Hold the selector switch on the left handgrip, and you get the clock.

Nice real world moto review Sky rider, I’m going to have a test ride on a dl650x. Thanks for all your advice.

I have 2004 V-strom and I love it. Rode 17 days, 13 states and 5000 miles summer of 2015 with nary a hiccup.

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+Richard Witt It's such an underrated bike and does 99% of the job well. Thanks for your comment.

Had one before my Tracer. It's one of the best bikes I've owned. It does everything well. My only gripe was build quality. It did suffer after a few years winter use. I did a bit of touring on mine 2 up and it was absolutely fine. Very comfortable and relaxed ride. I changed the tyres to Angel GT's and it was transformed.

Hold down the trigger on the left handle bar to toggle between outside temp and clock. Nice review, I have a 2014 and am very happy with it

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+James Ferguson Thank you for pointing it out. It is a great bike indeed.

I love my 2013. Not missing anything I "need" once I made changes so it fit me at 6'4".

It does have a clock, your choice, outside air temp in f or celsius or clock.

i have 2013 strom and love it , almost 30,000 miles and it just go go and go.....

Got one. Nice and fair appraisal! 👍

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+shapeshifter67 Thank you. Ride safe!

Excellent review! Very happy with my 2013 and I agree with all you said.

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

It's an excellent bike that will do most things well. Thanks for watching:)

@sam3d

6 жыл бұрын

KickStandUp ass kisser, this idiot is only half right.

Nice review I think this could be my next bike. ATB

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

Excellent value for a used one. Have you tried one yet?

It does have a clock

I'm looking at this as my next bike, I do prefer the basic one without the horrible beak (currently 6.5k) and spec it up to 7k and that's still 1k cheaper than the MT09 Tracer. The Tracer is a smaller bike as well, but the biggest problem for me is insurance cost. This bike is about £300 fully comp. and the Tracer is £800 Fully comp. Nice review though thanks.

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

+clanmac66 You're right the Tracer is more powerful therefore more expensive to insure. I have to pay twice the amount for insurance compared to my last bike which was the Honda CB500X. You will also find the V-Strom is a really comfy bike and the Tracer is rock solid so no good for your back side for long distances.

One more thing, I've put over 150 000 trouble free kilometers on these bikes ('09, '12, '15). Not only are they relatively inexpensive to purchase, the cost of ownership is extremely low. The only down side is resale on high mileage 'Stroms is also very low; bad for the seller, great for a buyer. If you can find a high mileage 'Strom with evidence that it has full compliance with the prescribed maintenance schedule, it will likely be a steal - especially if it's all farkled up. Rode my '12 yesterday with well over 70 000 kilometers on the odo, aside from the suspension being a tad tired, it was like it just came off the showroom floor.

@SkyRider365

7 жыл бұрын

Great to know, thanks buddy!

The V Strom has a clock

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

How did I miss that? Well the sales guy couldn't find it either so I wasn't the only thick one ;)

@sjmorrishome

8 жыл бұрын

The reason you missed it is because you had the air temp on. The dash can be toggled for Air Temp or Clock, not both

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+Steve Morris Damn that was the deal breaker!!! Oh well, too late to go back to Suzuki now that I have a Tracer.

@richardwitt8248

8 жыл бұрын

+Sky Rider yup - even my 2004 has a clock

Oh FYI, it does have a clock, you mentioned the "outside air temperature" reading, if you hold the info trigger on the handlebars down for 2 seconds that swaps to the clock :)

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

What? The sales man couldn't explain that on the day. He told me there isn't a clock. Oh dear. I've been misinformed. Thanks man.

@scotwilson4169

9 жыл бұрын

That's because he is someone trying to sell as many motorbikes as possible ;) I'd imagine it would be fairly complicated to know all of the functions on all of the dashes of every Suzuki (and any other bikes) in the showroom

Of all the adventure bikes you have tested so far which do you feel is the most comfortable especially in terms of legroom?Do you feel that the 650 V Strom has much more power than the CB500X?Does the Versys 1000 feel a lot heavier than the VFR800 Crossrunner and does the Versys 1000 feel too big to manoeuvre through city traffic.Sorry for all the questions I really should go and find out for myself but I am trying to get the best idea I can before approaching any dealerships.Cheers mate

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

Versys 1000 and VFR 800 are the heaviest out of the lot but neither felt heavy while riding. Versys is definitely more comfortable for me and has good leg room. At 0 speed they can be hard work such as reversing due to weight and height. V storm is also quite tall for me but 6 footers will be fine. I'm more keen on tracer and tiger to be honest. V storm has noticeably more power than my cbx and is more comfortable.

Just a point, if the salesman didn't know about the clock, I think I would look for another dealer.Maybe their mechanics are as bad. BTW I took a 4800 mile trip out to Grand canyon in 2014 on my loaded 2011 DL650 Rode up Pikes Peak1400+ ft no trouble at all.

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+George Lee Funny thing was the sales guy even told me he had a digital clock stuck to the dash on 'his' V Strom. Not sure what to believe now lol. It's a good bike for sure.

@albion2742

8 жыл бұрын

Like I said, find another dealer.

good review... but the V Strom does have a clock and also a termomether

The local shopping mall got one for there security department but no one would ride it . Because it has a radiator it was programed to go dead when you pull the clutch in and left running at the entrance in front of the security camera . Now we have to support several would be motorcyclist and there children for many years to come . If you want one cheep they only have a hundred miles or so but 70,000 hours running time . Thanks

Nice review. I'm looking to for an eventual replacement for my rather battered TDM 900, which has been a wonderful machine and it will take a hell of good bike to replace it. The DL650 is in the running because it has very similar characteristics, so I'll be trying one soon. If, like me, you do long tours on your bike, then don't forget to factor in fuel consumption and tank range. My TDM can get close to 70 mpg if ridden lightly and that return around 300 miles to the tank.

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

You'll like the test ride I'm sure. Performance wise is there much difference to your current bike?

@gurnstein

9 жыл бұрын

Less cubes, less grunt holds true most times. The DL650 engine is adequate for my uses though. An advenure-fied MT07 will change things a bit and I'd be tempted to stick with Yamaha. And now Honda has introduced the new AT, which is probably how the TDM should've evolved, I'll hang on until the reviews are out.

@gurnstein

9 жыл бұрын

I think you must live or work in my area as you test a lot of bikes from either Apsley or Hemel. In fact I've tested the Tracer in Moores as well :)

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

***** I work in Hemel so these are my local dealers. The Tracer is a great bike and will be cheaper than the Honda AT I think. I was told it will be around £10k when finally released.

@gurnstein

9 жыл бұрын

The Tracer is a nice bike, but it's more sport than tour and would be poor off the tarmac. I found the engine to be sweet and very strong, but it was overall it was too busy under my arse and not at all comfortable for me. I prefer big twins anyway. If you get a chance, try a TDM and you'll see why. At 80 mph, it's vibe free and effortlessly, smoothly lolloping along. It will be hard to find a replacement that's better. But I'll keep looking.

When I hear, "seat is really soft and very comfortable," I do mental flick flacks. Very soft doesn't sound good for hours of riding. And standing up on it is a pain. It's too wide and sticks out around its "hips" making it uncomfortable. I do agree with the rest said in the video. It's a very nice bike. Way too quiet unless you're a 50+ year old man though, but luckily than can be fixed

Hi sky rider, being enjoying your comments on V-STROM650 , I don't know how tall you are, I am only 5'9'' tall, is it a problem to ride it without missing your positive comments on the bike? Wu thanks.

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+吳俊樺 I'm about 5'9 too and you won't find it a challenge. A good bike all round especially for the price tag.

excelent review but now im thinking forward to buy second hand GS 800 F wich think might be better 🔝🔝🔝👅👅👅

What is your height"? Thank you. Nice vid

What is the advantage of having spoked wheels?

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+John D Some would say the wire spokes are easier to replace than welding alloy cast wheels. It also gives the bike more off-road looks I guess. Personally I'd choose the cast alloy wheels as they are also easy to keep clean.

@ 6:32 ... There is a clock on the Vstrom

I've just bought a new DL - not the XT with the dopey-looking bird's beak. What were they thinking? 'picking it up Friday. I was going to get a 2nd-hand GS but found out it was too heavy, lifting it off the side stand on a sloping roadside with my golfer's elbow. Then I read about V-Stroms and took one for a ride. Just what I want for touring round Australia. With the extras I'm getting I'll end up paying about the same as what the GS guy wanted for his 2012 model with 40,000ks on it. I also don't fancy sitting on that GS's two-part seat for 300km, it holds your butt in a fixed position and you can't move around at all, unlike the V-Strom's which lets you move back and forward to change your posture without stopping for a break. Hurry up Friday!

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

Congratulations on your new bike! I agree the seat on the V-strom is extremely comfortable.

@ernied2737

7 жыл бұрын

I''m looking for used 650 V Strom or Versys. Found a '15 V Strom nearby, hope it's still there after this weekend as I'm out of town. It does have that silly beak (Angry Birds) so I hope its' easy to remove. It only has 1,300 miles and is priced very well. Also found a 08 Versys, 8k miles, less money. We'll see which one appeals to me more.

I live in Hungary and i bought one XT in 2015 brand new. The cost was around £5800 whit crash bar, hand covers, aluminium sump guard (these are not standard equipment in my country). I checked the UK price and it's insane, £7600 what the hell???

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks buddy if anyone asks me I'll refer them to buy one from Hungary and ride it back to the UK. Should be a good tour as well.

@UncleWally3

7 жыл бұрын

Sky Rider right, they're almost giving them away in Canada to make room for the '18 model. I've owned three new 'Stroms - including this '15 model and loved them all - over 180 000 kms of trouble free riding.

The price when new is too high. Maybe next year mt07 tracer will be cheaper with similar atributes and better engine and lighter. For that price i would go for the tiger 800 which is only slightly more expensive but more powerfull and with a lot more caracther from that 3 cyl engine.

@SkyRider365

9 жыл бұрын

farmoboy83 No need to wait for the MT07 'tracer' just go with the MT09. Awesome bike. I've tried it again today and for £8k you won't be disappointed.

Commented the rear tire was too narrow yet had an inch and and half chicken strip on both sides.........I own a DL 1000 may be my favorite bike EVER.......but also enjoy my Triumph Scrambler allot.

Good bike, but to do high mileage does need money spent on it and I'm actually frightened to look at my collection of receipts since I bought mine in 2012. now done 38000 miles and needed a new clutch at 28000 new chain and sprockets . 2 valve clearance services (every 15k) a load of other services with suzuki every 3500 miles is too regular IMO But more costly is the suspension which gave up (rear shock) after 36000 and that isn't cheap This time I went for aftermarket and bought ohlins front and rear which is a definite improvement in every aspect, even over when the bike was brand new. The biggest thing I initially noticed was the front doesn't dive down so much at all anymore under heavy braking The best way to describe it is , it feels like a 15 percent improvement in different areas like braking cornering stability comfort .. etc etc.. kind of like the bikes been tightened up with a new socket set. Add up all the little improvements ohlins makes and when you think about it , it's quite a bit of an improvement so.. not cheap but worth it.. and surprisingly cheaper than suzuki fitting full new OEM suspension. The bike is a bit quicker than you'd imagine it's 68 or whatever hp states but if you keep it above 100 the mpg doesn't drop it plummets to the ground I've almost done a whole tank in just 80miles like this... but saying that keep it under 80 and it's good. If you can keep to 66mph you'll get about 67-68mpg over 100 and it drops to 40's See its sold as a cheap adventure but in order to do the miles you'll spend as much as a more expensive one so it's something worth considering when buying Saying that you still could do worse !

@grapewater123

8 жыл бұрын

And almost forgot if you ride on the road like me you can't beat mitchelin pilot road 4's for tyres as they are not only very good is wet and dry but seem to be a longer lasting tyre too!

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+grapewater123 I'll bear that in mind when I come to change my rear soon.

i can't believe all the gripes about it hasn't got heated grips don't like the mirrors, no centre stand, knuckle guards, cruise control, soft seat for my botty why don't you just buy a car, so it won't mess up your hair either.

@GeorgeTheGreat93

8 жыл бұрын

Because at some countries having a car as your main transportation is not a good experience because off the ridiculous traffic and the hardest part of all which is finding a place to park it. I live in Greece and having a bike like the Vstrom 650,that does almost everything for an acceptable price and with low cost maintainance, is amazing because you can move through traffic easily and you can travel all over the world with no problem at all. And here in my country, we see almost no snow and it rains one month at most every year,so we don't mind having a bike instead of a car.

@rumchaser1able

8 жыл бұрын

lol

@T21-TwentyOneTrailers.

5 жыл бұрын

@@GeorgeTheGreat93 you are right, nice response.

@samplr1

4 жыл бұрын

I

There is one bad point at the DL650 is the noise from the windscreen which is terrible

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+Cees Velthoen Givi or MRA have touring screen options which should be better.

I think my 2012 Adventure V-Strom has a clock.

@SkyRider365

8 жыл бұрын

+John D That's good someone else has said there's a toggle switch for the clock but the sales man couldn't get it up on the day. It's a good bike and I keep seeing them on my commutes.

the beak on this bike is a deal breaker

that beak looks terrible. awesome bikes though

Toss the stock exhaust in the bin and get something lighter and let the lovely sound of v twin be heard.