I've bought a new 2018 Vstrom 650XT and LOVE it more than any bike I've ever owned. "0-60 Times" website actually says this bike is faster from 0-60 mph than the Honda CBR500R, so it fast enough for any practical purpose. Highway, passing, kick in pants acceleration, etc. I have to ride 5 miles in any direction to hit pavement - good gravel county roads, but fairly decent with a few potholes and washboard - and this bike does great. I added the Give windshield and it helps with buffeting a lot / I'm 6'3" so I sit up fairly high. I HIGHLY recommend the Givi Airflow, you'll never regret it. Also lowered the pegs and raised the bars 2" with the Rox pivoting risers - I stand more than most and needed that larger foot/bars/ distance, but it also is nicer for sitting. No wonder Suzuki still makes this bike - they got it right from the git-go. Still on the stock tires, but plan to add either Mitas E07s (have them on another bike and very happy with them) or the new Dunlop Mission ADV tires. Frankly, it's hard to imagine a better bike for my purposes (75 - 80% pavement and the rest gravel, trails, etc. NOT a dirt bike, never meant to be, but one of the best if not the best in class for reliability, ability and price range. And if I ride very conservatively, I get 60 mpg at 45-50 mph. Hope you love your 650XT as much as I love mine!
If your biggest concerns about buying a Motorcycle are things like "how fast will it go" ? or "What does the Exhaust sound like" ? then you probably aren't making wisest decisions towards purchasing a great motorcycle. #1 Speed Kills #2 An Aftermarket Exhaust is an affordable option to having a much better sounding exhaust system). Owning, riding,and maintaining a Ducati or BMW becomes a financial headache for many motorcycle owners. Motorcycles like the Suzuki 650 V-Strom & the Kawasaki Versys 650 give Motorcyclists the most comfort & the most longevity for your money. Both of these motorcycles were designed to run all day long, without ever getting hot. Their motors are said to be Bulletproof, and their general maintenance costs are very affordable.
Very good comments, I totally agree with you. I see why you would write that based on my comments about speed, but my comments were more to those who think this bike is too slow - to convince them it's not a slow dog. I'm 75 years old and my main commuter is a Kawasaki Versys X300 - pretty underpowered compared to most bikes. I ride very conservatively and my last speeding ticket was in a car over 30 years ago (40 mph in a 30 zone). As a 45 year full time minister, I actually preach against breaking the law including speeding. My focus is mostly getting hyper-mileage by very conservative riding. I get over 70 mpg on my X300 and over 60 on the Vstrom. As to exhaust, I lOVE quiet exhaust and have never replaced any exhaust system. I've only owned 4 bikes in my whole life, KLR250, Versys X300, Husaberg FE390 dirt bike, and now the Vstrom. I don't have a lot of money and I chose my street bikes based on service record and low maintenance costs (X300 and Vstrom 650 bought new). I've owned the X300 for 4 years and the Vstrom for 3 years - ZERO repair costs, Zero problems with either and very low oil filter costs. I do hope others read your post and consider how balanced the Vstrom is and how good its service record is. (My retired Honda dealer friend says his BMW friends have far more problems than Japanese bikes.) Thanks for your reply - sounds like we have very similar approach to riding. @@andrewroberts6123
@@GeezerWheels I'm only 54 years old. I'm about as tall as you are. I ride a 2009 Versys 650 virtually every day, (rain or shine). I bought it used with low mileage. It came with a large Tinted MRA Windscreen and a Musarri Street Series Exhaust, and I really appreciate what each of those mods does for the function and style of my motorcycle. I've used the Dunlop SportMax-2 tires but have recently switched to the Dunlop Q3+ tire and I've been really impressed with the performance & the wear that it has provided. I was going to put a set of lowered pegs on my Versys 650, but I eventually got used to the relatively high peg position. I've owned 5 motorcycles. I'm just a Big Four guy, though. I've owned a (1) Suzuki, (1) Yamaha, (1) Honda, and (2) Kawasakis. My favorite motorcycle by far is my Kawasaki Versys 650. I love almost everything about it. I only hope to be healthy enough to still be riding, when I'm your age. That's like Juggernaut Status ! 💪😎👍
Thanks, Droid! Always interesting to hear what other guys ride. The Vstrom as a favorite? Same here... my 2017 Vstrom 650XT is hands down my favorite I've owned. I've ridden a number for friends bikes from dirt bikes to Kawi Ninjas (more power that I even want on my dirt roads here). By brother-in-law had a 1980s Ninja 1100 that was insane (and he was a bit crazy himself - rode that thing on the rear wheel a lot!). I got my 2017 Vstrom new in Aug of 2020, yes new, at the dealer almost 3 years old, but I had to drive the pickup from Durango, CO to Sioux Falls S. Dakota (Empire Motorsports) to get it - nearly 1,000 miles each way. Reason: they knocked $2000 off the MSRP to sell it, $7099 out the door - during Covid days. I'm not crazy about the lemon yellow, but it's growing on me. I also own 3 Suzuki quads that have been bulletproof (two are 15 years old and one is 6 years old. My Swedish 2011 Husaberg FE390 has under 7,000 miles and I've already had to replace the oil seal around the counter sprocket! So I, too, am a Big Four guy more than ever.! I'm under 2 feet of snow - 10 miles east of Durango up in the hills at 7550 ft elevation - so no riding until about late March to early April. Have a great winter! - GeezerWheels.
Have three dl650’s in South Africa. Can only say cruise at 150 k or 20 Kay’s on mountain passes, bmw eat your heart out 100,000 kms without an issue on one and slightly less on the other two. (05, 06, and 07 the final. No real speed limits here on the open road so have fun. Also have two bmw gs 1200 06 and 07. Fun but not reliable to ride in Africa. One dropped an ex valve the other had a trans bearing fail on an extended trip. Both had the fuel pump controllers fail which brought the bikes to a total stop until the unit was replaced. You decide.
I agree, I own a 07' since new, got over 100 000k's and still ticks like a rolex, normal services that I can do om my own with simple tools is a bonus, I cruise between Jo'burg and PTA three times a week, no problems at all
Ive always said the Bmw gs are very expensive and unreliable tech. Wouldnt trust the electrics too. The shaft drive and build quality is better on the triumph 1200 explorer and those engines are peaches. However i like the 1200 xe bonneville 1200 as it seems rugged old school and easy to maintain and 100bhp is more than enough for me. One day id like to go across central asia and maybe a secondhand suzuki v strom 650 is the way to go for cheap reliable transport. Bikes have come a long way since i used an old dog of a yamaha xt500 in south australia off road. It served me well for 350 australian dollars.
I own three vstroms all 650’s. Two in South Africa and one in pa. The one in America has 75,000 miles my two in South Africa have 80,000 kilometers. All owned for ten years plus. Total parts replaced one starter solenoid. I also have two bmw gs1200 an 06 (this one dropped an exhaust valve at 34,000 kilometers plus two fuel pump comptrollers failed. The 07 was only used once for a long trip to Cape Town from tzaneen South Africa and the transmission bearing failed because the bearing seal was on the inside of the gear box. I never go far with a bmw, all trips are done on my Suzukis or my yamaha 660 tenere single. Bmw bikes are unreliable and way over priced considering their lack of quality. The only reason that a bmw makes sense in South Africa is the abundance of used parts, if you can do the work your self, which I can. They are however fun to ride and relatively easy to pick up on a dirt road if it is flat and the fall was low speed.
Great review. Have the 2017 since new and never had any issues. I did get the Givi Airflow installed and all buffeting went away. It is a great do it all bike that is easy to ride, great on gas and cheep to insure.
Own exactly the same Vstrom but is 2020...same machine, along with 2020 Vstrom 1050XT adventure. These are my 3rd and 4th Stroms and I can tell you that at this price point, no other motorcycle on earth has the level of quality, reliability, ruggedness and ease of maintenance as the Vstrom series. They do most everything extremely well with NO drama or complexity and are bomb-proof.
@@stoundingresults Kawasaki totally revamped its lineup in 1986 with the Concours 1000...VoyagerXII...KLR650. KLR is last model standing. They are great bikes and in the not too distant future, will be celebrating their milestone 40th anniversary. I never owned one but have ridden several and wrenched on many. They are not in the same league as the V-strom but again, are excellent for their designed mission.
I installed a MC Cruise electronic speed control on my 2020. Hold the set speed dead on according to my GPS. Very smooth when going up or down hills, I do not feel the power being increased or decreased. MC Cruise may look expensive but when you convert Austrian dollars to US dollars the price is not that bad.
Enjoy the new bike..nothing like a new bike! I'm on my second Vstrom , first a V now a Wee.. before going much more offroad than a gravel parking lot, I'd recommend a more aggressive front tire.. makes a WORLD of difference.. have fun, be safe.
I bought a '22 basic model earlier this year - love it so far. I added the engine shroud which came standard on yours, just for the looks really as l don't normally go off road. I've also added a centre stand, Givi topbox, heated grips, and like you I've lowered the pegs
i recently purchased a new v strom too 😊 mine is in champion yellow with gold wheels and blue accent on tank and side of beak. my kids call it duckie 😅.
Great machine, owned one for several years. Dead reliable, only real complaint is accessing the Air Filter requires tank removal, other than that, tracks well on Twistys and plenty of low end grunt for hill climbs
They are great bikes, i've just bought a new one this summer. Its my second 650 Strom as i had a first gen one back around 13 years ago. Only had mine a couple of months and already have a chip in the headlight lens, from some crap on the road that a car in front flicked up. So i've put on an acrylic headlight protector. Something you may want to consider.
2015 V-strom 650 abs...all stock except center stand and hand guards.. this bike is wisper quiet..very refined..solid..it is a joy to ride..Mr Bluegrass..you have a great bike.. enjoy :o)
I just bought that same 650 XT Adventure 2 weeks ago. I already put loud horn on along with heated handgrip and a sidestand foot extender. I would like to get a top box big enough for my helmet when I travel.
I will eventually get around to installing some heated grips, just not sure which ones I’m gonna go with yet. I think the stock horn is good enough for me for now but yes, I do like a loud horn.
@@the_original_bluegrassmoto I bought twin tone horns that use the factory wiring and mount to where the engine guards mount to the frame. For heated grips I used the Oxford touring as they were the same size as the factory grips , they were highly recommended by many. Have 5 different settings and turn off if they draw too much power from the battery. Revzilla also price matches if they are sold by a reputable company and are in stock. I was riding in 40 degrees and was only using 70 percent power. Good luck in your journey. I hoped my message can help. I used the forums for recommendations. Have a great day!
You're reviewing my bike man. Great video. Bought the Adventure a month ago. Had a pearl white '17 and reluctantly traded it in for a Z900RS. Love the Z, but missed the DL. These are great machines. 30k miles on the 1st one and stone reliable. Precision Motorcycle Racks makes a superb add on rear rack for about $95- a lot more useful. Factory centerstand is a must. And I still say these are fine looking bikes. Proud to ride one.
I have a 2020 wee, and seriously thought about trading for the z900rs - love that bike! But after much soul searching I decided I didn't want to lose the ability to turn off on those dirt roads so it never happened lol.
Love your new bike man, congratulations! There hasn't been much new V-Strom content lately. This might be the last year you can buy the V-Twin as they're supposedly going to a parallel twin engine. One more feature of the xt adv is the handlebar cross brace. I also really like that skid plate that lets you keep the lower cowling. I put a Rave Tech skid plate on my 2020 and I hated losing the look of that cowl. Rave Tech offered a mini skid plate you could use with the cowl but I wanted a heavier duty one that bolted to frame members and not engine cases. Some of the farkles I put on my wee include Dunlop trailmax mission tires, a black widow full exhaust system with carbon fiber muffler, rox risers, adventure tech fork brace and foot peg /control lowering kit, seat concepts tall seat (which gives that flat profile), puig auxiliary lights, Puig windshield deflector (I really like the stock windshield and a lot of RU-vid reviewers regret or get rid of their aftermarket ones), SW motech handguards (don't want to bend my levers if I drop it - barkbusters were not attainable anywhere at the time), KTM super duke mirrors (the stock mirrors do work great but I was going for a look lol), rave Tech headlight guard, T-Rex radiator guard (some kind of radiator guard is a must! cheap insurance!) and a bunch of other piddly little things that I can't remember. It's endless what you can do to these bikes, my next things are going to be stainless steel braided brake lines and led headlight bulbs. The possibilities just don't stop LOL. Highly recommend the website/forum Stromtroopers if you're not already a member.
So as it turns out Suzuki didn't change the L 90° engine on the 650/1050 they just came out with the 800 with a parallel twin. With all the other awesome bikes out there, I love the one I have more and more. I view the Wee as a modern classic! LOL
Congrats, I've got mine in June, my Dealer painted it in red for me for free. Bike just rides by itself, I Like the mirrors too. I came from the Honda NC750 and the CBR500R, so I understand, was you traded it in. Good luck...
So I take it by the title of your video, you traveled thru time to watch your own video, before you bought your bike. Awesome. Always wanted to have a time traveling friend.
in 2007 i bought a new v-strom DL650 and now it has 55 thousand miles and still runs great... (Oil changes, brakes, tires, fork seals, chain and sprockets When it needs it.) Clutch and engine have never been opened. F.Y.I. Battle-wing tires are the best.
I bought the exact same bike from MLS in may 2022 … same color and all … 57 years old and this is by far my favorite bike I’ve ever had … and I’ve had about 12-13 over the years … will never ride a POS Harley again … this is one fun little bike and it can do more off road then people think … you just gotta be smart and know it’s NOT a dirt bike but will go just about any where you want to take it you just go a little slower and at my age I’m not into high speed off roading cause at this age it take way longer to heal when you do stupid stuff… and yes I still do stupid stuff just can’t be careless as a young pup
Coming from a Harley wide glide, I’m considering one of these. The pan americas are really cool, but it’s twice the price for this bike. Seem pretty similar to me, for what my intended use would be. Just travel back and forth to work
better get a Quad Lock phone holder with the vibration cancelling mount, or your Vstrom will destroy your phone's camera stabilization and focus (my vstrom killed my iphone 11 with a standard spring type phone mount)
You should attend the Eastern V-Strom rally every May at the Iron Horse Lodge in Stecoah, NC (near Deal's Gap and Cherohala Skyway). Details on the StromTrooper forum.
You have just won the bike lottery I have been riding my 2008 V-Strom around Australia and around New Zealand has never missed a beat, the v-twin is absolutely Bulletproof so to speak upgrade your brake lines.get yourself also steering damper change front end to a thousand cc progressive suspension the 650 front suspension is not the best it is a very easy fix you only have to change the spacer your engine guard is protecting your oil filter so that is a massive plus putting that on ride hard live free you're going to have the time of your life with this beast make those small adjustments and you will love it even more stay safe brother this bike will take you anywhere they are changing the V engine to an inline which I do not agree with but I'm not the head of Suzuki management but this is a proven engine design I can't cannot sing it's praises hard enough after riding sports bikes all my life, along with motocross and also Road and trails this bike does everything not perfectly but does anything great it's not the best at any one thing but it can do it all very well, that's saying a lot especially in this market Suzuki all the way🇦🇺💯👍👈
I have a 2021 XT model, I love her but as a on road adventure bike. Off road is not good. The best upgrades I did are DC valve and spring for my weight in the front ( cogent dynamic ).
Once you go with the GIVI wind screen you will love it! I went through 3 others before going to it and the two piece creates a Venturi between the glass sucking the wind over your head!
Congrats! I just got a blue 22 in September. Its my first bike and after a lot of research and asking friends I ended up with it. I absolutely love it! Funny enough I also have a white garmin instinct solar. I do have a question. I have yet to tighten the spokes. Im way past due for it but im waiting for the manual to come in the mail and im searching videos so show me the correct way specifically for a vstom. If you have any videos on that, that would be awesome. Happy riding! Go Vstrom!
Go to ebay and buy a set of simple spoke wrenches. Do 1 wheel at a time with it off the ground so that you can freely spin it. Air up to proper pressure. Then start with the spoke closest to tire air valve, tap the spoke in middle of its length as you would a piano string with a tuning fork. You will hear a distinct subtle ping or ring if the spoke is sufficiently tight. Then continue onto the next spoke on same side and listen for identical sound. If pitch is higher or sounds like a dull thump, that spoke is either too tight or loose. Do NOT loosen any till you do the entire wheel. When correctly adjusted, all spokes will have nearly the exact same sound. It's easy once you do it the first time.
@@frankcastle5294 Good morning please can you help I'm stocke between Honda nc 750x and suzuki v-strom 650 both 2022 models, I am about 6,4 feet tall, much concerned about petrol ⛽️ consumption, can you give me a piece of advice, thanks in advance 😊
@@childofGod1067 James: I own Mid Atlantic Cycle here in PA so I see a lot of bikes come and go. Vstroms in general are very popular here in Pennsylvania. The Honda NC750 is a flop here. I am 6ft tall and the Vstrom 650XT Adventure fits me perfectly. A very good friend of mine bought a new Honda NC750 two years ago. He is 6'3" tall and looked like a stick insect on the Honda. Was very cramped and uncomfortable, particularly from the waist down. He sold it a few months after buying it and bought a used R1200GS. The Honda is nice and well engineered and the fuel mileage close to the Vstrom but it is very uncomfortable for tall people in stock form.
Thanks for the video very informative. I plan on getting a ADV bike and been researching them from all the different manufacturers and i definitely going to go with the suzuki v strom either the 650 or 800de.
On my second dl659xt love it most comfortable bike I have owned best I’ve done 600 miles in one ride no aches and pains and I’m an old guy these bikes are bulletproof thrash em or plod about just keep going
Great video, thank you. I want one but will probably get just the base model with a top box and soft panniers. This just to keep the price as low as. possible. Can add things later.......Sal : )
Just found this, paid a deposit o a 2022 XT and can’t wait for it to be ready. A lot of what you have I want to put on mine. Can I ask, are the crash bars from Suzuki ? And where did the skid plate come from? I like what you have done with the plastic guard to make it fit. Also, how have you got on with the accessories bar? I’m seeing a lot of negative reviews on them and it’s hard to find one that says fit 22 year bike. Thanks.
crash bars come on the adventure model, skid plate is Weld86, I took off that gps bar, i never bought a gps so I didn't need it, was of ok construction, not great
@@the_original_bluegrassmoto all of the gps bars I am finding seem to be of the same”ok” construction. While I can mount one on the bars I would prefer it higher so I do not have to look down so far.
As you pointed out the tubeless tires, w/ spoked wheels, I noticed that the V-Strom doesn't have Upside Down Forks. It also does have any Fork Gators to protect your Seals. Why Not ? & why not ?
As far as I know there’s no difference between 2023 model 2022 model, when the parallel twin 800 comes out in late 2023 I believe there’s obviously a difference there, just depends if you want a parallel 800 or a V6 50
BTW, I added a SitnFly seat cover - LOVE IT. Good air flow under my behind and it adds a bit of cushion. It also dries very quickly! Like it so much I allso added to another bike. I highly recommend the GIVI wind screen!!!
Suzuki have always made great bikes whether it was the 2 strokes, GS fours and twins , DR , v twins, gsxr gsxs or bandits however the 650 v Strom is possibly their greatest all round bike that's built so well based on the original TL1000 that was so fast and so well designed apart from the rear shock and frame. The v Strom 650 will last and be great for touring at legal speeds all day and the only fault is the stator, the clutch on earlier ones after 30000 on a few of the earlier models. The 1000 is a bit top heavy and it maybe a stretch for riders of 5 ft 8 or less to touch the ground flat feet left and right. It made my nephew sell his but he gets bored with bikes quickly despite his uncle who has been riding only bikes for 45 years and knows engineering well telling him otherwise. He sold a Yamaha xs650 I gave him which was sad but he has only taken up biking the last 10 years .He is ex army more into golf and I prefer to watch paint dry than play golf or watch it.
I know what you mean about the seat. Perhaps you've lowered the pegs as I did due to your above average height. Suzuki offers an OEM tall seat. This tall seat combined with the lowered pegs really made the bike comfortable for me. But, I just wanted to mention that the OEM tall seat doesn't have that dramatic rise in the rear you're not caring for. Ride safe, ride often!
Congrats on your new baby. She is a beauty! I like the V-Strom, it's a bike that has always attracted me. I went to the dealer and was about to buy one but I went with the Ténéré 700 for a few reason, which I won't get into it. Enjoy your bike and be safe! Blessings!
Thanks Todd. Great job. Good info. God bless. Haven’t ridden for many years. In high school I bought a used bmw and rode that until Uncle Sam called. 70 now and retired I’ve got the itch to ride the winding roads of western NC and East Tennessee again while still able. Used Vstrom or Himalayan for a starter. Suggestions? Happy trails.
This video is just footage of the Airflow fitted to a bike!... So... Ease of fitting? Ease of adjustment? Effectiveness? Does it stop buffeting? The video answers NONE of these questions... 😡
I love your new bike! Were you happy with MLS? I am looking at picking one up in the near future. Where did you get your foot peg lowering brackets? Thanks for the video.
Overall, I am happy with MLS, I did have some service recently and they tried to charge me an hour of labor time more than they performed. But I got that resolved. From now on unless it’s something major I’ll just do my own maintenance and work on the bike myself. Foot peg, lowering brackets I got those on Amazon, and they worked out great
@@the_original_bluegrassmoto i tried yesterday with my gf a first generation v strom. man, zero vibrations even at 7k rpm on the highway. totally amazed by it. ive tried cbf1000 and honestly? v strom is the bike for 90% of the riders out there :D
@the_original_bluegrassmoto Thanks for the quick response I am torn between this and the Triumph Tiger 660 Tigers obviously more, and maintenance costs more, but reviews are pretty good.
The only bike that catastrophically failed me on the road in fifty years of riding. Stuck me in northern Ontario for five days waiting for a new stator. Many other owners have the same story. Suzuki never issued a recall or admitted these failures or took responsibility. Buyer beware.
Your video brags about your machine and the addons, but says nothing about your headline that says Why you shouldn't buy one. Real disappointed with the content. I do like the machine however.
