[glass3222]

Hi, I am seriousily considering a Wee as my first street legal bike. Anyway, I have been reading about them and many other bikes for a while now and I think the Wee will be the ideal bike for me. I have been riding dirt bikes and quads since I was 10, I'm 30 now, so the riding position of the Wee appeals to me. I plan on using it to commute to and from work, which is a 30 mile ride each way. 20 miles are 45-55mph PA backroads and the other 10 is intersate. I also plan to ride dirt and gravel roads looking for new places to hunt as well as some weekend getaways.

So, do you think the Wee would be the right bike for me?

Also, I was thinking of getting a new Wee, but I found this used one not to far from me. What do you think about it and the price?

2006 Suzuki V-Strom 650, Tyrone PA - 98770464 - Cycletrader.com

 

[ockerstrom]

I need to save this to a Word document file so I can just cut and paste every time this question is asked, so here is my answer- again :green_lol:

On my Wee I commute, I do day and weekend rides, I do long distance trips of 10-14 days, loaded for camping, the Mrs. and I do day and weekend rides.
I sit on 130kph out on the highways and have no trouble overtaking cars and trucks (such as B-doubles, that's a prime mover; or tractor in US speak, towing two 40' trailers behind it).

The Wee can handle it all with ease and reliability. :thumbup:

Oh, and I do dirt and gravel too.

Try to get a Wee with ABS, it is worth it.

The Wee would suit your needs and will surprise you with how good they really are.

 

[glass3222]

I need to save this to a Word document file so I can just cut and paste every time this question is asked, so here is my answer- again :green_lol:

On my Wee I commute, I do day and weekend rides, I do long distance trips of 10-14 days, loaded for camping, the Mrs. and I do day and weekend rides.
I sit on 130kph out on the highways and have no trouble overtaking cars and trucks (such as B-doubles, that's a prime mover; or tractor in US speak, towing two 40' trailers behind it).

The Wee can handle it all with ease and reliability. :thumbup:

Oh, and I do dirt and gravel too.

Try to get a Wee with ABS, it is worth it.

The Wee would suit your needs and will surprise you with how good they really are.

Thank you.

Anyone have any thoughts on this bike and the price?

http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2006-Suzuki-V-Strom-650-98770464

 

[rconti]

For an 06 without ABS you can probably get them closer to 4k. For reference I recently bought an 07 with ABS and 20k miles, full luggage, for 4300, private party.

Should be a great bike for you for commuting. Equally happy around town and cruising at 90+.

 

[jokermtb]

You might find em for a hundred or two less, but you might be waiting, or driving, for a quite a while! And,as EVERYONE knows, the 2006 was the best year for the Wee.

Lucky for me, I pounced on a bone stock 2006 Wee [9.5k on the odo - did have brand new Battle Wing tires though] that someone traded into a Harley Dealership kinda near where I live. I'd been wanting to try one out, and this was a golden opportunity. I took one ride, and I was smitten - it's really one of the most fun bikes I've ever swung a leg over. The dealer was asking $4500, and I thought that price was in the ballpark, and this Strom was available NOW! I'm sure I coulda found another one, perhaps in another State, for less cash, but often the Sure Bet is the best bet - guess what, I bought it! I'm glad I did because I've not seen another one for sale in Southeastern Michigan since I bought mine in April 2010.

As a former MX'er and still current mtb'er, I really dig the riding position, and the light on it's feet feel. It rides like a big giant sumo mountain bike. It's no dirt bike, but you can still clown around on mellow dirt trails, and fire roads. The one you are looking at is a fair price for a dealer bike, appears to be in nice shape, and it does come with a Bestem tail trunk [I have one now] and an aftermarket windscreen [and possibly the Madstat adj. bracket]. I think it would be a good deal for you [dealers are called dealers for a reason - make em an offer!], and very convenient - that's worth the dealer markup [slight markup!]

 

[Banks C]

I go along with most people here (of course it is a vstrom forum) that the DL650 is a very good, if not excellent, do-it-all bike. Given that you have experience with tall bikes that have high COG's it is hard to imagine that you will go wrong with it. But even with the caveat that it is a VStrom forum, it seems that the vast majority of riders here either have r had several bikes in the past, or they have multiple bikes now. Thus I really do think you will get a pretty fair review of the good and the bad.

What I will say, is that like most people here I have gone through several bikes in the past and currently have 2; a 2006 DL650 and a Yamaha FJR1300A. But if I ever get to the point I can only have one motorcycle, it will be the VStrom. It is a true "Jack of all trades". You can tour, ride aggressively, do fire roads, gravel, and limited dirt (I am not a dirt rider except for occasionally and only for getting from one spot to another). Additionally it is NOT a gas guzzler. I get 48 - 53mpg.

When the one I have dies. I will get another. I have done multi 1,000+ mile trips on it with nary a problem. And even though I am mechanically impaired .. short of a valve check and adjustment, I can perform most maintenance on it.

They are simply fun, reliable, capable and have a large support network. And when your traveling through Wyoming, Nevada, North Dakota etc and you need something, it is nice to know that almost any m/c repair shop can work with you on it and either has the part, has a part that will fit, or can get the part very quickly.

The only thing I would do is get the ABS model if you can. You can always switch it off in gravel or dirt. It is really nice to have on tarmac though when a sudden 80mph problem appears. The ABS on the FJR1300 has saved my rear twice. I could have used it once on the VStrom. Not having it cost me a minor injury and some body work once.

 

[glass3222]

Thanks all for the input.

What year did they start offering ABS? I know if I search I can find it but figured I would ask anyway

 

[greywolf]

Thanks all for the input.

What year did they start offering ABS? I know if I search I can find it but figured I would ask anyway

2007 was the first year.

 

[glass3222]

2007 was the first year.

Thank you sir.

 

[ockerstrom]

2007 was the first year.

Instant answer on anything V-Strom.


GW, you are THE man on Stroms. unk:

 

[gcsdls]

Another newbie question

You might find em for a hundred or two less, but you might be waiting, or driving, for a quite a while! And,as EVERYONE knows, the 2006 was the best year for the Wee.
[/I]]

Okay, as a newbie, I would not be included in the EVERYONE above. Why was 2006 the best year? And what would be the pluses of a 2006 vs say a 2009?

thanks (and Hello, y'all!)

gcsdls

 

[Banks C]

Why is 2006 the best year?? I suspect because like me, that is the year Wee he owns!!!!

There is a more involved list of the differences that GreyWolf posted once but I can't remember where: In any event:

2004 - 2006: 2 spark plugs. 1 per cylinder.
2007 - 2011: 4 spark plugs, 2 per cylinder.

2004 - 2006: No ABS Available
2007 - 2011: ABS available as an option

2004 - 2006: External Fuel Filter external mod can be done
2007 - 2011: External Fuel Filter external mod cannot be done (I don't know why)

2004 - 2006: Stator output at 375 watts
2007 - 2011: Stator output upped to 400 watts (At least I think is was 2007? -- GreyWolf)

2004 - 2006: Throttle Body Sync can be done by "backyard mechanic" with right tool.
2007 - 2011: Throttle Body Sync requires a computer

Some people's "butt dyno" indicates that Gen 1 (2004 - 2006) Wees MIGHT have a horse power or 2 more than the Gen 2. I don't know. I have not done any extensive riding on a Gen 2 Wee. If any it is very negligible.

Gen 2's seem to report better gas mileage. by 1 - 3 mpg.

There is one other change about the ECM after 2007 that GreyWolf mentioned but I can't remember what.

Regardless they are both great bikes. I know one guy who has 2 1st Generation Wees. Both have well over 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) on them. That is durable.

Hope this helps.