Brought home a new-to-me '05 Suzuki V-Strom DL650 - the "Wee Strom"

[Moedad]

"Wee" because it's the smaller brother of the DL1000 V-Strom.

It has 17k miles, but looks like new. Slabbed it 80 miles to bring it home, including a 4,000 ft. mountain pass with iffy weather, so the first ride after the test ride was a decent trial. I am VERY impressed with the roadability of this dual sport. All the good stuff I've heard about these bikes seems true so far in my very limited experience. It has a few extras like Givi hard bags, a Cee Bailey windshield, heated grips, power port, and a centerstand. And I really like having a tach that works, not to mention a gas guage and clock and digital odometer with a two setting trip meter.

[detdrbuzzard]

that nice moedad, enjoy the new wheels

[green427]

Ugh! What an ugly bike! You should not be seen on it. Just quietly ship it to me and I will take it off your hands.


 



Looks like you got a few cool farkles on it.

If there are Givi hard bags, did you remove the side racks?

[bajakirch]

Can I ask what you paid for it? I've been looking at the Wee-Strom as a potential replacement for my NH in a couple of years.

[ariwhiteboy]

I'm jealous. 

[Soupskin]

Congrats!

[hockeyhawk]

Very nice, love the blue.

Is the V-strom considered a dual sport? I thought it was more of an adventure/touring bike.   

[green427]

It is more of an adventure-touring bike. There are quite a few inmates that put knobbies on them and go in the desert, but, they need very strong backs to lift them back up. Great for logging roads, though.

Moedad: First farkle you MUST get are crashbars.  There is usually a 95% chance you are going to drop it due to its top-heavy position. The 6 gallon tank gets mighty heavy after a fill up.

[luckylindy]

Congrats.  Seems like everyone who has a V-Strom loves it.

[Moedad]

If there are Givi hard bags, did you remove the side racks?

It's got quick release racks with 4 mounting points each. They come off...quick. You can see one of the tabs against the blue plastic along the edge of the seat.

Here's a pic of the racks from the Twisted Throttle website. They're the SW-Motech Quick-Lock Side Carriers, EVO style, whatever that is.


These are the hard cases.


When they're mounted the right side has to clear the exhaust, and they're symmetrical, so they cast a wide shadow. This pic is not my bike(two exhausts where mine has only one), it's from the TT website, but you can see what I mean.

[Moedad]

Can I ask what you paid for it? I've been looking at the Wee-Strom as a potential replacement for my NH in a couple of years.

It was $4k even. Talked the PO down from $4100. Prices seem to run a little higher here in SoCal where we have year round riding. To me the riding position feels very late model Nighthawk-ish, just a little more roomy.

[Moedad]

It is more of an adventure-touring bike. There are quite a few inmates that put knobbies on them and go in the desert, but, they need very strong backs to lift them back up. Great for logging roads, though.

I agree. I think they started out refering to them as dual sports, but there are a number of more off-road capable bikes like the KTMs and KLRs that have drawn more of the real dual sport fan base.

Moedad: First farkle you MUST get are crashbars.  There is usually a 95% chance you are going to drop it due to its top-heavy position. The 6 gallon tank gets mighty heavy after a fill up.

That's number one on my list. That said, it's not as top-heavy as I thought it would be.

[leftfield6]

Wow, great looking bike.  I must say, I think the next bike in my garage will be a dual-sportish bike.  Every time I wander over to advrider.com, I start thinking about all the forestry roads and logging roads that would be a great "off-the-grid" road trip.

Enjoy the Wee-Strom!!!

Let's see a pic fully geared up.  Would like to to see how it looks with the bags on.

[JB1290]

Great looking bike! 

[Burgi]

The 6 gallon tank gets mighty heavy after a fill up.

6 Gallons?? oooooooh serious envy
Did you have to bring it through the Grapevine? Husband bought his bike up north in 100 degree temps then nearly froze to death coming through there to get it home. 
It's very nice, will you keep the NH?

[Moedad]

Did you have to bring it through the Grapevine? Husband bought his bike up north in 100 degree temps then nearly froze to death coming through there to get it home. 
It's very nice, will you keep the NH?

I brought it from Hesperia, came home over Cajon Pass on a rainy day. I managed to skirt the real downpours though.

The Nighthawk has to go, unfortunately. Bad time to sell a bike. I was planning to wait until spring to buy and sell, but after seeing this bike, I couldn't pass it up.

[Moedad]

6 Gallons?? oooooooh serious envy

5.8 gallons, really only a gallon or so more than the NH. Gets better mileage too, maybe 10 miles to the gallon more in mixed riding in warm weather. On the road, I should get an extra 100 miles or more per tank.

[Burgi]

On the road, I should get an extra 100 miles or more per tank.

That is HUGE...for someone that only gets about 100 miles to a tank 

[ariwhiteboy]

I have a 5.8 gallon tank...the weight it noticable when you fill it up, but the extra range is worth it.

[m98]

Congratulations on your Wee! The Wee is Suzuki's answer to a Honda Nighthawk, trouble
free and upright riding position. Good luck selling the Nighthawk.

Paul

[HawkFuzz]

Congrats on the Wee.  I dig the blue.  So are you thinking of getting a set of knobbies to have so you can use the "adventure" part of the bike?

[Moedad]

Congrats on the Wee.  I dig the blue.  So are you thinking of getting a set of knobbies to have so you can use the "adventure" part of the bike?

Maybe semi-knobbies someday. We'll see.

[bajakirch]

5.8 gallons, really only a gallon or so more than the NH

Maybe for your 750 riders. For us 550 guys/gals, we make do with a 2.5 gallon tank. There's a price to be paid for that classy teardrop tank.

[green427]

Thanks for the info on the Givi. I did notice the tab, was not sure. Believe it or not, I haven't seen a Givi setup up close yet, just in pictures.

Curious, what is your inseam length? Mine is 31, and I was able to touch both balls of my feet on the ground while on a stock Wee.

[Moedad]

Thanks for the info on the Givi. I did notice the tab, was not sure. Believe it or not, I haven't seen a Givi setup up close yet, just in pictures.

If you'd like, when I get time, I can take some better shots of the set-up. Those pics don't show how it all goes together very well.

Curious, what is your inseam length? Mine is 31, and I was able to touch both balls of my feet on the ground while on a stock Wee.

I'm about 5'-9 1/2" and my inseam is right in there with yours. I can touch the balls of my feet when just sitting in the seat, but if I straddle it with my weight on my feet rather than the seat, I can flat foot it with my Red Wings on. Makes me wonder if it's been lowered. If I knew what to look for, I could tell you. The PO didn't mention anything about lowering though.