I'm new around here and been looking at the posts trying to make up my mind to get a DL650 or a BMW F800R. I'm definitely leaning to the Suzuki from what all the good stuff you all and other say about this bike.
I've been doing long distance touring on BMWs for about 35 years with my wife. I've liked the brand but lately not so much with the problem with my 1996 R11RT needing spline lub ($850) and surging issues that BMW never would admit to. I had one sales guy tell me that this is a high quality bike and required high quality maintenance hence high price of spline lub. That just turned me off to buy another Beemer. Rant is over..
So, wife doesn't want to sit on the back of my bike any more, I'm 60 and don't bend like I use to and I want something more manageable than my big Beemer. From what I read this DL650 looks like the ticket. Little bit lighter, probably easier to paddle around gas stations and I can go down all the dirt road that scared me on the BMW.
I'm still looking for something for myself for trips involving lots of interstate and state roads to get to the good riding spots (CO and NC mostly). I'm in Illinois and we only have 4 curvy roads so have to travel a bit for fun roads.
So give me some pep talk so if and when any of the dealers around here get a standard DL I'll be running to get it.
Accessories already thoughts about are. Givi bags (not sure which), center stand, knuckle guards, heated grips, probably different windshield with the add on so I can adjust the angle and height, and the list goes on and on.
Thanks, Mike
I've been doing long distance touring on BMWs for about 35 years with my wife. I've liked the brand but lately not so much with the problem with my 1996 R11RT needing spline lub ($850) and surging issues that BMW never would admit to. I had one sales guy tell me that this is a high quality bike and required high quality maintenance hence high price of spline lub. That just turned me off to buy another Beemer. Rant is over..
So, wife doesn't want to sit on the back of my bike any more, I'm 60 and don't bend like I use to and I want something more manageable than my big Beemer. From what I read this DL650 looks like the ticket. Little bit lighter, probably easier to paddle around gas stations and I can go down all the dirt road that scared me on the BMW.
I'm still looking for something for myself for trips involving lots of interstate and state roads to get to the good riding spots (CO and NC mostly). I'm in Illinois and we only have 4 curvy roads so have to travel a bit for fun roads.
So give me some pep talk so if and when any of the dealers around here get a standard DL I'll be running to get it.
Accessories already thoughts about are. Givi bags (not sure which), center stand, knuckle guards, heated grips, probably different windshield with the add on so I can adjust the angle and height, and the list goes on and on.
Thanks, Mike