Webike Community's My Bike introduces various motorcycles based on the opinions of owners who ride or have ridden them, in its "Owner Review Summary."
This time, we bring you the honest opinions of the owners of the Suzuki V-Strom 650!
To be honest, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 is this kind of motorcycle!!
The history of the V-Strom 650 in Japan began in 2013, but if you count on its predecessor, the DL650, which was released as an overseas model in 2003 with almost the same components, the V-Strom 650 has a history of more than 20 years. Suzuki has been making adventure motorcycles since before the current adventure motorcycle boom.
The engine is the same water-cooled DOHC 4-valve 90-degree V-twin as the SV650 series. This 645cc V-twin is sporty with a strong pulsating feel, yet fuel-efficient and practical. It is famous as a masterpiece among Suzuki engines and has many fans.
The V-twin engine is mounted on a highly rigid aluminum frame. Among adventure motorcycles, the V-Strom series has a strong image of being good on paved sections such as winding roads, but in the case of the V-Strom 650, this highly rigid aluminum frame is the foundation of its high road sports performance on paved roads.
Since the 2014 model, the wheel size has remained the same at 19 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear, but compared to the standard (unbranded) cast wheels, the XT has been introduced, which has better cushioning and is more suitable for off-road riding. Overall, it is safe to say that this is an adventure motorcycle with a stronger road sports character.
When choosing a used motorcycle, the 2013 model (type: VP56A) was introduced as a reverse import motorcycle. In 2014 (type: VP56A), the Japan model was released, and the XT with a "beak" was introduced. The key points are the complete redesign of the styling and the traction control system installed in 2017 (type: C733A). By the way, the current model will be the model (type: C733M) that complies with the 2020 (Reiwa 2) Japan emission regulations" in 2022.
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How do Webike users feel about the V-Strom 650?
V-Strom 650
Average Price of Brand New: $5571.25
Used Price: $4402.06
Number of Reviews: 91 cases
*Data as of July 11, 2024
Average owner satisfaction is 4 out of 5.00 (Number of persons evaluated: 362 persons)
V-Strom 650XT
Average Price of Brand New: $5854.85
Used Price: $4795.16
Number of Reviews: 48 cases
*Data as of July 11, 2024
The average owner satisfaction score is 4 out of 5.09 (Number of evaluations: 324 persons)
It's especially noteworthy that the overall average owner satisfaction rating for both the V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 650XT is over 4. Items such as fuel economy, driving, looks, and load capacity receive high scores.
On the other hand, both the V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 650XT received ratings of 4 or less for ease of handling and maintenance, but this still shows that many users are generally satisfied with the motorcycle.
A quick summary of the V-Strom 650
V-Strom 650 (Cast Wheels)
V-Strom 650XT (Wire Spoke Wheels)
PROS
- Reasonable motorcycle body prices
- Easy to ride long distances
- The V-twin engine, matured over the years, is reassuring.
- Good fuel economy with regular specification (More than 25km/l when touring on local roads and highways)
CONS
- Compared to the latest motorcycles, the engine output, equipment, and luxury feel are a generation old.
- High road sport performance but low off-road performance
- Push-pull is heavy and difficult to do because of the high center of gravity, and spoke wheels (XT) rust easily and are difficult to clean.
- Poor maintainability, such as having to remove even the meter to change valves, etc.
VSTROM 650 Owner's Voice
Here are some of the most impressive testimonials from the many reviews, especially for the standard model from 2017 onward.
Mr. Ebi (2023 Model)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative car models | Tired of riding old motorcycles while maintaining them, I wanted a motorcycle that I could easily ride with one hit of the cell. |
|---|---|
| Pros/Satisfactory points | Comfortable riding position, decent wind protection, a strange ride feel that is good at going straight but also good at cornering, good fuel economy, high reliability and it's a given that you can start riding with just one start. |
| Disadvantages and dissatisfactions |
It's a triple whammy: the center of gravity is high, the seat is high, and the footpegs are in the way when you put your feet down. My impression is that it's difficult for people who are not over 170 cm tall to ride it (although I suppose it depends on your skill level). |
| Advice for prospective buyers | I think it's a motorcycle to ride with a big heart. I am not that enlightened, so I am going to tinker with it a lot and make it fit me. I think it is superb as a base motorcycle. |
Black Motorcyclist (2019)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative car models | |
|---|---|
| Pros/Satisfactory points |
・You can ride it easily and enjoyably at any time, from long distances to city riding. Horsepower: decent, weight: decent, these are the good points. ・The fuel efficiency is over 20km per liter, so it can run 350km to 400km on a full tank. It is also an ideal machine for touring. ・It may be surprising, but unlike its appearance, it is a completely on-road machine. It is also good at cornering. The frame is rigid enough that it will not break down even if you lean it over quite a bit when turning. If you get too excited, the bank sensor on the footpegs may touch the ground. |
| Disadvantages and dissatisfactions | ・Foot reach is not very good. But you will soon get used to it. When you buy a new bike, you might think "foot reach might be bad" because the suspension doesn't have any contact, but after you break it in, the contact will be moderate and foot reach will improve, and you will get used to it and it will no longer be a problem. ・In terms of the V-St market, the order is 250>1000>650, so there are not many aftermarket parts. For example, Yoshimura's 650 is the only bike that doesn't have an exhaust system. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | You are an experienced rider who no longer needs more than 100 horsepower and does not want to weigh more than 200 kg in dry weight. Also,This is your first time with a large motorcycle. We recommendThe following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column. |
Natto Everyday (2023 model)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative car models | I wanted a vehicle that could afford a day trip of 500 km or more down the road. |
|---|---|
| Pros/Satisfactory points | interpoint (interword separation)Engine that can be enjoyed at any RPM rangeThe following is a list of the most common problems with the It's big, it's got presence, it's got a cool body. interpoint (interword separation)One tank has a range of more than 500 km. There are too many things I like about it to write about. |
| Disadvantages and dissatisfactions | The handle was a little far. Almost eliminated with aftermarket handle risers. It would have been great if it was equipped with cruise control. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | If you're a veteran rider who doesn't need more than 100 horsepower and doesn't want a dry weight of more than 200 kg, or if this is your first time riding a large motorcycle, we recommend this motorcycle. |
Check out the Vstrom 650's competitors
The V-Strom 650/XT is equipped with a 645cc V-twin engine. Although it has been increasing recently, it is a somewhat minor displacement range for an adventure motorcycle, and the rivals are thin.
There are models with similar engine displacement, but when it comes to adventure motorcycles that emphasize road sports performance like the V-Strom 650, the 649cc Versys 650 is the only one.
However, as adventure models in the same engine displacement range, Honda's NC750X (745cc), which has a strong touring color, and Yamaha's Tenere 700 (688cc), which has improved off-road performance, are candidates.
If you are interested in the reviews of rivals, check this out too!
*The average owner satisfaction and number of reviews are as of July 11, 2024.
KAWASAKI VERSYS 650
Average Owner Satisfaction: 4.01 (Number of persons evaluated: 99 persons)
Average Price of Brand New: $6963.28
Average price of Used: $4532.46
Number of Reviews: 35 cases
For more information, click here.
HONDA NC750X
Average Owner Satisfaction: 4.19 (Number of persons evaluated: 187 persons)
Average Price of Brand New: $5861.81
Average price of Used: $5262.34
Number of Reviews: 35 cases
For more information, click here.
YAMAHA Tenere 700
Average Owner Satisfaction: 4.03 (Number of evaluations: 276 persons)
Average Price of Brand New: $8815.51
Average price of used: $8609.14
Number of Reviews: 19 cases
For more information, click here.
