I wonder if the abrupt sensation when cutting the throttle is maybe due to a more dramatic change in attitude from the longer travel, softer suspension?  Didn't they increase the 'flywheel' size compared to SV650?

If I got one, I wouldn't plan to take it off-road either. I've already got enough adventure in my life.

Regarding the shifting, do you miss shifts more?  Requires more pressure? More noise?

Thanks for the review.  Let us know how it goes.

Oh, and be careful with  the speeding.  

I saw an ad on one of the VSTROM sites for a power plug with wiring that mounts nicely into the top, left side of the fairing.  Maybe you should get one and a radar dector?

OS

Quote from: oldsportI wonder if the abrupt sensation when cutting the throttle is maybe due to a more dramatic change in attitude from the longer travel, softer suspension?  Didn't they increase the 'flywheel' size compared to SV650?
OS

I don't know about the flywheel but it's nothing to do with the suspension.  It's the engine.  I had to take out almost all the slack out of the throttle and put the chain on the tight side.  It was getting interesting in tight turns when I let off the throttle.  At this point I don't miss any shifts.  I thought I had a problem with the tranny.  It was not going into 3rd from 2nd quite often.  It turns out I was not following up with the shift into second.  You can't get sloppy getting into second.  The GS gears just fall into place, not the case with the V-Strom.  The quicker you shift the better it is.  If you shift quickly you negate the effects of the engine braking.  If you pause you have a hard time synching the engine speed to the tranny speed.
The other problem I had was with the foot brake.  It was set very high and has a very short throw.  I noticed that the rear rotor was running hot.  It turns out I was pressing the brake down without even realizing it.  I put it down 1/2" and no problem whatsoever.

that abrupt sensation is the v-twin engine braking. Nothing more.

mp183-
your experience with the vstrom sounds just like what I've heard from the sv650 riders (mostly) and that's no surprise since its the same engine.

Glad you're enjoying it as much as you are. That wind protection is the reason I decided to buy a full fairing bike...this week.

Congrats again on a great bike.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, all that's good, but can it do power-wheelies and in what gears?

I've noticed that you've been posting on Stromtroopers.com as well.  By all rights (just by going on rider reviews) the little VS is bike of the year.  I'm waiting for somebody to mention the engine heat cooking you while in heavy traffic, like my GL650 Interstate did. What's your opinion, or are the conditions not right yet? There's a black one on the showroom of my local dealer.  I'm getting really tempted...

Its still ugly.  

JK- Glad you like the bike. And to be honest, If I lived down here in New Orleans (we are visiting family) where the roads seem to be made of pieces of broken concrete jumbled together, I would probably already own one too.

I see this v-twin "little engine that can" being used by Suzuki in the same way the Triumph has diversified its 900cc triple: as a sporty naked bike (T-Bird Sport), half-faired sporty tourer (Sprint RS), and road oriented "adventure bike" (Tiger).  Suzuki could easily fill the holes in its lineup with this single motor:  a full-faired light sport-tourer (Sprint ST),  a more radically-styled streetfighter like a Speed Triple or Ducati Monster, a real "Dakar" adventure tourer or even a retro sport bike like the upcoming Ducatis .  Since development costs for the engine are already in the process of paying for itself, the existing bikes will quickly turn into "cash cows", paving the way for rapid diversification into new markets.   In other words, the Katana 600's days are numbered; and if Suzuki ever decides to import the SV400, so would the GS's...

Great review, thanks.   As you may remember, I've had my eye on the DL650 since zook first announced it...just seemed to make so much sense, and be such a do-everything bike.  Glad you're enjoying it.
BTW where in NJ are you from.  I used to live in Morris Co., now in upstate NY, but I get back from tiem to time.  In fact, was visiting Mom about 4 weekends ago, and took the GS (Northway, Thruway)...I can only imagine what it would have been like on the'strom.