Wambo
05-26-2004, 12:58 AM
Hi!
I just picked up my V-Strom 650 last Wednesday and have already put 800 miles on her! I took her in for the 600 mile service today and have them adjust the shifter down slightly, since I was having trouble with some shifts going into 4th, and sometimes 3rd and 5th (minor nit pick). Seems to do much better now. This is my 3rd Suzuki (and 3rd bike): I've owned a '74 GT380 (first bike in '75), a '80 GS 750E (my first new vehicle out of college) which was my last bike 21 years ago, and now the V-Strom. Like some of the other new owners, It has been a while since I've ridden. I couldn't ask for a nicer bike to get back into riding. She has power, a comfortable seat, and great range. Since there were never any safety courses back in the mid '70s in Portland that I could find (tried all the police agencies), I pretty much learned on my own. I learned on a friends 250cc enduro, pasted my "test", which consisted of riding around the block and 2 days after purchasing my 380, I went on a 2000 mile trek with a friend on his 500cc Kawasaki triple through British Columbia. Since there are now motorcycle safety classes available, I've decided to take the beginner class anyway to not only learn techniques I've never picked up but to hopefully unlearn any bad habits. Might as well start at the bottom and work up. I hope to take the intermediate and advanced classes in the near future as my skills improve. Have already added Cortech soft saddlebags, a tank bra, a Givi fabric tank bag and have ordered aftermarket center stand, crash bars and Givi hard top bag. I plan to use it to commute as much as possible and for fun, of course.
I've already picked up several tips from this website; like repositoning the wiring for the rear lights which was taken care of on my 600 mile service, which the dealer thought only affected the V-Strom 1000.
I'm glad I've returned to riding with such a great bike to ride. Every ride just brings smiles!
Keep the rubber side down,
Bob
I just picked up my V-Strom 650 last Wednesday and have already put 800 miles on her! I took her in for the 600 mile service today and have them adjust the shifter down slightly, since I was having trouble with some shifts going into 4th, and sometimes 3rd and 5th (minor nit pick). Seems to do much better now. This is my 3rd Suzuki (and 3rd bike): I've owned a '74 GT380 (first bike in '75), a '80 GS 750E (my first new vehicle out of college) which was my last bike 21 years ago, and now the V-Strom. Like some of the other new owners, It has been a while since I've ridden. I couldn't ask for a nicer bike to get back into riding. She has power, a comfortable seat, and great range. Since there were never any safety courses back in the mid '70s in Portland that I could find (tried all the police agencies), I pretty much learned on my own. I learned on a friends 250cc enduro, pasted my "test", which consisted of riding around the block and 2 days after purchasing my 380, I went on a 2000 mile trek with a friend on his 500cc Kawasaki triple through British Columbia. Since there are now motorcycle safety classes available, I've decided to take the beginner class anyway to not only learn techniques I've never picked up but to hopefully unlearn any bad habits. Might as well start at the bottom and work up. I hope to take the intermediate and advanced classes in the near future as my skills improve. Have already added Cortech soft saddlebags, a tank bra, a Givi fabric tank bag and have ordered aftermarket center stand, crash bars and Givi hard top bag. I plan to use it to commute as much as possible and for fun, of course.
I've already picked up several tips from this website; like repositoning the wiring for the rear lights which was taken care of on my 600 mile service, which the dealer thought only affected the V-Strom 1000.
I'm glad I've returned to riding with such a great bike to ride. Every ride just brings smiles!
Keep the rubber side down,
Bob