Suzuki V-Strom 650 reviews

I purchased a 2006 650 EXE and it was lost to Hurricane Ike. I purchased a new 2009 650 EXE and it is better than ever. I sometimes choose it over my BMW R1200GS to ride around town on. Just sit down hold on and your off with plenty of power and it does well on the highway but the suspension is a little stiff for my bad back, other than that a great bike. I will probably buy another one when the time is right. Show less

A 650cc bike that's great on long distance rides; 1200 miles to the Grand Canyon, much of it between 80 and 85 miles an hour and it was smooth as glass. Gas mileage between 40-45 mpg. Fuel stops between 200-220 miles. Nice around town too. Handles well on dirt roads. I'm trying to think of something I would change, but can't. Show less

I have been riding motorcycles and scooters of all types for the last 30 years. I currently own a H.D. Softail Custom. I purchased the Burgman new and have no regrets. The storage is sufficient for me but I may add saddle bags for longer trips. I must admit I was a little apprehensive at first about going from a Harley to a scooter. I can now honestly say that contrary to what I've read, no one really looks down at the scooter rider, you still get the wave from other motorcyclist and the good comments from the public when stopped at a lite or fueling up. When I take the wife for a ride she always prefers the Burgman over the Harley citing comfort. The scoot has enough power for my liking while traveling two up and the fact that it has an auto tranny makes this scoot a real pleasure to ride. I gave a 4 in comfort only because I wish the driver back rest would go back a few more inches, I may just remove it. I average about 45 MPG. The windshield does an ok job, might swap it out but for right now I use a full face which helps block the wind. I purchased the Exec model over the regular burgman only for its ABS, and I can honestly speak from experience..IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY! I highly recommend the Burgman Exec. I may even get rid of the Harley. Show less

3rd review at 5,000 miles. Just ran up to Sturgis, S.D. with my Burgman 8-1-09. 800 miles. (400 miles up, and 400 miles back in 1 day.) Piece of cake. Runs great, and stays up with the big bikes easy. (14 gals. @ $38.00 round trip) Wow! It was great. Still Smiling! Show less

If you have been doing your homework on this style of bike, you have read a lot of reviews that say the DL650 is a great all around performer. I wanted the safety of ABS but couldn't even think about the BMWs because of the price and high maintenance costs. I got mine to commute to work during the week and to tour two-up on weekend day trips on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I went with the V-strom and, after riding Feburary through July in cold rain and 90+ heat, I can say the reviews are spot on. The bike has plenty of power and handles so well in town or on the highway. The v-strom also gets plenty of attention at stops because nothing else looks quite like it. There are plenty of accesories available to make it your own too. They are a little tall but the low speed handling (parking lots, etc.) is GREAT (just as good as my Burgman 400) but it is better suited to someone who can flat foot it for ease of walking it or for getting on and off. The engine and transmission have a long history of reliability. Most people put on an aftermarket windshields but they are around $140 or less for a good one. don't let wind noise stop you from buying a bike. It's a bike! Your supposed to be out in the wind! Make the plunge and enjoy! Show less

The DL650 fits my needs perfectly. Even after only a short time of riding it, just bought it yesterday, I know that this motorcycle is the one! I have been riding motorcycles for 38 years. Had all kinds over the years. Started with mini bikes at an early age, had dirtbikes, street bikes of all description, standards, cruisers, touring and sportbikes. I have owned Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW and Harley motorcycles. So to say been there done that is an understatement. Five years ago I began a quest to find a pair of motorcycles, one for me and one for my son, for us to ride together and share some quality time. I ended up buying two Yamaha FZ6s. My son still has his I ended up trading mine for a Honda VFR about a year later. After another year I traded for this one and here's why. I enjoyed the VFR, it is a beautiful bike and fun to ride but I could only ride it for about an hour before needing a good break. My neck, shoulders and wrists got sore in short order even after adding higher bars. My back got tired and because of the high and slightly rearset footpegs my knees cramped. I had researched the DL650 before and started looking at it again. I found the reviews here helpful as well as internet forums. The opinions and reviews were consistently good, so I decided to buy one. I am so glad that I did! This motorcycle is one of the most comfortable that I have ever been on. While at the dealership I sat on a Kawasaki Versys and found that I could only touch the ground with the ball of my left foot whereas on the DL650 I could touch flat footed with my left foot. The seating position reminds me of days gone by when I was riding dirtbikes, it is called a dual sport after all, though I don't think I will doing any trail riding on it. You sit high and tall on this bike with a good view of the road and your surroundings. The comfort level on this motorcycle equals long time in the saddle. Speaking of which, I found the seat to be quite easy on the rear, soft and forgiving. After about an hour I did notice some butt burn but I have never ridden a motorcycle that did not cause that, moving about from time to time helps relieve the sensation. I found all of the controls to be well placed and easy to manipulate. The mirrors offer a good clear view of what is behind you. The fairing offers good protection. There is some wind buffeting but not an objectionable amount. I have the windshield at the low setting out of the three height adjustments. The fit and finish of all the parts is of high quality. The ride is smooth and firm, standard suspension settings seem to work well for me. The bike is easy to handle at any speed, low speed maneuvering is excellent and it tracks and corners very well at speed. The weight distribution seems evenly placed and you don't notice the bike's weight while riding. I found the engine power to be very linear in delivery with ample power available throughout the rpm range. The standard luggage rack is a godsend, now I have a place to carry things. I purchased a small tailbag to strap on the rack rather than getting a larger trunk case. There a two helmet holder hooks under the seat, they use extension cables that run through the helmet d-rings. There are also a couple of good size storage compartments under the seat along with the tool kit. Even after such a short time with this motorcycle I can tell that this one is a keeper. Read the all the reviews for yourself and then you decide. I was a skeptic before but now I am a convert. What everyone says about this bike is true. It is one great motorcycle! Show less

If you rode to work as often as I do then you want a bike that is a no shift bike. Riding in heavy traffic on the Burgman is a breeze. I usually arrive at work with a big smile on my face. I am 55 and have owned many motorcycles over the passed 30 years. Get one of these and you won't regret it. I also love riding my 2007 Goldwing but use it mainly for taking the old lady on long distance road trips. Wish they could put an automatic transmission like this in a Goldwing! Show less

Recently rode 426 miles in a day to go to a deposition in north Louisiana. Comfort was pretty good until the last 30 miles or so. Only real complaint (other than having to put a Mastead bracket on the windshield) is that it loves false neutrals. Show less

Tooling around town is a blast!! You just ride around in a nice relaxed position, just twist and go. I was really suprised how well the Burgman handles. It is so easy to control and maneuver in turns. The power is very pleasing - not a sports bike but she has some giddy-up. So far, I've only taken it up to 60 mph on the highway but she was rock solid - steady as she goes. With the combination of great comfort, fun power and super control, you hardly know the scooter is there because you are too busy just enjoying the ride. Like many other bikes, this scooter DOES NOT draw attention to itself because it has no issues to speak of, like engine heat, leg cramping, chain maintenance, bike too heavy, shifting, etc. In short, this scooter delivers up an awesome, carefree riding experience. And, at the end of the ride, you will say that the Burgman 650 Exec. served me well. Show less

I have owned all kinds of bikes. I have a Goldwing. This is a mini Goldwing. Suspension is not as good, but half the price. This is the best all around bike if you only can have one bike. It hunkers down on the freeway like no other. I can not tell how fast I am going on this bike and it always surprise me when I see the odometer. Handling is great, wind protection with Clearview shield is excellent. Plenty of power and storage. Seat is a bit hard, but leathet butt pad helps. Getting about 44 mpg all city. Cool bike. Show less