The big DL650 disappointment

[Winston001]

If there's any doubt then there's no doubt.


Go with your feelings. If there is no passion, then it's not worth doing.

Good advice. That's the beauty of motorcycles - they are different things to different people. Two of my mates ride V-Stroms and like them but for me, they feel bland. A lighter more open muffler would be a good first mod. Whats the point of having a v-twin and not be able to hear it!!

[ducatijim]

I have many times found the relationship between the 'head' and the 'heart' when choosing a bike difficult to reconcile!
Odakyu-sen is very right saying that if it don't ring ur bell you may be better off without it
However, when expecting a specific ability from a machine, any machine, the head must be called upon......any 'warm,fuzzies' will quickly dissappear if you were to say....try and tour the south island, 2-up, an an Aprillia RX? 550!
But, the heart would skip a few beats everytime you raise the garage door for a solo, backroads blast upon same mount!
Likewise, you would be obcenely comfy on same tour with a ST1300....but the 42nd traverse would leave you breathless my friend!
I don't have an answer for you, myself, I have found the KT990 to be best compromise of head and heart, however, I am lucky enough to have a DR650 in my shed for...'occasions'!!!!

[Taz]

Any way just like the SV650 and Gladarse the DL650 and 1000 are thinly disguised road bikes.

[dino3310]

tell me how you experience the diffrence between the GS and the XT have they both got some more power over the DR?

comming from the DR I want
1. More comfort--
2. Better onroad capability - I like 19 inch FRONT wheels
3. more power for highway TOURING / 2up, but nothing extreme
4.gravel road ability / light off road ability
5. reliability and fuell economy are also high on the list!

oh you be wanting a DRBIG then.

the new Tenere looking pretty handsome.
or maybe a secondhand Tiger for better on road.

il'd be thinking
Tiger,
TDM,
Transalp

[Shadowjack]

I went from an XT600 to a TDM850 for all the reasons the OP has mentioned. Gravel roads, touring, Wednesday nite rides, all dispatched with a high degree of comfort. Recently fitted an E07 to the rear - transformed the handling on shingle. A documented 18-19 km/l average over 17,000 trouble-free kms. And I understand the 9'ers are better...
It is heavier than some singles and twins, but so am I. The bike comes with an inbuilt wash-the-cares-of-the-world-away factor. Good luck with the search...

[talbertnz]

I had a test ride on an almost new 09 Honda XL700V transalp this morning and quite liked it but to expensip. I can see why people would buy it its an awsome bike.

Also had a sit on Buell ulyyesyes and was surprised to find it quite comfy and cool looking. also out of budget tho. Anothet out of budget I had not seem before but looked Awsome was the KTM 990 SmT (SuperMotardTouring?) Looks awsome cost $24K its seat is rock hard tho.

after that i went back to the Suzuki dealer and had a sit down/walk around the DL again it just seems so practical its comfy does evrything right, I think I probably will end up buying one. but still got some test rides left to do.

[paturoa]

The DL thou is 20kg heaver but has a lot more boogie.

The Stromtrooper forum is a good resource. http://www.stromtrooper.com/

I recently looked at the 650 ABS - but the price is steep!

[Jantar]

Any way just like the SV650 and Gladarse the DL650 and 1000 are thinly disguised road bikes.

Utter rot. The DL650 and 1000 are not thinly disguised road bikes. They aren't disguised at all. They are road bikes. The difference between them and other road bikes is that they can take any road. Try Lake Onslo or Thompsons Track on most road bikes at present and you'll quickly come unstuck, but the DL1000 does them both and the DL650 would find them even easier.

Some people try to treat them as dirt bikes, and that is something they don't pretend to be.

[tri boy]

Ahem. Starts with Sc,...................













ends with rambler.

[carver]

it starts with

trans

ends with alp

xl700v!

[talbertnz]

The difference between them and other road bikes is that they can take any road. Try Lake Onslo or Thompsons Track on most road bikes at present and you'll quickly come unstuck, but the DL1000 does them both and the DL650 would find them even easier.
Some people try to treat them as dirt bikes, and that is something they don't pretend to be.

+1 Hence the name ALLROAD-BIKES

The more I think about what it is I want my next bike to do the more the Dl650 appeals to me.
I realy need to take up Colemans Suzuki's offer to testride the Dl over the weekend and see if I can "fall for it" (not off it tho )

The only Dl that I find sort of pretty to look at is the new grey one
White one is ok too
Also I want the abs version.

[Crisis management]

I quite like the DL650 too, have a look throught the Aussie two wheels website for info on the round Australia trip two of their journos did on DL's, tons of good advice.

My pick would be a cheaper second hand one so you don't get too upset over damaging the body work, a set of DRZ forks & 21" front, decent bashplate and lighter, better routed exhaust.

Achievable for under 10k I think.

Iain

[Paladin]

+1 Hence the name ALLROAD-BIKES

The more I think about what it is I want my next bike to do the more the Dl650 appeals to me.
I realy need to take up Colemans Suzuki's offer to testride the Dl over the weekend and see if I can "fall for it" (not off it tho )

The only Dl that I find sort of pretty to look at is the new grey one
White one is ok too
Also I want the abs version.

Snodpete from Westport brought his Wee-Strom up the Big River track near Reefton when we did the SI Invasion ride in May and I think everyone on that ride was impressed that he rode it all the way to the abandoned mine with us. He didn't even have adv tyres on it - very impressive!

It DOES sit very low compared to the likes of DR650 etc BUT he has since put a good bashplate on it to protect all that low hangin pipe malarky and it looks good to go.
There's a pic of it on here post #137:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1129272108

Good to know that even though it probably isn't suited to a really full-on trail bike type track, it CAN handle offroad to an extent so no way would you be restricted to just gravel backroads!

Maybe PM Pete and have a chat with him?

[Winston001]

The puzzling thing about V Stroms is that you can buy the 1000 for about the same price as the 650. If you are riding by yourself mostly, the 650 is an excellent bike. I understand Suzuki haven't had to bother advertising them much because they just roll off the dealers floors - especially the 650.

Last year the 650 and the 1000 were the same price brandnew. Go figure.

My mates 650 has a high Givi screen extension that is as effective as the screen on my R80 which is saying something.

In terms of resale the V Strom appears to be a good choice, always worth keeping in mind.

[Snails pace]

Have an 07 DL650. With 83k on the clock she keeps going strong. My longest day 1300km and I could still walk at the end of it. I was very happy with it straight off the show room floor but as I was doing a bit of a trip I put emulators in the front. Made a good difference on rough gravel roads. A year ago I put an Ohlins shock in the back and that has really made a massive difference. On the seal it handles much better and in the gravel far more stable. The rear shock was for 2 up riding on rough gravel roads and give me a bit more ground clearance. I have gained about 35mm.
I expect 20km per litre, that is 2 up or solo with panniers etc. My worst is 18 and my best 25. I spend 70% of my time on seal and the other on gravel such as out Raglan way or the top of the Coromandel. Would i take it into the rough stuff no, too bloody heavy. Once she starts to tip just let her go as you will do yourself an injury trying to hold her up.
She pulls my chain but then i am just some one who likes tootling around rain hail or shine.