Ride Review '04 650 V-Strom

[JLKasper]

Hey,

I realize most of you guys favor the sporting end of the spectrum, however... I spotted this ride review on a site I visit regularly.  Since any riding impressions haven't appeared in the mags, I thought I'd pass it along:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/19january04_2004suzuki_vstrom650.htm

It sounds like the best middleweight adventure touring bike in the market  can be found at your local Suzuki dealer.  

[joefromsf]

Thanks for the link.  I've been very interested in this bike (aka DL650) since I stumbled across it on the web a few weeks ago and can't wait to see one in person.

Unfortunately, from what I hear, its still a month or two from being on the showroom floors.

[miket]

This comes from a friend:

you can also try
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/
and
http://www.2wf.com/articles/bike_tests/B0727330-0B5E-4CFC-AD96-24357DF9AC08.asp

you can find everything current at

http://11109.rapidforum.com/

[JLKasper]

Thanks for the links, miket!

I read one of the ride reviews, which sounds like it took place at the same time and place as the link I provided.  The opinions were the same; both very favorable.

I like the idea of these adventure tourers as everyday bikes, but am a little put off with the cost, size, and weight of the 1000cc> up models.  Being a little short in the britches, the DL650 is right up my alley.  Maybe Honda will be prompted to bring back the 600 Transalp or AfricaTwin 750.  Both of these bikes are still available in other markets.

[miket]

Same feelings here. That'll probably be my next bike in a year or so from now. When I go to Europe I ride my bother's Transalp over the Alps, and I was so upset at Honda for not importing it here anymore. The few that are still on the used market are way overpriced. I was considering a KLR, but the little Strom is more what I am really after.

[JamesG]

The DL-650 is a nice bike, too bad it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

[JLKasper]

I'll hold final judgement on the appearance until I see it in person.  The action shots I've seen in some of the above links look better than static posed photos.  I'm not a fan of this "stealth" school of design, but you gotta go with the flow sometimes.  From the reports, at least the fairing functions better than its appearance.  I'm also a little sore that Suzuki has made the centerstand an extra-cost option.  YMMV.

[JamesG]

The fairing works MUCH better than it looks.

IMO it looks worse in person becasue its VERY obvious that the bodywork was taken from the much larger DL1000.

Still, if the bike filled a role I wanted, like if I lived in New Orleans (where the roads SUCK!) or had to commute over dirt roads or such, I would still get one.
But since I'm not, I'll just make fun of its ugly duckling looks.

[JLKasper]

The 650 and 1000 share most chassis components, and I bet the tanks and fairings are interchangeable.  Fairings have to be a certain size in order to be effective, given the upright riding position.  The 1000 looks larger than the 650 in the Suzuki brochure.  Maybe the rider on the 1000 is a pipsqueak, and the 650 pilot is a big guy.

I for one will be happy when this nonsensical sharp-angled "stealth" design for cars and motorcycles becomes passe', and designs based on sound aerodynamics and graceful curves will again prevail.  Evidently, the public feels the same way.  Sales for the redesigned SV series were softer than previous editions, despite the welcome addition of fuel injection for nearly the same money.  I prefer the rounded shapes on the pre-'03 versions a lot better.  

I'd make fun of that fairing also, but at the age of forty-something, I don't want to be thought of as a fuddy-duddy.  For my money, the air-cooled BMW R100ST (pre-'87) was the epitome of a sports-touring fairing design.  The fairing off Honda CX500/650 turbos also rates pretty highly in my book.