Suzuki V-Strom 650 (DL650) reviews

I decided I wanted something that would be more suited to long rides. Looked at a few others but decided on the Weestrom. Bought it at the Vancouver bike show so had to fly over to Burnaby to pick it up. 660km ride back. So far I am loving it. Much better ride than a cruiser, better handling, and comfy! I find it very easy to ride in slow traffic in town but has more than enough power to get up to speed and stay there on the hwy. Considered the 1000 but happy that I went with the 650. The ride home had everything from rain to slushy snow to deer on the road. Would have taken longer on a cruiser, but then this is a motorcycle and not a fashion accessory :) Try one out. You will be assimilated ;) Show less

Recently turned over 8,000 miles on my WeeStrom and can't say enough good things about it. Just completed a 900 mile trip this past weekend riding in Ozark Mountains in Arkansas and attending the BMW Ralley at the Sequoya Park on the Arkansas River. The VStroms have been adopted by the BMW crowd as sibling to the GS Bmw's. This was my longest trip to date since buying my bike in August 2009. The bike handles great through twisty's and switchbacks especially when climbing Mount Nebo. I covered just over 350 miles in one day with no back or posterior issues. The bike also handled well in the rain while riding the Pig Trail. I had the bike loaded with camping gear and no issues. I love the riding position and the low end torque. You can cruise at 80mph all day long. I will be taking the Wee out west to Montrose, CO in June. This bike does everything well without unloading the wallet. Tons of aftermarket accessories available. Show less

If you're looking for a laid-back cruiser, this isn't it. If you're looking for a high-performance lean-forward sport bike? This isn't it. If you're looking for a great dirt bike? This isn't it. HOWEVER, if you're looking for a good regular-sit-up riding position bike that is a great in-town commuter, great handling, and pretty comfortable on day or weekend trips, this IS the one. Oh did I mention, 55 miles to the gallon too? It's a jack-of-all-trades master-of-none machine and great motorcycle! You'll like it! Show less

The machine operates very well on the highway and has excellent take off from the ramps. Its size and manuverability make for an excellent commuter vehicle. Long range drives can propose a problem with comfort. The additional "power boost" is an excellent feature which enables me to go faster than some of the bigger bikes. The roll and go technology is an excellent feature with this bike which is why I bought it in the first place. The bike has the ability to carry a passenger but not totally recommended. Show less

I bought my 08' 650 Exec from a friend and after riding Cruisers and Touring bikes this bike is amazing in its own way. At 611 lbs and a LOW center of gravity, it really handles well at 80 on the hi-way or 5 in a parking lot. Most people still think of a Scooter as a 50cc Vespa and have no idea what this Maxie Scoot can do. The previous owner said he took it to the N. Ga mountains and rode the Dragon's Tail (322 curves in ll miles). He was riding with Harleys and Sport bikes. The Scooter really impressed those riders on the straight away and the curves. Coupled with 48+ MPG it performed well. I've had it two weeks and all around riding, commuting and to the store and coffee shop I have gotten 48 MPG and believe it will reach 58 on a road trip. At 6'1" I find the seat a little short, putting my knees almost to the dash. The standard adjustable windshield is too short for me, I'll replace it with a 3.5" taller Clearscreen Xlg. I'll probably update this an a couple months after taking it to the Mts myself. Show less

I bought it on June 20th 09. I have been riding the bike to work 32 miles one way. In wind and rain, and I cannot say enought about the bike. Handles well in both wind and rain, has good speed. The bike handles very well at highway speed. Show less

After riding cruisers for the past ten years, I decided to downsize to metric. I have owned Yamaha, Kawi, and Harley over the years, and I find this bike to be the overall best. The V-Strom is the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles. It does everything well in one package. I struggled between the 650 and 1000 engines, but I honestly find the 650 to be the ideal power for one-up. The bike is relatively light (lots of plastic parts), so the horsepower is adequate for commuting, weekend cruises, including interstate speeds in heavy traffic. The engine makes a bit of whiney noise, but there is enough enjoyment to make it forgiveable. I had replaced the stock windscreen with California Scientific. Noticeable improvement in wind buffeting, highly recommend. 7/8 inch grips were replaced since I found my hands would quickly cramp around the narrow stock grips. Otherwise, everything is stock. I was hung up in the H-D world, and I grew tired of throwing money into sparkle farkels. Now, if it doesn't improve performance, I won't buy it. If you are undecided about the Wee Strom, I highly recommend it as a great all purpose ride. Seating is comfortable, ample power, reliable, and it LOVES to be ridden in the twisties. If you buy one, you won't regret it. Show less

I bought this bike in June 2009 and I love it !!! It's fast, reliable and performs awesomly. I commute everyday from Brooklyn to the city and on weekends I cruise upstate NY. The Burgman goes up to 100mph easy. The acceleration is great. Show less

Have owned it for 8 months. Not one problem! Wife and I went to Bike week in Daytona March 2010, both of us are big people and the bike cruses at 80 just fine. Rode it for 7 hours. Seat could be little better in comfort area, bought a butt buffer, made a big difference. Lots of looks, lots of questions from people. Show less

I have owned more than fifty motorcycles of all types. Currently, I have a 2009 Honda ST1300 ABS with almost 2,000 miles on the odometer. I have only had it since November. I also have a 2005 Suzuki Burgman 650. I love both motorcycles, but if I could only have one of the two I would keep the Burgman 650. It is actually more comfortable for long trips and quieter on the highway than the ST1300. In the summer it is much cooler to ride because the heat goes underneath rather than onto the rider. The Burgman 650 is the most reliable motorcycle I have owned. I've had some that were as good, but none better. I've owned quite a few Goldwings from 1975 through 2005. They were good, but not as good for all around riding as the Burgman 650. In over 30,000 miles I have had no problems and no repairs, only routine maintenance, and not much of that. I've replaced the spark plugs and checked valve adjustment only one time. I'm on the third rear tire and only the second front tire. The Burgman still runs like new, gets between 47 and 54 mpg consistently, and handles great. I have never replaced the brake pads--they're still good. On a trip to Michigan from Savannah, Georgia last summer I averaged over 50 mpg running between 70 and 75 most of the time (speedometer is fast, however). This is a great motorcycle. It is my fourth Burgman 650, and I will probably buy another one after I put a few thousand more miles on this one. Out of over 50 motorcycles I like the Burgman as good as any I have owned. Show less