Suzuki XF650 "Freewind"

[Posh Tourer :P]

Has anybody ridden this? I have seen one at uni and thought it was a rip-off of the BMW F650. Certainly looks remarkably similar, even right down to the engine. It came out in 1997 (http://www.suzukicycles.org/Freewind...Freewind.shtml), which iirc is after the beemer. They also point out on this site is looks european and was designed to compete with the beemer. Is this an honest attempt to design a viable alternative, or is it a bad rip-off?
How does this handle on gravel/easy off-road, andd how does it compare to the beemer on both tarmac and gravel?

http://anzmtr.gotournz.com/rentals/xf650.htm ia another site with specs

[Motu]

I think it's a more street version of the DR650,tarted up with some plastic,say like a Dominator.The DR650 is more dirt,this one is more street - so yeah,if you were doing more street than dirt,but still wanted to do gravel and some easy farm type track it would be good.

Actualy from my point of view it would rock! Like my XLV750 it will hold it's own on a twisty road,and as it gets rougher,bumps,peagravel whatever - those sports bikes are just gunna fall away,get into gravel and you won't have too many worries.As far as compared to a f650? I think it would be lighter,those things weight a ton,and more simple,like,that's gotta be a good thing eh?

[Posh Tourer :P]

this bike is 162kg dry compared to 189 for a F650, with full oils and fuel tank... So I guess about 15kg lighter wet weight?
It is a plasticated version of the DR650, or thats what it says on that first link...
I was wondering whether they had improved on the F650 or just made something that looked a lot like it....
Power is 47hp vs 48hp
http://www.nzbike.com/bikes/06_f650fun_detail.html has the F650 specs

[Motu]

I don't think you can compare them - a DR650 is a real dirt bike,the F650 is just dirt capable - the dirt heritage will show when the going gets tuff.Air cooled motor will have it's weight lower down.An XT600E would be halfway between a DR650 and a Freewind.

[Motoracer]

If that thing can handel gravel roads good wouldn't my GSXR be even better with dirt tires? My bike is lighter than that XF650 btw with the weight being lower as well.

No I am not planing to make my bike a stunt/sports/race/dirt bike but I was just wondering...

[Jackrat]

This bike is one of those I have had a look at along with the Dominator.
Both of them would be right up my street I reckon.
As to just puting knoblies on a street bike I think things like suspension and wheight bias would make a huge difference.
If it is a copy of something else,,,Ummmm what isn't??

[merv]

Here we are on a ride into the Kaweka ranges in 1998 with a friend of my Bro's with the Freewind. Basically it wasn't a bad bike, but for me it would have been too heavy as an all round dirt bike. Great for gravel road blasting though, as it coped with the ride we did here which was pretty easy. Advantage over the F650 at the time is they were a hell of a lot cheaper as I remember it. I also found F650s of that vintage had a disgustingly badly shaped petrol tank right where you wanted to rest your knees which has been fixed on the new model, but then the weight of the new F650 - oh dear!!!

[What?]

Less weight (not much), less power (quite a bit), more vibration (a bit more) and cheaper (in EVERY sense) than the F650.
Probably nothing wrong with the freewind, as long as you have never ridden a BMW. Thats my threepence worth.

[Jackrat]

Less weight (not much), less power (quite a bit), more vibration (a bit more) and cheaper (in EVERY sense) than the F650.
Probably nothing wrong with the freewind, as long as you have never ridden a BMW. Thats my threepence worth.

Less wheight,That's 30lb,Less hp,that's 1HP,or sod all.
Time to buy BMW spares,if you can get them inside a week.$$$$$$$$$
Cost,your paying for the name on the wrapper.
BSA,Triumph,Norton,Honda,Suzuki,Yamaha,Ducati,Harl ey Davidson,MZ.
Never a BMW,and never will.

[denill]

On this topic - the writer is 'shopping' for an Adventure bike and it is sooooo confusing. :confused2 :confused2

The KLR650 is shaping up.
Dry weight 153kg
Fuel 23L
New Price $10,000 !!!

I know it is no off-roader and it will obviously be good on the seal and gravel. But does any one know what it's like on dirt and rougher dirt ??

[Hitcher]

I was going to say something along the lines of the Freewind being from the same Suzuki "ugly stick" design department as the GS1200SS, SV650/1000, TL1000, and Savage but decided not to, in case some people got upset...

[merv]

On this topic - the writer is 'shopping' for an Adventure bike and it is sooooo confusing. :confused2 :confused2

The KLR650 is shaping up.
Dry weight 153kg
Fuel 23L
New Price $10,000 !!!

I know it is no off-roader and it will obviously be good on the seal and gravel. But does any one know what it's like on dirt and rougher dirt ??

Can't tell you anything about the KLR Bill, but good to hear you are thinking "dirt" again. I would have thought the KLR would be more dirt oriented than say an F650 or Freewind. 153kg is no lightweight.

[Motu]

Adventure bikes are a huge compromise,I don't think you'd ever get it right - either too big and road biased,or too small and dirt biased.As far as the KLR650 goes - I'd rather go for a street legal KLX650 with electric start,fit an Acerbis tank - then you'd have a bike far better off road than the KLR,and although it'd be a bit ropey on the road you could live with it.Dealers are dumping the XT600E ready for the new model,about the same as a KLR650 but more simple,if you like simple.

[What?]

Less wheight,That's 30lb,Less hp,that's 1HP,or sod all.
Time to buy BMW spares,if you can get them inside a week.$$$$$$$$$
Cost,your paying for the name on the wrapper.
BSA,Triumph,Norton,Honda,Suzuki,Yamaha,Ducati,Harl ey Davidson,MZ.
Never a BMW,and never will.

Can't say I have ever found BMW parts to be expensive, Jackrat. Sometimes they are lots cheaper than jap stuff, but usually on a par.
Accessories are another matter, though. BMW accessories tend to be eye-wateringly expensive...

[Badcat]

I was going to say something along the lines of the Freewind being from the same Suzuki "ugly stick" design department as the GS1200SS, SV650/1000, TL1000, and Savage but decided not to, in case some people got upset...

i'm watching you Hitcher....