline
Every 20,000 mi or 4 years
2 items-
Repack / replace steering head bearingsFront endGuideline
Many old machines use loose balls in cups and cones. Taper roller conversions are common.
-
Repack / replace wheel bearingsWheels and tiresGuideline
Cup-and-cone and taper roller hubs need periodic repacking and adjustment.
Every 25,000 mi or 6 years
1 item-
Replace swingarm bushes / bearingsRear suspension and frameGuideline
Every 30,000 mi or 6 years
1 item-
Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springsFront endGuideline
Every 6 months
1 item-
Clean battery terminals, check charge and strapIgnition and electricsGuideline
Every 12 months
1 item-
Check speedometer / odometer against a known distanceControls and cablesGuideline
Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.
Every 2 years
3 items-
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground pointsIgnition and electricsGuideline
-
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracksRear suspension and frameGuideline
-
Replace brake fluidBrakesFactory
Manual: Brake fluid - change every two years. Factory: Time-based only
Every 4 years
1 item-
Rebuild calipers and master cylinders (seals)BrakesGuideline
Every 6 years
2 items-
Replace inner tubes and rim tape with tiresWheels and tiresGuideline
-
Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)Wheels and tiresGuideline
Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.
Keep up with this schedule on your phone
Add the bike in the app and this chart loads itself, ready to log against and edit.



