New price of Suzuki Freewind XF650

**fishb8nz** · 5th October 2005, 18:44

I know this bike sounds like some of my buddies backsides, (an unfortunate name) but what's this like as a bike?
Seems to meet some of my needs as an upright stance. How does it compare to the Transalp?
Is it reliable, can commute, economical and handle the occasional 400 km day?

**dawnrazor** · 5th October 2005, 18:55

Originally Posted by fishb8nz

I know this bike sounds like some of my buddies backsides, (an unfortunate name) but what's this like as a bike?
Seems to meet some of my needs as an upright stance. How does it compare to the Transalp?
Is it reliable, can commute, economical and handle the occasional 400 km day?

I wanted to make the fart joke

I could be wrong but i think the engine is the sv650 lump, which if it is isn't a bad thing

**Bonez** · 5th October 2005, 19:03

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

I wanted to make the fart joke

I could be wrong but i think the engine is the sv650 lump, which if it is isn't a bad thing

It's a 650 single along the lines of the BMW single.

**Hitcher** · 5th October 2005, 19:03

Buy a 650 V-Strom. The little "forgotten Suzuki"...

**Motu** · 5th October 2005, 19:14

Do a search for Suzuki Freewind,Posh did a thread on it a while back.They are a more road version of the DR650,a well proven design,it'll do anything you ask of it....but don't go too far off road.

**Grumpy** · 5th October 2005, 19:44

Hired one of these a couple of years ago to do a ride up the Coromandel Penninsular. Handeled all the gravel road sweet as and was fun over the hill to Whitianga. I thought it was pretty OK.

There was a group of 5 of us. We had 2 Freewinds, 2 DR 250's and a DR650. It was a fairly long trip and by the end of the day everyone was fighting over the Freewinds. By far the more comfy of the lot.

Kawasaki have put out a 500 twin in much the same lines but I think it may be fuel injected.

**XF650** · 5th October 2005, 20:08

I will try to attach pic of mine, currently set up in lower suspension setting.
Great bike but can be hard to find - only 40 sold (new) in NZ between 1997 & 2003. Similair to but cheaper than BMW F650.
A lot of fun in the twisties & handles gravel roads with ease.
Very comfortable & upright stance helps around town too.
Motor is from DR650 with addition of twin carbs & bigger valves, which I find more than adaquate on the open road.
"rogson" on this site has moded his a bit for more serious off road work.

**N4CR** · 5th October 2005, 20:20

My workmate has one.

They are nice bikes... quite high up and looks like you want to ride over all the toy 250's :P

Only trouble he has had is his 3km commute can cause the battery to get low.

They smell reallly reallly bad though, this is my only negative comment. They handle two up people around 100kg/70kg pillion with ease and comfort.

If you are looking for one, I think my workmate may be selling some time soonish and getting a TL1000R.

Nice bikes, just watch the knobblies on the the rained on paint!

**fishb8nz** · 8th October 2005, 04:54

How do you adjust the suspension settings to lower the bike?

**XF650** · 8th October 2005, 14:14

Originally Posted by fishb8nz

How do you adjust the suspension settings to lower the bike?

Rear suspension linkage has two pivot options to alter bike height. Very easy to change front as well.
From memory you can achieve a 30mm height variation.

**oldrider** · 8th October 2005, 22:29

Hey there fishb8nz.
There isn't really such a thing as a bad bike these days. It's like a pair of boots or shoes, if they don't fit or they are not really you and don't suit your purpose, dont buy them.
If you don't have time constraint try them all out thats what they have demonstrators and sales people for.
Decide what you want it for, set your price range, (dont forget on road, insurance and gear costs) then just buy the one you feel best on.
See nothin to it. Good luck. :spudwave:Let us know the outcome. Cheers John.

**fishb8nz** · 8th October 2005, 23:56

But, nearest is in Auckland and was told I could have a test, only if I was nearly certain to buy the bike. I could have lied and said I was, to get a ride but the truth is I really don't know and it's very likely I wouldn't buy it. I just don't know. So that's been ruled out.
So it's down to the Freewind (hate that name) and the Transalp. Going to check out the Suzy, next Friday.

**fishb8nz** · 19th October 2005, 13:10

Thinking of buying one of these but need to know a new price. The one I looked at was a 93 and had 2300 km on it, no accessories and was asking 8.5k. I reckon that's way too much. Any ideas on a reasonable price?

**XTC** · 19th October 2005, 14:58

As far as i'm aware you can't buy a new freewind. New DR650 is $8995, New transalp is $15995, new BMW F650GS is about the same, Cagiva canyon and kawasaki KLE are both $8995 so lotsa choice out there.

**XP@** · 19th October 2005, 15:39

The DL650 (pint sized vstrom) new is about $12000 - $13000 that is suzuki's direct replacement.

$8500 seems a lot for that age bike, it hasn't been ridden much so unless it has been properly stored there could be degredation from storage.

would suddest something like this would give you better val for money:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/ne...ote=1&p=383001