Suzuki V-Strom reviews

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

A 650cc bike that's great on long distance rides; 1200 miles to the Grand Canyon, much of it between 80 and 85 miles an hour and it was smooth as glass. Gas mileage between 40-45 mpg. Fuel stops between 200-220 miles. Nice around town too. Handles well on dirt roads. I'm trying to think of something I would change, but can't. Show less

If you have been doing your homework on this style of bike, you have read a lot of reviews that say the DL650 is a great all around performer. I wanted the safety of ABS but couldn't even think about the BMWs because of the price and high maintenance costs. I got mine to commute to work during the week and to tour two-up on weekend day trips on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I went with the V-strom and, after riding Feburary through July in cold rain and 90+ heat, I can say the reviews are spot on. The bike has plenty of power and handles so well in town or on the highway. The v-strom also gets plenty of attention at stops because nothing else looks quite like it. There are plenty of accesories available to make it your own too. They are a little tall but the low speed handling (parking lots, etc.) is GREAT (just as good as my Burgman 400) but it is better suited to someone who can flat foot it for ease of walking it or for getting on and off. The engine and transmission have a long history of reliability. Most people put on an aftermarket windshields but they are around $140 or less for a good one. don't let wind noise stop you from buying a bike. It's a bike! Your supposed to be out in the wind! Make the plunge and enjoy! Show less

The DL650 fits my needs perfectly. Even after only a short time of riding it, just bought it yesterday, I know that this motorcycle is the one! I have been riding motorcycles for 38 years. Had all kinds over the years. Started with mini bikes at an early age, had dirtbikes, street bikes of all description, standards, cruisers, touring and sportbikes. I have owned Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW and Harley motorcycles. So to say been there done that is an understatement. Five years ago I began a quest to find a pair of motorcycles, one for me and one for my son, for us to ride together and share some quality time. I ended up buying two Yamaha FZ6s. My son still has his I ended up trading mine for a Honda VFR about a year later. After another year I traded for this one and here's why. I enjoyed the VFR, it is a beautiful bike and fun to ride but I could only ride it for about an hour before needing a good break. My neck, shoulders and wrists got sore in short order even after adding higher bars. My back got tired and because of the high and slightly rearset footpegs my knees cramped. I had researched the DL650 before and started looking at it again. I found the reviews here helpful as well as internet forums. The opinions and reviews were consistently good, so I decided to buy one. I am so glad that I did! This motorcycle is one of the most comfortable that I have ever been on. While at the dealership I sat on a Kawasaki Versys and found that I could only touch the ground with the ball of my left foot whereas on the DL650 I could touch flat footed with my left foot. The seating position reminds me of days gone by when I was riding dirtbikes, it is called a dual sport after all, though I don't think I will doing any trail riding on it. You sit high and tall on this bike with a good view of the road and your surroundings. The comfort level on this motorcycle equals long time in the saddle. Speaking of which, I found the seat to be quite easy on the rear, soft and forgiving. After about an hour I did notice some butt burn but I have never ridden a motorcycle that did not cause that, moving about from time to time helps relieve the sensation. I found all of the controls to be well placed and easy to manipulate. The mirrors offer a good clear view of what is behind you. The fairing offers good protection. There is some wind buffeting but not an objectionable amount. I have the windshield at the low setting out of the three height adjustments. The fit and finish of all the parts is of high quality. The ride is smooth and firm, standard suspension settings seem to work well for me. The bike is easy to handle at any speed, low speed maneuvering is excellent and it tracks and corners very well at speed. The weight distribution seems evenly placed and you don't notice the bike's weight while riding. I found the engine power to be very linear in delivery with ample power available throughout the rpm range. The standard luggage rack is a godsend, now I have a place to carry things. I purchased a small tailbag to strap on the rack rather than getting a larger trunk case. There a two helmet holder hooks under the seat, they use extension cables that run through the helmet d-rings. There are also a couple of good size storage compartments under the seat along with the tool kit. Even after such a short time with this motorcycle I can tell that this one is a keeper. Read the all the reviews for yourself and then you decide. I was a skeptic before but now I am a convert. What everyone says about this bike is true. It is one great motorcycle! Show less

Recently rode 426 miles in a day to go to a deposition in north Louisiana. Comfort was pretty good until the last 30 miles or so. Only real complaint (other than having to put a Mastead bracket on the windshield) is that it loves false neutrals. Show less

I had been wanting to get back on a motorcycle for some time. I live in a country setting with plenty of gravel roads, and also spend a fair amount of time in Canada where there are a lot of logging and gravel roads, I had been looking at dual sports. Problem is, most enduro type dual sports are far better suited for mostly dirt and limited pavement, and I needed the opposite mix. After doing some research and following a V-Strom forum on-line, I decided to go with the DL650. Power is ample for 99% of the riding I would ever do. If I did a lot of highway commuting 2-up, I might consider the DL1000, but the 650 can keep up comfortably on the highway, and can cruise all afternoon at 90 without breaking a sweat. This bike leaves you looking forward to twisties, and eats up rough pavement without hesitation. I have taken it on gravel roads (some of which barely qualify as roads), and it has handled them well enough with stock tires. If I was going to do a lot of trail/dirt road riding, I might consider getting more suitable tires. But for a bike that has a 478 pound curb weight (closer to 500 with accessories I have installed), it is incredibly nimble and easy to manage. As a side note, I have added an aftermarket fork brace to help improve handling in strong cross-winds and on rough pavement, and it helps immensely. I have been averaging about 48 mpg so far, but I also haven't been doing a lot of straight highway riding, and it's way too fun to twist the throttle on this machine. If you are looking for a bike that you can ride to work during the week and then take on a camping expedition for the weekend, the V-Strom rocks! Show less

I have an '08 650 V-Strom that I've had about a year and now have about 4K miles on. I had not ridden in several years and wanted a fairly traditional (upright) seating position. I looked at the BMWs and, although nice, were pretty pricey. I looked a some Honda and Kawasaki products but couldn't find the right feel. Most were a little aggressive in the seating position for me. I sat on this bike and it felt nice. I knew that the professional reviews had been excellent and that it shared its lineage with the SV-650. A pretty good heritage there. I have found it to be everything that it was advertised to be. I have not taken it off-road much but I'm told it will do that. It actually doesnt weigh much (450# +/-) but I'm not sure I really want to be doing any heavy duty off roading with it. It would probably handle fire roads and simple dirt roads easily. It sure cruises around San Diego with ease. The seating position is excellent, if upright is for you. The controls all make sense and the displays are very good. I do wish it had a gear position indicator, however. Once you pre-flight and start her up, the bike accelerates quickly and there is lots of low end. The engine will take you faster than you really want to go, and it will gladly do that quickly. You can literally go from 60-90 mph with a small flick of your wrist and just a moment of time. There is no lack of intestinal fortitude in this power plant. I initially found that the stock windscreen was a bit small for my liking and have added a larger GIVI model that manages the wind pretty well. I have also added the Suzuki OEM hand guards that spare your hands just a bit. I still get a good bit of wind around my arms and shoulders, but overall wind management is very good. It is very secure at highway speeds and can accelerate you around any problems quickly. I have also taken it many times out on the twisties and find that it is quite nimble on its feet. You can throw it from side to side quickly. that's a pretty good rush. The great handling was probably the most surprising thing to me, but all the reviews had said that it was strong there. I have added a throttle-lock cruise control, and a top case, and I'm now gearing up for a long-distance ride. I'm thinking that it will be pretty good there as well. It has been very reliable and it is a gas sipper at about 53 MPG. I agree with other reviewers and have a few questions about the seat on the longer hauls. Overall, a great bike for the $$$, and it was just the right choice for me. It can do lots of things, and its pretty good at all of them! Show less

Coming from a long history of motocross, trail-riding and road riding, the 650 V-Strom is a great all-arounder! It is fun in every modality from fast highway, twisties through the hills and with a passenger. No vibration at any speed. I use it to commute to clients over 100 km away frequently. With an intercom system no one even knows that I am supporting their I.T. needs while gliding along county roads. A great buy! Great fun! Show less

I bought the bike last June and have been very pleased with the bike since then. The seat can get uncomfortable after a long ride, but the riding posture is easy on your back, shoulders and wrists. I have not had any problems with the bike so far. The tires needed to be replaced at around 11,500 miles, but otherwise the bike has not needed any work other then regular services. If I take it easy I can get up to 60 mpg; the lowest I have gotten is about 40 mpg while traveling 2-up. Speeds over 100 will also lower millage to about 45 mpg. The bike is comfortable at any speed up to 120 mph where the governor kicks in. The bike will still cruise comfortably at 95-100 mph 2-up, however it is slow to get past that point. I can get about 250 miles to a tank on trips. The lights are excellent! The bike handles great on everything from dirt trails to twisties to the highway, even with cross winds. The power curve is very smooth and predictable. Show less

I now have 7000 and it has been one year since my purchase. I still feel that, for the money, there is no beating the V-Strom. Pound for pound, it's the best all-arounder out there. The Swiss Army Knife of Motorcycles. I had three bikes from a different manufacturer before buying my Strom. I have to say that the Strom is the best performing, most agile, most comfortable bike out of them all. I recently tracked 700 miles of straights, twisties and everything in between in one day. I find myself constantly looking for reasons to take the bike out of the garage. If you're looking for an outstanding all-arounder that can do it all, I don't see how you could go wrong with this bike. Show less