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04 Suzuki V-Strom 650 discussion forum:Mr. |
| Mr. |
| Ian Scott said 2006-04-27 02:10 |
| WEE STROM .. USER TEST Rider :- 46 years , 5´ 9´´ , 85 kg .... 17 years riding on different bikes. Wee strom mileage = 1500 miles Ok so its my turn to repay the debt . Before buying my wee strom I read just about every review or test on the web .. so here are my payback thoughts ---- I am not a Suzuki dealer, rep or bike journalist, just a plain old user living in Chile.….. First impressions are often correct (said Talking Heads many moons ago ) and mine were and are still very very positive .. this bike is fast, comfy (although the seat is only good for about an hour), and handles superbly. I love the light weight, good brakes, RESPONSIVE ENGINE and upright ergonomics.. This is a modern bike…. What I mean to say is that it makes my sporster appear like from the 15 century… . everything is totally modern and up to date. This is to say everything works efficiently .. The 650 is an engine that likes to rev …. If your in love with the thump thump sound of a low reving bike then this is perhaps not the machine for you … personally I love the thump thump of british twins … but for me the wee stroms other gleaming characteristics make me forgive its racing bike sound which can be best described as muted in standard form .. so much so that the slight whine of the fuel pump can be heard whilst on the move ….. one of the notable aspects of the sound is that closing the throttle it sounds like a jet engine ! …. You know when your coming into land and just before touchdown the pilot shuts back ….. its that whistly whine sound … I am actually learning to like it ! being so quiet has its advantages of course, I don’t annoy the neighbours late at night, and I can pull up in front of everyone sitting outside the pub and not create a scandal .. Its a revy engine …. Cruiser lovers might begrudge the relatively high revs at cruising speed 5,000 = 70mph 6,000 = 80mph indicated …. I often feel for another top gear at these speeds on the motorway to bring the revs down ! and then I think “well it doesn’t matter because gas milage is good anyway ” so a 6th gear indicator would be very useful... that’s not to say I am a real plodder …. your talking to a guy that took his sportster back into the shop because the engine was cutting out …. Only to be told by a startled dealer that the bike was fine ,,, it was just the rev limiter cutting in all the time ! A downside to these quite high cruising revs is a buzzing in the handlebar … after a 2 hr trip on a motorway last week, my right hand had “pins and needles” upon dismounting. This was partly cured by wearing a more padded glove in the palm area … I am thinking about putting tape or something around the handlebar mount to insulate this buzz … Ok now the screen …. I actually like the screen ! after loads of naked bikes its my first time with a piece of plastic out front …. And it helps … its not perfect …. But then again if you want to ride in a pocket of still air … then buy an outright tourer …. Or maybe buy a larger aftermarket screen … I have tried the 3 positions and the highest position I feel offers the least buffeting (and most protection). At this height I can just see above it to give a clear view of the road although in urban surroundings the screen at this height would have to be clean because objects at less than 8 meters distance will be seen throught it and not over it. I am contemplating taking it off altogether for city riding for this reason. Interestingly if at speed I lean forwards to the point that my chest would be resting on a tank bag , then the buffeting ceases, but of course neck angle increases a little …. Perhaps Suzuki could perhaps move the screen back say six inches --- it would make all the difference, the screen feels just a little far forwards … Ergonomics and seat height I love the big chasis. On Chilean bad potholed roads a large bike offers more stability. It is a tall bike, I can get on and off without problems whilist there is no bag strapped onto the rear seat … if there is then I need to find a kerb! Or develop a leg 90 degree cocked dismount (requires a little practice!) At a standstill both feet make ball contact. Handling Superb: I can point the bike at a bend and it holds the line no problem and is confidence inspiring … its easy to flick around with the wide bars .. the tyres are fine too … I have a couple of times locked the rear wheel on a panic stop situation in urban traffic .. nothing scary and was easily corrected. After the harley I am not used to having a responsive back brake ! In respect to the width of the bike, … I have to think twice before paddling my way between two lines of cars at a traffic jam. Will I get through ? on my old SRX600 the widest thing was my elbows, the wee strom has bars, and mirrors to calculate and the later tends to be at the exact same height as many 4X4 wing mirrors.. … not a huge problem … I just have to think twice that’s all .. .. the suspension is light years better than my harley --- although experts have sounded its shortfalls … I find it adequate … maybe a little rough but fine. Ground clearance is superb .. no grounding of the pegs yet ….. the lights are great , the 190kg is fantastic, easy to roll in and out of the garage, off road ??? I agree with most testers, its fine on most gravel and dry dirt roads ,,, not so hot on deep mug or sand … Would I buy this bike again = yes definitely !! self canceling indicators would also be nice I got back on my sportster the other day and it was like getting into a 1920s ford T … very nice to look at but ….. |
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