Have owned many fantastic Suzukis over the years, plus a lot of other brands. Recently went from a 2008 GL1800 Airbag model which with proper mods is a fantastic sport tourer, capable of running with anything else. My SO chose to quit riding so I decided to let my beloved level 4 GL1800 go. I was worried that changing to a "lesser " bike wouldn't be satisfying, so i kept the GL1800 in case i didn't like what I replaced her with. I bought a 2020 1050XT new in 2022. I set it up with a few accessories and now have 32k wonderful miles on it. I only ride on-road as I have a TE300 Husky for offroad. The 2020 1050XT is an incredible bike and I wouldn't trade it. Touring, sport-touring, hunting down my friends on their BMW'S, KTMS'S and more. It is great.

 

New DL650 or older\used? They did a massive change in 2012, then incremental changes since. I've had an 07 DL1000, 45,000 miles, never a problem. An 08 DL650 of my wife's, far fewer miles, but never any problems. A 2012 650 when a pickup totalled my 07. I put 45,000 miles on it, sold it, he put 15,000 miles on it, sold it, never any problems. I bought my 2014 DL1000 in 2016 with about 1500 miles, nearly 50K now, never any problems, ever. Chains, sprockets, oil, brake fluid, coolant, etc. These are not high tech bikes and are built to a price point but they have always been terrific value and performance for the $ I've invested. You may have gotten a particularly bad DR, all I've ever heard about them has been positive. Hopefully you'll get a good DL650 and enjoy a Suzuki again.

 

all I've ever heard about them has been positive.

I wish I had gotten a dime for every time I've heard THAT....after the fact.
What sort of "massive change" was done after 2012?

 

I haven't had the greatest luck with Suzukis either, they are put together with budget bits to hit a price point
my current ride is a Kymco scooter, if I get a new adventure bike, I will seriously consider a CFMOTO

 

Basically the engine design (ex-Suzuki Gladius motor) was introduced on the new L2 Glee, 2012 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Some of these L2 models, manufacted for the 1st quarter of 2012, where early released in the last part of 2011.

The links posted in https://www.stromtrooper.com/thread...er.com/threads/wee-first-gen-vs-second-gen.195961/?post_id=2315977#post-2315977 share a few previous discussions wrt the the 1st gen vs the 2nd gen DL650, that you can follow up on.

Also read https://www.stromtrooper.com/threads/gen-2-vs-gen-3-ergonomics.434893/

 

I rode my 2007 DL1000 to over 100,000 miles. It needed, in no particular order…

• a clutch slave cylinder
• rear wheel bearings
• a fuel filter
• an ECM flash

I’m now riding my second Super Tenere.

 

2006 DL650, almost 80,000 miles. Only issue, fork seals at a little over 79,000 miles. Actually just the left, but did both.

YMMV

 

Greetings,
Not an owner (yet)...hopefully the discussions in here will help me make up my mind.

The last Suzuki product I owned was a 2009 DR650.
Nice enough bike, but it was an absolute 5hit-show as far as build-quality went.
On my second "big" ride...it left me stranded and I had to get a tow truck to bring me home....
Not even 12,000 miles in, she started spitting out circlip-pieces during an oil change. I sold her not long after that.
Now aside from the NSU problem...the 3rd gear issue...the clutch cover gasket issue...a carb that was never meant to be on a motorcycle...the output shaft-seal problem...the upper chain roller debacle...and a pulse coil that fried with LESS THAN 7,000 miles...I swore that I would never own another Suzuki product. Note that I addressed every one of these KNOWN short-comings that the factory couldn't be bothered with, but when it meant splitting my cases...I didn't have the space, tools or know-how to make the repairs, and a shop in the city quoted me around $2000 if I brought them ENGINE ONLY. Bike was probably worth $4000 by then, and I didn't see the sense in spending over half its worth to repair it, so I sold it AS IS...and some lucky guy got himself a bike where ALL of the flaws had been fixed.
So with this in mind, I'm looking to get into the ADV scene and the V-Strom DL650 seems like the right one...except for the fact that it is a Suzuki.
I cannot afford a GS (and I won't own another BMW, either...been there, done that!) a KTM or a Tenere or TransAlp...never liked Kawasaki, so a KLR won't happen either...the V-strom seems to fit my budget and riding "style".
So, here is where you guys convince me that it is worth trying another Suzuki.
And I've already heard from DOZENS of owners about how wonderful and bullet-proof the DR650 is...but you could never convince me of that, after owning one myself...most disappointing bike I've ever owned. It was supposed to be my "forever" bike.

I think it is a bit unfair to judge any particular marque based on Your purchase of what would basically appear to be a pile of crap. As such I would be more inclined to blame Your own poor judgement in purchasing an abused bike rather than brand the marque as rubbish. If You have such a poor opinion in the first place then perhaps You would be better off moving to another forum

 

 

Even Suzuki occasionally makes a lemon but not enough to make lemonade like other brands. Also, with all the issues on the DR I suspect the bike was abused. All bikes have their quirks and weak points but that can mostly be addressed. A properly maintained Suzuki keeps rolling (at least the SV or DL). 400 miles short of 100K miles on my '07 Wee when most other brands are done by 50-60K miles.

 

Maybe I should have mentioned that the DR650 that I owned was BRAND NEW....right off the showroom floor with 0 miles on it.
The BMW was a POC sold to me by an unscrupulous vendor...

 

I'm on my 3rd Suzuki, all bought new, so I'm coming from a known starting point, no PO doing whatever. The Bandit 1200 had a recall on the fuel cap vent, the SV650 needed a new fuel pump at 72000 miles, and so far the DL650 is trouble free. YMMV, but remember the plural of anecdote is not data, and there is a lot of data indicating good reliability.

Of course, if you're going to be uncomfortable with the brand, there are plenty of good options.

 

Did a fair amount of research, forum lurking, shopping around. Looked at Royal Enfield, Triumph, Honda, Kawasaki. Came down to an NX500 Honda or the V-Strom. Bought a used 24 DL650XT in March and have ridden it every day since except when raining. It's my "forever bike". Of course at 70, I don't know how long forever will be!

 

I think I have rode all of those and ya, the VStrom is the best IMO. The old Himalayan was kinda boring tractor feel. The new one not much better. I feel the Triumph's have too much of a high revving street bike triple motor, NX500 is a boring 180 degree twin with no rear preload adjustment, Versus 650 is a rattlebox with a boring motor (at least the older ones I have rode rattled). I guess it comes down to how your going to use it but for the money of a used DL650 there's not a better choice for me.

My Africa Twin is better at a lot of things but in a lot of ways I prefer the lighter VStrom with the 19 inch front. The AT is just so heavy and not great in the twisties. But it will eat the VStrom alive in the dirt. I guess what I'm saying is you really have to look at how you're guna use it.

Have fun

 

Suzuki did used to have a poor reputation, 'a good engine with two wheels held together with rubbish' as one wag once described them.
The quality of the latest V-Strom's does seem to be much better. I've had my 2019 1000 three years & over 20k miles now and haven't found any intrinsic problems or signs of poor finish.
So far I would say the quality is up with Honda and ahead of the Yamaha, Triumph and BMWs I've owned.

Oh, I almost forgot the spoked wheels. A major headache for those that like shiny things - get one with cast wheels unless you need spoked wheels for off-roading and don't fret the aesthetics.

 

Interesting...I've heard similar analogies regarding the build-quality of the "earlier" Suzuki's as well. Case in point: The DR650's NSU for over 10 years of production, and the starter-clutch torque limiter (on 98 and 99 models).
Granted NO model from ANY manufacturer will ever be flawless...but buying a bike that couldn't even make 13,000 miles, still stings to this day.There was nothing about my maintenance or modifications that would have led to its premature failure, so I guess I just got a lemon from the factory.

Good catch on the spoked-wheels...

 

Personally, I see it differently @TW_rider

Your backstory had no bearing on the information you requested. Several of us gave you data and you showed zero appreciation or interest.

Your first “like” was to agree with one of our members who chose to ride his year round in the snow and road salt, and commented he had issues with Suzuki.

Make us all happy, buy a Honda.

 

Apparently you and I are reading different threads...snow and road salt????
I didn't realize it was necessary to "LIKE" every post that I found informative.
I've found several useful appraisals and some helpful information, which I appreciated...all I did was list some KNOWN and DOCUMENTED failures for that particular model.

Had a Honda (also BRAND NEW)...it was as big a POS as the Suzuki.

 

Sorry about your bad experiences with Suzuki's and BMW's.

My first Suzuki was my first bike, a 1961 50cc. My second was, again, another Suzuki, and then a TS185, followed by a Suzuki PE175.
Then came various road Suzuki's, a RG500, a GSXR750, and then a GSXR1100 while at the ame time I raced 3 various RMX250's and road/trailed a DR650.
I then bought a DRZ400 before buying my DL650.

The only time I can remember being left stranded by the road or track was when my RG500 oil pump cable became disconnected from the oil pump.

All makes can have their bad days.

I am curious though, as you bought your DR650 new off the dealer floor and would have thought that munched up circlips in the oil might have been a warranty claim issue. I have never before heard of a new DR650 going belly up at 13,000 miles.

There have been Monday morning and Friday afternoon issues from all manufacturers but the V-Strom is good value and mostly reliable.

 

Sorry about your bad experiences with Suzuki's and BMW's.

I am curious though, as you bought your DR650 new off the dealer floor and would have thought that munched up circlips in the oil might have been a warranty claim issue. I have never before heard of a new DR650 going belly up at 13,000 miles.

Thank you for your sincere reply.
The problem with my DR was that this occurred long after the warranty had expired...more than 3 years, I believe.
At that point in time, I owned 2 separate rides...my daily commuter and the DR, which I only insured for 6 months at a time, because insurance in this part of the country is ridiculous. So I put on maybe 2000 or 3000 miles per year on that one. I bought it in 2010 (it was a 2009 model) and got rid of it in 2017 or 2018 if memory serves me right.

There have been Monday morning and Friday afternoon issues from all manufacturers but the V-Strom is good value and mostly reliable.

Good to hear...I am leaning in that direction....considering a 2014 at the moment.

 

Looks like You have pretty bad luck with Your bikes. Bad Suzuki, bad Honda and bad BM, as reported.

I have been purchasing Honda's since the 70's and never had a "bad" one. I currently own three of them, one of which is over 35 years old and still running well.

I have owned two BM's. One, an R100GS had 135,000kms on it when I traded. An excellent bike but not without its issues, none of which ever stopped me on the road. My second BM (Funduro) certainly was a bad one. Probably just bad luck as Rotax engines have a good reputation, but a circlip on the piston came adrift at only 2500 miles.

That brings me to Suzuki. I have only ever owned two and I still have my 2016 Strom 1000ABS. My Wife and I have had endless enjoyment from that motorcycle and still continue to do so albeit at age 74 it is now a little heavy for me to manhandle, being of small stature. Issues have been minor. Clutch slave and neutral switch. Neither stopped me on the road.

My other Suzuki was a DRZ400S. An excellent motorcycle albeit short of a 6th gear. If it had had 6 gears I probably would still own it.

So in answer to Your questions initially, Suzukis are pretty good nowadays and I certainly have no complaints. That also comes across from the majority of responses above.

As to the sometimes "poor" reception You have encountered on here I suspect some of it resulted from the "tone" of Your initial approach. Sometimes it helps to look inward as I certainly did when You eventually clarified that the bike You had such trouble with was owned from new.

 

Looks like You have pretty bad luck with Your bikes. Bad Suzuki, bad Honda and bad BM, as reported.
I have been purchasing Honda's since the 70's and never had a "bad" one. I currently own three of them, one of which is over 35 years old and still running well.

Being CLEAR isn't one of my strongest suits...so I'll explain.
I bought a BRAND NEW CRF300L Rally 2 years ago. It was a nice enough bike...despite having a few factory-flaws, the biggest of which was the suspension...needed to be modified immediately.
Passenger footpeg-placement was also terrible. Wife complained that her legs were bent too much...that had to be modified as well.
It was also very "tall"...which required installation of a lowering link.
The bike itself was a decent machine...but after riding it for almost a year, the luster and appeal wore off. The "POS" rating I gave it was largely because it didn't live up to the hype...my bad.

My second BM (Funduro) certainly was a bad one. Probably just bad luck as Rotax engines have a good reputation, but a circlip on the piston came adrift at only 2500 miles.

HILARIOUS...my BMW experience also involved a "Funduro". I can't tell you how many people in the Funduro forum extolled how great a machine it was "once you get them setup properly"...Therein was the problem...I resisted being"setup". The carbs were incredibly finicky and would not respond to cleaning, rebuild kits or anything else I could throw at them. I could accept this if it was my first rodeo, but by then...I'd been working on bikes for almost a decade and everything that "should have" worked...didn't. In the end, I brought it to a highly rated shop and the guy got it running "properly" but at this point I had sunk over $2000 into a bike that I had just paid $5000 for.
This was the ONLY bike I'd ever owned, that I actually came to hate by the time I sold it.

So in answer to Your questions initially, Suzukis are pretty good nowadays and I certainly have no complaints. That also comes across from the majority of responses above.

This seems to be the case, and it has me leaning in that direction HOWEVER...I read the same sort of glowing reviews when I bought the DR...so you can understand my hesitancy...or maybe not, given that YOUR experience has largely been positive.
At this point in time, it's a toss-up between the VStrom and a retro Honda PC800.

As to the sometimes "poor" reception You have encountered on here I suspect some of it resulted from the "tone" of Your initial approach.

Fair assessment...as I said, I might not possess the clarity of some and I appreciate your candor...but by the same token, dumping on a new member doesn't foster the respect that should flow both ways.
I'm willing to start fresh...

 

"convince"

Well, to convince you, my DL650 so far lasted 4 years and 22000km with frequent oil changes every 5000 or so. It has nothing in common compared to the DR650, beside displacement and badge. A more road-biased, comfortable, laid back. I can listen to the V-twin all day. I would get the newest I could afford.

 

Well put....you're nudging me in that direction.

 

have you looked at the Ibex 800 E ?

 

I've been thinking, (rare, I know).
My first post said that data is not the plural of anecdote, meaning it is the plural of datum, a single piece of information. All the unsubstantiated anecdotes in the world are NOT data. The OP comes on here and basically trashes Suzuki and then invites us to change his mind. Then goes on to tell us how his Honda, a small entry level bike, did not live up to his expectations riding 2 up. I'm not sure anymore just what the OP wants from us.

I stand by my comments on the bike, however that was the first time my satirical comments were ever directed at an actual person, and for that I apologize to all members of this forum.

 

The OP comes on here and basically trashes Suzuki

No...I said I had a bad experience with Suzuki and listed the KNOWN and DOCUMENTED issues with that particular model, but thanks for misrepresenting it...go on...

and then invites us to change his mind.

Correct...if THIS Suzuki community has success with THIS particular model, let me hear about it!

Then goes on to tell us how his Honda, a small entry level bike, did not live up to his expectations riding 2 up.

Yes...another mediocre experience with an overhyped model (with plenty of Youtuber's echoing the same sentiment) and....?

I'm not sure anymore just what the OP wants from us.

Pretty much explained in the first post: Bad experience...change my mind about the brand.
What part of that went over your head?
O...was it that you were blinded by pure rage that anyone would dare have a negative opinion about your bike? Grow up.

however that was the first time my satirical comments were ever directed at an actual person, and for that I apologize to all members of this forum.

...and the rationalization and qualification...sorry/not sorry...whatever....

 

Time to calm this conversation down.
We are motrorcycle enthusiasts, many of whom have remained with this site despite having moved on from V-Strom ownership.

We often suggest bikes other than V-Stroms, depending on the newbies apparent needs, and you must admit TW, your first post was very provocative.
The membership here are helpful and have an amazing depth of knowledge and experience.

Lets move forward without critique.

 

your first post was very provocative.

Again...all I did was layout MY experience with a model of motorcycle that had a WELL KNOWN list of failings and I was curious if this extended across the Suzuki lineup.
Pity that it was misunderstood as anything other than that.
AT NO POINT did I imply or suggest that ALL Suzuki's were of similar vintage. Regardless, I have removed all of the "offensive" content from the original post.

Lets move forward without critique.

Not a problem from this one...

 

Interesting that You rode two up on a TW. Was that out of necessity or just choice ?

 

Choice...

 

my local dealer is multi brand, the big 4 plus Kymco & Polaris

listening to the service manager, Polaris needs the most repair service, Kymco, the least, and the big 4 in-between

their sister dealership doesn't have Honda, but has CFMoto
my everyday ride is a Kymco AK550 maxi-scooter now, my V-Strom is a project bike
If you looked out the window and saw this, would you go riding

 

I say yes, shovel a path to the road

 

or on a different day, sand a path

 

my annual Kanc ride