I don't think either engine is prone to many issues on average. There's a few exceptions with individual owners having one issue or another but most owners of either engine have little to no trouble of any kind, so long as they keep up the maintenance.
The 1000 has the clutch chudder and migrating stator magnets
Both can have starter button and regulator issues (the latter is more a Suzuki thing in general though)
The 650 ... actually I don't know of anything specific to the 650. Someone else will have to chime in.
my 04 Wee 650 has had little engine problems. Other models have had charging systems issues with magnets moving. Easily rectified. Clutch issues for which there is a solution. there are throttle issues on the 1000's that the 650's don't seem to have.
With the newer bikes a google of issues will inform of the problems.
Generally speaking the Vee (2002 to 2011 DL1000) has had had the most issues. The DL650 has been better sorted out since its beginning in 2004. The DL1000s since 2014 have been very good bikes with few problems.
Valve adjustments on the 1000 are much easier because of the gear driven cams. I also find stripping the body work off the big bike easier than I remember on my 650. Other than that they're pretty similar to work on.
Compared to most bikes, both DLs last a long time. However, both are somewhat a PITA to strip them down to the point you actually start doing real mechanical stuff.
Goodness, how often do you need to go into the air filter? I can ignore mine for years and then when I do pull it I just tap it on the ground, maybe back blow it and reinstall.
Depends on the riding conditions. I put a couple thousand miles on the vstrom in April and when I checked the filter as part of the work I'm doing now it was a lot dirtier than I would have guessed, although considering where the air intake is it shouldn't have been a big surprise.
I got the bodywork removal/install down to a science now. The single most important thing I did was use a flat piece of cardboard to stick the bolts in as I removed them in a "map" pattern of their location left and right. It is important because there are 3 or 4 different sizes, profiles and shapes of bolts used. The newer ones must be simple by comparison.
The 1000 should last longer. My first (gen 1) 650 had timing chain issues diagnosed @~80,000 km fixed at ~100,000 km. That was basically caused by a cam chain tensioner failing one side. My second (gen 2) 640 is at 130,000k's with no signs of the same problem.
The 1000's seem capable of going at least twice as far as that without major issues.
Both are stupidly durable bikes if well looked after.
Agreed, first time I stripped my 1000 down to check the valves was painful. The second time to check AND adjust just took time but not stupid amounts of time.
And yeah, the valve setup on the 1000 is nice, you still have to be careful though and unlike the 650 draining and removing the radiator isn't optional.
Still stupid easy compared to a lot of bikes, even a lot of older bikes. Anyone who's had to remove, clean adjust carbs, remove clean and adjust carbs, remove clean and adjust carbs, remove clean and adjust carbs on anything will probably vouch for that.
Some of the pain fades with time, but certainly in comparison my carbed bikes were a serious PITA, may not have taken as long to get to the bits but the bits that were there needed a LOT more attention than the DL's do.
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