I recently purchased a new V-Strom 650; what else can you ask for? This bike handles exceptionally well, has plenty of go, and very good brakes. The riding position is perfect for me(6'1"); my hands are just resting on the handlebar grips. The windscreen/fairing are super; with the screen adjusted in the highest position you get plenty of protection and very little wind noise. I have however ordered Stealth Edging from Saeng which I haven't received yet; this product is guaranteed so if it doesn't work for you, they will refund your money(pricey at $12.90 per foot). I also ordered directly from Givi E460 bags and hardware; Suzuki is slow to get options/accessories on the market. I also ordered a centerstand from MOTech($147) from ThrottleTwisters. For me this will complete the outfitting and it's time to ride. So far I can report that it shifts smoothly, and at about 4500 RPM you're cruising around 65 MPH with virtually no vibration. The seat is very comfortable as is the passenger area; my wife liked it very much. With fuel injection there is no gas petcocks to fool with, no choke; just turn it on and hit the starter button. The exhaust has a nice tone to it, not too loud, not too quiet. Fit and finish is very good to excellent; I chose the black one and will have grey bags. With only 380 miles on this girl I can't report high speed handling or acceleration/braking; I believe this bike will easily do well over a 100 MPH. However, it's strong points are low/mid-range torque, with a respectable cruising capability which will no doubt earn you plenty of tickets if you're not careful. I've been riding 40 years and have owned all kinds of bikes, and for me, this is the best bang for your buck, and it's just a hell of a lot of fun to ride...two things I don't like. The horn is like most of the bikes today; sounds embarrassing to honk. And the taillight could be brighter; again, this is not uncommon and both issues are easy to fix. This will be my first Suzuki, but so far, it's absolutely great!!
