The Suzuki V-Strom 650

D

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Picked up a clean stock 09' put a little over 100 miles on it and am really happy so far.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
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Good for you! I think you'll be very happy with the V-Strom, it's the kind of bike that wants to be ridden for miles & miles!
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
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The Vstrom is a lot lighter than most of the bikes like this aren't they?

The 650 seems to be, the 1000 is a bit heavier at around 40 pounds more. Another thing that helps the 650 feel lighter is the seat, it's a little lower than the 1000 seat. I always wanted to find a 1000 seat and swap it on my V-Strom, I felt a little cramped with the low seat.
 

jeeper

Currently without Jeep
Location
So Jo, Ut
I’ve got a bike fund ready to buy something. Seriously considering a vstrom 650 or 1000. A lot of the rides will be spent with my father on his goldwing. He thinks it’s a sport bike though, and cruising mph is often in the high 80’s or low 90’s. Canyons are meant for full throttle cornering, and rides last many many hours a day, with 300-400 miles per day being Pretty typical. I would like the lighter, more nimble 650.. but am very afraid it will not keep up. Any thoughts on their abilities to push hard and long?
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
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I’ve got a bike fund ready to buy something. Seriously considering a vstrom 650 or 1000. A lot of the rides will be spent with my father on his goldwing. He thinks it’s a sport bike though, and cruising mph is often in the high 80’s or low 90’s. Canyons are meant for full throttle cornering, and rides last many many hours a day, with 300-400 miles per day being Pretty typical. I would like the lighter, more nimble 650.. but am very afraid it will not keep up. Any thoughts on their abilities to push hard and long?

I think the 650 will keep up with the Goldwing just fine. I'd say go test ride one and see what you think.
 
Its not going to be a problem keeping up. The bigger bike is just going to be more comfortable on long rides and require less shifting. I've only ridden the 650, not the 1000. I didn't ride it all day, but it was a pretty comfortable, capable machine.
 

J-mobzz

Well-Known Member
I put about 8k miles on this 08 650 including a handful of 80-85mph freeway trips to Boise and back. I really loved that bike and would own another in a heartbeat. I’ve never ridden a gold wing so I don’t have a reference but the 650 v-strom is not a fast bike. It’s not slow and does just fine but it isn’t sporty imo.

21851631-5C67-4C69-9333-BFD22E371F64.jpeg
 

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
Ah. I've checked out a few of the old GL's on ksl. Thinking they might could be a fit for what I'm looking for. I'd want one that was stripped down though. Maybe a silver wing too.
 

boogie_4wheel

Active Member
Consider a BMW 1150/1200 GS if you're looking for an adv that will keep up with the Wing. Dirt capable, shaft drive, gets you ABS and maybe optioned with heated grips/seat. If you're going to slab 400 running with a Goldwing, that wee-strom is gonna suck. It'll do it, but I think the lack of comfort will take all the fun out of it.
 
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Gravy

Ant Anstead of Dirtbikes
Supporting Member
A vstrom is pretty darn comfortable to me. And more importantly less than 10k. And they've been available with abs (and traction control) for a while.

I'd be more inclined to go F800GS but Brian is afraid of all things European :p
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
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I also thought the VStrom was plenty comfortable, as mentioned earlier in this thread upgrading to a stock seat off a 1000 is a big improvement.
 
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