The 2017 engine upgrades definitely make the motor more peppy. 👍

 

Putting some SV Cams in your Strom might help

 

Sounds pricey 🤑 but can you elaborate on that? Does that make it more noticeably peppy? Cost?

 

Went from 2009 to a 2018…. Very nice, still a 650 but seems more peppy, sounds better. Newer have been reported to be a bit less fairing coverage, no issue for me. Air cleaner same place.

 

The Gen 3 (2017 and later) motor is a bit stronger as well as a bit more efficient compared to the Gen 1. However, I wouldn't call the difference dramatic, so if it's power you want, you may be a candidate for the liter bike. And yes, the air filter is under the tank in all generations.

This may be useful: Wee vs Wee: 2008 and 2021

 

This may be useful: Wee vs Wee: 2008 and 2021

This was very useful thank you!

 

The SV cam swap may gain you some higher end HP at the cost of low end torque, depending on how you ride this could be of benefit. But I think the main reason your SV650 felt peppier was it was a good deal lighter than your DL.

Personally if you feel the DL isn't peppy enough, you may really need a different bike.

 

I love the comfort and fit of the bike (I'm 5' 5" so i have a hard time getting a low enough seat height. And I don't like to lower a bike) and I like being able to carry all my stuff for trips. It would be more fun if it had more pep and better brakes. Those are the 2 improvements I would make. And move the air filter so it's easier to do basic maintenance 🙃

 

Changing the standard exhaust with the Akrapovic racing line Akrapovič
gives the extra power you are missing from the SV. Costly but adds a good soundtrack to a really quiet bike.

 

2014 & up 1000 Strom will get ya what youre lookin for. & only around 30lbs heavier than the 1st gen 650

+ waaay better brakes & suspension adjustability

 

Cheap Pep would be changing the front sprocket to a smaller one, like a 14 tooth. This will have the same effect as shifting from the bigger to smaller front sprocket on a 10 speed bicycle.
Drawbacks: less top speed, slight drop in mpg. A worn chain will wear a new sprocket out faster. Best time to do a sprocket swap is when also changing the chain and rear sprocket, which ain't cheap, but necessary sooner or later anyway.

 

That makes my legs tired just thinking about pedaling in the small front ring all the time! 😆
I don't

2014 & up 1000 Strom will get ya what youre lookin for. & only around 30lbs heavier than the 1st gen 650

+ waaay better brakes & suspension adjustability

My friend has a 2014 1000 he's gonna let me ride today to see the difference.

 

EBC HH pads front and rear will improve the braking👍

 

Another thing to consider before spending money is that your bike is running correctly. I didn't notice a huge difference in pep between my SV and DL, nor do many people complain of lack of power from the DL650 for what it is.

Same with brakes. When the bike was new the brakes were fine, I added HH pads, maybe a slight improvement. A few years ago I noticed the front brakes were horrible, changed fluid and greased the pins the calipers slide on, big improvement.

Last year I bought a 2012 BMW, it ran OK, or so I thought since I had nothing to compare it to. Slowly worked my way through it to get the maintenance up to date (fluids, plugs, throttle body sync, air filter, etc.) Bike now runs so much smoother with better low RPM throttle response - who knew?

 

Another thing to consider before spending money is that your bike is running correctly. I didn't notice a huge difference in pep between my SV and DL, nor do many people complain of lack of power from the DL650 for what it is.

Same with brakes. When the bike was new the brakes were fine, I added HH pads, maybe a slight improvement. A few years ago I noticed the front brakes were horrible, changed fluid and greased the pins the calipers slide on, big improvement.

Last year I bought a 2012 BMW, it ran OK, or so I thought since I had nothing to compare it to. Slowly worked my way through it to get the maintenance up to date (fluids, plugs, throttle body sync, air filter, etc.) Bike now runs so much smoother with better low RPM throttle response - who knew?

All Good points 🤔

Can't help you with the air filter, but the rest of your wish list certainly seems to point you to something other than a 650. Were I you, and if I wanted to stay with a Suzuki adventure bike (do you?), I'd be looking at 1050s.

I do want to stay with Suzuki. All my street bikes have been Suzuki (except my 2001 Honda Nighthawk 750). I thought about the 1050 and may look at them but the weight and seat height usually get to be an issue when I get over 750- 800cc.

 

Since youve already been riding a 650 Strom for a while...comfortably..& the 650 was based on the 2002 1000s frame...using many of the same parts like fuel tank..seat pan..luggage rack..upper fairing..wheels..etc
It stands to reason that the 1000 would be very similar in riding position ...only needing the seat height easily lowered a bit ta fit.

The 2014up 1000 (& 1050) got a slightly revised lighter frame while the all 650s stayed with the orig 02 1000 frame design...even up to 2023
The riding position hasnt changed much in all these years...

 

I went from an '05 to a '17 Wee and there was a clear and noticeable difference in power (and a lot more). If I recall they changed the cams maybe, also the transmission ratios and more to give it a much better riding experience. I know the '17 sure seemed livelier as they say.
". The (2017) V-Strom 650 has received the same engine updates as the 2017 SV650, with more than 60 changes including new camshafts to boost power, resin-coated pistons to reduce friction, dual spark plugs for better combustion and Suzuki’s Low RPM Assist and Easy Start System. Both horsepower and torque have increased compared to the previous model, and peak torque now arrives at 6,500 rpm instead of 7,500."

 

I went from an '05 to a '17 Wee and there was a clear and noticeable difference in power (and a lot more). If I recall they changed the cams maybe, also the transmission ratios and more to give it a much better riding experience.

My Gen 3 is objectively stronger than was my Gen 1. I briefly owned both at once, and tested acceleration from 50-60 and 60-70 in various gears. The '21 handily outran my '08, though it's not possible for me to know whether that would have been the case if the '08 were new. It was very well maintained, but nevertheless was 61k miles older.

However, the gear ratios are identical in both motorcycles. The owner's manual has them in the specs section. Whatever they did, that wasn't it.

 

I did the Cam Swap in 2017 at about 75000 miles. Currently I have 115000 miles and I have no plans to replace the bike. It requires the Intake cams from an SV650 and you move the Intake cams from the V-Strom to the exhaust side. Information from Bay Area Riders Forum (BARF) is what I used and it was very detailed. If you make the swap when you need to check/adjust the valves, the extra cost is just for the 2 intake cams.
I believe it adds a few horsepower, but it is where it comes in that is interesting. The power starts building at 500 to 1000 rpm above the standard engine and just seems to pull until you reach 10,000 rpm or so. It is not the difference between the 650 and the 1000, but it does add a smile once in a while. If you are happy with how yours runs, then I would not worry about doing the swap.

 

I have a 2007 vstrom 650 with 42k miles. I love the bike but it's a little sluggish. Not what i would call "peppy" at all. I came from a SV650 which had a lot more pep. I would like to know if the newer models have more "get up and go" than my 2007. I can't find one around here to test ride and see for myself.
Thanks for any insight!
Also, do they all have the air filter under the freaking tank? I find that really annoying.

G'day from the land down under. Well, a few years back I went to my local dealer to trade my 07 on a new 15, coz I felt like I wanted a change. Long story short, they didn't offer me what I thought was a reasonable deal and so I walked (rode) away. Went online. Found a slightly used different bike in a klr650 for a third of it's new price. Kept my dl. Have since put another 60,000km on it without missing a beat. Put 70,000 on the klr at the same time. Now when I feel like either bike is lacking in one area or another, I just ride the other one more. Both bikes together were half the value of a new one. More power might be nice, but I can still hit 180km/h in the length of a roadtrain when I am overtaking. In this country the cops can take your licence (and bike) on the roadside if you exceed 155km/h! So if you reckon you need more get up and go, think about walking everywhere for the next 6 months, and I am sure the feeling will pass. Not a fan of modifications. Just buy the right bike for what you want. Have borrowed a ride on dl1000/1050 a few times to see if I wanted one. The answer is, yes I do. But not until I wear out the one I got already. With the extra years and mileage on it, the dealer will definately give me me nothing for it now. So, I will ride it till the wheels fall off haha. Stay safe out there. Happy trails Buzz