When Poe was stolen in Sicily, but before he was found again, I noticed Nicholas Lamont, a former TET linesman, selling his beautifully restored DR650R; Boris. I jumped on it, made a transfer and picked up the bike the next weekend. A few days later Poe was found. So why keep the 650? They’re not that different – are they?
Truth is they’re night and day. This is reflected in my decision to keep Boris’s name. Obviously, as a Brit it’s a sensitive moniker – I am no Brexiteer. But if Poe is the ultimate long distance trail bike Boris is the bike to take me out of the European Union.
He’s physically a much bigger bike and as a result less easy to handle on the trails and quite a bit more comfortable over long distance on road and gravel. More displacement, more power and different gear ratios make it viable on the motorways and main roads where Poe is a torture machine.
What’s been done to Boris? As I got him Nicholas had done a full restoration – freshly powder coated frame, engine rebuilt, big tank, uprated suspension, flat slide carb, digital dash, luggage system – all mods I would usually do myself. There was not much I needed to do. I changed a few details, changed back to tubes and removed a few things that were tricky for the TUV like the 18″ rear wheel.
Sitting in the shed alongside a recently acquired Honda VFR750 I feel that three give an appropriate tool for every possible job. Poe takes me to the tricky trails of the south. Boris for long distances, easier trails and road use. Big Red is a pure street weapon.