Comments on: What is it about that V-Strom?

By: barry

barry — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:44:31 +0000

I wound up on a 06 DL650 3 years ago because I got a great deal. I kept it because of all the above reasons, it is the most versatile bike I have been on. The smooth quiet engine is a joy to ride. The Madstad bracket and tall Givi windscreen was my solution to buffeting my 6’3 frame.

By: Juan Andres vargas

Juan Andres vargas — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:01:59 +0000

Very good comments! I am new in ridding my V-strom, but I have been reading a lot about reviews for this bike. I guess the V-strom is a balance between beauty and power. I love all bikes, small ones, big ones, any kind… But since I found the V-strom I just felt in love, not because the body and shape, but reading reviews from US, Spain, Argentina, Suzuki V-strom has demonstrated to be the best choice between quality and price… BMWs are great, but you will always be careful not to scratch it or use it that much.. it feels like you are having a fine piece of art in a museum… These are my two cents. V-strom is the greatest bike for me price vs quality… there’s not a better option… You got to ride to convince yourself is not a motorcycle… is the motorcycle! Have a nice day people…

By: Roland W.

Roland W. — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:04:55 +0000

I have owned a number of bikes over the past 25years but always cruisers. Bought a V-strom DL650 used last year and moved to Prince Edward Island, Canada. I couldn’t have picked a better bike for this province! The Island can be crossed from end to end in about 3hrs but is criss crossed by dirt lanes and sub-par roads off nicer highways. The best way to discover it I found, was to just head out until I got lost on a lonely dirt road and switched on my GPS to get back home! I equipped the bike with a nice set of Givi bags and a trunk and this thing rocks! Go anywhere, lots of power, cheap to run, responsive and just plain fun to ride! This bike is like the girl you marry….looks wear off but it’s about the ride!!

By: Jason W

Jason W — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:53:06 +0000

Lets say I am very abusive to equipment. I have owned the 05 DL650 from 0-miles. First time I knew of its existence I wanted to own it. I bought it without my wife knowing about it and kept it a secret for about 3 months. At that time I lived in my home town in Western Colorado. The first month I crashed it, (hit some mud and the front tire slid right and I flew over the left like superman) stock tires were horrible for anything but road. But it was light enough with a full tank of gas I was able to get it up with no help. No real damage except the V-strom sticker on the side of the tank looked awesome now. The turn signals on the left were broke off but still operational and the clutch lever broke off at the ball on the end.
I love taking it off the paved road, camping with it in the jagged mountain roads. Never had any problems after the stock tires were trashed.
Later that year and after the stock rear tire was down to the cords I warmed up the new treads with a trip to Moab Utah. I just so happened to be in the middle of the flash flood season I guess. I rode that bike through extreme heavy wind/rain ( a 4 car carport almost took me and my Strom out while it flew across the road 50ft ahead.) I was driving through deep water above the middle of the wheels at some of the intersections in Moab. The bike was not phased at all. I was going 75-80 hit the rear brake a little too hard locking it up and it started fishtailing bad but amazingly it recovered, probably saving me from a few broken bones because of a car that was at a dead stop in the road waiting for a dog.
The stock bike will run 126mph maxed out sustained at about 5,000ft elevation with stock sprockets while hiding behind the windshield. I love the four wheeler sound of the engine at idle, and it sounds like a pissed off four-wheeler when its red-lined.
Right at 20,000 hard miles I have had to replace the starter solenoid, 3 sets of tires, front and rear sprockets, chain, spark plugs, front wheel bearings, 3 batteries, tightened the exhaust pipes at the engine. Discovered the clutch cable push rod near the transmission hardware was ready to fall off, just tightened it up.
The oil filter hangs low and rocks like to hit it if you donâ€™t have a skid plate ( like me)
But worst of all and the only complaint I really have is the freakish windshield. I have tried everything to make it stop brain bashing me. I am 6’3â€. The only thing I have found is removing the windshield completely in the summer and riding with it all the way up when its cold. (When it is freezing outside the bike will start every time.)
It seems to attract lightning probably because the motorcycle gods are jealous, I am grateful I havenâ€™t got hit yet like the other guy.
The bike is still stock except for the Suzuki hand guards I modified with extra protection for the cold. And a tank bag. I plan on buying more parts as soon as the wife forgives me.
Iâ€™ve noticed the H-D riders don’t wave back all the time. And if you go to the biker bars they all look at you like your crazy.
I plan on buying more parts as soon as the wife forgives me.

By: Ladd Lindholm

Ladd Lindholm — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:19:12 +0000

wind noise, buffiting….I have non of the above. I use a Rifle windscreen, and recently installed the touratech windscreen spoiler (not really needed, just liked the idea ). I have every item that Touratech sells for the 650 VStrom, and they all work and look good. I have never had an issue with wind buffeting, I’m 6 foot tall and ride on the gel VStrom optional seat……..cheers

By: Riaz

Riaz — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:38:47 +0000

I bought a dl 650 V Strom two years ago when I started riding- I’m a novice really, but I’ve taken long trips that seasoned riders considered difficult. The bike commands respect because it can handle itself in situations which you don’t think you can- it is reassuringly capable and always manages to surprise me. I flirted with the idea of getting a dl 1000 or BMW 1200 for power over long distances and things like ABS and ETC ( electronic traction control). Otherwise I wouldnt think of changing it- Anyone on advice as to whether its worth changing for those two ?

By: Steve Melton

Steve Melton — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:05:05 +0000

I just finished a 3330 mile camping trip to Wyoming and back with my DL650 and a friend on a BMW 1100 RT. What a great trip. I’ve riden a lot of motorcycles since the Yamaha mini-enduro, 1971, but the DL650 is the best all around bike I’ve had. It does everything good enough. The biggest plus is the smooth and reliable engine. On the return trip from Wyoming we covered 1230 miles in 2 days without a problem and I believe I could have kept that pace for a week without a problem.

By: Ian Geddes

Ian Geddes — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:56:10 +0000

As a 30 year+rider, I consider my DL1000 a “do it all” ride. I looked for a bike that I could either nip to the shops on, or cross the Rockies without doing anything to it. It’s now a veteran of several cross country trips (biggest day:845 miles), and is, along with me, a lightning-strike survivor. Corbin seat, high windshield, luggage… press the button and go.

By: Robin Powell

Robin Powell — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:18:41 +0000

I bought a V-Strom 1000 thinking of it as a budget BMW GS and rode it from England to Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland all 2-up and with 35 kilos (80 pounds) of luggage and the bike lapped it up. Tuscan mountain roads with hairpins you can’t see round to thousands of miles of Autostrada, Autoroute and Autobahn the Strom does it all. This year I sold it and bought a 2010 BMW GS Adventure. After three weeks and 3000 miles round Italy I sold it back to the dealer and tracked down the Strom I had traded in and bought my old bike back. For me it’s the better bike, it carries passenger and load better, it cruises all day at 80mph better, it has WAY better overtaking punch on two-lane overtakes (like being fired from a gun)and I am more comfortable after a 600 mile day in the saddle. OK the brakes aren’t as hot and off-road the GS rules but that’s only 1% of my tours. I’ll not sell mine again. Find your own.

By: SEvanA

SEvanA — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:01:52 +0000

Ride one! I went to the dealer with every intention of buying a cruiser style bike with my eye on a Yamaha Star model. I rode one and decided to ride an ’09 DL650 V-Strom just to check it out. When I got back from that test ride, all thoughts of a cruiser bike were gone and I bought the ‘Strom on the spot and rode it home! That was in mid-April 2010 and I’ve been using it to commute to work every day (80 miles round trip). Less than a quarter ton, all fun! Buy one you won’t regret it.