[Twill1356]

I've had this bike for three weeks now and first off let me say I'm really loving this bike! While I was considering either DL, I posted in the V-Curious forum with some concerns holding back my purchase, and received a lot of helpful feedback. I thought while it's still fresh in my mind I would do a comparison of what my concerns were vs. what I actually think now that I've been riding and commuting for three weeks, in the hopes that it helps someone else.

Ok then the bike is a 2010 DL650A (new to me, about 5000km (3000 mi.)).

• I was concerned about the height of the bike while a pillion is mounting and my ability to keep the bike steady with a 32" inseam. Well this turned out to be a complete non-issue. The height of the bike is fine, in fact it feels shorter every day.
  
• I was concerned about the top box being an adequate backrest and whether a pillion mounting the bike equipped with panniers and top box would be cumbersome. Well it turns out that it is, but the passengers adapt and after a few tries my wife is much smoother on and off - practice truly makes perfect. My daughter hops on no problem from the first go.
  
• I was concerned that a top box might be too flimsy to be a backrest. What I did not think to ask is which top box makes a good backrest, turns out the OEM top box (which came with the bike) intrudes on the passenger seat and as a result creates some discomfort. And prevents the seat from being removed without removing the top box first.
  
• I thought the bike might be difficult to handle at slow speeds because I had heard that it is top heavy. Turns out I do not find it top heavy and it handles great at slow speeds, tight circles are a breeze.
  
• The throttle on this bike is quite sensitive, in the first two days I was looking for adjustments, but left it alone. Three weeks later I hardly notice it.
  
• The seat had me wondering what kind of torture device I was sitting on and what I had done to deserve it. I know from experience that it's a good Idea to give any new seat and seating position some time. I actually think this seat may be a keeper now that I'm getting used to it - but the jury is still out.
  
• The windshield - yikes, buffeting!! I know experiencing this seems to be hit and miss, but for me it was hit-hit-hit. Anyway I tried washers and that helped some, yesterday I received and installed the Madstad bracket and am still fiddling to find the best position but looks very promising.
  
• I had heard the rear brake is quite sensitive on these bikes, to be honest, unless I really press hard on mine it seems like it's hardly engaging. So no issue in that regard.

Strangely, the things I did not expect seem to serve to endear the bike to me even more as I work to adjust it to my taste and tolerance. So after three weeks, all I can say is what a hoot, great bike, but prepare to make some adjustments to get the most out of it

By strom1356 at 2011-07-21

 

[DougInKY]

Now you need to know something. There is a disease that most of us get who own the Wee (even the Vee owners get it from time to time). This disease appears to have no cure and can cause problems with spouses and other loved ones if not watched closely. It is the Farkle Disease.

I know about it well. I thought I was immune. Now over $2,000 later, I admit that I have it. Maybe our wife's need a support group? You think? Nah!

 

[cbrxxcess]

I have had the opportunity to ride several different stroms. Both 1000 and 650 the stock windshield does not bother me at all. But the smoothest windshield set up I have ever ridden behind to date was the Manta windshield with the madstad bracket. It was by far the best. If you want more info contact nvr2old. The setup belonged to him.

 

[Buzzzer]

Another orange wee! Congrats on your bike.

I find it interesting about the seat comments. Mine is well broken in, stock with almost 14,000 miles. However, I can't quite seem to get used to it yet. The longest I've ever ridden on it straight was over 3 1/2 hours. My tailbone hurt for three days after that. Now I stop every two hours but still have to shift pretty frequently. I just deal with it at this point.

Again, congrats on your bike, sounds like you're already loving it!

 

[on_the_edge]

Congrats on your new bike. :thumbup: Like you, I initially found the throttle quite sensitive for my tastes. I don't think it's the throttle though, but rather the throttle in conjunction with the V-twin. I also have gotten used to mine and can ride bumpy city streets without missing a beat.

 

[Frankk]

I like the orange panniers, side loading?

 

[LordSmoke]

I like the orange! Congrats! :thumbup:

 

[MCesar84]

Great information, thanks! Hoping the same will be true once I get mine.

 

[Dread7]

Now you need to know something. There is a disease that most of us get who own the Wee (even the Vee owners get it from time to time). This disease appears to have no cure and can cause problems with spouses and other loved ones if not watched closely. It is the Farkle Disease.

I know about it well. I thought I was immune. Now over $2,000 later, I admit that I have it. Maybe our wife's need a support group? You think? Nah!

Yeah, they can call it Farkanon

 

[ockerstrom]

Farkleitis is a disease that is contagious, no doubt about it. :fineprint:

Check your top box mounting plate, you will probably find it can be moved back a bit on the rack [the Givi can be].

Stock windscreen is ok for me [my helmets are what makes a difference to buffeting- I have three different ones I use from time to time].

You do get used to the seat as it "breaks in", butt exercises and regular breaks help too
[these bloody bike can do up to 500km on a tank of fuel so you gotta get off before the bike needs you to :jawdrop: ].

No problems for the pillion on mine, once she did it a couple of times.

I love the shape of those panniers on yours, better than the Givi's we get here in Oz as OEM Suzuki supplied.

Coming up on 45,000km on my 09 Wee, it just keeps getting faster and better. :thumbup:

You will enjoy yours even more as you put the miles on it. :yesnod:

 

[BobbyLee666]

I like the orange panniers, side loading?

I was wondering the same thing. Any chance of a closeup picture of the panniers closed and open? I have an orange Wee as well, and now know what the bike would look like with the OEM panniers. :thumbup:

 

[soapartist]

This disease appears to have no cure and can cause problems with spouses and other loved ones if not watched closely. It is the Farkle Disease.
I know about it well. I thought I was immune. Now over $2,000 later, I admit that I have it. Maybe our wife's need a support group? You think? Nah!

Nah, My husband bought a Wee, rode it for a good year and a half, gushing about how much he liked it, and added a few farkles, all the while telling me I should try riding it.
It was ridiculously tall for me and my 28inseam, so I'd never wanted to try his because I didn't want to biff on his bike and never hear the end of it :mrgreen:
The local dealer got a used one in, I decided with his prodding, to try it out.... and loved it, all but how tall it was. I'm wasn't too keen on wanting to side saddle one foot stop all the time... but.... I put money down on it, figuring I'd think on it through the weekend, and decided I could lower it. Meanwhile, my husband found a great deal on an 04 Strom, low miles, and better deal, so we went and bought it.
I lowered it by 3/4 inch and bought some boots with 1 1/2inch soles... I love it, and have farkled it a little bit, and have put 3,000mi on it but need to lower it a little more.
My answer to this is, support group?!? Have them try one... they'll buy one and be farkling up a storm:thumbup:

 

[BruceP]

How did you get a 2010? I was led to believe that Suzuki did not export any 2010 to North America. They went right from 2009 -to- 2011

 

[Twill1356]

Now you need to know something. There is a disease that most of us get who own the Wee (even the Vee owners get it from time to time). This disease appears to have no cure and can cause problems with spouses and other loved ones if not watched closely. It is the Farkle Disease.

I know about it well. I thought I was immune. Now over $2,000 later, I admit that I have it. Maybe our wife's need a support group? You think? Nah!

Oh oh, and I told my wife "look it already has a windshield, I still have a paddock stand from a couple of bikes ago, and the seat looks real comfy, and it already has luggage, so I won't need anything else" - lol Madstad bracket arrived yesterday, I was looking at a center stand, and showing her different seats :yikes: Honestly I will try to control my farkling... oh look there's engine guards and a skid plate... no really, I will strive for control.

 

[Twill1356]

I have had the opportunity to ride several different stroms. Both 1000 and 650 the stock windshield does not bother me at all. But the smoothest windshield set up I have ever ridden behind to date was the Manta windshield with the madstad bracket. It was by far the best. If you want more info contact nvr2old. The setup belonged to him.

Thanks for the info., so far the Madstad seems to be doing the trick, I don't mind air as long as it's relatively a clean air stream. But we'll see what happens during extended high speed runs.

 

[Twill1356]

Another orange wee! Congrats on your bike.

I find it interesting about the seat comments. Mine is well broken in, stock with almost 14,000 miles. However, I can't quite seem to get used to it yet. The longest I've ever ridden on it straight was over 3 1/2 hours. My tailbone hurt for three days after that. Now I stop every two hours but still have to shift pretty frequently. I just deal with it at this point.

Again, congrats on your bike, sounds like you're already loving it!

Thanks, and yes I am loving it. We'll see how this seat does longer term, but for now I'm going to give it every chance to work.

 

[Twill1356]

Congrats on your new bike. :thumbup: Like you, I initially found the throttle quite sensitive for my tastes...

Yes I've gotten used to it, but at first it was a little unsettling especially in lower speed corners.

 

[Twill1356]

I like the orange panniers, side loading?

Yes they are side loading (clam shell)- I'll put up some pics.

I like the orange! Congrats! :thumbup:

Thanks, yes the orange is quite striking. I have to say the Strom is one of those bikes that looks better in person than in pictures.

Great information, thanks! Hoping the same will be true once I get mine.

I'm sure it will be true for you, and that you will love it once you get up close and personal with it :thumbup:

Yeah, they can call it Farkanon

I'm starting to wonder what have I gotten myself into :biggrinjester:

 

[Twill1356]

Farkleitis is a disease that is contagious, no doubt about it. :fineprint:

Check your top box mounting plate, you will probably find it can be moved back a bit on the rack [the Givi can be]...

Thanks ockerstrom, I've checked to top mounting plate, however the OEM rack provides no adjustment nor does the top box. The only way I can see to move it back is to make a template and then fabricate a piece to extend the rack and move all the mounting points for the top box back a couple of inches.

 

[Twill1356]

...I lowered it by 3/4 inch and bought some boots with 1 1/2inch soles... I love it, and have farkled it a little bit, and have put 3,000mi on it but need to lower it a little more.
My answer to this is, support group?!? Have them try one... they'll buy one and be farkling up a storm:thumbup:

I'm glad you're enjoying yours soapartist. But you know now I'm really worried; if men and women are equally apt to getting excited about farkling, how in the world am I going to resist ?