Suzuki XF650 "Freewind"

[Badcat]

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

i've ridden a couple of them - interestingly they still command high prices.

i really like the freewind - it's a wierd bike but the digital instuments are really good - the exhaust is stainless and the little fairing is quite effective.
it has a 19" front wheel - so steers sharper than a DR650 - and the rearward weight balance makes it much more confident on a bad surface.
i thought it was a much better bike to ride than the original F650 (really a dressed up aprilia pegaso)- but i think the new BMW would be a better bike again....

ken

[moko]

Dealers are dumping the XT600E ready for the new model,about the same as a KLR650 but more simple,if you like simple.

I had an XT and loved it,if you want something basic it`s about as basic as you`ll get these days.My only complaint was that ironically because I enjoyed riding it so much I was travelling further and further and the seat`s a real arse-killer.Got myself a Fazer,basically a Thundercat with higher bars ,half-fairing and different frame and it`s loads faster,handles well and a lot more comfortable,still miss the XT though,thing was slow and crude but great fun.Import was stopped here last year because of Euro-fascist rules and we now get the XT660 in trail and Supermoto versions.Road tests of that show it to be a really nice machine but even more road oriented than the old thumper.
The Freewind never sold well in Britain,the name and oddball colour schemes didnt help plus they`ve got a bad rep for corrossion,bear in mind though that the Brit solution to icy roads is to chuck salt all over them which eats bikes if you dont keep them clean.A workmate of mine has one and loves it,think of it as a poor man`s F650 and you`re about there.I suspect it was aimed at the German market as,un-like mainland Europe,trailies,or even wannabes,have never sold exceptionall well until the last couple of years.

[Posh Tourer :P]

Thanks for the replies, seems to be much the same as any bike, some like `em some dont....

Interesting nonetheless....

[clint640]

Talking to a bloke that hires them out last weekend ( coromoto.co.nz ) he really liked them. You could go and have a good thrash on one there if you're curious.

Cheers
Clint

[Paul in NZ]

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...

Yeah but at least you can BUY them...

I think the worst thing about the Freewind (apart from the looks) is the lack of accessories like racks, panniers and stuff...

Cheers

[YellowDog]

I have one and I think it is an excellent bike. I have been thinking about a V-Twin and looking quite seriously however I can't seem to matcg the low speed versatility of the Freewind. Read this article (if you haven't already), which I think is great:
http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcsuz/freewind.html

[cheese]

Man I went riding with a guy in gissy that had his 170kg DR650 land on him after he went over an edge. Fucking scary, it smacked into him and he was ok!! They are freaking heavy to pick up in the sand though. He liked it on teh road though.

I've always thoguht you either get a dirt bike or a road bike, you get both and you get half pie.

Motard however breaks all the rules!!

[YellowDog]

Good point Cheese. Yes, they are big and heavy. Whilst this makes the Freewind very stable to ride, if you do put one down you will need a lot of strength to pick it up again. I don't want to say 'Not one for the ladies', but it would need to be a strong lady!

[orange dog]

Tried the f650 and the KLR650 back to back once and while it was probably a once-off for the f650, having the engine cut-out while on a sharp, steep uphill piece of road while two up with traffic up our arse made for an easy sell for the KLR.

Great adventure bike by the way, carried me, the wife and the dog on some tracks rough enough to stop the landcruiser, while still being comfortable enough to tour on-road.

just my 2 cents

[nigelp]

I test rode a freewind that is for sale in the weekend, and was pretty pleased with it! Despite the fact that it was raining and was only wearing my kevlar jeans! All going well I will have purchased it by the end of the week! I must admit that the DL650 Vstorm had a better engine (test rode that too) but the Freewind felt nicer around town.

[SPman]

Good point Cheese. Yes, they are big and heavy. Whilst this makes the Freewind very stable to ride, if you do put one down you will need a lot of strength to pick it up again. I don't want to say 'Not one for the ladies', but it would need to be a strong lady!

Not necessarily. I knew a 5'2" Japanese lady who used to ride one - did both Islands a couple of times and seemed to handle it OK - except for traffic lights.......

[Macktheknife]

I test rode a freewind that is for sale in the weekend, and was pretty pleased with it! Despite the fact that it was raining and was only wearing my kevlar jeans! All going well I will have purchased it by the end of the week! I must admit that the DL650 Vstrom had a better engine (test rode that too) but the Freewind felt nicer around town.

If the model year was at all similar, they are the same bike now. Different plastics.

[nigelp]

If the model year was at all similar, they are the same bike now. Different plastics.

Nah, was a 1997 Freewind and a 2007 DL. Worlds apart really, would love to have the DL, however it felt very big, and wouldnt be too fun to pick up after you drop it on a farm track! And the fact that the DL had the V-twin engine vs the DR650 powered Freewind.

[YellowDog]

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...

Oh! That hurts more than telling me to go to the opticians, 'cos you think I have an ugly wife!