The Suzuki V-Strom lineup of bikes has really grown, but this 650 XT still hits at the heart of what this lineup is all about! Check it out for yourself by connecting with the Maclean Sports team here: www.macleanssports.com
There are only 2 motorcycles that I am willing to take on Around-the-World-Trip with only minor mods. KLR 650 and V-Strom 650. An absolute gem that can do everything!
Nice video, thank you!! I am a 52 year old beginner and I really consider this VStrom as my first bike!! It is a Swiss knife bike, for commuting, touring... regards glfrom Serbia 🇷🇸✌️
I'm 49, just bought my first motorcycle, a 2016 V-Strom DL650. I absolutely love it. Comfortable, quick, and calm. I'm mostly on two lane roads with the occasional trek down dirt roads. It's just what I wanted. Can recommend 👍
I'm also 52 years young, and I got myself a vstrom 650 XT 2022 around a year ago. I absolutely love it. Simply put, it's the perfect Swiss knife for people our age.
Peter clearly lacks experience on motorcycles. My girlfriend and I rode from Denmark to Monaco in 1978 camping all the way on my Suzuki GT550 without any problems except a front wheel puncture on the Autoroute. The DL650 V-Strom has more power and more torque - even at low RPM. I'm considering the 650 V-Strom, the SV650 and the 650 Versys for a trip to Verona. Did you get yours? What did you choose?
Sir, thanks alot for this awesome video. You have really done a great job with this commentary. I've found almost all relevant information that i need for the stuff. You have been really helpful. I wish safe ridings for you. 🙂
Nice review. Had a white 3rd gen DL 650. traded it in for a Z900RS. Missed it so I bought a '22 black DL650 Adventure. Just got back from a 2k mile jaunt totally overloaded to Sonora Pass. Even in Nevada on the mountain highways at 6k feet elev., it pulled 80 mph with ease, getting 50mpg. Handles excellent and the little Vtwin was delightful. And in response to the DL not handling at low speeds. This bike is actually easier for me in the twisties than my Z900 or 900RS. It's so neutral feeling, it's weird. I could sing it's praises till doomsday. Buy one before they're gone. Seen a 1st gen with 300k miles on original engine. Love 'em.
G'day Peter, I happened to come across this video and clicked on it straight away, I've just bought my 2nd Suzuki V-Strom and I love these bikes. I'm not a small guy weighting around 220 pounds with motorcycle jacket and the bike doesn't even know I'm on it lol. My Previous 2007 Wee-strom was a great touring bike, took me all over NSW and Queensland here in Australia, I had to give up the bike for 4 years due to hip surgery but now I'm back on my 2021 DL650 XT that I purchased slightly used last Month. All I want to say is that over 20 years now that these 650 version of the V-Strom have been available and with all the new bike releases over all that time, that this bike is still very relevant in 2023. There's a very good reason why the Suzuki V-Strom 650 is probably one of the biggest ever selling motorcycle model in the world.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! I agree with you, there's a reason that this bike continues to sell well year after year. Even people who choose a different bike for themselves tend to have a lot of respect for what this bike is. Thanks for watching!
Well said David. The 650 Strom is incredibly suitable for Australian conditions (distances and poor road surfaces). I want to emphasise the point made by Peter that because of it's relatively light weight (compared to litre plus bikes) it is excellent for commuting on further cementing it's suitability to be the only bike in your garage. Sure a scooter would be nimble, frugal and convenient, but the Strom is able and more satisfying to commute on. One less bike to maintain and register.
@@MrBenHaynes Absolutely Ben, When I had my last V-strom, a 2007 model K7 650 and I always commuted on that bike rain, hail or Shine within the Sydney metro area, it was great, never felt overbearing, heavy or cumbersome and it had the grunt and manoeuvrability to get out of troubling Traffic situations, it just loved to Rev willingly to the redline. It was also a very stable bike to load up with gear and go touring which I often did, and I once pumped it to 180kph and it felt as stable at that speed as it did at 100kph.....it's incredible, no wobble or fears of it letting go. I've now got the 2021 V-Strom XT650 and this will be just as good if not better than the other one. This has got to be the best allrounder motorcycle ever built!!
Magic video. I'm 58 and just about to complete my UK mod 2 this week. I have a '21 v-strom with 2000 miles in the garage waiting for my first ride later this week all being well. I cannot wait to get some miles in the saddle. Thanks for confirming that I have made a good purchase!
Hi Peter Thanks for the review. I’ve owned my Vstrom 650XT Full Power since new in 2018 here in Australia and can say this is an excellent motorcycle, and I’ve owned many. Agree with everything you say. A great commuter and adventure tourer one up with luggage. The low-down torque gives the bike a bigger motor feel given its modest 650cc engine size. However, at 220kg with centre stand and racks it’s not a lightweight motorcycle but still handles well around the city in low speed full lock both-feet-on-pegs manoeuvring. Extra weight makes it stable at highway speeds. Issues I’ve had, in winter months with shorter commutes, water in oil condensation requires more frequent oil changes. The bike has always had a slight intermediate gearbox shaft noise when idling in neutral with clutch out but otherwise runs and shifts perfectly. USB outlet needs a bigger fuse. Changing air filter and spark plugs require significant disassembly. Many hose clips have had to be changed due to surface corrosion.
Great video, thanks. Exactly one year ago today, I bought my Suzuki 650DL and I totally agree on your conclusions. I use it almost every day going to work and it's great for that, but it always performs well on longer day trips on country roads. You can always find bigger, better and more expensive bikes, but considering the price point of the Suzuki it's really great value.
ONE OF THE BEST REVIEWS I HAVE EVER WATCHED ,READ,EXPERIENCED YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED EVERY PART IN DETAIL AS IF I AM WITH YOU..I ENJOYED THE BEAUTY.MAJESTY,GRAND VIEW OF THIS MAGIC MQCHINE LOVE YOU DEEPLY AND ADMIRE YOUR KINDNESS FOR SUCH INSPIRING REVIEW REGARDS AND BEST WISHES
Hey guys, I have been driving a V-Strom 650 from 2022 for 6000 km now. I have retrofitted crash bars and an aluminum underrun guard, as well as additional headlights. This motorcycle takes me through the city, overland on the highway and, if necessary, on dirt roads. Great engine! For the optics I would just like a more modern headlight. LED… Very much bike for 8,5 K brand new Take Care
Nice adventure bike. Thanks for the details. The 650 engine is interesting. I'll listen if it's twin or inline 4. Cool that you can cover more motorcycles in addition to Kawasaki.
I have the original 2004 with 51 thousand miles, starts first time never let me down or worried it would, have had sports bikes and tourers, even a GS. Do my own servicing and just ride. I find it easy to ride around country lanes here in England as well as towns and cities. No abs of gear indication on this old girl, occasionally set off in second but it just goes my 1250 bandit wouldn't do that the low down torque is great for lazy riding but get also get a move on. The bike can easily be lowered if needed, I'm 5'8, 173 cm 55 years old and have no problems with handling i actually enjoy low speed riding it, so much easier than sports bikes. When i come to moving on a new one will be my first choice, or maybe the 1050 finance's willing For information the 650 doesn't have lean sensitive ABS, or a slipper clutch or any option for a quick shifter unlike its bigger brother
Thank you for a decent roundup. There are hardly any reviews of the V-Strom 650 that are any good and that's strange because it's a popular bike with many units sold over the years. BTW I find the older model with cat eyes MUCH better looking than this vertically stacked headlight.
Another mature beginner here. I think this is the bike for me. It’s priced well, I have a dealer just down the road, it can do anything and mainly because it will help me to learn and be able to move onto whatever bike I want next. I won’t be able to flat foot it (5’7’’) but I need to learn how to handle a tall bike. The other option is the Honda nx500, but could be underpowered for Longer journeys
@neilanderson2374. Hi Neil, I have just turned 80. I purchased a VStrom 650 XT new, a 2017 model in April 2018. I have clocked up 58,000 km on it . I am extremely happy with the bike , absolutely bulletproof and very reassuring to ride. I do all my own maintenance and even swapped out the valve shims at 52,000 km. They were still just in specification, however I put them back into the middle of the specification. If you are buying second hand don’t worry too much about how many km the bike has done as properly serviced they will go trouble free forever. More important, check the condition of the bike and how well it has been looked after and serviced. Check to see if valve clearance check has been done if over 25,000km. This is an important check , easy enough to do if everything is still in spec, however much harder and more expensive to have done by others if shims need to be replaced. Good luck and safe riding. PS. Before you commit to a VStrom make sure you are happy with the height of the bike. I had a mate who purchased one second hand. He was a bit old and dodery. He dropped it a couple of times and got scared of it and sold it. He purchased a Honda CBX500 which kept him going for about another year but then he was passed it so he retired from riding.
@@murraycharters6102 thanks for the comment. Ive just ordered a MotoGuzzi V7 special. Lower seat, more comfortable, no chain and oozes Italian character
Nice review, but i have question that bothers me. They say its adventure bike, but what i heard, you cant turn off the ABS? Dont know what to think about that...what if i need to roll down hill in some dirt...
I've had this bike for two years. Very top heavy and tippy. It wants to drop over. The center of gravity is very high. Be forewarned -- with a full tank and minimal luggage it weighs 530 pounds and all that weight is up high. If you are used to large adventure bikes then it will perhaps be no problem. If you are used to a sports bike, you will be shocked. Also, if your inseam is less than 33" you won't be able to flatfoot the bike. If your inseam is 30" like mine, you will be on your toes. Another major problem is, if you can comfortably flatfoot this bike the pegs will be too high and the handlebars will be too close and too low. In other words, the ergonomics are perfect for a person who can't reach the ground! Seriously, I'm not kidding!
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I think adventure bikes aren't going to be for everyone. What I would say to anyone considering this bike and reading your thoughts is that it's important not to take my opinions, or comments on my videos and adopt those thoughts as your own. I share my thoughts in my videos. Viewers share their thoughts in the comments, but at the end of the day, it's important for people to make up their own minds with our thoughts as reference points as they go in and see these bikes for the first time. I don't share some of your opinions, but I respect what you're saying and hear where you're coming from.
This bike is not top heavy. My Triumph Tiger 800 definitely was. Still say the 3rd gen DL650 is a delight to ride anywhere, except really rough off road. Love 'em.
Great review. You missed on one very important point and that is 'spoked wheels with tubeless tyres'. The spoked wheels appear to be the ones that are designed for tubeless tyres and this is very rare in 650cc segment. Such setup comes in 1200cc adventure bikes. Please confirm. Thanks
Question: On my 2018 650 xt my posture hurts because of leaning forward. Feels like I need 2-3 inches closer handle bars. What should I do? Risers / offset risers? Tilt the bars? Thanks you.
The best thing to do is to work with a dealer. I could guess online, but when someone knowledgeable can see you on the bike, they'll probably be better equipped to help you sort out the riding position for you.
I didn’t really notice you talking about the negatives. People who are considering it, like me want to know both the pros and the cons. That being said since you covered the two, I would like to know between this and the Versys, which has the best feeling suspension. I know versys has adjustable Showa but which feels better when going over bad paved roads. Second which seat is more comfortable for long rides. I have heard that versys smashes your “man’s parts” into the tank especially when you brake. Third, which has better heat management and forth which is easier to ride in the city. The Versys I hear is very maneuverable but the tank causes instability and the throttle is twitchy. The vstrom has the assist but I hear as its so big, it, can be cumbersome to handle. Whats your opinion on these? I am not sure which to choose and they don’t really give test rides for these more expensive bikes where I live
So the issue with covering negatives on a bike is that they're very subjective. Some reviewers mention things that THEY don't like, but they're not really negatives. I would say that both this and the Versys are nearly equal in low speed handling. Are they "cumbersome" compared to a Versys 300X, yes. But I don't look at it as cumbersome, I just look at it as reality. Is an F-150 easy to park in the same way as a compact car? No. But is that a negative of the F-150 or is that a reality of the design. See what I'm saying? I don't think the throttle is twitchy on either of these bikes, but an out of adjustment throttle can cause that. With a bike with electronic throttle, people may find the settings to be not to their preference in different drive modes, but I don't know if that's a negative, or a difference in preferences. What I would do is sit on both bikes. The Versys is an ON road bike only. I owned the Versys 650 for years and loved it. The throttle was a little more "twitchy" than the Z900RS SE that I own now, but my current bike is much more expensive, and it's going to feel different. If you think you're going to regularly be crossing dirt roads, the V-Strom is the way to go. If you want something with a tiny bit better sporting character, then I think the Versys is the one for you. It's just very difficult to help other people choose between two EXCELLENT bikes. You need to choose the one that you feel fits your preferences better, because at the end of the day, each one is a blast to drive and whatever negatives others want to nit-pick about, they are nothing compared to the positives on these bikes.
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks man, well I would say if a F-150 doesn't handle as well as a compact car in a normal setting, it is a negative of it. So, if the Versys or Vstrom doesn't handle as well as the other in city traffic, that is a negative. I sat on both in the stores. The Vstrom is ok, no issues, but the Versys was wonderful. It felt much better like it caresses you. But it can be a different story when you are riding for 2, 3 hours or more and all the other elements of riding that you can't experience just sitting on the bike, like braking. So, you never had any issues with the Versys seat? I am not looking to nit-pick. I just don't want to buy something and after feel the suspension horrible or I can't ride for more than 20 mins because the seat hurts too much, for example. I would like to know about the negatives also and choose which I am able to overlook and which I can't. Thanks for the reply, and also thanks for the video.
@@MrDjjecky So I never had any issues with the seat at all. What I will say is that no two butts are the same, so what's comfortable for me, may not be perfect for you, but if the bike was perfect for you other than the seat, there's an aftermarket full of options. I did find the suspension to be a little soft for me on the Versys, but it's adjustable, so I stiffened it up, and it was great for me. I genuinely believe that each of these bikes are excellent. I know many people who have ridden for YEARS doing plenty of major trips on both and been happy. There are some "not as great" bikes around, but these two are really good.
Buy the V Strom. Have a friend with a Versys and he prefers my DL. This bike never lets you feel the heat from the engine, even in summer traffic. Never has it gone over 3 bars on temp gauge.Even the brakes, which some disparage, stop very well for 2 pot calipers. The warranty manager told me to buy the DL over the Versys. He knows which one never comes back in for repair. Not many bikes have logged the miles all over the planet like the little DL.
i live in a hot and humid climate. Would you say the V-strom 800 will be better because of the parallel twin might give better cooling then the V twin of the 650 where the front cilinder gets better cooling than the back cilinder ?
I feel like liquid cooling and temperature sensors have evened that out over an air cooled bike. I wouldn't think that should be the sole reason for choosing one over the other. Good thought, but I just wouldn't be concerned about that. The 650 has been very reliable for years.
It will be tall, but see how you feel. There is also a lower seat option that you should be aware of. That may take it from unmanageable to comfortable.
I’m 5’6” with 29” inseam, and have owned a 2019 DL650 since new. I had to learn new techniques for riding/stopping. The following video is great: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hazWXtrQNPM.htmlsi=G6IugtyYXyMx-Hzw
Excellent review! I just saw this on-line at a local dealership and on sale. But, I'm only 5'7", so this will be way too tall for me. I've been riding since 1978 everything from 125cc to 1800cc. Just know I need flat foot.
It's tough for me to say for sure if you'd be comfortable or not. It's definitely worth checking out. It will be a taller bike, for sure, but if you have that much experience, you may be able to handle a taller bike better than someone with less experience.
I agree with cowboy I am also 5 7 used to ride motocross ….I took my KLR 650 ( lowered ) on a gravel mini X track …did a few full on power slides ,the back stepped out too much on one occasion , what saved me was dropping a foot behind me ..wearing Alpine tech 7 boots ..you can’t do that if you can’t touch the ground. It’s not just about coming to a stop .
I'm 5'8", with a 29-30" inseam, riding a 2019 1000xt Adventure. The seat on the 650 is a little lower and the bike is also lighter. Suspension can be lowered with a kit from Adventure Tech LLC, and a lower seat is also available. It is definitely worth checking the 650 out. It's a good all around motorcycle.
Na torcida por vc. Eu comprei a minha na semana passada, 2024, preta com azul ( achei a mais bonita e com cara de malvada e esportiva) e gou emplacar essa semana. Essa moto tem uma ciclística inacreditável. Com 15 minutos com ela parece q cv esta numa 160 de tão ágil que ela é. Um torque em baixa q faz levantar a roda com um pequeno toque no acelerador, instigante.... Comparei com outras motos, mas nenhuma outra reunia o conjunto de predicados que ela oferece. Rodas Raidas com pneus sem camara, aro 19 na frente, mecânica muito facil e extremamente confiável, eletrônica disponível ja consolidada e mais q suficiente. Até o farol com lâmpadas convencionais é para mim uma vantagem. Veja: o farol dela é muito bom e se queimar vc compra a lâmpada ate numa farmácia ou pafaria por 25 reais , troca e segue viagem, isso se queimar... Vai ver o preço de um farol led, custa um Rim e mais a cirurgia e vc não vai achar pra comprar na hora, so encomenda... Tô fora de modinha. Viajo muito e essas coisas , mecânica fácil e descomplicada, fazem muita diferença no dia a dia e principalmente em viagens. Frequento um grupo de motociclistas e a procura por ela aumentou bastante. Até donos de marcas mais famosas estão pensando na troca por ela, pois a confiabilidade, custo e facilidade de manutenção estão chamando a atenção. Outra coisa: o design atemporal e ate meio já clássico dela esta sendo também um ponto de interesse, pois esta em alta essa estética maus conservadora. A tendência e valorizar, muitos indi na SUZUKi para comprar ela. No Rio ja tá até com fila, acabaram nas lojas. Estava fechando a compra da minha e um cara que chegou depois de.mim me ofereceu 1500 reais para eu desistir da compra.
It's not the first bike that I would recommend to a beginner, but if you're comfortable with the height and weight, it's very approachable, and certainly would work for the prepared beginner.
I had a 2019 for 4 years and then I tried the 1050 and it was a game changer for me. And with the release of the 800 RE I don't see the 650 being made for long. It will take it's proudful place in history, as it rightly deserves.
That's my secret to great watch time statistics on RU-vid. Get people to fall asleep while watching. 😃👍 Thanks for giving my channel a shot. Sorry if it's not for you.
That's my thing too. On its own the 650 is great. But next to the 800, you really do get the sense that you're getting more with the 800. From the dash to the suspension and quick shifter. There's a lot of good on that bike.
I own a VStorm 650 and disagree, it is in no way an adventure bike. It is certainly capable of going places that it has no right to go with skill stupidly and bravery, but that doesn’t make it a true adventure bike. They are an amazing bike with an even more amazing engine however. They are a multiple purpose pack mule. Commuter, adventure around the world, traveler. Fundamentally it is a road bike with excellent off road abilities.
I can't disagree with that, but keep in mind, the definitions of classes of vehicles are always fuzzy, and constantly changing. I'm comfortable calling this an adventure bike, but there are absolutely more capable adventure bikes. If you look at what used to qualify as an SUV, It used to have to be a 4x4 vehicle with a body on frame construction, and lockable 4X4 system. Now the Tesla Model Y is considered an SUV. We can always come up with new names (like crossover vehicle) to describe different classes of vehicles, but at the end of the day, what people classify these vehicles as is not up to me.
@@PeterLoweOne agreed. It’s a fuzzy mess. I guess my fear is that a relatively inexperienced rider will purchase this bike for off road riding resulting in a very unhappy bike and rider. They are a consistently popular bike because the typical owner is experienced and knows exactly what he or she is getting. And as I mentioned earlier, provided obscene amounts of power is not required that engine is arguably the best of the last 20 years and is in the iconic-classic territory of the bmw boxer twin. The 650 hits the perfect sweet spot of very easy mundane riding yet ample performance when the throttle is twisted. All with jaw-dropping fuel economy. To use your analogy: she is a body on frame utilitarian truck that just goes and goes.
@@hair2050 I spend a lot of time doing videos for inexperienced riders and I hear your concern. My advice to them would be to do more research than just one video, and also my hope is that a decent dealer would listen to customers needs and help guide them to an appropriate motorcycle. My hope is they would want to earn a customer for life and not just a customer for this sale. But great points. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I’ve had a couple of V Strom 650s now and agree with you. The term ‘adventure bike’ is used rather loosely by manufacturers. This bike is an excellent dirt road reliable tourer. However the suspension is not up to it when the track gets rough.
@@johnenglish1575 I have these delusional dreams that one day I will wake up and jump on the bike and it has miraculously lost weight, now, in kgs, 180 wet weight 😂. If this happened the worst features of the bike, suspension and slow speed off road maneuvering, would be mostly resolved. The poor ground clearance is in my opinion a life saver. You should never take this bike anywhere that requires more ground clearance than is available. It prevents people from getting irretrievably stuck up a hellish single track. I’m a very good offroad rider and very average onroad rider. So for me it works. I can judiciously negotiate crappy stuff if necessary and it’s a safe stable but ultimately limited onroad machine, so I don’t die.
Interestingly, no. The 800cc version of this bike does have nice LED headlights and might be worth considering if you're looking for that. I have several videos of that on this channel.
@@PeterLoweOne İ mean good, safe longlife mechanical and electronic engineering. And both of them is asphalt vehicle. Dl650 is not adventure, it is a touring bike
Great bike but hand guards are rubbish. Why Suzuki keeps installing this rubbish that pops up even when bike is dropped on 5 km/h speed on an adventure bike for more than a decade? Watched this happened many times. Once in my practice the result of a popping up guard was a broken clutch lever far away from any help in mountains at night under the rain. I'm sure that xt model doesn't worth extra money only for spokes on wheels.
I think they design these handguards for wind protection and protection from minor sticks and branches. My assumption would be that for those concerned about protection when dropping the bike, that you upgrade to beefier hand guards and also equip the bike with engine guards and other protection. Suzuki needs to build for the mass market at a competitive price. Having drop protection is usually a factory accessory or an aftermarket purchase.
Haha. That's a strong opinion! I love the Versys 650, I owned one for years. It's definitely a great bike. It's more sporty than this V-Strom, but I'd definitely rather have this V-Strom if the pavement ends. Both are great bikes if you ask me. You feel differently and I respect that. 👍
@@PeterLoweOne I know that's just my opinion, and I'm biased, too. I ride a 2009 Versys 650, I hope that the pavement never ends, but if it ever does, then I might have to put a 19" front wheel on my Versys 650 ? 🤷🏼♂️
@@PeterLoweOneThe greater versatility, the almost unbelievable history of extreme resistance, in a bad way made me choose the V-Strom. My nga is black and blue and In Brazil it has a little more than 71 HP and a little more torque.
Suzuki really cant help but trying to cut corners for all their bikes. No USD forks, no LED but incandescent lamps, a very dated looking rear swing arm. They by far are the laziest of Japanese bike makers.
I don't know that I'd criticize them too much. This bike continues to sell well for them as is, and the new 800 V-Strom with its updated features gives people plenty of reasons to step up to it. So I see what they're doing here.
Suzuki have a history of making very robust engines and tend to evolve their motors in quite subtle ways. My 1050XT is a superb bike for the money and feels like it will last forever. The new 800 is a parallel twin, cheaper to make than a V and a V-twin in my book will always feel a nicer engine to use, so I hope they continue a true V-Strom model within the range, when they kill off the 650.
