I stuck with the 650, just the next generation.
I stayed with the 650 because it fits the type of riding I use It for, locale day rides.
I have another bike for longer distances and multiply day rides. If I only had one bike I might consider the 1000.

 

I have 650 and wanted buy 1000, I got busy.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy 1000 to try it out (same gen).

Though after test driving big bike, I probably wouldn't consider buying 1000 for minimal difference. Regardless of any minimal difference from 650. Big bike difference are the price tag. Day and night difference that would be worth getting big bike.

 

Gen 1 650, Gen 2 650, Gen 2 1000. I like the 1000 but if I only had one bike it'd be the 650. I've pretty much given up riding dirt and I wanted a touring bike that'd handle bad sealed roads, starting with a long list and crossing out bikes with what I considered 'issues' I ended up with the DL 1000 as the best fit for what I wanted. (Touring capability, reliability and lack of weight - the latter is a real problem as long haul friendly bikes tend to be on the porky side).

Then as with everyone else, Covid hit so the long rides became more effort than it's worth. The 1000 still is the weekend ride as I find it more relaxing than the 650 but around town it's the 650 gets the nod.

The new 1050's MIGHT have solved the things I don't like about my 1000 round town (i.e. by being able to dial the performance right back).

 

I currently have one of each. (lucky me😎) The wee is a pleasant bike to be on. Better in town. Shifts nice.Just enough power in most situations. The 1000 is chunky, clunky and more of a handful but it eats miles and passes on an uphill I commute on the 650 and have taken it to Montana and Oregon- but would not do it two up. It all depends on what you prioritize.

 

I'm in the exact same boat and agree completely. The fueling and shifting on the 650 are smoother, but I really enjoy the torque and power on the 1000. Can't go wrong with either, but I think I prefer the Vee over the Wee more often than not for the riding I do.

 

I've had the 1000 for 1 season now. I think it's power is perfectly matched for highway riding, and a well balanced bike. Back roads is equally as comfortable. What I really like is that it's quiet on the highway. I have driven the 650 also and that bike feels great in all aspects, but personally I like to have the extra margin of power when on the highway.

 

Ive done both over the years....
Started in 2003 when I bought an 02 custom painted 1000 in Bloomington IN. Rode it back to TX in the rain. Put about 20K on it..but then a crash so I sold it & got an 03 from a guy in Slidell LA. That was in 05 jus before Katrina hit.

While I had that 03....I started reading good stuff about the new 650s....so I bought one from a guy in Dallas in 2006. It was an 04 he was using to commute to his Cycle shop. With both bikes in the garage...it got to where I was gettn on the 04 650 most of the time due to its much smoother disposition...So I sold the 03 1000. I put over 80K on that 04 650 over the next few years.

Next was a local 06 650 in 2008-9 to replace the 04. While more miles rolled up on that one...I thought Id try another 1000. An 05 I got from north of DFW joined the 650 in the garage. It did run smoother than the previous 1000 ..but I still gravitated toward the 650 most of the time....so I sold that bike.

Another 80K+ on the 06 & I bought a 2011 650 from a TWT forum member around 2014. The best one yet...with ABS & the engine updates makin it even smoother & more efficient MPG wise. I was makin the miles on it (30K) when I got to test ride a friends 2014 1000. No...I didnt switch jus then...although I really liked the new 1000. I got a ride on another big bike during Strom A Thon #1

Enter the Tenere....I bought a 13 SupaTen in July 2016. They were jus too enticing. Rode that one home from Dubois PA...& for another year & 22K miles. Great bike...if a bit heavier than either of the Stroms. I had sold the 11 650 but immediately missed it...so bought a 2012 650 in 2017. Funny thing was....I didnt ride it much compared to the Tenere.

Aug 2017 brought a 2014 Tenere with 16K & magic button (cruise) so the 13 Ten with 22K went to a new home in 2018. I still wasnt ridin the 12 650 much so in Sept 2019...I traded it & a Stelvio I had for another 14 Tenere with 10K.

The next move in Jan 2020 took me in the right direction with my bikes. I traded the first 2014 Tenere with 44K on a 2014 1000 Strom with 19K ..So now I have a 14 Tenere with 28K & a 14 Strom with 28K

Both bikes get ridden almost equally. Each bike just enuf difference to the other to be entertaining if their own way. The Tenere being the long distance king of komfort for me. The Strom is the Sportmeister.

Sorry for the book reply. I'll have copies available in the lobby.

 

&.......not long after orig posting on this thread....I ran across another 14 1000 with under 10K on it. So the 30K 1000 was sold to another TWT forum member. He upgraded from a 2012 1000 & is very happy.

I also couldnt resist a deal on a 2013 650 sometime around March....so now have 3 bikes to ride

14 Tenere 14 Strom 1000 13 Strom 650

 

I had a first generation 1000. Sold that and bought a new 2012 DL 650. Because the 650 had so much better fueling and less other issues. Still have it. But I would have bought the 1000 every time had I waited till 2014 when the "new" DL 1000 came out. The 650 is one of the best bikes there is in its class. Period. But it has poor suspension and brakes. When compared to some of its competition and certainly when compared to most larger cc bikes and those with a higher price tag. I have fixed both of those problems on my 650, but at a cost. I would take the power of the 1000 every single time too. The new DL 1050 might not be the most technically sophisticated bike available, the fastest, the best handling. But it IS what made a V STrom one of the best all around bikes. With factory cruise available, it is now something you can build a really good pavement touring bike that still eats up rough roads.

 

I purchased my first Vstrom in 2011, a 650. I loved that bike, and rode it for three years and 30,000 miles. When I heard and saw that a new 1000 was coming out in 2014, I went to my dealer and put down a deposit. From the first day I rode the Vstrom 1000, I knew we would get along!. I love that bike, especially the power. It has been VERY reliable over the past 6 plus years. Hard to kill the thing. Yes, I have had a few "issues", but nothing the dealer couldn't fix relatively easily. Having never really owned any other motorcycles, I have an itch for a new and different motorcycle. I currently have a deposit on a 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 gt, and will decide on that, or a 2021 Triumph Tiger GT, after I test ride the Tracer in March. I have no time for more than one bike, and will reluctantly trade in my 2014 Vstrom 1000. It has given me over 50,000 fun filled miles. It will be a sad day when I trade it in!!!

 

I Have a 2011 650. cannot say what the 1000 is like as I have not ridden one. What I went from was a 1981 Suzuki GS850G and a 1999 ST1100. Both were good road bikes, the ST being superb for long distance rides. The 650 while not as good as the ST on the highway is still more than acceptable. I bought it to get rid of a couple hundred pounds of bike as I age a bit. The 650 gets great gas mileage and can easily cruise at 130 KMs all day long. For me, at this stage of my life it is a great bike.

 

Owned a new 05 1000, went with another bike "Concours 14", then back to an 06 1000, then bought a 15 650XT, and now I have a 2020 Yamaha Tracer 900GT. The first gen 1000's were/are so plagued with issues and annoyances, that I simply got tired of them and opted for the 650 which I became very fond of. But the 650 just doesn't have the punch and power I enjoy oh so much and the brakes/suspension suck, but on back roads and state roads it is a joy to ride and where it excels. The new 1050 is a whole other game changer IMHO, don't really know why anyone would want the 650 now to be quite honest. The 1050 gets as good mileage as the 650, has better suspension/brakes, has the electronic wizardry, and the XT model has cruise control.......and POWER.

 

I had a used 2001 SV650S. That was my first Suzy. Then I bought a 2005 SV1000S new.

I put 80k miles on the 996. It was my favorite bike. But it killed my neck and sucked gas like a hole in the tank. Arms started tingling due to pinched nerves. I tried everything to make it more upright and keep it as long as I could. Finally sold it 2 years ago.

Bought the 2012 V-strom 650 new because it was more upright and better looking that the 1st gereration 650's. I thought the Vstroms were ugly.

50k so far on the 650. I want a gen 3 650 now, the best looking one. Probably wont go back to the big bikes, just too many restrictions on them and the poor fuel mileage. I have been intrigued by the GSXS 750 too.

 

Have a first gen 650 for 6 years now and love it. Found a pristine first gen 1000 with full luggage in striking yellow.
This was one of the first 2 years of the 1000 which are a little different (more sporty?).

Loved the engine. Did not love the extra weight; did not think I would notice but every time I picked off of the kickstand it was felt. The first gen 1000 had some fueling issues which I didn't want to have to fix. For my riding, the 650 was better in 95% of the circumstances so I wound up selling the 1000. Sometimes I wish that I had kept it and fixed the issues because it was a nice bike. The 1000 is not even close on fuel economy if that is an issue for you; mine only got 35-38 mpg.

 

Have a first gen 650 for 6 years now and love it. Found a pristine first gen 1000 with full luggage in striking yellow.
This was one of the first 2 years of the 1000 which are a little different (more sporty?).

Loved the engine. Did not love the extra weight; did not think I would notice but every time I picked off of the kickstand it was felt. The first gen 1000 had some fueling issues which I didn't want to have to fix. For my riding, the 650 was better in 95% of the circumstances so I wound up selling the 1000. Sometimes I wish that I had kept it and fixed the issues because it was a nice bike. The 1000 is not even close on fuel economy if that is an issue for you; mine only got 35-38 mpg.

Not true at all now, the 1050 most certainly hangs in there with the 650's in gas mileage. Also at speeds above 65 MPH it barely changes when compared to the 650's.

 

I have a 650XT and a 1050XT. The 650XT is the best for commute, city and local roads for day trips. Long trios, the 1050 is without a doubt the bike for me. The extra power on the highways and better stability are better than riding the same highways on the 650. Doable with both, but more enjoyable on the 1050, especially above 70mph and around trucks.

 

I went from a 2015 DL650 to a 2020 DL1050. Mostly because I like the new style and features, and hey, brand new bike! I can confirm that my mileage is essentially the same as it was with the 650. And I really like the extra grunt, not that the 650 was a slouch by any means.

Cheers!
K

 

A lot of insight here, thanks everybody, I like hearing from all of your experience, sounds like gen 3 650 was a good choice.. thinkin about that 1000 for the Mrs. and I for those two-up days.

 

I'm your huckleberry.

I've gone up and down several times, and overlapped ownership.

1) 2007 DL650 bought new in 2007, sold at 80k in 2016
2) 2004 DL650 bought used in 2010 with 104k on it, sold at around 120k (wife's) in 2012
3) 2013 DL650 bought new in 2013, sold at 36k in 2016

---moved to California, sold all bikes---

4) 2011 DL650 bought used in 2016 with 20k, sold at around 35k in 2017
5) 2002 DL1000 bought used with 100k, sold at around 110k in 2017 (bought at same time as the above 2011) (wife's)
6) 2015 leftover DL650 bought new in 2017, sold at 20k later in 2017
7) 2018 DL1000 bought new in 2018, sold at 28k in 2020
8) 2008 DL650 bought used in 2019 with 30k, sold at 36k in 2020 (wife's)
9) 2012 DL650 bought used in 2020 with 22k, sold at 28k later in 2020

I find the 650 and 1000 to be very "interchangeable". I'm quite happy with either. I ride solo and even on long trips I pack light with just one duffel bag, so I don't need to make allowances for passengers or luggage differences. I've been cross country on both. Both feel similar in weight and "nimbleness", as well as similar handling on hard pack dirt or gravel roads (done a lot of the Colorado passes on both). 650 has the edge in fuel economy and the 1st gen 650 is the most comfortable of all of them, IMO (with a good seat). It's also smoother at lower (around town) speeds. 1000 has great brakes and a much better suspension, and of course is faster and more brutal, which also makes it feel correspondingly less refined which is both good and bad. 2nd / 3rd gens have better wind management than the 1st gens. You probably know all this, I'm just saying...

When I buy my next one it'll most likely be the 1050XT. I do prefer the grunt of the 1000 class, the better suspension and brakes, and the factory cruise, center stand, and engine guards. If the 650XT was available similarly setup (especially with cruise and the better suspension) I'd absolutely consider that. Price isn't really a deterrent for me (you'll make it up when you sell it), and it sounds like the new 1050 engine sees similar fuel economy to the 650, so the only real issue then becomes weight... and I've never really thought one was way lighter than the other, they feel pretty much the same to me.

To answer your question of "why go up and down?" - for the first few years of owning DLs I stayed with the 650 because I was familiar with it and comfortable on it... but once I got a taste of that 1000 I liked it... a lot. I still retained a soft spot for the 650 and several more of them came and went...and a lot of my purchases have been used, so you kind of buy what is available.

 

I had a 2005 Wee for nine years. Loved it. Toured two up with luggage an pulling a trailer (see my avatar). Only problem was lack of ABS.

Got one of the first 2014 DL1000 in the country. Rode it 5250 miles in the first two weeks. Better everything except fuel economy. Excellent cross country bike wit the ability to go very fast on fire roads. Much faster there than the 650 due to better suspension.

Given what I use my V-Strom for I would go with the 1,050 if I was going to replace it. Or maybe the Pan American. But I just can't stand that fugly cowl on the Harley. Besides, they may be going out of business. Just kidding, the next decade is going to be like the roaring twenties. Free flowing whiskey, loose women, and money to burn. Harley will do well in that situation. But yea, I'd go with the liter bike.

 

Curious how many of the members here have gone up or down in displacement and why?

I have a 2018 VStrom DL1000 and a 2017 SV650 so I can provide some perspective on engines and why I did not go with the DL650. Having put many thousands of miles on both, I think the 650 is a much nicer engine overall I'm getting about 75MPG on the SV650 and the engine feels incredibly refined. Probably one of the best motorcycle engines ever. The gearbox is also terrific. The DL1000 engine is more powerful at 97HP vs 75HP and has a lot more torque. I'm currently getting about 55MPG at best. Transmision on the 1000 is a bit clunkier, which is to be expected due to its larger size. Still, I like the 650 engine/transmission overall. It's just as flawless as it gets.

However, I still went for the DL1000 (both purchased new and sensibly upgraded without messing with tuners or engine work other than yoshi pipes, which I highly recommend on both engines, especially the 650). The reasons for this is that when I purchased the VStrom, the electronics on the 1000 were far superior than the minimal stuff that was available on the 650. Also, a huge plus are the breaks. The 1000 has about the best breaks you can have without going to top of the line Brembos. The Tokikos on the 1000 are really, really good. Excellent feel and control. The breaks on the 650 at the time (not sure if they have been upgraded) are a really old design and not that great. If you go with the 650 with Nissin breaks, at a minimum, change the pads to EBS EPFA pads and also consider Stainless lines. (As with all bikes, change the break fluid every two years.)

Sure, it's a bit heavier than the 650 but I was also a little concerned that the lower power would not be enough for the beefier and heavier frame in the DL vs the SV and that it would be nicer to have more engine with a fully loaded bike with two people on. My wife rides pillion on the DL and having the peace of mind of the better breaks and lean angle ABS and traction control was the responsible thing to do. Sure, I would love a lighter bike, especially at 59 and not getting any younger every year.

It depends on what you are going to do with the bike and your age and shape. If you are going to go on highly technical off road trails, my advice is to look for something as light as possible that you can pick up by yourself when loaded. I could no longer pick a fully loaded 600+ pound beast by myself.

A parting thought: I would like to have a driveshaft and no chain maintenance, but this always adds more weight to an already heavy bike (GS, Multistrada, etc.) and there are few choices. There are no lightweight choices that offer this.

Hope this helps.

 

I bought the first 2002 DL1000 my dealer got in. Since then I've owned 2007 DL1000 , 2012 DL1000 , 2016 DL1000 & 2014 DL1000. Mixed in over the years I owned 5 DL650s . I always bought the 650s only when I found a steal on a used one , then ride it a while and sell it for a small profit. I always bought the 1000s because I WANTED them. So , TEN V-Stroms . And a bunch of other bikes mixed in . I always just bought what I wanted or when a deal came along . I would NEVER ask anyone what kind of bike I should buy. That's a purchase made from the heart. You can ask people what kind of toaster you should buy. They will be wrong , but hey......it's a toaster.

 

Obvious you need a new 1050 so you can really see how awesome they are now.

 

I'm brand new here. After listening to 80% of the inmates recommend the 650, I went out and purchased a 1000.

Slow learner. I'll let ya'all know how it goes.

Having owned a couple of the 650 Versys and a couple more of the Versys 1000, it's time to try something new.

 

I've gone from 670cc to 250cc. I like small capacity bikes. For me a bike is light nimble fun personal transport. I ended up with a larger capacity bike because the little ones seem to be designed like toys. I'd ridden 3 into the ground. I bought an ex postie ct110 which was great fun, built like a tank but too slow for the amount of Km I do. When I stumbled across the V-Strom 250 I was looking for a postie bike on steroids. The Mini-V has a tried and proven drive train but unlike the agricultural CT110 it feels refined - handling is an absolute delight. I realize it's not for everyone. If you like the grunt of the bigger Vs, you'd be mortified riding mine - but I love it.

 

I had a XVS650, and then bought a V-Strom 1000. Models are very similar except for ergos. In both cases the 1000 model gives you better suspension and way more power. I really wish I had bought the 1000 in the first place. I spent a lot of money trying to make the 650 as good as the 1000. Would have been cheaper to buy the big bike in the beginning

 

I've had 3 1000s and one 650. I was on my second 1000 when I'd ridden a buddies 650 and liked the engine, still do, but went back to a thousand after I found the suspension not what I wanted, didn't like having a cable clutch, and a few other niggling things. The engine was great however. Not for touring 2 up, but everything else.

 

1999-2002: 1998 Ducati ST2

• 1st bike since riding trail bikes decades earlier...
• i spent a small fortune upgrading the engine & powder-coating the frame & wheels

2002-2003: 2002 Ducati ST4s

• loved the bike: lots of get-up-n-go, handled like it was on rails
• it tried to kill me....

2003-2012: 2002 BMW 1150GS

• just a fabulous bike to do nearly anything....
• i shouldn't have sold it....

2012-2015: 2008 Suzuki DL650

• bought this while working in the UK
• bulletproof do-it-all, but w/ ubiquitous speed cameras & after liter bikes i was bored to tears....

2015-2019: 2008 KLR650

• another good one
• it just didn't suit my penchant for high speed long distance rides

2019-present: 2018 DL1000

• to keep up w/ my riding buddies, i had to go back to a liter bike
• enough get-up-n-go for this old man...
• good low-end grunt & remarkably maneuverable at low speeds
• once properly adjusted it has smooth throttle/non-jerky acceleration, on par w/ the GS
• excellent handling on the road & adjustable suspension:
• ok for my mediocre off-road skills
• its ergos for my 5'9" frame are the best of any of the above bikes
• great bike

 

History:
RZ350
XZ550
GPZ1100
SV650
VZ800
DL650
DL1000

I'm 48, give it a few more years and I'll be back to smaller bike