Wee-Strom - how many of you guys have a Suzuki DL650?

[Papa Weeley_imp]

It seems every motorcycle forum I'm on, no matter how diverse, I keep hearing from other members that also have either a Triumph Bonneville, or a 650 V-Strom. Since I already own a Bonnie, I thought I'd check out the Suzuki...
Went and sat on one at the dealership yesterday, and I have to say, I was pretty surprised at how comfortable it was. I could use a little more legroom, but that's my problem on most bikes anyway, and from what I understand, they have a higher seat option available, too. And they had some nice discounts on a couple of 2014 models that were hard to beat.
I've just started doing a little research on them, and it sounds like they're pretty much bullet-proof, although not exactly a hardcore off-roader (although no less than a Triumph Scrambler, no doubt).
So, anyone here have one that they can offer any details or opinions about? I'm just kind of toying with the idea at this point, but I am pretty interested.

 

[the Ferret]

I have a nephew that had an SV 650 (great bike) sold it, bought a couple KTMs (sold them) and recently bought an SVF 650. I have ridden all his bikes and the little SV is a gem. Great motor, torquey, bullet proof. Fun bike.

It is on my short list (along with the FZ07 and NC 700) to replace my ST 1300 someday when I get a little older, my wife quits riding, and I want something a little lighter.

 

[VOZZA_imp]

Hi Papa, I've had V-strom DL650 when the current model came out here late 2011. It's a great do it all bike for the money. The motor is bombproof, economical, and fun when you get higher up the Revcounter.
I had the tall seat option and there is a relatively cheap aftermarket kit to drop the pegs to give more knee room.
One of the problem areas is that the lights are wired straight through the switch, which is fine for a few years, but as time goes on the switch can breakdown. It is a fairly simple job to put a relay in with power from the battery which should make the switch last as long as any other.
Wind buffeting can be an issue at highway speeds usually cured with a change to Aprillia Tuono mirrors (more aerodynamic) and an aftermarket screen although the combination is hit and miss with different rider sizes.

 

[redbirds_imp]

My wife is on her second V-strom. Her first was a 2007 that weaned her off cruisers forever. Five years and many trouble free miles later she got the urge for a retro bike, sold the V-strom and bought a Bonneville. Even though the Bonnie was a good bike, she never really warmed up to it so the Bonnie was traded for a 2012 V-strom which she still has and would not part with for any reason.

The Wee-strom is a bike that does everything well and is so reliable as to be boring. Just change the oil on schedule and ride it. The ride is better than our CB's on rough roads and the handling quite agile despite the 19" front tire. The main "weakness" is the brake performance. It's a bit soft by modern standards but ABS is standard and works very transparently. The accessories available are staggering in number, everything to make this very capable bike even better. If you decide on a used one be aware that improvements were made starting in 2012 that made for a smoother engine with better throttle response and a small power gain. The clutch was improved and a bit of weight removed. Unless you're someone who really rides hard off pavement the V-strom is satisfactory on dirt roads, especially with some better than stock tires.

I love the Suzuki also and came close to buying one in place of my CB. Of course, I'm glad now that I didn't.

 

[the Ferret]

My other nephew ( they are brothers) has the NC 700 my wife and I borrowed on our Nevada trip last year. I think the wee strom is a little stronger in the motor, but the NC IS a Honda and gets unbelievable gas mileage.

Another nice bike in that genre is the Kawasaki Versys 650. 650 parallel twin with a small fairing. I had 2 riding friends that had them and absolutely loved them.

Hard to beat a wee strom though.

 

[Papa Weeley_imp]

Wow, great responses - thanks, guys!

 

[Cormanus]

Mate of mine had one. He has the opposite leg length problem to you, Papa, and had to get the seat lowered. But he could do it easily and really liked the bike.

 

[ride4now_imp]

I wish I had the DL.. bought Kawasaki's KLR instead on the advice of a friend. Not that I don't like the KLR, but I think the DL is lighter and since its air cooled, it's a bit easier to maintain over time. And its probably a better dirt bike where the KLR makes for a better road bike...

 

[the_undecider_imp]

I've had 2. First a 2006 I sold last year. Bought the CB a few months later. I missed the overall comfort and utility of the Strom and picked up a 2013 ABS in January.

They are kinda boring in the sense they do everything well, but don't stand out in one area. It's very much a care free ride. The engine is smooth and willing, the suspension soaks up bumps like a champ, and I find the brakes quite good. They lack the feel and initial bite of the CB'S binders, but the ABS is well sorted and it still stops when you ask. In the dirt, the softer bite is an advantage. On the street, I have to remind myself it's not the Honda.

My 13 is outfitted much the same as my 06 (skid plate, crash bars, side cases, top case, adjustable windscreen, and various other farkles. The biggest improvement over the old bike I have found to be is the suspension. The older bikes were sprung quite soft which is counter-intuitive when the bike seems to have been designed for tall riders. I had heavier springs front and rear for my then 270 lbs and heavier fork oil to try to maintain enough rebound damping with the heavier springs. That screwed up my compression damping and the bike would slam over square edged bumps. I eventually lost some weight and went back to the stock fork springs with the heavier oil and it was a little better. The rear shock barely had enough rebound damping adjustment to deal with the heavier spring I installed. Needless to say, I really needed to spend the money on cartridge emulators and a good rear shock. The 13's stock suspension has been great out of the box for my 220 lbs. I have no need to upgrade.

The bike is pretty roomy with the stock saddle height. I wanted the ergos closer to a dual sport bike, so I got a used tall saddle off the forum and bought a set of peg lowering blocks which have the option of relocating the shifter forward an inch or two depending on adjustment. Now, it feels more natural to stand on the pegs.

Go over to stromtrooper.com if you haven't already and look around.

I know I could go on for days about various aspects of the bike, so I'll stop here and come back to add anything I think of as important or answer any questions.

I wish I had the DL.. bought Kawasaki's KLR instead on the advice of a friend. Not that I don't like the KLR, but I think the DL is lighter and since its air cooled, it's a bit easier to maintain over time. And its probably a better dirt bike where the KLR makes for a better road bike...

I think you are confusing the DL650 (V-strom) for the DR-650 (dual sport). The DL is a large half-faired standard bike that when kitted out makes a decent light duty sport touring bike or adventure touring bike. It's powered by a liquid cooled 645 cc 90 degree twin engine. It's about 50 lbs heavier than the KLR, but is probably the same margin better than the KLR on the road as the KLR is over the DR650.

 

[gossman_imp]

My neighbor has a DR 650 for an "adventure" bike, he thinks it's the way to go for dirt and gravel

 

[Motogeezer1949_imp]

I had a new DR650 about 2004 I think. Great bike, though I chose to put street tires on it and do track days. Quite the track weapon at Jennings GP in N FL. before there were dedicated motards. My son just got a used one that he adventures with, he rides it on the Eglin AFB reserves. Camps and explores. Super happy with it.

 

[the_undecider_imp]

My neighbor has a DR 650 for an "adventure" bike, he thinks it's the way to go for dirt and gravel

I guess that brings up an important distinction between adventure and adventure touring bikes. The latter emphasize long haul comfort at the expense of dirt prowess. Dual sports like the DR, XR, and KLR makes great mounts for an off road adventure. Heck, my old Honda 175 took me on some great adventures. No way would I want to climb on a DR650 and ride 100+ miles on the freeway.

 

[Motogeezer1949_imp]

To each his own A friend rode his DR400S on our mountain trip w no issues a few years back. Over 2k miles, though we don't ride on interstates on our trips. My son's going to be taking his DR on our fall trip. That said, the DR650 has a lot stronger motor and is lighter and faster than a KLR. The Vstrom I really like is the 1000, though it wouldn't be that great as a serious off-roader imo.

 

[Frulk_imp]

Rode a KLR for 6 years and just recently sold it to a buddy. No maint. issues whatsoever. Stock the bike will go to Tierra del Fuego and back but it was pure Hell in a Wyoming cross-wind. I'd call it biased 70/30 road-dirt, maybe even 80/20. It had a high center of gravity and with a full tank was a bear to handle in the rough stuff. Lowering the suspension helped to some degree but it was a still a handful. Dropped it once on a steep descent in the Owyhee Wilderness on the southeastern border of Oregon. Liked to kill me. In the bikes defense I was way beyond what it and the suspension were prob designed for. For that specific route the DR or a KTM 690 would have been more appropriate. Pictures were taken in the Wyoming Range Mt's about 40 miles down a dirt road...the last 3/4 of a mile being literally a cattle trail.

My KLR

And my buddies Scrambler.

He can take that anywhere I could go on the KLR with a much lower center of gravity albeit with an additional 50+ (approx.) pounds of steel and a much smaller tank. If you know how to ride you can make up for a lot of your bikes shortcomings (perceived or otherwise)

 

[pekingduck]

I wish I had the DL.. bought Kawasaki's KLR instead on the advice of a friend. Not that I don't like the KLR, but I think the DL is lighter and since its air cooled, it's a bit easier to maintain over time. And its probably a better dirt bike where the KLR makes for a better road bike...

I think you're thinking of the Suzuki DR650 single, and you're right on what you said. I'd love to have one as a motard-style streeter.

 

[pekingduck]

I'm on my 3rd V-Strom. Started with a 2002 DL 1000, but didn't like it because I found myself comfortably cruising and splitting lanes at 85-90 in L. A. traffic. It was actually too hard to stick to sane speeds, so when the DL650 came out, perfect! It's sweet spot is 70-80 mph all day long. Put 50k on that one, sold it and now at 33k on the second 650, and will replace it with another one.
It may be the best overall bike, period. I let two good friends ride mine, and one sold his VFR800 for a DL650, the other sold his FJR1300 for a DL1000. If it came down to one bike, hate to say it, but the CB1100 and the Bonnie can't do it all.

 

[TINK_imp]

Had a 2004 Wee-Strom. Great bike! This was my last commuter bike before I retired. Sold it after I retired to return to my first love, my 2000 VFR800Fi.





TINK

 

[ride4now_imp]

I wish I had the DL.. bought Kawasaki's KLR instead on the advice of a friend. Not that I don't like the KLR, but I think the DL is lighter and since its air cooled, it's a bit easier to maintain over time. And its probably a better dirt bike where the KLR makes for a better road bike...

I think you're thinking of the Suzuki DR650 single, and you're right on what you said. I'd love to have one as a motard-style streeter.

I think you're thinking of the Suzuki DR650 single, and you're right on what you said. I'd love to have one as a motard-style streeter.
The two of you are correct... I am confusing the DL for the DR. That's what I get for checking the forum last at night after a tiring day!!! 'DL' didn't seem right... But I went with it anyway. Sorry for hijacking the thread too.

 

[Papa Weeley_imp]

Excellent stuff! Thank you!
Likewise to everyone else who's chimed in -

I've had 2. First a 2006 I sold last year. Bought the CB a few months later. I missed the overall comfort and utility of the Strom and picked up a 2013 ABS in January.

They are kinda boring in the sense they do everything well, but don't stand out in one area. It's very much a care free ride. The engine is smooth and willing, the suspension soaks up bumps like a champ, and I find the brakes quite good. They lack the feel and initial bite of the CB'S binders, but the ABS is well sorted and it still stops when you ask. In the dirt, the softer bite is an advantage. On the street, I have to remind myself it's not the Honda.

My 13 is outfitted much the same as my 06 (skid plate, crash bars, side cases, top case, adjustable windscreen, and various other farkles. The biggest improvement over the old bike I have found to be is the suspension. The older bikes were sprung quite soft which is counter-intuitive when the bike seems to have been designed for tall riders. I had heavier springs front and rear for my then 270 lbs and heavier fork oil to try to maintain enough rebound damping with the heavier springs. That screwed up my compression damping and the bike would slam over square edged bumps. I eventually lost some weight and went back to the stock fork springs with the heavier oil and it was a little better. The rear shock barely had enough rebound damping adjustment to deal with the heavier spring I installed. Needless to say, I really needed to spend the money on cartridge emulators and a good rear shock. The 13's stock suspension has been great out of the box for my 220 lbs. I have no need to upgrade.

The bike is pretty roomy with the stock saddle height. I wanted the ergos closer to a dual sport bike, so I got a used tall saddle off the forum and bought a set of peg lowering blocks which have the option of relocating the shifter forward an inch or two depending on adjustment. Now, it feels more natural to stand on the pegs.

Go over to stromtrooper.com if you haven't already and look around.

I know I could go on for days about various aspects of the bike, so I'll stop here and come back to add anything I think of as important or answer any questions.

I wish I had the DL.. bought Kawasaki's KLR instead on the advice of a friend. Not that I don't like the KLR, but I think the DL is lighter and since its air cooled, it's a bit easier to maintain over time. And its probably a better dirt bike where the KLR makes for a better road bike...

I think you are confusing the DL650 (V-strom) for the DR-650 (dual sport). The DL is a large half-faired standard bike that when kitted out makes a decent light duty sport touring bike or adventure touring bike. It's powered by a liquid cooled 645 cc 90 degree twin engine. It's about 50 lbs heavier than the KLR, but is probably the same margin better than the KLR on the road as the KLR is over the DR650.

I think you are confusing the DL650 (V-strom) for the DR-650 (dual sport). The DL is a large half-faired standard bike that when kitted out makes a decent light duty sport touring bike or adventure touring bike. It's powered by a liquid cooled 645 cc 90 degree twin engine. It's about 50 lbs heavier than the KLR, but is probably the same margin better than the KLR on the road as the KLR is over the DR650.

 

[lagoje_imp]

Get one! The V-strom 650 is a great bike. I've been to several of the demo days here in Arizona and rode both the Suzuki and the Kawasaki KLR 650. I wanted something that could do a little dirt riding. After riding both I knew the Suzuki was the bike for me. Then I went and bought a KLR650 because I got a great deal on it. But I definitely plan to get my hands on the Wee-Strom in the future.


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