V-Strom 650

[OrangevaleFJR]

I swear the Wee one was calling my name at the bike show. I must have sat on it at least four times !! Cheap and the new ones are ABS also !
Hmmmm 08 huh ??????????????/

You in?

I got 2. I'm married, and I'm going to Alaska with some friends. 2008 it is. Before or after WFO?

Good question. Right after, prolly. Head straight to WFO7, then book north to the AlCan into Fairbanks, hit the supply road to Prudhoe Bay, back down into the Kenai or where ever else we need to wander, Vancouver area for a day or two, then home?

Course, we might get our asses kicked at WFO7 for showing up on V-Stroms...

Hey! Maybe we could ride our FJR's to WFO, and get Radman to trailer the DL's. Then we'll take the DL's on the trip and Radman could trailer the FJR's to our houses for us!

 

[twowheelnut]

Hey! Maybe we could ride our FJR's to WFO, and get Radman to trailer the DL's. Then we'll take the DL's on the trip and Radman could trailer the FJR's to our houses for us!

Ooooh, wouldn't he have a field day tweaking the FJR's to mechanical perfection for us, too!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Hey! Maybe we could ride our FJR's to WFO, and get Radman to trailer the DL's. Then we'll take the DL's on the trip and Radman could trailer the FJR's to our houses for us!

Ooooh, wouldn't he have a field day tweaking the FJR's to mechanical perfection for us, too!

YEAH! Hey RAD!!!!! :yahoo:

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I am getting close to making the decision. I have a price OTD for$6677 for an 07 non abs and an extra $376 for an extra 4 year unlimited mile warranty, total of 5 years. Or and extra $462 to extend it to 5 extra years, a total of 6 years unlimited miles, no deductible. Mike in Fremont, Ca.

They had a DL650 on consignment I got to ride. Man it is smooth. At 80-85 down the freeway it rode nice. The shield didn't look as though it would keep any wind off but did a great job, no helmet buffeting. Handled great around town and I was very impressed with the transmission, 6 speed. :yahoo: :yahoo:

If and I mean if I go ahead with the purchase I think I will call it my "Weejer". The Strom sites call the DL650 a weestrom. I won't go near as crazy adding farkles to the weejer as I did the FJR but after looking on some of the V-Strom sites I think they have more for this than the FJR.

 

[twowheelnut]

I have a price OTD for$6677 for an 07 non abs and an extra $376 for an extra 4 year unlimited mile warranty, total of 5 years. Or and extra $462 to extend it to 5 extra years, a total of 6 years unlimited miles, no deductible.

Wow, impressive. Good to know when I start asking the salesman, "Is it safe?"

 

[madmike2]

I won't go near as crazy adding farkles to the weejer as I did the FJR but after looking on some of the V-Strom sites I think they have more for this than the FJR.

Won't some of the farkles move from bike-to-bike? (Radio, GPS, Radar detector, etc.) Obviously the PCIII and exhaust would be specific.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I have a price OTD for$6677 for an 07 non abs and an extra $376 for an extra 4 year unlimited mile warranty, total of 5 years. Or and extra $462 to extend it to 5 extra years, a total of 6 years unlimited miles, no deductible.

Wow, impressive. Good to know when I start asking the salesman, "Is it safe?"

Huh :blink: what do ya mean?

 

[beemerdons]

So let's pick a date in 2008 and do it!

Greg, Are you thinking about getting a dirt bike? I bought a Kawasaki KLR650 in October because I am riding to Copper Canyon in Mexico over March 3-11. If you are interested in a road trip north in 2008, let me know! A number of people from AZB and FTRG are interested in taking the wives to Hyder. Don

 

[beemerdons]

So let's pick a date in 2008 and do it!

Greg, If you are interested in riding North in 2008 - you are welcome to tag along with Donna and I, and Uri and Sylvia Schumm.

Uri & I've been planning a road trip to Hyder, AK and below is the itinerary; we'll go anytime between Memorial and Labor Day.

We guys will ride and the Girls: Donna, Sylvia and Mary will fly the big bird into Seattle, Washington and out of Calgary, Alberta.

ALASKA TRIP, 1 WEEK FOR THE GALS & 2 WEEKS FOR DON & URI (and Greg?)!

Wednesday eve: After work Don & Uri ride to Orange, CA 5.5 hours/375 miles.

Thursday & Friday: Don & Uri ride the RT’s to Seattle. 18 hours/1,160 miles.

Saturday: Donna and Sylvia fly into Seattle Tacoma International at 10AM and we ride to Port Angeles, Washington States Ferry Terminal. 2.5 hours / 125 miles. Catch the 2PM sailing to Victoria, British Columbia. Stay in the Historic Downtown area. Have dinner at the Empress Hotel. Victoria is Wellington, New Zealand sister city. You feel like you are in England here.

Sunday: Ride to famous Butchart Gardens early for the tours and luncheon.

Monday: Ride the length of Vancouver Island to Port Hardy. 6 hours/310 miles. Stop for lunch in Courtenay. Riding along the Straits of Georgia.

Tuesday: Sail aboard the British Columbia Ferry “Queen of the North” to Prince Rupert. Only five miles ridden, but 7AM departure, 11 PM arrival.

Wednesday: Ride to Hyder, Alaska. See glaciers and bears. 5.5 hrs/285 mls

Thursday: Ride to forested Burns Lake on Frazier River. 6 hours/295 miles.

Friday: Ride to Jasper, Alberta. Nice sightseeing day ride at 7.5hours/375 miles

Saturday: Scenic ride to Banff National Park, Lake Louise lunch. 3.75hrs/180 mls.

Sunday: Ride to Calgary Airport for the 10AM flight. 1.5 hrs/80 miles

Monday & Tuesday: Don & Uri ride RT’s back to Chandler. 24hrs/1,615mls

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I won't go near as crazy adding farkles to the weejer as I did the FJR but after looking on some of the V-Strom sites I think they have more for this than the FJR.

Won't some of the farkles move from bike-to-bike? (Radio, GPS, Radar detector, etc.) Obviously the PCIII and exhaust would be specific.

I will move my tank bag over and power it with a powerlet outlet. But other than that it the same farkles, different bike. Risers, windshield, hand guards, etc., etc., etc. You know the drill. How much money do you want to spend. This will be my secondary bike, so not near so critical such as SS brake lines, after market exhaust etc. But probably a seat, Givi top case, maybe side cases, windshield, centerstand, doesn't come with one, that should be enough to keep me broke for awhile. like they say the cheapest thing is buying the bike. then it really starts to cost you. And maybe an auto chain oiler, damn no shaft.

 

[twowheelnut]

I have a price OTD for$6677 for an 07 non abs and an extra $376 for an extra 4 year unlimited mile warranty, total of 5 years. Or and extra $462 to extend it to 5 extra years, a total of 6 years unlimited miles, no deductible.

Wow, impressive. Good to know when I start asking the salesman, "Is it safe?"

Huh :blink: what do ya mean?

Marathon Man. Torture question as to the diamonds whereabouts. Hence, torture the salesman to get the best price... Guess you just have to be in my effed-up head. :dntknw:

 

[Toecutter]

as soon as I hear anything about a trip North from a certain dood down South, I'm probably gonna hop on a DL650 and whip out the first 600 miles the first day so I can get past the first service pronto and be ready to tag along on an adventure.

Looking like next year at this point. Sigh.

Maybe that's not such a bad thing. At least for me. I will be purty busy with the "Big Rally" this year.

So let's pick a date in 2008 and do it!

:headbonk:

Bad Skooter! Major thread jack! I think it's high time for an AK08 topic.

 

[skyway]

I have been checking out some sites and I thought I farkled out the FJR. Man there is a ton of stuff for the 650, i mean a ton. Didn't see a fuel cell though, but damn near anything else you could put on this bike. Buying the bike is probably the cheapest part of the whole deal.

Mike, you may not have yet seen a fuel cell to fit the 650 Wee, but I can assure you, there will be an option very soon. In fact the cell I'm developing right now will be easily adaptable to fit other bikes, another design consideration I planned from the start.

Along with the appropriate interface to make transferring my hydration system a snap. :dribble:

Yes, I think the 650 Vstrom is going to be my next bike vs. the 1K, mainly because of the ABS option. I think this platform for the $$ and practicality, is a great place to start building on. I've been checking into an ABS cut-off switch with the powers that be on a Vstrom forum, and they reckon it'll be a snap.

B)

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I should probably get the abs model but I don't think I will. Keep on tinkering with the farkles. We will keep you busy. I think I tapped out the FJR and I am getting the itch. Seems like this might be a good bike to play with.

 

[vectervp1]

Maybe that's not such a bad thing. At least for me. I will be purty busy with the "Big Rally" this year.
So let's pick a date in 2008 and do it!

So uhh... which one of you is gonna help his lame ass back to AZ after he crashes? :vava:

 

[beemerdons]

Maybe that's not such a bad thing. At least for me. I will be purty busy with the "Big Rally" this year.
So let's pick a date in 2008 and do it!

So uhh... which one of you is gonna help his lame ass back to AZ after he crashes? :vava:

Arturo: When Uri and I ride with SkooterG, like when we ride to Puerto Penasco, Sonora with him (and you) next month, we always carry 50' lengths of nylon rope with us in the saddlebags so that we can tow his damaged FJR behind us to safety.

With his being my friend for all of these years, I swear to God that if he crashes again I am going to convert his FJR to a trike!

 

[tripletango]

I owned a DL 650 for about a year. Actually missed it after I sold it. It is a very good bike. It is not a small bike and rides high. As with all smaller displacement bikes it is fun to wring it out in a way you can't with an FJR (Ya know what I mean OK). It has a top speed of 115 give or take. Reasonable fuel mileage. Great stable handling and handles twisties as good as most can ride em. Reliable willing high revving engine. Brakes no problem.

It is a pig in the deep dirt (too heavy etc.) but a good dirt road bike with reasonably compliant suspension.

If one was to own only one bike, this is as good or better than many.

Now if I were to buy another bike like this one as I told TWN in another thread. The 07 Tiger is the way to go. Lite as a DL and as fast as an FJR. Yeh man, my kinda bike.

 

[MKO]

The liter-strom guys will tell you that the 650 is worthless, but don't buy into it, at least until you try it.

I had a DL 1000 V-strom before the DL 650s came out. I loved the SV 650S, but didn't fit on it and didn't like the afternarket fairings available for the naked SV650 standard. But I liked the motor and fun factor more than the litre bike. The 650 motor is smoother but still has great low and midrange torque. The DL650 takes that great motor and combines it with comfortable ergos. If the DL650 had been available when I bought my Dl 1000, I may have very well bought one.

If you decide to get it, give us a ride report.

 

[FJRgeezer]

I did a search and found some opinions on some 650's. Anyone own a V-Strom 650? Happy? Reliable? I am looking for a mid size commuter bike that will bag up etc. Still have the FJR for serious road riding. Maybe a few trails to the fishing holes but no serious off road cuz i have dirt bikes. Anyone?? Mike in Fremont.

Got an 05 650 Vstrom and love it! One of our locals here put knobbies on it and single tracks it, I'm not that brave. I'm thinking better than the 1000, lighter (by 50lbs), great MPG, dirt and rough roads not problem, I've lowered mine (5'6") and it needs a better seat for long rides. Goes 75 all day long (buzzy though) and handling is 1st rate considering the poor quality of the suspension equip. Don't know what I'd do if I had to get down to one bike, but probably the Vstrom, just because it's so versatile. Guess I'd have 50 bikes if I had the space and $$$!