'This is biking's humble hero' - Sportsbikeshop rides the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT

Our occasional series on the bikes we ride for our kit reviews continues with Suzuki's V-Strom 650 XT. Big miles in high comfort for a low price. Find out what we thought about it.

[timothyangus]

In 2018 I rode my V Strom 650 two up around the world. No reliability issues and 43, 000 miles later I’m still loving it

[ejkirk]

After reading most of the comments, it’s great to see that there are many people who are really endeared to the Wee Strom’s qualities. I’ve owned the 1000 and the 1050, both very good bikes, if anything, I miss that slug of low down torque, but the 650 is just so much sweeter. No gearshift issues, 60+mpg (though I think the euro 4 engine was more frugal), handles well, great reliability, what’s not to like. I think in time when all the latest and greatest are sitting in a shed with electronic issues, people will realise that the Suzuki 650 V Strom was the best all rounder ever made.
PS. I just love the simplicity of the cockpit 👍

[roysyntageros]

One of the most underated bikes out there. Reputation is everyhing and this bike as one of the best. Thanks for the review!

[TrustyZ]

I think gen 3 DL 650's are handsome machines. Had a white '17, now a black '22 Adventure. Both have had super smooth gearboxes. Bought a new Z900 and a new Z900RS. The Vstrom looks just as cool and I'm proud to ride one.

[flippy]

Just bought that exact bike, a 2022 model, and absolutely love it! It's not a tool to me, I don't use it for commuting or anything humdrum, it's my toy! I agree, you do need to be very positive with your shifts. When it comes to dirt capability, any doubters should watch Fort Nine's review of the 1000, as he says, skills will run out before the bike's ability does. Adv riders seem to want offroading handed to them on a plate nowadays. The V-twin is definitely lively and exciting, or at least much more so than many parallels, and everything about the bike inspires confidence and a feeling of solid reliability. I did replace Dennis Taylor's glasses with some better looking mirrors though 🤣

[mihaimihai]

This is probbaly the best motorcycle money can buy in terms of price, quality, performances and reliability! I'm seriously thinking about replacing my NC 750 X with a a V-Strom.

[virendradr]

Beautiful, excellent, marvelous ❤️❤️❤️

[l.a.raustadt]

Have been riding my 05 650 V-Strom since bought it new.Minnesota winters keep total miles low (66, 000) and I wonder at 67 will it out live me? Busy doing local rides till snow hits. Cheers.

[jeffjones]

I bought mine April 2021 and April 2022 I have 10, 300 miles. I think people see this motorcycle is a 650 and think it’s not 1000 to small. Let me tell this v twin engine is so smooth and very good. I’m 6ft 240 and the bike will cruise at 85mph all day on highway. I don’t go off road but if I did I would do the front fork upgrade. Definitely would recommend

[twotone]

I have a 2018 DL1000, bought brand new for $9999. Canadian and love this bike! Comfortable for long trips... rode 10 hours on it multiple times, its quick enough and nimble enough to keep up with most naked bikes on the road and twisties, amazing for light "offroad" (for me) and I can get around 415 km fully loaded with my boxes if a really take it easy on my long hauls.

Biggest plus is that its a Suzuki so that makes the mechanics and reliability bulletproof. This is a keep forever bike in my lineup.

[victorherrero]

I have 6 months with my Vstrom 650...and I am really happy. Great all rounder, it does everything right, good value, good equipment, good price. For me it like its right in the middle between the Yamaha Tracer 7 and the Yamaha Tenere 700...it is better off road than the Tracer 700 and close to it on road and it is better than the Tenere on road but not as good as the Tenere off road.
The Vstrom is the jack of all trades.
Like:
1. Design ( for me).
2. Engine, one of the best ever.
3. Easy to ride.
4. Lots of value.
5. Jack of all trades.
6. Big 20 liter tank.
Dislike:
1. No abs switch to turn off.
2. No Led headlights.
3. No cruise control.
Hope the next Vstrom 650 comes with the 1050 design and cruise control!!!

[roadwarrior]

One of the best bikes ever, if they could bump her up to 750cc and around 85hp it would beat all.

[krzysztofpiatkiewicz]

Finally I found a DL650 review that mentions "not so great" gear shifts! So far I only heard how it's a great, slick Suzuki gearbox but my experiences were different. I bought a new DL650 XT in 2020 and I soon noticed a problem with going up the gears (only going up, going down is never an issue). It's fine for majority of the time but every now and then it happens that I don't get the next gear when shifting (especially from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd), I just get an awkward surprise in the form of staying in old gear and a high-revving engine, even though the gear lever went up all the way. I tried many things, I use more force on the lever, make sure I use the clutch correctly but stil it happens from time to time in the most unexpected moments. It's very strange since the previous motorcycle I owned was a 27-year old Honda NX650 Dominator and I never ever had a similar situation there, all the gears were always selected without a doubt and I rode it for several thousands of kilometers. Apart from this slight disappointment though the little V-strom is a great motorcycle and I'm very happy that I got it.

[volt]

I bought one and had Nc750x before. 8 totally overlooked this. I sold nc dct hated it. This is my 40 something bike. Its one of the best bikes I’ve had. It has some of the most pliant and grippy suspension going for rough roads. Its really quite quick due to fat fat midrange. Never left wanting. I am so happy with it. Incidentally I was following a 22 plate hyabusa on some windy welsh roads. The rider was struggling in the bends and I was all over him. In the straights game over. But he stuck to 80 and my strom was so much lighter in the bends. So for road riding? Who needs 190 bhp ….. me if could afford it😐

[Ritalie]

Strangely if you put Motul oil in your bike, the transmission will shift like a Honda. Try it and see. This isn't hyperbole. I tried 4 different oils in a Hayabusa, and only Motul 7100 gave good shifting and the transmission shifts like it's a 200cc bike. Motul oil is legit alien technology given to the public.

[kkiwi]

I bought a new one 3 days ago - the gear shifting on mine is super slick - normal Suzuki. Perhaps there was something wrong with yours 🤔

[svaralen]

Hi, thanx for the review 👍 As a 50 year old beginner, will you considere this bike as a first bike!? Thanx and greetings from Serbia ✌️

[Ritalie]

It says on the website they added an overdrive 6th gear. If true, that's a HUGE selling point, and it's the ONLY motorcycle built today with a proper 6th gear. Is this true? There is no ADV bike being made today by any company with a proper overdrive. They said on the Suzuki website that it has a "taller 6th" gear that gives lower RPM cruising.

[kodekun]

I'll wait until suzuki put up cruise control while keeping the engine configuration.. i can see myself riding this bike hundreds of km in a trip.. the engine is a gem... but they need to keep up to date with their technology..sweet bike!

[joachimlindback]

I sold mine beacuse it was so much wind noise. If you removed the wind screen it was tolerable. (I´m 5"11)