It's been five years since I did the 3-year review. Now at 8 years, my 2005 DL650 V-Strom still looks great, runs great and rides great. I'm ready for some new tires again, that got me searching the web, and prompted me to do this review. I'm ready to order some road-oriented tires this time,...
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It's been five years since I did the 3-year review. Now at 8 years, my 2005 DL650 V-Strom still looks great, runs great and rides great. I'm ready for some new tires again, that got me searching the web, and prompted me to do this review. I'm ready to order some road-oriented tires this time, maybe Pirelli Scorpion Trails. I have never had this bike off of the pavement. I'm long over with those thoughts. I also replaced the battery about two years ago, just as a precaution. I've ridden less in the last five years than I did in the first three years. I work from home most of the time now, so I don't have my long daily commute anymore. Also, I'm getting older (54), heavier, and am on the way to shorter. While the bike is still very comfortable, it's getting harder to swing a leg over the Givi bags and high seat. But once there, it's still very comfortable. The seat is still like new, it's held up very well. The Givi bags still look and work like new even though I kick them just about every time I mount the bike. No other new accessories, haven't thought of anything to add in years. This is the longest I've ever kept a bike. I've thought about trading for something new, but there's really nothing available that I like better. Cost of ownership has been, and continues to be very low. I carry only liability insurance anymore. I change the oil every summer now, since I don't accumulate 2,000 miles per year anymore. The last couple of years I've only added a couple hundred miles each. This spring though, I've burned through two tanks of fuel so far. that's about 300 miles per tank. Maybe I'll ride more this year.
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