650 Vstrom reviewed

[okieinu]

first review I've seen in US.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/19jan..._vstrom650.htm

[greatzippy]

I just hope I have the cash next season to get one

[Thorshammer]

Rode one last week, good unit, more fun than the 1000 less power but more fun,



E

[vstrombc]

check out www.motorcycle.com for another good review.

The testers felt that the 650 V-Strom was down on power compared to the SV650 but would still pull 130 mph - hell thats faster than my 1000 is supposed to go ?

[john merrell]

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!!

[TARGET]

Any opinion, whether V-Strom 650 would be a good bike for a person who is returning to bike riding after about 15 years and had about 3 years of riding experience(15 years ago). Physically i am 5' 7'' & 160 lbs.
Thanks

[john merrell]

With your previous experience, a refresher course with MSF, and you should be fine. With your size I think you would be able to handle the seat height of the VStrom 650; go check it out. I'm biased towards this bike for several reasons; it's a good buy, it has all the latest technological upgrades, it handles very well(on the road, in dirt, or in a parking lot), it has plenty of get up and go, more than most sensible riders will ever need, and it's capable of two-up riding, and it's comfortable. I've been riding 40 years now, and I've owned more bikes than I want to admit, but this is the best bike I've ever owned or ridden. It does everything very well; the only weak point will be your ability to ride. If you're looking for something that you can tour on, cruise the home streets, commute, explore an occassional dirt/gravel road, and you don't want to spend an arm and a leg, this is the ticket. I hope you will take your time and be sure just exactly what kind of riding you're going to do. Just remember, most cruisers and sport bikes are rather limited to what they are suited to do. Cruisers are not that comfortable unless you get a big bike, and they handle like a truck without power steering in a parking lot. Sport bikes are designed to go fast with little attention to comfort. Again this is why I like this bike over the others; it is versatile. It has really caught on; my local dealer only had two, and they are gone, and he can't get any more. I hope this will help you...ride safe...ride on...John

[TARGET]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I should be deciding in next couple of weeks, depending upon weather( Chicago ).
Thanks again

[Weazel]

Glad to hear the good reviews! How can I not be a Suzuki fan, the '82 GS 650G I have is awesome. But I'm buying a house and gonna be commuting over 20 mi to work now so I'm looking for something lighter, quicker, and with a full fairing. But I want the upright seating since I'll be packing the miles to her.

I saw the VStrom 650 on their website and it sounded awesome. Of course there was no data on engine HP and Torque. Can anyone confirm that its the same specs as the SV650 (since its the same bore and stroke)? Thats got 72 horse and decent torque. Being a twin I wouldnt imagine it'd be in the horsepower range of some of the others I'm looking at in the pricerange (The Yamaha FZ6 and Kawasaki ZZR600, both with near 100 horsepower) Has anybody test driven either of those 2 bikes? All 3? Hows the comparison?

The Suzuki and Yamaha are fuel injected which is a bonus in my book. I would like to stay Suzuki, but I'm a bit of a speed freak and will probably buy the quicker bike, all other things equal. Thanks a lot!!!