SUZUKI DL650 V-STROM ABS (2011 - on) Review

This would be a five star for ride quality but the brakes are a bit vague, the ABS on the rear seems to kick in before any real bite and the front requires more force at the lever than I have used on any other bike of this year, however they do eventually bring you to a stop, they just require more effort despite me fitting new pads and bleeding them.

Fantastic, not as fast as some of my other mid range bikes but fast enough to make you smile and smooth enough to turn the smile into a grin of smug satisfaction knowing that you don't have to rev the bollocks off it to get it moving.

I bought it second hand, I've ridden it in all sorts of weather and various road surfaces without any issues at all. No sign of rust but I do wash it fairly frequently.

I do my own servicing and although getting all the plastics off is time consuming it's not difficult or requiring special tools. Fuel economy is pretty good and rubber seems to last well.

Speedo, oil warning, rev counter, gear indicator, good lighting as standard, what more do you need? OK it doesn't have a toaster or coffee maker but I don't need all that stuff, the ABS does come in a little early at my rear wheel for my liking but other than that I am very happy with the equipment and display.

I would do 4.5 stars if I could. I personally think the suspension is great, its soft to soak up the bumps, but gives loads of precision and feedback from the road into the handlebars. Super easy to handle and darts in and out of corners like a sportsbike. Only critiscism is the brakes, they feel a bit underpowered for the bikes weight. I will be getting steel braided lines and nissin calipers up front which will make the bike perfect. Later down the line I will get a mechanic to do some suspension upgrades, super excited for that. But its fine for now.

I was worried this bike would be slow. Its not! It has the perfect amount of power to have fun and for any situation. Plenty of torque for blasting out of a corner and overtaking. Smooth through the rev range. I have been riding for 7 years and its perfectly powered.

Feels really high quality. There is a rattling sound at 25 mph but its not bothering me really.

Probably the most reliable motorcycle ever built. Watch youtube videos and do some research. The SV650 already had a tried and tested bulletproof engine - and the V Strom is detuned. Put a splash of engine oil in and some lube on the chain and I think this bike is indestructable. Throw a grenade at it and it will still run. It will take you from the UK to China !

Seat is just brilliant. Its like sitting on a sofa. My girlfriend loves the pillion seat too. Its roomy and comfortable. Did a 2 hour ride and my bum wasnt sore at all. I am going to buy a high quality sheepskin cover for the seat (around £100) which I am super excited about, as i've heard it makes seats much more comfortable than stock. Windscreen is fine but there is some wind buffeting on the motorway (im 5ft7) - but I'm not fussed about this unlike others. I do wish this bike had a centre stand and heated grips as standard.

Comfort is excellent, wind protection good, torque is strong throughout the rev range. It can be ridden sportingly when desired! Suspension is OK but brakes are pretty wooden - the one thing I would want to improve on an otherwise great bike.

A wonderfully torquey engine, full of character.

Totally reliable, which inspires confidence on long trips. Finish is no worse than other bikes I've owned, but needs a liberal spray of ACF50 in Autumn/Winter, like most bikes.

I do my own basic servicing, so costs are minimal. Not yet needed a valve check, but quite a lot of plastics need removing before the tank can be lifted - not good for an 'adventure' bike.

Add a centre stand, heated grips and luggage and you can tour in comfort. Standard 'equipment' includes traction control but not much else.

Fun ride, not very fast but I pushed it a few times and found it has a lot more than I would usually look for. The bike is very easy to handle once you get it moving, and the brakes work very well. Once you've gotten used to it, it's second nature.

Pulls incredibly well for such a cheap bike. Fueling could need a bit of tweaking, but that gets better with experience. Sound is very nice even stock (to my taste) and the low-end grunt is very enjoyable.

Never had any problem with it. More importantly, I never had the impression that it would have a problem, and that peace of mind is wonderful.

Low costs, easy to work on yourself, cheap parts and extensive dealer network

A bit dated, but easy to add custom parts like heated grips, LED foglights and so on. But the dash is easy to see, regardless of sun. In the dark, no issue. Useful ones like TC and ABS work great, and being a budget bike, easy to accept the lack of cruise control and riding modes. Old-school riding is 100% fulfilled.

Ride quality is good and brakes are reasonably strong.

The engine character is good with plenty of power and torque throughout the rev range.

Reliability has been good with not a single issue but the quality of finish is very poor with corrosion on the exhaust, footpegs and many bolts.

It has a 12v socket and lots of info on the dash, and with tc and abs it has more than enough rider aids.

I would like better brakes

Smooth for a V twin

regularly used for 2 to 3hr non stop trips, longest day being 17hrs of dual carriageways. bum was fine, some wrist pressure leaving restricted movement for a couple days, otherwise a great accessable machine for touring, commuting, or a trip to the seaside for f&c. prefer my scrambler for the b-roads.

never gets you into trouble, always finds the gear, "slow" enough that you'll know you're about to attract unwanted attention

20k miles in last 12m, no reliability issues. First sniff of road salt and foot levers, cable brackets and exhaust started to dissolve.

at my 20k pa mileages, means an intermediate and valve check service every year, which together, along with chain and sprocket and tyres meant £1,400 spent. Averages 60mpg unless being very aggressive.

didn't like the underside of the base model, but xt option cost too much, so added belly plan to upgrade the looks. As discussed, handgards helped reduce buffeting, and do a great job of keeping gloves dry.

Super comfortable for any distance, soft ride, brakes are ok for the bike.

I love the relaxed V-Twin engine, plenty of low down power but if revvy 4 cylinder engines are your thing you might think differently.

Better quality than I was expecting, not high end but far from bargain basement. The starter motor on mine went and was replaced under warranty, apart from that 100% reliable, can leave it for a few weeks without trickle charge & always starts easily.

60-70 mpg, very light on consumables - it's not a high performance machine. Incredible value considering what you can do with it. I paid £3299 for a 9 year old bike with 20k miles on it from a bike shop.

Add handguards, centre stand, heated grips & adjustable screen for maximum enjoyment & useability.

Fantastic tank range, I don’t ever think about filling up until 200+ miles. Seat easily comfy enough for that range too. Wife says pillion accommodation is sumptuous too. Can place my feet flat on the floor too which is nice on an adventure style bike (I’ve a 30 inch inseam).

Lovely power delivery, yea, it won’t pull you arms off, but seldom leaves you wanting either. Lovely V-twin delivery, can be thrashed or can be used to pootle about on and is equally comfy with either.

Simple, solid and reliable.

Home service for me, filters and oil are simple to sort.

Basic stuff mostly, but the easy accessible rear pre-load is nice. Fuel gauge seems accurate, nice stuff like swapping between Km and miles on the speedo handy. Have the Suzuki hand guards fitted which are great, a centre stand which is handy and a SW Motech bash plate which is a nice piece of kit, (and protects the exposed looking oil filter). Added a power socket and a Fender Extender too which cuts down on the kak thrown up, and have givi luggage which works well. Next will be heated grips, a hugger and braided hose. I really can’t see me getting rid in the foreseeable future.

Great all rounder

It does feel needing sometimes but it is only a 650

Battery went flat once because of heated grips

Ride position is excellent tyres need to be 50/50 as the road tyres are rubbish off road ( no surprises there then)

I have owned many bikes over 40 years. All over one 1000cc, this bike is a joy to ride and is good for a three hour ride in the saddle. Economy of an average 70 miles per gallon.

Like silk. Good torque from low down. It delivers everything you need to enjoy all types of journeys.

The bike is like new. Never let’s you down. Quality finish. Starts and rides like new. Tyres great all weather tyres and same as fitted from factory. Now nearly 5500 miles.

Including MOT

Riding position. Comfort of bike. (Rider 6’2’ ). Engine. Simple controls. Good clear instruments. Makes you feel good as think the bike is good looking.

The mile munching 'Strom' is all about torque, allied to rock steady handling and fairly relaxed motorcycling. Whether enjoying the excellent view from the (good for at least 2 hours saddle) or pressing on to catch a ferry, the Strom never feels outside it’s comfort zone. It's 19" front deals with poor road surfaces and potholes with disdain, and the simple but effective suspension provides a generally comfortable and worry free ride. Brakes have been criticized by some but I find them more than adequate, producing serious two fingered retardation.......... once bedded in. Overall, this machine will probably appeal most to mature riders.

With seemingly little effort, Suzuki’s gem of a 90 degree twin utilizes it’s trump card throughout the rev range and has more than enough punch to whisk you to motorway speeds with aplomb. 6th gear pulls surprisingly strongly from as low as 40mph making overtakes a brisk and relaxed affair. The comforting sound of it's well spaced firing strokes together with it's strong torque promote a feeling of quiet confidence in it's capabilities. And 'short shifting' away from traffic lights etc. becomes a pleasurable diversion. When necessary it can squat it's rear and move surprisingly smartly.! It 'red lines' at 10,000rpm though you will rarely need much beyond 7000.

I cannot comment.as it is only 4 months old. Therefore this rating is of no use.

I am told £200 every 4000mile service. MPG - an extremely variable factor. In my case and one up, 70/74mpg is easily achievable whilst ambling the Lancashire lanes of my home county. A steady 70/75mph on motorways will also see a solid touring 70mpg. Move towards 80/85mph and it will drop to the high 60's. As it will when generally 'pressing on'!

It has few toys, ABS, (debatable) Traction Control (largely unnecessary on this machine, in my opinion). Start Assist, which raises engine revs as the clutch is released (useful on very steep gradients, maybe). It does NOT have self-cancelling indicators (essential on any machine in my opinion, having appreciated their benefits on many BMW's) Accessories I fitted. ‘Bark busters’ to help keep hands warm and gloves dry in winter. Oxford Heated Grips (half the price of Suzuki items)! Centre Stand Suzuki Tank Bag - not as capacious as I expected, missing a clear map pocket top and NOT waterproof – though you do get a ‘free’? Waterproof Cover!

I have updated the suspension due to the w additional weight of guards/luggage etc plus 2 middle aged spreaders and the clobber it has to carry. Brakes work OK and last well but lack a degree of feel.

Absolutely outstanding. Probably one of the best bikes I have ridden, and I was a BMW dealer for 18 years. The engine is very smooth with a good power delivery..Quick to get away from the lights in Delhi traffic but forgiving if you are in the wrong gear.

I have a couple of corrosion issues that will be sorted later otherwise its held up pretty well to the abuse it has been given, especially on Indian roads.

Considering my usage I visit dealers every few months. The cheapest has been in Malaysia, where I got a service,new air filter and rear tyre for £243, and the most expensive in Sydney. The brakes and chain/sprockets seem to last for ages and I have been getting 12k from the tyres.

Like most of its ilk, most riders fit luggage. For the trip I have fitted Givi Trekker Outback aluminium panniers which saved us when we were hit by a car in India. Back home I had Shad luggage which is amazing. I mainly use Muchelin Annakee 3 tyres which give good feedback but can square off. I have a Bridgestone A41 on the rear at the moment which is wearing well but its 90/10 bias is not as good as the Michelins 80/20 off road.

Beyond any criticism. The bike simply glides over any surface and I sometimes describe it as like a Cadillac - and yet it tracks like a really sporty bike when you push it round the twisties.

I had an SV650 roadster for 6 years before my DL. Loved it, but very snatchy at low revs in higher gears. This DL is liquid smooth everywhere. More like a multi. 4000 rpm gives 57 mph, so lovely relaxed feel on typical A-roads or busy dual-carriageways.

In truth, I'm a fair weather rider, 3,000 miles per annum kind of man and my bike is a toy, cosseted in a nice dry garage, so am not surprised the finish remains like new after 3 years. No reliability issues. Starts on first prod when left for 6 weeks at a time.

I seldom get less than 80mpg. As high as 85mpg. Though I do ride very smoothly, anticipate well ahead and brake very little and also I keep out of urban sprawl and rush hours. I do my own oil and filter changes.

Excellent on-board computer for trip and fuel consumption. Easily manipulated on the move by a handlebar button.

More comfortable than my old BMW. Great tourer. 12 hours in saddle on return from France on a Bank Holiday Friday no problem. And I'm 73. Good fuel range, at least 250 miles per tank. In France pootling around the Jura saw 140km before the gauge lost one of its 5 bars !

Perfectly suited to the bike. 10k redline but at 6500 revs you're already doing 85mph so quite relaxed. Very smooth delivery and pulls willingly from low revs.

Clutch switch played up in France. Solved with a paper clip. No other issues.

New extended service intervals 7.5k miles or yearly make it even better value.

Lots that you need, nothing you don't. Touring screen astonishingly effective likewise belly pan. Switchable speedo miles/km very useful. Twin headlights both on full beam and dip as good as a car. Still on original tyres.

Good ride quality. Front brakes lack a bit of bite but do the job if you give them a good squeeze.

The bike's best feature. Smooth, very good on fuel and provides decent get up and go if you want to rev it.

No issues thus far.

Suzuki dealers a bit more expensive than I'd like but not too bad all things considered.

ABS was standard. No TC on mine, the latest model now has it fitted, but otherwise fine for what you pay.

It's a budget bike - so suspension and brakes could be plusher, but considering the whole package, it's great.

It's got a torquey motor that has plenty of character. As I ride sports bikes there's always space for more power, but given the fact it's returning 53 mpg despite me opening the throttle where suitable it's a great commuter.

Good quality, no sign of corrosion (yet). Has proved reliable and dependable having done 3k in 6 months.

Home servicing bike - and so far only using consumables used, oil filter etc.

I bought mine as 2nd owner, which came with luggage, crash bars and sump guard. The sump guard is aesthetic as it's plastic - but would be good as a standard item as the oil filters exposed.

Brakes are okay - that's it. Suspension is okay - that's it. Seat is very good, controls are very good. Clutch is good, transmission is excellent - the engine is a gem.

Truly, the main reason to buy a V-Strom 650 is because of that sweet little engine. I've owned many bikes, but thousands of miles on bikes over 45 years. Some of the bikes I've owned cost three times the cost of the 'Strom, but that little engine just doesn't get much better.

Put over 180 000 kilometers on two 'Stroms, rode them from Canada to Central America, all across the USA and Mexico - twice; not one problem.

After years of riding shaft driven bikes (BMW, Suzuki) I had to learn the hard way about chain drives. What I learned? Leave them alone - don't fiddle with them too much, just keep them clean. Also, no need to change the oil filter every oil change... in short, follow the manufacture's manual.

Buy aftermarket - it's less expensive and often better quality. That said, the heated grips are expensive, but work well.

You will run out of fuel before your rear gives out. There are bikes that are better in every area than the Vstrom, but you will have a hard time finding one that does everything so well for the price.

Simply fabulous, hard to believe at times its only a 650. Smooth, plenty of torque and free reving. Careful use of right hand can produce excellent economy.

Faultless so far (9000 miles). Typical Suzuki build quality, fine as long as you do not neglect it.

3k servicing is a bit excessive.

SW Motech engine bars are good, no vibration at all. For all year/weather riding add a Givi Airflow screen. A pair of Aprilia mirrors virtually eliminate buffeting. A suzuki plastic cover keeps the engine clean.

Ride quality is excellent. Super comfortable even after 200 miles and it's very relaxing sitting at 70-80 on the motorway. I changed the Tyres to Pirelli GT as I found the Bridgestones didn't do the bike justice. It's no off-road machine so I found this to be a solid upgrade. The handling/grip is transformed..

Nothing to dislike. It's a lovely engine which sits very relaxed at motorway speeds. You can sit in a lower gear than usual and the bike picks up well. If you want a little fun it will shift once you get between 6-9000. For an all round machine, it's excellent.

Corrosion/flaking on the underside engine casing. I've had to give it a good coat of acf50. You need to keep on top of cleaning, especially over winter. The bike starts perfectly every time and has been Ultra reliable. I cannot fault it.

I do quite high mileage so the 3500 mile service interval is a little annoying. The running costs are generally low and i get 60mpg.

Crap Tyres (see above). Once I changed to Pirelli Angel GTs it was a different bike! :0) Not much in the way of equipment.. Preload adjustment is useful. I've fitted a centre stand, Givi rack and hand guards. its pretty basic. Clocks are nice and clear.

The bike for me is great at 50- 60mph great comfort good all rounder. 100miles no problem before a rest a gel seat would help.

Performance for a 650cc twin for me is just fantastic. The engine is very forgiving if you make mistakes and we all do. A gear selector on screen would be a good addition.

You really need to wash and look after the V-Strom every time you're out or the bike will suffer. The bolts at the brake pipes tarnish. For the price a well built bike.

I did 2 services in one. 11,000 and 15,000. The 15,000 miles being the big one. Fuel is great 250 miles easy to the tank but then am not pushing 70mph or more. I bought this bike to go up Glens on narrow roads and tour all over Uk. Cant fault it.

Best feature computer checks just brill. Safety system great. Gear hugger I put one at last service. Tyre Metz tourance I just like them.

Quite punchy for 650 68bhp. Low end power is ok. It's sweet spot is between 6000-7000 rpm, though for an overtake you do have to kick down from 6th to 4th to pass a car on an A road.

No problems so far.

I'm 6'1 and weigh 102KG, and the bike returns to me between 55-62mpg, so riding between 70-80mph (where speed limits allow) and I get 180-210 miles at a push to a tank, with panniers and top box. The panniers do stick out more than the handle bars and do cause a lot of drag.

Heated grips are a must. I've got the GT pack on my bike, which is engine bars, panniers, top box, undercowling, and knuckle guards, which are very effective in the winter with the heated grips. An aftermarket screen is highly recommended (Givi Airflow) especially if over 6ft tall.

Very comfy for me, did a long trip france/Spain with no problems, brakes are up to the job

Painted surfaces suffer from corrosion badly, waterpump and forks suffer worse on my bike, apparently not covered by the warranty! when add this to lack of aftersales interest from the dealer and Suzuki GB, save a bit longer and buy something.

Now the Xt has very long service intervals over double the length of my year, funny thing is the only difference between them is cosmetic, but apparently the service schedule to remain at 3500! Hmmmmm

I do cover lots of miles per week yet I still think of the ride to come and still get a bit excited.

Nothing to say other than it's absolutely fine for what I need. I'm sure I'll want something a bit stronger one day... but not today.

I needed a new clock as the old one apparently filled up with rain water. No problems since despite me clocking up an average of 1550 miles per month for over a year. Completely agree that it is very comfortable even after a couple of hours on the road.

Due to the amount of miles that I do, it gets three or four services per year. I'm certainly not the fastest of riders, but then my minimum speed is usually the speed limit of the road I'm on. Saying that I never seem to get any less than 230 miles per tank. Pretty good in my book!

I bought it in January 2015 and it came with a top box, knuckle guards, heated grips, electric socket, skid plates and engine guards. I very rarely need to use the heated grips, however everything else should come as standard as I couldn't see myself coping very well without them.

Brakes do not inspire confidence and can't be pushed, but adequate for the job. Really smooth ride.

Generally very good. Slight flat spot/vibrations at about 64mph in top gear.

Had 2 mirrors break on simple adjusting. Suzuki customer service refused to replace second one, and the first one was only "goodwill". Genuinely poor quality on certain little things like plastic/rubber fixing for top box, mirrors as described above.. few other things so be prepared to spend replacing things as they break or just don't buy Suzuki in the first place. (mechanically sound no running problems hence avoids 1 out of 5 rating)

Could do with a 12v socket, has very little as standard but it has a seat and an engine.

This bike is great fun on mountain passes with narrow and sharp corners. The seat is so comfortable that long distances are not a problem at all. With 5'10", the handle bars and foot pegs fit me ideally. Can't say anything about pillion seat as I'm a solo rider. The brakes react fast and are easy to control. The ABS kicks in nicely as well (but then, with my riding tyle, that doesn't happen very often...)

The engine has a broad band of revs that you can work with in the lower gears, and going up the gears without the clutch is so easy too. But sometimes you wish it had a bit more "punch" in 5th and 6th, but that doesn't happen that often with my riding style.

The bike feels solid at all times. So far, no complaints what so ever. No mechanical or electrical problems at all. Routine cleaning and maintenance on my side and I haven't found any signs of corrosion. A reliable bike for short and long rides. Living just south of Munich, Germany most of my 20,000 Km (12,430 miles) have been on twisty mountain passes in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, and I've been on a ride through all of France and then up to John O'Groats via England and Wales on this bike as well.

On average, the fuel consumption (see riding style) is at 3.7 liters per 100 Km since I've had this bike. Given that, the 20 liter tank offers good distances between fuel stops. The newer versions will have even better value in the maintenance category since they changed the rather short service intervals. And since they haven't changed the bike, Suzuki should offer the same intervals to us with older bike with the same specs. But after the warranty period, with the older bikes like mine, I believe you could skip the smaller services if you're willing to invest a bit of time doing a few of the items yourself.

One thing I would change on the bike is the position of the passing/high-beam switch and the toogle-switch for the modes on the rider display; these two should swap postions. Otherwise: I find that the Michelin Anakee 3 fit this bike very well and I'm getting good milage out of them. The SW Motech aluminum side and top cases plus the quick-lock tank pack give me all the loading capacity I need for long trips. The Touratech cradle for the Garmin is top quality! Heated grips and the hand protectors are good to have on long rides and cold or rainy days.

Before buying the v strom 650 I had a 1000cc + sports tourer but find I've lost nothing and gained a better overall bike in the v strom. Tours the highway as well, and handles second rate twisty country roads better.

Great v twin that has all the power that most riders could want.

Buying my 2012 V Strom 650 second hand with a heap of aftermarket accessories for $7200 was a bargain. It has new screen, sump guard, engine protection bars, centre stand, staintune pipe and a top box. These extras complete the bike.

As good as my Honda's and better than my BMW'S!

Brilliant, a mini crosstourer, 125mph is enough to send you to jail, why do you need more?

Great for a Suzuki, my last ones were a TS 250 and a GS 850. Ok I may need to keep an eye on it in winter but a good dose of ACF 50 will cover it

Bit of a let down here, if the new DL1000 has a service interval of 7000 miles why does the DL650 only do 3500 miles between services? But over 70mpg!

My mates bought the Kawasakii Vesrys ( or rampant rabbit) It vibrates enough to pleasure anything female! The basic equipment is well below that of the DL even down to remote adjusters and engine management feedback