This is my review of the Suzuki v strom 650 XT 2017/2018 after 5000 miles. I think it is a fantastic bike and the v strom 650 is a perfect all rounder bike for one person.
Just got to the end and you said your first bike review, I wouldn’t have thought that was the case, very good review, well presented, I am looking to do my test this year, 50+ years old, CBT on Tuesday, can’t wait 😊
Thanks, and awesome! I met a guy today who was telling me he got his license last year when he turned 60. He was on his second bike - got himself an Indian chieftain and is loving bike life, wishing he did it sooner :) you'll have a great time I'm sure. If you get on well with the cbt I'd suggest doing your direct access straight away as the focused training sets you up right I think. Good luck!
Nice review. Had my vstrom650 18 months from new, goes in for its 15,000 mile service next week. Great bike for commuting, service intervals are big at 7500 miles and I average 67 mpg. Super engine and good comfort, I’ve fitted the lower seat, love the large tank range. Negatives are the finish, the winter has taken its toll and the brakes are not great. Front suspension is average but it’s built to a price. Took it off road on some Peak District trails once, performed very well. Overall highly recommended.
I'm watching 4 years later! Excellent review Tommy. I got a nearly new XT 2 days ago and have been having a blast on it on Scottish B-Road twisties! All the best.
Tommy, I have a 2017 black 650 XT exactly the same as yours. I love it. I have done over 20,000 km since I purchased it new in April 2018. I am 76 years old and I find it very easy to ride. It is a tall bike and I would not recommend it for shorter persons. It is a daunting prospect to remove the tank to change your air filter. I have done mine. I watched Doctor VStrom on utube. He has videos to remove and replace the tank on the 2017 model. He is brilliant, very good explanation and video instruction. It is not hard once you watch it being done. My filter was quite clean, if I had known that I would have left it and changed it at 25,00km. I don't use it much off the bitumen though. It will save you a lot of money if you learn to take the tank off yourself. The 2017 model seem to blow the low beam headlight bulb at about 20,000 km so keep your eye on that. I changed the bulb myself. Four little round fixings. Press the centre with a small Allen key gently until you hear a little pop. Lift them out and gently unclip the dash out and move it back. Then it is easy to change the bulb. Clip the dash back in, and put the four round fixings back in with the centre sticking out about one eighth of an inch. Gently press until you hear a little pop , and that's it. The other piece of advice I would offer is subscribe to Canyon Chasers on u tube. Watch Dave's videos and your skills will improve a lot.
Hello Tom. Thanks for the video. About that tank sticker, you can get a hairdryer, point to it and let it get really hot. That should liquify the glue a bit, and will make it easier to get it off. As for the right mirror, you can get a bit of *Loctite* and apply to the thread. That will keep it in place. Happy riding!
Mate absolutely loved your review! I literally just ordered a brand new 650XT 2024 model with the lower seat, adjustable wider pegs, rear case and the mirror extension set. When they call me from the dealership i might also opt in for the crash bars. Watching your video has got me really excited to get mine. Can't wait. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Great video. I passed my CBT last week and have my big test next month. I'm hoping to buy a 650 soon after. This video has really helped me make my decision. Top man!👍🏻👊🏻
Awesome! Glad it helped! I'm actually filming an updated 40,000 mile review on the bike later today which I should be able to get upload in the next few days. Conclusion of the bike is zero regrets buying it and it's an outstanding do anything first bike. Good luck on mod 1&2 !
Just bought a brand new 2015 model that sat forever on the dealer floor. Loving the ability to hit the dirt. I have never have the chance to have a dirt bike so this is really taping into the midlife crisis in me!
Man this is not a dirt bike, it's so heavy. 250 two strokes will be a good choise. Btw, I'm a big fun or vstrom 650 and also 1000. For traveling they are the best. M'y choise is oriented toword a new CB 500x. But one day when i will be free, i will get the vstrom 1000 to travel the World. Ride safe.
Great review and outstanding commentary very clear well done. We also own the same bike but yellow in Australia and we are 2 up when we ride. I have added the 37L Givi panniers and a 40 L Ventura top bag and it’s brilliant. Keep up the good work 👍
hey man, my tip for filtering is turn your big light on. people definately notice you in the mirror, even when not paying attention. also put the alarm lights on. works much better than a loud exhaust
Blew the orange fuse in under the seat it’s labeled and quite easy to find I’m color blind so it may be yellow I blew it using a pump as well ! It’s located in the main fuse box and it’s labeled as three amp accessory I think .
Great review dude, i pick my V-Strom up later today, i currently own a Triumph street Triple 675 which is a great bike but my wrists are a bit dodgy and i need something more comfortable.I test rode the V-Strom yesterday and was quite surprised with how nippy it is, like you said in your review it can pretty much handle all riding situations.
Over 20k on mine now, even handled a ride back from London in the snow when I got caught out over winter. It's a great bike, not as exciting as others, but a solid workhorse
I've had the '17 xt for almost 3 years.The right hand mirror comes loose because the locking thread goes the wrong way & makes it hard to adjust because it just comes loose.I put on a spring washer which gave it height & adjustability.
I have had a 2013 model for 9 years now. In 2018 I rode it 2 up around the world. 43,000 miles and no reliability issues. Did Portugal and Scotland this year.
As someone else has said use a hairdryer on a low heat thats how i remove stickers any residue left from the sticker remove with a bit of WD 40 on a cloth.
Very nice vid! I have a 2017 Vstrom 650XT and I'm extremely happy with it. Handling is excellent and my mpg is averaging 60-61 mpg quite regularly. I've added T-Rex Racing engine guards and lowered the pegs (I'm 6'3" and I stand a lot). Otherwise just a stock machine that is, in my opinion, best in class. My bike came stock with a 12 volt plug for charging (comes out under seat) and has a 5 amp fuse (if I remember correctly). I wire one into all my bikes. Thanks for a great vid.
Fabulous multi purpose bike. My 2014 one is about to reach 55k miles with no problems. Easy to work on. Tour, commute, scratch. It does everything well. Just get road pilot 5 tyres to make it more comfortable in the cold and wet... and heated bars.
Thank you for being responsible for me ordering my one today. Delivery next week and can’t wait. Your excellent review swung it for me big time so thank you 👍
Thinking about changing my C50 for one of these so it was good to watch you vid. I live n Sydney now but from Kent so nice to see some of my old stomping grounds.
Nice! I've actually just passed 50k miles on this bike so will be putting a long term review of it up soon. Suffice to say I think its a great bike and no regrets. Only area its let down is 2 up touring/long distance with luggage etc. It can do it just not ideal. Apart from that it's great
Yeah the yellow does look good! I decided to go with black as wanted good contrast on country roads. Have you thought about the getting the crash protector bars? They really did save my bike when I dropped it and would highly recommend them
Sorry I know it's easy to criticise, but I try to be super careful with situations like at 15.44 with the lorry. It's hard to take control of the situation if the driver starts to move without seeing you (there's not really anywhere to escape) . Not trying to be a know it all just trying to pass on something from my own experiences. Enjoyed the vid, VStrom 650xt on my short list :)
Cheers buddy and no need to worry about criticism. When I was watching the video through before uploading I saw that bit and realised I was making a mistake there. Not sure why I went for the gap at the time as the guy was even indicating early on and positioned to move over. Glad you liked the video, get yourself a test ride, they really are great medium sized bikes.
Squirt a bit of gt85 on it and let it soak in, 100% won't harm your paint but will shift the sticker in no time, used on my triumph Thunderbird and the paint on the triumphs is crap and it hasn't marked it at all.
I love the warning sticker comment!! I have the 2021 VStrom 650xt, just removed the sticker. Took patience. Soaking sticker in vegetable oil really helped! Saw that on another vid. 😆
TIP: you get the amperage by dividing the Watts by the Volts so A=W/V. It says there beneath the plug that is has 12 V and 36 W which means 36W/12V = 3A :)
I expect the reason for a 3amp socket is so people arnt running 5amp kit continuously and draining the battery or putting extra work load on the alternator/wiring, wouldn't be that hard to fit a socket under the seat with a 5amp fuse purposely for the compressor, i mean how many times would you need to use a compressor ? I love this bike, the only thing id love to see added is cruise control, considering these bikes are designed to do 100's of miles a day im surprised they haven't added them yet, Thanks for the great review and footage.
Thanks! Yeah I now just have a 12v socket I hook up straight to the battery when using compressor. Works ok. Cruise control would be lovely! Have considered getting a throttle lock to see what they're like.
As he said if you actually take it offroad, you'll probably use the compressor every time you do. Typically drop the tire pressure when you go offroad, then pump it back up again before you get on road. I'm planning to buy a VStrom, probably one of the first things I'll do is to run some 14 gauge wire to replace what's in there and put in a 10 amp fuse.
Good review enjoyed it. I have one and love it, it's also the ideal bike for coming back down the line when you reach a certain age, light and agile, not too powerful.
Lovely video! Only remark I have is that I despise top boxes. They affect riding more than side cases IMO, you can really feel them. Top content, subbed! ;-) Ride safe,
i looked at this bike before deciding on my z1000sx, but really, really liked the vstrom. my neighbor has the same one as yours and is in love with it. anyway, i enjoyed your video (your camera is excellent). enjoy and stay safe.
Thanks! I really quite like the z1000sx. I did a camping tour recently in Dartmoor and saw one parked up. Had a look round it and think they are really nice looking. Especially with the matching panniers. How comfy is it to ride?
Agree with you about the centrestand - every chain driven bike should come with one or be offered as an option. These bikes are huge compared to my CB500F or the bike I'm looking at CB500X.
These days even on bicycles you have to ask for the side stand to get it. It irritates me no end to see kids just dump their bikes on the ground. Here in the USA, Suzuki does offer a center stand - it's almost $300 USD which seems a bit much. On the CB500X it's a bit over $100 USD. But it makes maintenance so much easier.
Hello from the US. Excellent video! Great review of the bike and accessories. I just bought a new V-Strom 650XT this year and I'm looking into the typical upgrades, so I found this review quite useful. BTW, I loved your comment about that dang sticker on the fuel tank.. it took me a week of picking at it each day to finally get it off lol!
Thanks! I think my next vid will be revisiting the V strom for a 35k Miles definitive review and Im planning on trying out a slightly different reviewing technique to see how it works. Always trying new stuff to see what works :) thanks for the comment 😁
@@number94 haha when I decided to do a review that was one of the big decisions - having the bike on show instantly. When I watched some reviews of the V strom before getting it I found it a little irritating it would take a while to actually see the bike. Good to hear you like that element
I have been commuting on the 2015 650 XT and I find the handling to be very good with the factory Trailwings. The Bike gets its best fuel mileage 55-65 at most. Anything more than that and mileage plummets and the vibrations get old really quick on an hour long ride. My Concours 14 can cruise at 75 mph all day long and get 48-52 mpg without major head winds.
I'm tending to cruise at around the 80 mark. Vibrations haven't been too much of a problem however its my first bike so no point of reference. Interesting that you have a Concours 14 - I've spent the last 2 days watching videos of them! Really quite like the look of them. Maybe another bike to add to the ever growing lists of additional bikes I feel I need!
Love your video. I’m choosing between V-Strom 650 and Versys 650. Both of them are good bike. I prefer parallel twin engine on Versys, but I don’t like exhaust position and 17” front wheel. On other side, V-Strom have 19” off-road friendly front wheel, higher exhaust positions and lower seat high. But V-Strom seen a bit higher price over Versys. How about reliability and fuel consumption. Thump up
Thanks! I've not ridden the versys so cant give a direct comparison however hear they are good. In terms of reliability I've done about 26k miles on the v strom now and the only very very minor problem is that it took a little longer to start (about 4 second) something like 4 or 5 times. That's it. No other issues and still on the same sprockets and chain. Really pleased with it. If you see some of my other reviews you'll see that I prefer the tiger 800 xrt for an all rounder daily ride however it's quite a big price jump. I may get one at some point and will then keep the Strom as my winter bike.
Sorry fuel about 60mpg. I also use the premium fuel now as I think using the cheaper might have caused the starting stutters I mentioned in other reply. Like I said though, very very minor point
Thanks! It's an awesome bike and recently took it on a wild camping tour - not sure the versys would be able to handle that side of things. Though I do think the versys looks good!
Good for a weekend blast but probably not the right bike if you're worried about top speed. Up to 90 is good. Once in 3 figures it's kinda pushing the limits a bit. Tops out at 117mph, supposedly...
Have an 06 650dL. Put a custom seat and put a 15 tooth sprocket in the front. Regularly ride 5-600 mile days. Love the bike, but recently thought I might need a little more engine for long hwy runs. Truth is, I've got exactly what I need. After my last road trip I realized I was trying to do too much each day. From this day forward, I'm planning to be content to run the marked speed limit... and enjoy the ride much more. I've ridden it all the U.S., on pabed and dirt roads with no real problems. It's a great little bike.
Nice! I've considered getting a seat as stock isnt great on long distance. What seat did you get? Re speed, yeah I find this bikes happy place is crusing at 70. You can push it, but the engine seems happiest just taking it easy, relaxed.
I have always wanted a v strom and finally bought a 22 this spring . Love it on the highway but on gravel its really loose . I have an 87 transalp that i bought new and it handles far better . Maybe its the tires but the honda snaps to attention when you hit the throttle .
Its funny as you get used to it really quickly and it is safer when done right. When I see bikes not filtering and stop starting in traffic I freak out, would worry about someone going into the back of me. Filtering also moves you forward through traffic to quieter sections of roads rather than staying with vehicles all around
Blue Loctite on the mirror? And for the 12v outlet, I'd check the wiring was up to snuff then just drop a 15A fuse in there. I'd replace the wiring if it wasn't at least 14 gauge.
Great review of real life riding and the DL650. I couldn't agree more. I went from a SV650 to a Street Triple because I thought I needed more power. 30 years later, and a couple of other bigger bikes, I'm ready to go back to an MT-07 (they don't have a Tracer 700 on this side of the pond) or DL650. I just haven't figured out which style of riding I want.
Haha I've just finished editing my 30k review of the v strom which will be online tomorrow at some point :) its a great bike with so much going for it. Like you say it really does depend on what you want a bike for. Eg I love the stree triple rs and it would probably be my first choice for a track day bike but I'd hate doing 30 minutes on the motorway with it!
Sorry I was hoping to have my 30k review up however noticed a problem with the footage that came up after editing. Re edited a few times yesterday but couldn't get rid of the problem so unfortunately I think I'm going to have to film again when the lock down is over. Sorry but it might be a while before I get the big review online. Personally I'd go for the v strom over the mt07. I've got quite a few other vids of the strom on channel which would be worth checking out. Commuting vid, adventure. I hope that helps and really sorry for the delay. Its a very irritating digital distortion which only happens after I export the vid, caused a lot of headache trying to sort yesterday 😅
Keeping it :) I'm at nearly 40k miles now and no problems. Think it will be with me till it dies though will get additional bikes along the way. As a one up all weather work horse its pretty good
Hi..thanks for the review...how is the sitting position?do your feet go behind while sitting..are your knees bent and do you lean forward while riding? I prefer the easy riding position..please can you tell me
It's a very easy riding position. Knees are bent but feet aren't under my bum and no leaning forward. It's comfy for a number of hours. Have a sit on one and see what you think
I just bought my 2nd 650 strom & it was like saying hello to an old friend. Just a tip on the removing the stupid sticker; heat it with a hair dryer which will soften the glue. then use a new razor blade to lift the corner being careful not to nick the paint then peel slowly. Continue to reheat as needed. Finally, use wax &. Grease remover to get rid of the glue. Cheers.
Nice! Its an awesome bike, just had a lovely 7 hour trip today with the other half on the back, nice country roads, coastal roads and twisties with a good good stop. Life is good 👍 thanks for tip on sticker for future!
Great review! I'm a little bit nervous about the filtering though. Like when the filter suddenly get's clogged! Not sure it's worth it for me. But I guess it's good to have the option! Until you tap someones car.
15:45 The loud pipes, Save lives thing, has always puzzled me a bit. Unless you are in a little tin pot car, they're generally pretty well insulated from outside noise, especially if they have the radio on. From my experiance the only people that notice engine noise are pedestians and people with their window open. Observation is key when splitting.
If you accept pedestrians hear the bike better along with people with windows open then it stands to reason those people are less likely to do something stupid as aware you're there. Less likely accident, increased chance of lives being saved.
Great stuff, thanks! How long have you been biking, and what is your experience with it, please (you mentioned being New to biking)? Continued, best wishes...!
Thanks! Since June so not long at all but have put down about 14000 miles now - various riding, countryside, London during rush hour, all wearher conditions apart from snow 😂
3:10 - Get a cheap aftermarket 12v cigarette lighter socket with a bung, add shrinkwrap around the barrel to waterproof the +ve & -ve terminals, fuse it at 10A to give you 120W to play with for emergencies, hook it up directly to the battery & keep it wrapped in a small plastic bag under the seat. Problem solved, mate.
Loving my 2012 650 bought in June 2012. Next set of rubber will be a pair of 90/10 Shinko tires... I’m mostly on the road/highway/street with the odd gravel road, hence the 90/10 tires. Nothing fancy. Just love riding this bike. 29” inseam so I bought a factory “lower” seat and have been super happy 8 years later (it’s 2020) on and right now I cannot think of any reason to part with this bike for my casual riding. Peace be to journey! Cheers!
Hi Viz helmet & jacket gives you more visibility. Never mind changing the muffler and pissing off the neighbours that’s not cool. And side bags will change your filtering ability big time. Ride safe . 🇨🇦
I'm not actually too sure about high vis as have read mixed studies on it. In certain situations it can make you more visible, but in others it can make you less visible. I think there is a definite increase in awareness of a bike with a louder exhaust. Doesn't need to be super loud, but an increase on the stock that comes with the v strom would be beneficial, especially when filtering. I'm currently just getting ready for my advanced rider test which has helped a lot with safety on the road.
Oh and got some panniers :) did a vid on them, and yeah filtering with them isn't great 😂 but perfect if I need to carry more stuff and I'm not as concerned about getting through traffic quickly
Yeah why not. Shouldn't be too hard to restrict. After restricting I'd say to lose some weight on the bike, after market exhaust could drop 5 kilo. Off the top of my head it's about 65bhp so you'll be dropping that by about 30%. What kind of riding will you be doing? Have you had a sit on one yet?
@@ThePalmatron nice! Same usage for me... actually taking the strom on the first mini tour in next few days. Have been planning it a bit this evening. Will take the camera 😁
I have ridden quite a few street bikes and the 650 Vstrom is a very friendly bike. From a weight point of view it is not ideal for a beginner, but still better than almost any bike I can think of. It's throttle response does not encourage dangerous driving, but it does go when pressed. Very good seating position for seeing what is around you. Spend money on safety gear.
I havent been on the cb500x so difficult to compare. However I did meet another v Strom owner who was I think 5ft 6! He had the bike lowered though was still a bit if a stretch for him i think. Tiger 800 lowered might be another bike to consider? I took one of those out and thought it was awesome. V Strom is a great bike, but if I was replacing it at some point I'll probably go for the tiger.
I’m collecting my V Strom 1000 in a couple of weeks so I was interested to hear what you had to say re: the 650. Useful info especially regarding the accessory socket & its load capacity (did you get around to improving it?). Have to agree on changing the can I’ll be doing the same, when you’re sat in traffic in a car the first thing you hear is the noise of a filtering bike, so it’s much safer with a louder can (plus the standard one looks bloody awful). Stay safe thanks for sharing!
Nice! I haven't had a go on the 1000 but I'm sure it'll be a great bike and the extra power would come in handy when fully loaded and 2up. I didnt bother changing the the power as I'm not confident with my knowledge on electrics and didnt want to overload any wiring. I only need the extra power for my compressor so instead I got a 12v socket that clips to battery like jump leads for when I'm doing my tyres. Works ok and the easiest option I think. I still havent sorted my exhaust out 😂 well over 20k miles now too and regret not making it a priority earlier. In traffic I'm not heard so take that into account when I'm filtering. There are more after market exhausts for the 1000 though so you'll probably find it easier to find something you like. Enjoy the bike!
+1 for quiet exhaust. I won't buy a noisy bike. I live on a "scenic drive" in the country and honestly, this past weekend it sounded like a HD convention all weekend. There was barely a time when I could go 30 seconds from sunup to sundown without hearing engine rumble, if not screaming sport bikes pulling 1/4 mile wheelies down the road by my house. Seriously guys it's a beautiful day, I have the windows open and the birds are singing but all I can hear is engine noise all weekend. I'd buy a completely silent bike if it was available (electrics aren't there yet).
I hear what you're saying but I spend 90% of my riding filtering on motorways and through traffic in london. Bit of an extra umph to exhaust note would make me more visible to drivers. I've noticed differences with how cars respond to me with louder exhausts
@@TommyBarnezTV It'd be nice if it could be turned on and off. In my area, noise is just noise, I don't think it helps safety in the least. Traffic backups are almost unheard of and filtering is illegal. Everyone has their car windows up and the radio on, and with traffic moving at speed even the loudest bike isn't audible until they're already past you anyway. In my area loud bikes are just annoying. I concede that you seem to have a good reason to wish for a little more noise.
Like Tommy I dropped me xt650 2017 on both sides from standing position.All rounder,very economical & compared to bikes of the same power easy & fun to ride.Took off heavy bar- ends,million pegs,brought bars nearer,cut round rubber brings under seat in half,taped black tape all over bars etc.
Very enjoyable and easy watching video I'm looking at my 1st Adventure Bike, but being vertically challenged, at 5ft 8 ins I thought the v strom may be a option. Keep up the Great vids
Thanks, I've met another v strom owner who I think was 5ft 5. Have a try of one and see what you think. I also found the bike seemed to sink a bit into the suspension after I'd had it a while
Great bike and review! However, 15:35 You can see the truck has it's blinker on while approaching from 5 cars back.... Holy wow, you are a lucky man that the truck driver was paying more attention than you were! Not trying to judge, just watching from Canada where filtering isn't legal, and I think this is why.
Yeah thats fair, I could have waited or moved over to the rights side of lane more when passing. Was very slow moving traffic so if he had moved over it wouldn't have been at a speed that would have meant I couldn't react to and correct in time. I see it a bit more as being a bit rude and inconsiderate rather than highly dangerous. I'd say filtering is much safer than not filtering most of the time. I've probably filtered somewhere in the region of 25-30000 miles now and would feel very uncomfortable not being able to.
Perhaps some of it is a regional thing. Cars where you are know that bikes filter, but one time a group of cyclists in superhero outfits filtered past my truck in traffic (nearly clipping my window and same on the other side) and I can tell you that from a non-filtering country person, it was nearly rage inducing, as that lane space is legally (and mortally) my responsibility. I had to pass those same cyclists again as I accelerated, doubling the danger of a collision. At least if it was a motorcycle, the second danger would not have been present. That was the one and only time anyone tried to filter past me, and I will be ready with the horn and some strong words for the next if it ever happens. (See? totally regional lol) @@TommyBarnezTV
I think this will be my next bike; Are those tyres tubeless? I realize they're spoked wheels on the XT but understand some of the spoked wheels have Tubeless Tye capabilities/fitting
Hi Tommy... Just found out about your channel.. I'm a bit 3 years too late... As of now, what do you think of the bike? Would you go for other bike now after tested a few bikes? If so, may I know which area/characteristic of the bike that doesn't float your boat... Thanks.. I am looking for a forever bike since I'm no longer a young lad
Sorry for late reply. I still have it! Just past 40k miles! It's a great all-rounder and I'm not sure I've ridden a bike that would be better than this for my needs over the last few years. More power maybe to open up touring capabilities. Cruise control would be nice. Heated seats for winter etc. But for the value it's pretty awesome for what I've used it for.
@@TommyBarnezTV thanks for the reply.. Yes I agree that cruise control might be a good add on.. But its that bike that you get what you pay for... I bet this bike is nice for longer trip.. I'm on Cb500x now.. The vibration on the handle bar caused numbness on my wrist if I ride exceed of 120 miles.. That parallel twin really vibrates at my cruising speed which is around 80 mph... How is v strom though? Does it have that vibration on the handle bar?
@@kodekun7267 I've never found there to be a problem with vibrations however unsure how sensitive my wrists are to that so hard to know how it would be for you. It's not a shaky bike :)
Don't try to modify the 12V plug. It is for small devices with low Amps. When we need higher power Amps drain we use (all the brands of motorcycles) direct contact with battery with engine ON. Or you can make a new power plug with thicker cables and bigger fuse installed 10 cm max. close to battery. But keep in mind the battery specs V - Amps for the maximum usable watts.
Bought a 12v plug that connects straight to the battery. Just keep it with my compressor and does a good job. Figured easier than figuring out the electrics and safer than just putting a 10amp fuse in it. Nice to know it's an issue with all manufacturers. Thanks for the info!
I am so so glad I found this! I just bought a mini air compressor and I saw that it drew 4.5 amps. Didn’t even think that the power outlet doesn’t give that much. The kit however didn’t come with any connection cables and they were on back order. Had I had the connection cable already and not seen this video, I would have tried out the air compressor and blown a fuse!
for the beak paint if yellow and get a horn that goes quack . Great video great bike but a little top heavy for me. for off road riding. Love the look of the yellow.
I actually recorded some filtering in London yesterday but the audio messed up so decided not to upload. I'll get some more tomorrow though not sure I can talk at the same time yet!
Depends on the rider and training requirements in country. I'm from UK where you go through pretty good training. Was my first bike and no problems apart from maybe being a bit top heavy which I felt a little unsure about in the early days getting used to moving it around worried I would drop it.
lovely review! Forgive my North American ignorance but what does 'filtering' mean? Just came from a 'Top 5 favorite things' video of Missenden Flyer and he used the same word. Does it have something to do with fueling or something?
@@shmac96 I think it is illegal in most of north america which is a real shame. Arguments for it are that it is safer due to reduced risk of someone going into the back of you, moving through traffic and clearing junctions from the front of traffic rather than amongst other vehicles. I did a follow up video after this one where I ride from central london back home. It's a bit of a long video but if you skip through different sections you'll see a load filtering in action :) Are you looking to start riding?
@@shmac96 heres the video going through london, there are bits of filtering throughout but around 40 minutes in there is a long section I believe ua-cam.com/video/oGkNV2G68vQ/v-deo.html
@@TommyBarnezTV Thanks for your very generous response! Yeah I noticed that lane splitting is mostly illegal except maybe California. I live in Europe currently and always thought it would benefit me greatly if I were British or European and could take a riding course here...or there. That said I've taken the safety course some 15 years ago. It expired after moving to another city where I was in the process of taking the course again but for reasons I won't go into wasn't able to. I've been looking to get my own bike since I was 9 and have had two opportunities in my middle aged life thus far to get a bike. Now that I live in Germany the desire is ever present. It is the only material thing along with all the 'required' safety gear that I want in life. Lol! Which would explain my sad and constant state of dreaming vicariously thru lovely reviews such as yours. Sorry for the long winded response! I appreciate your friendly inquiry and response! Safe riding and I will be subscribing! Happy holidays!
I think because it was the same engine as the SV650 You could have gotten away with buying a can for one of those, taking it to an exhaust place and getting them to make you up a joiner pipe, would have been much cheaper. Though it does sound good with the new one.
On your 0-60 test. Sounded as though hit 60 in 3rd gear. Approx how many revs were you doing in 3rd at 60 / how close were you to the red line in 3rd at 60mph?
Its a great bike, I'm doing my 55,000 kilometer review soon. Only real negative is the spokes. They're a pain to clean if you ride all year round and in all weather. If I could go back I'd get the standard version rather than the XT for that reason
I own a V-Strom XT fully loaded and It came with a Garmin 590LM satnag, bought new in 2015,. I have only clocked up 5 thou over three years, the luggage stays in the garage unless needed otherwise the bike is as wide as a bleedin' mini bus. It had a recall on the alternator in the first year, so if you haven't had it done get down to your nearest Suzuki dealer and get it done it free.. The best fuel consumption was about 78mpg when I was just pooderling along, living well north O' tha Boarder as do, no need to rush about on a run, far to much scenery for the eye.. One niggle is the engine noise that comes up through the gap twixt the tank and where the front fork yoke poke out, its quite annoying. It maybe because I mainly use my old Quaker GT550 G9 more than the Suzuki, when ride the quaker bike its engine is silent by comparison. But all in all not a bad motorcycle, however would I buy another Suzuki the first one in 50 odd years riding bikes , na I don't think so especially when I was offered only 4grand for it in a dealers in August 18, that was real extracting the urine.. Its got to go I want to buy a Truimph 800 XC.
Just bought a V-Strom 650 and thinking about getting the Suzuki Vario touring windscreen added. The one you have seems to be the original one from Suzuki. How much more wind protection does it add compared to the original ? I'm 6 foot 1 (186 cm) and when I stoop down about 1 to 2 inches, the wind noise is considerably reduced (if I heard correctly in the video, you're 6 foot tall). Would fitting the touring screen be a good idea in my case ?
Hard to say, I didnt ever ride the bike with the standard screen as this came with the model I bought. Yeah im 6ft and works well for me. Bit of wind but my heads not bobbing about with it.
New Exhaust for the V Strom! Sounds MUCH Better!!
ua-cam.com/video/IdJhaukRbjI/v-deo.html
Just got to the end and you said your first bike review, I wouldn’t have thought that was the case, very good review, well presented, I am looking to do my test this year, 50+ years old, CBT on Tuesday, can’t wait 😊
Thanks, and awesome! I met a guy today who was telling me he got his license last year when he turned 60. He was on his second bike - got himself an Indian chieftain and is loving bike life, wishing he did it sooner :) you'll have a great time I'm sure.
If you get on well with the cbt I'd suggest doing your direct access straight away as the focused training sets you up right I think.
Good luck!
Kevi
Nice review. Had my vstrom650 18 months from new, goes in for its 15,000 mile service next week. Great bike for commuting, service intervals are big at 7500 miles and I average 67 mpg. Super engine and good comfort, I’ve fitted the lower seat, love the large tank range. Negatives are the finish, the winter has taken its toll and the brakes are not great. Front suspension is average but it’s built to a price. Took it off road on some Peak District trails once, performed very well. Overall highly recommended.
Agree with all those points!
Peak district must have been nice. I've not been but hoping to get there at some point
I'm watching 4 years later! Excellent review Tommy. I got a nearly new XT 2 days ago and have been having a blast on it on Scottish B-Road twisties! All the best.
Tommy Shaw
Tommy, I have a 2017 black 650 XT exactly the same as yours. I love it. I have done over 20,000 km since I purchased it new in April 2018. I am 76 years old and I find it very easy to ride. It is a tall bike and I would not recommend it for shorter persons.
It is a daunting prospect to remove the tank to change your air filter. I have done mine. I watched Doctor VStrom on utube. He has videos to remove and replace the tank on the 2017 model. He is brilliant, very good explanation and video instruction. It is not hard once you watch it being done.
My filter was quite clean, if I had known that I would have left it and changed it at 25,00km. I don't use it much off the bitumen though. It will save you a lot of money if you learn to take the tank off yourself.
The 2017 model seem to blow the low beam headlight bulb at about 20,000 km so keep your eye on that. I changed the bulb myself. Four little round fixings. Press the centre with a small Allen key gently until you hear a little pop. Lift them out and gently unclip the dash out and move it back. Then it is easy to change the bulb. Clip the dash back in, and put the four round fixings back in with the centre sticking out about one eighth of an inch. Gently press until you hear a little pop , and that's it.
The other piece of advice I would offer is subscribe to Canyon Chasers on u tube. Watch Dave's videos and your skills will improve a lot.
Thanks! Up to 35k miles on this now, great bike zero problems. On my 3rd headlight bulb! Yeah I've seen a couple of dr v stroms vids, good content 👌
About that tank sticker… first thing I removed. Pealed what I could, then soaked in vegetable oil. Inexpensive and worked great!
Hello Tom. Thanks for the video. About that tank sticker, you can get a hairdryer, point to it and let it get really hot. That should liquify the glue a bit, and will make it easier to get it off. As for the right mirror, you can get a bit of *Loctite* and apply to the thread. That will keep it in place. Happy riding!
Quiet exhausts are the best exhausts.
On ADV bikes, yes. Not on sports, dirt bikes or around town cruisers
Mate absolutely loved your review! I literally just ordered a brand new 650XT 2024 model with the lower seat, adjustable wider pegs, rear case and the mirror extension set. When they call me from the dealership i might also opt in for the crash bars. Watching your video has got me really excited to get mine. Can't wait. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Great video. I passed my CBT last week and have my big test next month. I'm hoping to buy a 650 soon after. This video has really helped me make my decision. Top man!👍🏻👊🏻
Awesome! Glad it helped! I'm actually filming an updated 40,000 mile review on the bike later today which I should be able to get upload in the next few days. Conclusion of the bike is zero regrets buying it and it's an outstanding do anything first bike. Good luck on mod 1&2 !
@@TommyBarnezTV I'll definitely be watching that. Keep up the good work👍🏻
Just bought a brand new 2015 model that sat forever on the dealer floor. Loving the ability to hit the dirt. I have never have the chance to have a dirt bike so this is really taping into the midlife crisis in me!
Haha! I'm really wanting to take it on the dirt more but I'm overly worried about it at the moment. I'm sure I'll get around to it at some point
Man this is not a dirt bike, it's so heavy. 250 two strokes will be a good choise. Btw, I'm a big fun or vstrom 650 and also 1000. For traveling they are the best. M'y choise is oriented toword a new CB 500x. But one day when i will be free, i will get the vstrom 1000 to travel the World. Ride safe.
Great review and outstanding commentary very clear well done. We also own the same bike but yellow in Australia and we are 2 up when we ride. I have added the 37L Givi panniers and a 40 L Ventura top bag and it’s brilliant. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks, glad you enjoyed!
hey man, my tip for filtering is turn your big light on. people definately notice you in the mirror, even when not paying attention. also put the alarm lights on. works much better than a loud exhaust
Great video - your audio in particular is the best I have heard on any bike video - your speech is incredible crisp and clear!
Blew the orange fuse in under the seat it’s labeled and quite easy to find I’m color blind so it may be yellow I blew it using a pump as well ! It’s located in the main fuse box and it’s labeled as three amp accessory I think .
Great review dude, i pick my V-Strom up later today, i currently own a Triumph street Triple 675 which is a great bike but my wrists are a bit dodgy and i need something more comfortable.I test rode the V-Strom yesterday and was quite surprised with how nippy it is, like you said in your review it can pretty much handle all riding situations.
Over 20k on mine now, even handled a ride back from London in the snow when I got caught out over winter. It's a great bike, not as exciting as others, but a solid workhorse
I've had the '17 xt for almost 3 years.The right hand mirror comes loose because the locking thread goes the wrong way & makes it hard to adjust because it just comes loose.I put on a spring washer which gave it height & adjustability.
I have had a 2013 model for 9 years now. In 2018 I rode it 2 up around the world. 43,000 miles and no reliability issues. Did Portugal and Scotland this year.
Have a 2006 which I bought in 2008 and I do NOT intend to part with it. Great bike! Thanks for the video.
As someone else has said use a hairdryer on a low heat thats how i remove stickers any residue left from the sticker remove with a bit of WD 40 on a cloth.
Very nice vid! I have a 2017 Vstrom 650XT and I'm extremely happy with it. Handling is excellent and my mpg is averaging 60-61 mpg quite regularly. I've added T-Rex Racing engine guards and lowered the pegs (I'm 6'3" and I stand a lot). Otherwise just a stock machine that is, in my opinion, best in class. My bike came stock with a 12 volt plug for charging (comes out under seat) and has a 5 amp fuse (if I remember correctly). I wire one into all my bikes. Thanks for a great vid.
Definitely best in class. I'm almost at 50k Miles on this now. No regrets
Fabulous multi purpose bike. My 2014 one is about to reach 55k miles with no problems. Easy to work on. Tour, commute, scratch. It does everything well. Just get road pilot 5 tyres to make it more comfortable in the cold and wet... and heated bars.
I'm up to 35k miles on mine now :) heated grips and rp5s on :)
Thank you for being responsible for me ordering my one today. Delivery next week and can’t wait. Your excellent review swung it for me big time so thank you 👍
Awesome glad it helped!
I enjoyed this. Question, did you ever consider the Suzuki Bandit? Why or why not? Thanks
Thinking about changing my C50 for one of these so it was good to watch you vid. I live n Sydney now but from Kent so nice to see some of my old stomping grounds.
Nice! I've actually just passed 50k miles on this bike so will be putting a long term review of it up soon. Suffice to say I think its a great bike and no regrets. Only area its let down is 2 up touring/long distance with luggage etc. It can do it just not ideal. Apart from that it's great
I know I’m two years late, but if your sticker is still stuck on, try a hair dryer or steam cleaner. Should come off cleanly after a bit of heat.
Great all around machine
Love my 18 650XT.
Had to have those Gold Spoked Rims
Rock on 🤘😎
Haha I like the gold spokes however only available with the yellow paint job. Was kinda set on the black. Have you done any mods on yours?
TommyBarnezTV
Yup, Radiator Guard, Crash Bars, Center Stand, Puig windscreen, Kickstand Foot, Tank Bag, getting Oem Pannier soon....Cheers 👍
i own a march 2018 one , base model in yellow... absolutely thes best bike i ever had, really good in all conditions... i m n love with it
Yeah the yellow does look good! I decided to go with black as wanted good contrast on country roads. Have you thought about the getting the crash protector bars? They really did save my bike when I dropped it and would highly recommend them
Sorry I know it's easy to criticise, but I try to be super careful with situations like at 15.44 with the lorry. It's hard to take control of the situation if the driver starts to move without seeing you (there's not really anywhere to escape) . Not trying to be a know it all just trying to pass on something from my own experiences. Enjoyed the vid, VStrom 650xt on my short list :)
Cheers buddy and no need to worry about criticism. When I was watching the video through before uploading I saw that bit and realised I was making a mistake there. Not sure why I went for the gap at the time as the guy was even indicating early on and positioned to move over. Glad you liked the video, get yourself a test ride, they really are great medium sized bikes.
@@TommyBarnezTV I plan to get a shot on one before the end of the month. Looking forward to it, people have nothing but great things to say about them
You can use a hair dryer to remove that tank sticker..:)
Considered that but being bald I don't have one 😁 Managed to get it off eventually by spending about 10 minutes on it each day
Squirt a bit of gt85 on it and let it soak in, 100% won't harm your paint but will shift the sticker in no time, used on my triumph Thunderbird and the paint on the triumphs is crap and it hasn't marked it at all.
Leave a couple of baby wipes on it over night! Those things remove anything!
Wd40 would loosen the adhesive
I used my local jet wash on it, soon came on in pieces
This is the review I needed very well done . Thanks a lot . Keep it up and safe riding 👌
I love the warning sticker comment!! I have the 2021 VStrom 650xt, just removed the sticker. Took patience. Soaking sticker in vegetable oil really helped! Saw that on another vid. 😆
Sometimes peanut butter works as well - and again, it's the oil that does the trick.
Put a trickle-charge pigtail on the battery then plug a cigarette lighter adapter into it when you need the compressor.
TIP: you get the amperage by dividing the Watts by the Volts so A=W/V. It says there beneath the plug that is has 12 V and 36 W which means 36W/12V = 3A :)
Cheers!
I expect the reason for a 3amp socket is so people arnt running 5amp kit continuously and draining the battery or putting extra work load on the alternator/wiring,
wouldn't be that hard to fit a socket under the seat with a 5amp fuse purposely for the compressor, i mean how many times would you need to use a compressor ?
I love this bike, the only thing id love to see added is cruise control, considering these bikes are designed to do 100's of miles a day im surprised they haven't added them yet,
Thanks for the great review and footage.
Thanks! Yeah I now just have a 12v socket I hook up straight to the battery when using compressor. Works ok.
Cruise control would be lovely! Have considered getting a throttle lock to see what they're like.
As he said if you actually take it offroad, you'll probably use the compressor every time you do. Typically drop the tire pressure when you go offroad, then pump it back up again before you get on road.
I'm planning to buy a VStrom, probably one of the first things I'll do is to run some 14 gauge wire to replace what's in there and put in a 10 amp fuse.
Good review enjoyed it. I have one and love it, it's also the ideal bike for coming back down the line when you reach a certain age, light and agile, not too powerful.
Lovely video!
Only remark I have is that I despise top boxes. They affect riding more than side cases IMO, you can really feel them.
Top content, subbed! ;-)
Ride safe,
Thanks! Yeah I have the top box on all the time. Handling will be compromised but its just super convenient
i looked at this bike before deciding on my z1000sx, but really, really liked the vstrom. my neighbor has the same one as yours and is in love with it. anyway, i enjoyed your video (your camera is excellent). enjoy and stay safe.
Thanks! I really quite like the z1000sx. I did a camping tour recently in Dartmoor and saw one parked up. Had a look round it and think they are really nice looking. Especially with the matching panniers. How comfy is it to ride?
Nice 5000 mile review I also have a 2017 650XT and they are a very good motorbike highly recommended
Agree with you about the centrestand - every chain driven bike should come with one or be offered as an option. These bikes are huge compared to my CB500F or the bike I'm looking at CB500X.
These days even on bicycles you have to ask for the side stand to get it. It irritates me no end to see kids just dump their bikes on the ground. Here in the USA, Suzuki does offer a center stand - it's almost $300 USD which seems a bit much. On the CB500X it's a bit over $100 USD. But it makes maintenance so much easier.
Hello from the US. Excellent video! Great review of the bike and accessories. I just bought a new V-Strom 650XT this year and I'm looking into the typical upgrades, so I found this review quite useful.
BTW, I loved your comment about that dang sticker on the fuel tank.. it took me a week of picking at it each day to finally get it off lol!
Awesome! Glad it was a help! I still have the v strom, 35k miles on it now and it has performed perfectly 👌
Your reviewing skills have improved greatly since you shot this!
Thanks! I think my next vid will be revisiting the V strom for a 35k Miles definitive review and Im planning on trying out a slightly different reviewing technique to see how it works. Always trying new stuff to see what works :) thanks for the comment 😁
@@TommyBarnezTV I'll watch out for that. Thinking of getting a used one. I like the walk around before the ride btw. Not all reviewers do that.
@@number94 haha when I decided to do a review that was one of the big decisions - having the bike on show instantly. When I watched some reviews of the V strom before getting it I found it a little irritating it would take a while to actually see the bike. Good to hear you like that element
Two people and luggage okay for touring with the 650?
I have been commuting on the 2015 650 XT and I find the handling to be very good with the factory Trailwings. The Bike gets its best fuel mileage 55-65 at most. Anything more than that and mileage plummets and the vibrations get old really quick on an hour long ride. My Concours 14 can cruise at 75 mph all day long and get 48-52 mpg without major head winds.
I'm tending to cruise at around the 80 mark. Vibrations haven't been too much of a problem however its my first bike so no point of reference. Interesting that you have a Concours 14 - I've spent the last 2 days watching videos of them! Really quite like the look of them. Maybe another bike to add to the ever growing lists of additional bikes I feel I need!
I am about to drop our 10 year anniversary video of owning our Concours 14. I love that machine!
Love your video. I’m choosing between V-Strom 650 and Versys 650. Both of them are good bike. I prefer parallel twin engine on Versys, but I don’t like exhaust position and 17” front wheel. On other side, V-Strom have 19” off-road friendly front wheel, higher exhaust positions and lower seat high. But V-Strom seen a bit higher price over Versys. How about reliability and fuel consumption. Thump up
Thanks! I've not ridden the versys so cant give a direct comparison however hear they are good. In terms of reliability I've done about 26k miles on the v strom now and the only very very minor problem is that it took a little longer to start (about 4 second) something like 4 or 5 times. That's it. No other issues and still on the same sprockets and chain. Really pleased with it.
If you see some of my other reviews you'll see that I prefer the tiger 800 xrt for an all rounder daily ride however it's quite a big price jump. I may get one at some point and will then keep the Strom as my winter bike.
Sorry fuel about 60mpg. I also use the premium fuel now as I think using the cheaper might have caused the starting stutters I mentioned in other reply. Like I said though, very very minor point
I just got my vstrom last September. First time bike owner and I love it. Im at about 4k wondering how often I should be tightening the spokes??
Highly appreciable reviews, Thanks from India.
Came here on your recommendation from TMF, nice detailed view of the bike and some good points brought up ......must go for a ride on one !
Thanks! It's an awesome bike and recently took it on a wild camping tour - not sure the versys would be able to handle that side of things. Though I do think the versys looks good!
Nice review . what's the top speed of the v Strom and is it good for a weekend blast in the countryside
Good for a weekend blast but probably not the right bike if you're worried about top speed. Up to 90 is good. Once in 3 figures it's kinda pushing the limits a bit. Tops out at 117mph, supposedly...
Have an 06 650dL. Put a custom seat and put a 15 tooth sprocket in the front. Regularly ride 5-600 mile days. Love the bike, but recently thought I might need a little more engine for long hwy runs. Truth is, I've got exactly what I need. After my last road trip I realized I was trying to do too much each day. From this day forward, I'm planning to be content to run the marked speed limit... and enjoy the ride much more. I've ridden it all the U.S., on pabed and dirt roads with no real problems. It's a great little bike.
Btw.... also having problems with the left mirror getting loose.
Nice! I've considered getting a seat as stock isnt great on long distance. What seat did you get? Re speed, yeah I find this bikes happy place is crusing at 70. You can push it, but the engine seems happiest just taking it easy, relaxed.
4:29 I find it funny that Kawi went from vertical stack to horizontal and Suzuki went from Horizontal to vertical at just about that same time.
I definitely prefer the stacked!
@@TommyBarnezTV Suzuki's vertical is way better than the old Kawi Versys setup.
I have always wanted a v strom and finally bought a 22 this spring . Love it on the highway but on gravel its really loose . I have an 87 transalp that i bought new and it handles far better . Maybe its the tires but the honda snaps to attention when you hit the throttle .
Yikes! That lane splitting or filtering as you call it freaks me out. It's illegal here in Canada.
Its funny as you get used to it really quickly and it is safer when done right. When I see bikes not filtering and stop starting in traffic I freak out, would worry about someone going into the back of me. Filtering also moves you forward through traffic to quieter sections of roads rather than staying with vehicles all around
I filter all the time, I always go between cars at a red light, makes me feel confident that I won't get rear ended and squished
loose mirror? PTFE tape!.
Sorted.;)
Blue Loctite on the mirror? And for the 12v outlet, I'd check the wiring was up to snuff then just drop a 15A fuse in there. I'd replace the wiring if it wasn't at least 14 gauge.
Cheers, I've left it at 3amp and have a work around for my compressor. Was worried about an issue with the wiring :D
Great review of real life riding and the DL650.
I couldn't agree more. I went from a SV650 to a Street Triple because I thought I needed more power. 30 years later, and a couple of other bigger bikes, I'm ready to go back to an MT-07 (they don't have a Tracer 700 on this side of the pond) or DL650. I just haven't figured out which style of riding I want.
Haha I've just finished editing my 30k review of the v strom which will be online tomorrow at some point :) its a great bike with so much going for it. Like you say it really does depend on what you want a bike for. Eg I love the stree triple rs and it would probably be my first choice for a track day bike but I'd hate doing 30 minutes on the motorway with it!
Sorry I was hoping to have my 30k review up however noticed a problem with the footage that came up after editing. Re edited a few times yesterday but couldn't get rid of the problem so unfortunately I think I'm going to have to film again when the lock down is over. Sorry but it might be a while before I get the big review online.
Personally I'd go for the v strom over the mt07. I've got quite a few other vids of the strom on channel which would be worth checking out. Commuting vid, adventure.
I hope that helps and really sorry for the delay. Its a very irritating digital distortion which only happens after I export the vid, caused a lot of headache trying to sort yesterday 😅
Does it come with the number plate glove holder? 😂
Helps with speed cameras…
Hi ! Do you regret the color black for some reason? Hard to maintain and keep clean? Swirl marks, heat, etc?
Nah not at all
Great review. Are you keeping this one or are you tempted by something else now?
Keeping it :) I'm at nearly 40k miles now and no problems. Think it will be with me till it dies though will get additional bikes along the way. As a one up all weather work horse its pretty good
@@TommyBarnezTV very few bikes seem to have a reputation better than the 650. I rode one a few years back and it was lovely. Take it easy
Hi..thanks for the review...how is the sitting position?do your feet go behind while sitting..are your knees bent and do you lean forward while riding? I prefer the easy riding position..please can you tell me
It's a very easy riding position. Knees are bent but feet aren't under my bum and no leaning forward. It's comfy for a number of hours. Have a sit on one and see what you think
I just bought my 2nd 650 strom & it was like saying hello to an old friend. Just a tip on the removing the stupid sticker; heat it with a hair dryer which will soften the glue. then use a new razor blade to lift the corner being careful not to nick the paint then peel slowly. Continue to reheat as needed. Finally, use wax &. Grease remover to get rid of the glue. Cheers.
Nice! Its an awesome bike, just had a lovely 7 hour trip today with the other half on the back, nice country roads, coastal roads and twisties with a good good stop. Life is good 👍 thanks for tip on sticker for future!
Goodreview, I hated my seat right off the bat.Bought a Russell and that is perfect
Great review! I'm a little bit nervous about the filtering though. Like when the filter suddenly get's clogged! Not sure it's worth it for me. But I guess it's good to have the option! Until you tap someones car.
I used goo gone and a plastic paint scraper worked great for me when removing the sticker
15:45 The loud pipes, Save lives thing, has always puzzled me a bit. Unless you are in a little tin pot car, they're generally pretty well insulated from outside noise, especially if they have the radio on. From my experiance the only people that notice engine noise are pedestians and people with their window open. Observation is key when splitting.
If you accept pedestrians hear the bike better along with people with windows open then it stands to reason those people are less likely to do something stupid as aware you're there. Less likely accident, increased chance of lives being saved.
Great stuff, thanks! How long have you been biking, and what is your experience with it, please (you mentioned being New to biking)? Continued, best wishes...!
Thanks! Since June so not long at all but have put down about 14000 miles now - various riding, countryside, London during rush hour, all wearher conditions apart from snow 😂
3:10 - Get a cheap aftermarket 12v cigarette lighter socket with a bung, add shrinkwrap around the barrel to waterproof the +ve & -ve terminals, fuse it at 10A to give you 120W to play with for emergencies, hook it up directly to the battery & keep it wrapped in a small plastic bag under the seat. Problem solved, mate.
Am I the only one in the world that likes a quiet bike ¯\_ಠ_ಠ_/¯
Some like quiet, some like loud, there's no right or wrong though, just preference :)
I love my 2013. I am not sold on the looks of the new one though
I was the same initially but quite like it now. Looks good after a fresh wash :D
And a Happy New Year to you as my first comment in 2019 !!😀
Loving my 2012 650 bought in June 2012. Next set of rubber will be a pair of 90/10 Shinko tires... I’m mostly on the road/highway/street with the odd gravel road, hence the 90/10 tires. Nothing fancy. Just love riding this bike. 29” inseam so I bought a factory “lower” seat and have been super happy 8 years later (it’s 2020) on and right now I cannot think of any reason to part with this bike for my casual riding. Peace be to journey! Cheers!
Hi Viz helmet & jacket gives you more visibility. Never mind changing the muffler and pissing off the neighbours that’s not cool. And side bags will change your filtering ability big time. Ride safe . 🇨🇦
I'm not actually too sure about high vis as have read mixed studies on it. In certain situations it can make you more visible, but in others it can make you less visible.
I think there is a definite increase in awareness of a bike with a louder exhaust. Doesn't need to be super loud, but an increase on the stock that comes with the v strom would be beneficial, especially when filtering.
I'm currently just getting ready for my advanced rider test which has helped a lot with safety on the road.
Oh and got some panniers :) did a vid on them, and yeah filtering with them isn't great 😂 but perfect if I need to carry more stuff and I'm not as concerned about getting through traffic quickly
Nice review; thanks! I´m thinking of getting a V-strom 650....Just got my A2 license; would you recommend it for a new rider?
Yeah why not. Shouldn't be too hard to restrict. After restricting I'd say to lose some weight on the bike, after market exhaust could drop 5 kilo. Off the top of my head it's about 65bhp so you'll be dropping that by about 30%.
What kind of riding will you be doing? Have you had a sit on one yet?
Cool! I´ll be mainly commuting with the odd weekend blast and maybe some touring....I sat on it the other day; it felt good....
@@ThePalmatron nice! Same usage for me... actually taking the strom on the first mini tour in next few days. Have been planning it a bit this evening. Will take the camera 😁
Enjoy!! Thanks for the replies....
I have ridden quite a few street bikes and the 650 Vstrom is a very friendly bike. From a weight point of view it is not ideal for a beginner, but still better than almost any bike I can think of. It's throttle response does not encourage dangerous driving, but it does go when pressed. Very good seating position for seeing what is around you. Spend money on safety gear.
Look at a CB500X? I'm 5'8 and the 650 Vstrom looked too big for my single urban, weekend trips.
I havent been on the cb500x so difficult to compare. However I did meet another v Strom owner who was I think 5ft 6! He had the bike lowered though was still a bit if a stretch for him i think. Tiger 800 lowered might be another bike to consider? I took one of those out and thought it was awesome. V Strom is a great bike, but if I was replacing it at some point I'll probably go for the tiger.
That center stand... is it from Suzuki? Hey... great video! Keep coming with the videos please.
Is indeed, sorry for late reply
I prefer the quiet stock exhaust on mine
I’m collecting my V Strom 1000 in a couple of weeks so I was interested to hear what you had to say re: the 650. Useful info especially regarding the accessory socket & its load capacity (did you get around to improving it?). Have to agree on changing the can I’ll be doing the same, when you’re sat in traffic in a car the first thing you hear is the noise of a filtering bike, so it’s much safer with a louder can (plus the standard one looks bloody awful). Stay safe thanks for sharing!
Nice! I haven't had a go on the 1000 but I'm sure it'll be a great bike and the extra power would come in handy when fully loaded and 2up.
I didnt bother changing the the power as I'm not confident with my knowledge on electrics and didnt want to overload any wiring. I only need the extra power for my compressor so instead I got a 12v socket that clips to battery like jump leads for when I'm doing my tyres. Works ok and the easiest option I think.
I still havent sorted my exhaust out 😂 well over 20k miles now too and regret not making it a priority earlier. In traffic I'm not heard so take that into account when I'm filtering. There are more after market exhausts for the 1000 though so you'll probably find it easier to find something you like.
Enjoy the bike!
a cool talker, as cool as the bike that you were you are riding on.I am thinking of getting this cool bike.
thanks, its a great bike!
+1 for quiet exhaust. I won't buy a noisy bike. I live on a "scenic drive" in the country and honestly, this past weekend it sounded like a HD convention all weekend. There was barely a time when I could go 30 seconds from sunup to sundown without hearing engine rumble, if not screaming sport bikes pulling 1/4 mile wheelies down the road by my house. Seriously guys it's a beautiful day, I have the windows open and the birds are singing but all I can hear is engine noise all weekend. I'd buy a completely silent bike if it was available (electrics aren't there yet).
I hear what you're saying but I spend 90% of my riding filtering on motorways and through traffic in london. Bit of an extra umph to exhaust note would make me more visible to drivers. I've noticed differences with how cars respond to me with louder exhausts
@@TommyBarnezTV It'd be nice if it could be turned on and off. In my area, noise is just noise, I don't think it helps safety in the least. Traffic backups are almost unheard of and filtering is illegal. Everyone has their car windows up and the radio on, and with traffic moving at speed even the loudest bike isn't audible until they're already past you anyway. In my area loud bikes are just annoying. I concede that you seem to have a good reason to wish for a little more noise.
Like Tommy I dropped me xt650 2017 on both sides from standing position.All rounder,very economical & compared to bikes of the same power easy & fun to ride.Took off heavy bar- ends,million pegs,brought bars nearer,cut round rubber brings under seat in half,taped black tape all over bars etc.
Fantastic bike, be safe, Thanks for excellent review. 👍🏼
Very enjoyable and easy watching video I'm looking at my 1st Adventure Bike, but being vertically challenged, at 5ft 8 ins I thought the v strom may be a option.
Keep up the Great vids
Thanks, I've met another v strom owner who I think was 5ft 5. Have a try of one and see what you think. I also found the bike seemed to sink a bit into the suspension after I'd had it a while
Great bike and review! However, 15:35 You can see the truck has it's blinker on while approaching from 5 cars back.... Holy wow, you are a lucky man that the truck driver was paying more attention than you were!
Not trying to judge, just watching from Canada where filtering isn't legal, and I think this is why.
Yeah thats fair, I could have waited or moved over to the rights side of lane more when passing. Was very slow moving traffic so if he had moved over it wouldn't have been at a speed that would have meant I couldn't react to and correct in time. I see it a bit more as being a bit rude and inconsiderate rather than highly dangerous.
I'd say filtering is much safer than not filtering most of the time. I've probably filtered somewhere in the region of 25-30000 miles now and would feel very uncomfortable not being able to.
Perhaps some of it is a regional thing. Cars where you are know that bikes filter, but one time a group of cyclists in superhero outfits filtered past my truck in traffic (nearly clipping my window and same on the other side) and I can tell you that from a non-filtering country person, it was nearly rage inducing, as that lane space is legally (and mortally) my responsibility.
I had to pass those same cyclists again as I accelerated, doubling the danger of a collision. At least if it was a motorcycle, the second danger would not have been present.
That was the one and only time anyone tried to filter past me, and I will be ready with the horn and some strong words for the next if it ever happens. (See? totally regional lol) @@TommyBarnezTV
You spoke about the 12v plug. Could you replace the 3amp fuse for a hotter one. The wire might be the only limitation but, I'm no electrician.
Very nice video...truly in detailed..planning to get one next year
Thanks! It's a great bike. Just got back from a bit of an adventure on it which I will be uploading next few days :D
@@TommyBarnezTV will be waiting for sure..
I think this will be my next bike; Are those tyres tubeless? I realize they're spoked wheels on the XT but understand some of the spoked wheels have Tubeless Tye capabilities/fitting
Yeah tubeless. Bridgestone Battlax A40Fs. Awesome tyres and still haven't changed them and the bike now has over 10k on the clock
Hi Tommy... Just found out about your channel.. I'm a bit 3 years too late... As of now, what do you think of the bike? Would you go for other bike now after tested a few bikes? If so, may I know which area/characteristic of the bike that doesn't float your boat... Thanks.. I am looking for a forever bike since I'm no longer a young lad
Sorry for late reply. I still have it! Just past 40k miles! It's a great all-rounder and I'm not sure I've ridden a bike that would be better than this for my needs over the last few years. More power maybe to open up touring capabilities. Cruise control would be nice. Heated seats for winter etc. But for the value it's pretty awesome for what I've used it for.
@@TommyBarnezTV thanks for the reply.. Yes I agree that cruise control might be a good add on.. But its that bike that you get what you pay for... I bet this bike is nice for longer trip.. I'm on Cb500x now.. The vibration on the handle bar caused numbness on my wrist if I ride exceed of 120 miles.. That parallel twin really vibrates at my cruising speed which is around 80 mph... How is v strom though? Does it have that vibration on the handle bar?
@@kodekun7267 I've never found there to be a problem with vibrations however unsure how sensitive my wrists are to that so hard to know how it would be for you. It's not a shaky bike :)
Don't try to modify the 12V plug. It is for small devices with low Amps. When we need higher power Amps drain we use (all the brands of motorcycles) direct contact with battery with engine ON. Or you can make a new power plug with thicker cables and bigger fuse installed 10 cm max. close to battery. But keep in mind the battery specs V - Amps for the maximum usable watts.
Bought a 12v plug that connects straight to the battery. Just keep it with my compressor and does a good job. Figured easier than figuring out the electrics and safer than just putting a 10amp fuse in it. Nice to know it's an issue with all manufacturers. Thanks for the info!
I am so so glad I found this! I just bought a mini air compressor and I saw that it drew 4.5 amps. Didn’t even think that the power outlet doesn’t give that much. The kit however didn’t come with any connection cables and they were on back order. Had I had the connection cable already and not seen this video, I would have tried out the air compressor and blown a fuse!
Kiwi Rider - I'd recommend 12v to battery connector. It means taking off the seat when I want to do my tyres but it's a super simple solution
for the beak paint if yellow and get a horn that goes quack . Great video great bike but a little top heavy for me. for off road riding. Love the look of the yellow.
😂 yeah awesome bike, cant fault it
Like the filtering footage. I was on edge
I actually recorded some filtering in London yesterday but the audio messed up so decided not to upload. I'll get some more tomorrow though not sure I can talk at the same time yet!
Is it a good bike for a beginner? Isn't it too powerful and heavy?
Depends on the rider and training requirements in country. I'm from UK where you go through pretty good training. Was my first bike and no problems apart from maybe being a bit top heavy which I felt a little unsure about in the early days getting used to moving it around worried I would drop it.
lovely review! Forgive my North American ignorance but what does 'filtering' mean? Just came from a 'Top 5 favorite things' video of Missenden Flyer and he used the same word. Does it have something to do with fueling or something?
Thanks, passing between cars, you might call it lane splitting
@@TommyBarnezTV ah! Ok! Thankyou!
@@shmac96 I think it is illegal in most of north america which is a real shame. Arguments for it are that it is safer due to reduced risk of someone going into the back of you, moving through traffic and clearing junctions from the front of traffic rather than amongst other vehicles. I did a follow up video after this one where I ride from central london back home. It's a bit of a long video but if you skip through different sections you'll see a load filtering in action :)
Are you looking to start riding?
@@shmac96 heres the video going through london, there are bits of filtering throughout but around 40 minutes in there is a long section I believe ua-cam.com/video/oGkNV2G68vQ/v-deo.html
@@TommyBarnezTV Thanks for your very generous response! Yeah I noticed that lane splitting is mostly illegal except maybe California. I live in Europe currently and always thought it would benefit me greatly if I were British or European and could take a riding course here...or there. That said I've taken the safety course some 15 years ago. It expired after moving to another city where I was in the process of taking the course again but for reasons I won't go into wasn't able to.
I've been looking to get my own bike since I was 9 and have had two opportunities in my middle aged life thus far to get a bike. Now that I live in Germany the desire is ever present. It is the only material thing along with all the 'required' safety gear that I want in life. Lol! Which would explain my sad and constant state of dreaming vicariously thru lovely reviews such as yours. Sorry for the long winded response! I appreciate your friendly inquiry and response! Safe riding and I will be subscribing! Happy holidays!
I think because it was the same engine as the SV650 You could have gotten away with buying a can for one of those, taking it to an exhaust place and getting them to make you up a joiner pipe, would have been much cheaper. Though it does sound good with the new one.
I had a hard time getting the sticker off too. I used some Goo Gone that helped quite a bit.
Managed to get it off eventually but will definitely remember goo gone for the next time!
What did you film this with? It actually looks decent.
Hey buddy, first part was with my phone - Galaxy s9+ and on bike filming was with a gopro
White spirit is a great sticker remover as i use it on excavators i clean.
Nice ride. I’m going to get one. Just waiting for my midlife crisis to kick in.
Might as well get one now :)
Haha
Nice review
On your 0-60 test. Sounded as though hit 60 in 3rd gear. Approx how many revs were you doing in 3rd at 60 / how close were you to the red line in 3rd at 60mph?
Cant remember exactly however I would guesstimate red line in 3rd around 70-80mph. Ive never looked before. Bike pulls well though.
Sounds fine to me.
I can’t wait to go for a test ride on a Vstrom 650xt Wednesday this week
Its a great bike, I'm doing my 55,000 kilometer review soon. Only real negative is the spokes. They're a pain to clean if you ride all year round and in all weather. If I could go back I'd get the standard version rather than the XT for that reason
Picking up my ‘19 today!
Sweet! Enjoy!
I own a V-Strom XT fully loaded and It came with a Garmin 590LM satnag, bought new in 2015,. I have only clocked up 5 thou over three years, the luggage stays in the garage unless needed otherwise the bike is as wide as a bleedin' mini bus. It had a recall on the alternator in the first year, so if you haven't had it done get down to your nearest Suzuki dealer and get it done it free.. The best fuel consumption was about 78mpg when I was just pooderling along, living well north O' tha Boarder as do, no need to rush about on a run, far to much scenery for the eye.. One niggle is the engine noise that comes up through the gap twixt the tank and where the front fork yoke poke out, its quite annoying. It maybe because I mainly use my old Quaker GT550 G9 more than the Suzuki, when ride the quaker bike its engine is silent by comparison. But all in all not a bad motorcycle, however would I buy another Suzuki the first one in 50 odd years riding bikes , na I don't think so especially when I was offered only 4grand for it in a dealers in August 18, that was real extracting the urine.. Its got to go I want to buy a Truimph 800 XC.
I like the Triumph Tigers, really good looking bikes with solid reviews but I haven't been on one myself yet.
Just bought a V-Strom 650 and thinking about getting the Suzuki Vario touring windscreen added. The one you have seems to be the original one from Suzuki. How much more wind protection does it add compared to the original ? I'm 6 foot 1 (186 cm) and when I stoop down about 1 to 2 inches, the wind noise is considerably reduced (if I heard correctly in the video, you're 6 foot tall). Would fitting the touring screen be a good idea in my case ?
Hard to say, I didnt ever ride the bike with the standard screen as this came with the model I bought. Yeah im 6ft and works well for me. Bit of wind but my heads not bobbing about with it.