V-Strom

[the mole]

I recently had a couple of hours to kill in a nearby town, so I checked out a nearly new 650 V-Strom in a bike shop and managed to persuade the guy to lend me a helmet and the bike for a while. Don't tell my GS, but I'm in love!! I really really liked that bike. Comfortable, a lovely V-twin beat at low rpm and plenty of power when you rev it up. Good brakes, solid handling, nice seat for rider and pillion and effective windscreen, and I hear they're about as economical as a GS. He even offered me a good trade-in.
But I've still got the GS! I'd have bought the Strom if it had shaft drive and I'd have bought it if it wasn't so darn complicated to work on. I liked it, but it didn't tick enough boxes to part me from my cash. But if I ever decide to change bikes I'll definitely test ride one again.

[mike__R]

I have a SV650S (Same engine and a lot of the same features) and it's really not any more complicated to work on than the GS................well getting at things might be a little more difficult but that V-twin 650 motor is really nice..............

[z driver 88t]

A good friend of mine has a V-Strom and I've already thought if I part with my GS at some point I'm definitley looking at the SV650S.

Mike_R, since you own both, what is your impression of the SV650S on the highway as compared to the GS500.  I love my GS500 around town, but my only complaint is as the revs go up the vibration gets somewhat annoying for extended rides at 80mph on the interstate. I've taken a couple of 2+ hour trips on the interstate and the GS leaves you a little weathered.

[numus]

What is the difference between the SV650S and the SV650SF?

[Sertys]

Half-fairing (S) vs full-fairing (SF).

[mike__R]

A good friend of mine has a V-Strom and I've already thought if I part with my GS at some point I'm definitley looking at the SV650S.

Mike_R, since you own both, what is your impression of the SV650S on the highway as compared to the GS500.  I love my GS500 around town, but my only complaint is as the revs go up the vibration gets somewhat annoying for extended rides at 80mph on the interstate. I've taken a couple of 2+ hour trips on the interstate and the GS leaves you a little weathered.

The SV650S is very smooth, (not a lot of vibrations) so that's a benefit, but the riding position is more aggressive than the GS500, which matters more and more as I get older.  The wind hitting you is about the same on both bikes.

[the mole]

That's what I liked about the VStrom, the riding position is more upright than the GS and the windscreen is surprisingly effective. Also, the strom motor is tuned more for midrange and has a slightly heavier flywheel so its a bit 'cruisier' than the SV. Nice for us old folks!
I also like the idea of it being capable off the tarmac.

[Falcon01]

I was at the dealer today for GS parts and took a good look at the V-Strom.  The ergo's seem very comfortable, but it just seems very long. The longer wheelbase probably makes it ride well on the hwy, but I wonder if it would be a pain to ride around town?  The Versys seems to have the same upright ergo's but might be a little more nimble since it's not as big.   The V-Strom has the same engine as the SV650 and the Versys has the same engine as the Ninja 650R.  But, everyone I know with a V-Strom says loves it, so that says at lot.

[madjak30]

I was at the dealer today as well, looking at tail bags...and they had a 2011 V Strom DL650, but it had different paniers...looked more like the ammo boxes or aluminum boxes that you see on the adventure types bikes...not the cheap after thought looking Givi boxes...must be special order or something...but it looked way cooler...I need a second bike!!

Later.

[mister]

A good friend of mine has a V-Strom and I've already thought if I part with my GS at some point I'm definitley looking at the SV650S.

Mike_R, since you own both, what is your impression of the SV650S on the highway as compared to the GS500.  I love my GS500 around town, but my only complaint is as the revs go up the vibration gets somewhat annoying for extended rides at 80mph on the interstate. I've taken a couple of 2+ hour trips on the interstate and the GS leaves you a little weathered.

The SV650S is very smooth, (not a lot of vibrations) so that's a benefit, but the riding position is more aggressive than the GS500, which matters more and more as I get older.  The wind hitting you is about the same on both bikes.

The SV650s I rode wasn't smooth at all. You def knew you were riding a Vtwin. Same with the naked Sv650.

If you haven't already read it, this blocks 6,000km ride on a Vstrom is good fodder http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php?topic=10397.0 He's well worthy of an ironbutt membership.

Michael

[Twisted]

The SV650s I rode wasn't smooth at all. You def knew you were riding a Vtwin. Same with the naked Sv650.

I should give you a run on the Ducati. She won't let you forget what you have between your legs in a hurry  

Funny I was just looking at this on eBay - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-v-strom-650-/260826174331?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item3cba73937b

[mister]

The SV650s I rode wasn't smooth at all. You def knew you were riding a Vtwin. Same with the naked Sv650.

I should give you a run on the Ducati. She won't let you forget what you have between your legs in a hurry  

Funny I was just looking at this on eBay - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-v-strom-650-/260826174331?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item3cba73937b

The 750 Shadow I rode was also vibey. Vibes are not really an issue unless they're high pitched. The thumping type vibes from twins is quite manageable.

I never did ride a VStrom. When I was looking around all the vstroms had well over 60,000km on them, which would defeat the purpose of getting a low-ish km bike so I could keep the GS for longer by sharing the mileage. Wasn't really too concerned cause I'm not sure a vstrom would have fit into my limited space.

Always welcome a pulsing female between my legs 

Michael

[jacob_ns]

I was at the dealer today as well, looking at tail bags...and they had a 2011 V Strom DL650, but it had different paniers...looked more like the ammo boxes or aluminum boxes that you see on the adventure types bikes

That's because that model Wee is designed to be a competitor to the BMW F650GS, KTM, KLR etc in terms of adventure touring and off road capabilities. It's got upgraded suspension, an aluminum skidplate, crash bars, handguards, heated grips, waterproof aluminum panniers and topbox and a headlight guard. (It may not have all of those but essentially it's what it's intended purpose is)

[Suzuki Stevo]

My '05 Strom is my default 2-Up bike, even over my GSX650F...the GS500F has a new owner.

[mister]

I was at the dealer today as well, looking at tail bags...and they had a 2011 V Strom DL650, but it had different paniers...looked more like the ammo boxes or aluminum boxes that you see on the adventure types bikes

That's because that model Wee is designed to be a competitor to the BMW F650GS, KTM, KLR etc in terms of adventure touring and off road capabilities. It's got upgraded suspension, an aluminum skidplate, crash bars, handguards, heated grips, waterproof aluminum panniers and topbox and a headlight guard. (It may not have all of those but essentially it's what it's intended purpose is)

The 'strom in its guises...

Offroad...



Street...



We've had discussions on them here before. Very capable bike. Not a bad work spoken about them. And as for twisties... I know a guy can ride through twisties like a demon on his. So the extra height doesn't seem to hinder him too much - mind you he isn't scraping knees or anything.

Michael

[Falcon01]

Nice looking bike Suzuki Stevo.  The V-Strom is one of the bikes I'm considering for my next bike.  I want to take some longer road trips, and it seems like a great bike for some light touring.  I'm curious if you think it is easy to handle around town (parking lots, start/stop traffic, etc) given it's size?   I'm considering keeping the GS as my "city bike" and to use in the twisties, but maybe it wouldn't be necessary if the V-Strom handles as well as everyone claims.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Nice looking bike Suzuki Stevo.  The V-Strom is one of the bikes I'm considering for my next bike.  I want to take some longer road trips, and it seems like a great bike for some light touring.  I'm curious if you think it is easy to handle around town (parking lots, start/stop traffic, etc) given it's size?   I'm considering keeping the GS as my "city bike" and to use in the twisties, but maybe it wouldn't be necessary if the V-Strom handles as well as everyone claims.

My '05 had a claimed dry weight of 418 (if I remember correctly),  on later models Suzuki claimed a curb weight 0f 478 Lbs, the GS500F has a curb weight of 439...so the Wee is roughly 40 Lbs more in weight but with considerably more HP. In my opinion you could let the GS go and do it all with a Wee. The only time I feel like the V-Strom is a pig is when I take it off-road, logging roads are the extent of what I do off-road with mine.   

[RichDesmond]

I've had a 650 V-Strom for almost 5 years now, 31,000 on it. Great bike. Commuting, 2-up riding, long trips, thrashing it in the twisties...it does it all. It is physically a bigger bike than the engine size might lead you to believe, ergonomically the 1000 and 650 are virtually identical. (The 1000 seat is a little taller)
Don't buy into the dual sport pretensions though. By dirt bike standards it's very heavy and has limited travel and ground clearance. Yes, it can be taken down a dirt road, but so can most other street bikes. For dirt road use I'd rather have an SV650 or GS500, their lighter weight is a big advantage.
What the Stroms really are is lightweight sport-touring bikes, at that they excel. For example:

http://www.sonicsprings.com/catalog/alaska2008_ride_report.php

[mike__R]

The SV650s I rode wasn't smooth at all. You def knew you were riding a Vtwin. Same with the naked Sv650.

I should give you a run on the Ducati. She won't let you forget what you have between your legs in a hurry 

Funny I was just looking at this on eBay - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-v-strom-650-/260826174331?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item3cba73937b

The 750 Shadow I rode was also vibey. Vibes are not really an issue unless they're high pitched. The thumping type vibes from twins is quite manageable.

I never did ride a VStrom. When I was looking around all the vstroms had well over 60,000km on them, which would defeat the purpose of getting a low-ish km bike so I could keep the GS for longer by sharing the mileage. Wasn't really too concerned cause I'm not sure a vstrom would have fit into my limited space.

Always welcome a pulsing female between my legs 

Michael

My girlfriend's 750 Shadow is very vibey as well..................much more noticable than any of my bikes.

[PachmanP]

I recently had a couple of hours to kill in a nearby town, so I checked out a nearly new 650 V-Strom in a bike shop and managed to persuade the guy to lend me a helmet and the bike for a while. Don't tell my GS, but I'm in love!! I really really liked that bike. Comfortable, a lovely V-twin beat at low rpm and plenty of power when you rev it up. Good brakes, solid handling, nice seat for rider and pillion and effective windscreen, and I hear they're about as economical as a GS. He even offered me a good trade-in.
But I've still got the GS! I'd have bought the Strom if it had shaft drive and I'd have bought it if it wasn't so darn complicated to work on. I liked it, but it didn't tick enough boxes to part me from my cash. But if I ever decide to change bikes I'll definitely test ride one again.

I'm actually in talks to buy one to replace my GS (RIP). Rode a buddy's over the weekend. I like the power, its delivery, and the bike is darn comfortable. On the flip side, I kind of was unimpressed with the brakes and the handling. It's been a while since riding a GS, but I think the GS was more "fun". I agreed with the sort of consensus that the wee is a very capable bike but a little boring.