New (to me) DL650 V Strom

[Morety]

After missing out on the K1100RS in the for sale section recently, I've decided to buy an older DL650 as my main winter bike and expect it in the next few weeks. My wife owned the SV650 which I looked after and occasionally rode so I know what to expect in terms of maintenance. No sense in inviting additional corrosion to the casings on the RS! I'd read about stator issues with them but they're not alone and there seem to be plenty of after market stators available should the issue occur. Mine's a 2006 model with 9K miles which means it spent more time in a garage than on the road, so a fresh change of fluids and filters and it should be ready for winter duty. It has Oxford heated grips fitted, no ABS (less to go wrong). Anything particularly to watch for? There's a few spots of rust on the frame (light surface rust) and on the side and centre stands which I'll take care of, other than that it's in great shape.

 

[MarkShelley]

Brilliant bikes, and I am sure yours will prove to be daft value for money

 

[Morety]

Brilliant bikes, and I am sure yours will prove to be daft value for money

Thanks Mark. A friend had the 1000 version and really rated it, although he complained that the suspension was a bit soggy. I prefer the idea of slightly lower running costs hence the 650. I know that mechanically they're very sound. I liked the SV, and also had an SV1000S as a loan bike for a fortnight and was really impressed with that bike. It's a shame they're dropping the SV and DL vee twins now but they seem to have gone to the cheaper to produce parallel twins for 2024. The DL seems like an ideal winter bike and it'll be refreshing to get back to an uncomplicated basic bike with little electrickery gadgets to go wrong.

 

[Morety]

Well, it arrived today and on the first test ride, I started to think "this is too good to be true"..brilliant handling, lovely suspension, really plush, and a nice torquey motor. Not fast but eager enough and with plenty of grunt. That lasted 6 miles when the instruments died, followed a mile or so later by the engine. Luckily was at the top of a hill and managed to coast it down to a mate's place after pushing the last half mile. Ignition switched off, then back on sees instruments light up again, horn works, lights work but no juice to crank it over. Classic stator failure. That or failed regulator as battery run down. Wouldn't bump so my money's on a stator and the bike's only covered 8K miles from new.. Better to find out now than when half way across the country! Having it picked up tomorrow and hopefully the seller will sort it.

 

[MarkShelley]

This model had a recall on the stator from memory. Check here to see if it was done (they also had a recall regarding the cam)

https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/owners/service-maintenance/check-outstanding-recalls/

 

[MarkShelley]

Edit…mine was the 2nd gen 2011 on model so those recalls would not apply

 

[Morety]

Yes, recalls I thought were on 2012 and 2013 models whereas mine is a 2006 bike.

 

[Colin]

bought my Suzuki dl650. v-strom. new in 2016. put 18.164 miles on it. use it a couple of times a year for touring Europe with wife pillion. Givi luggage. brilliant bike. enough power. good mpg. MRA screen. oxford heated grips. hand guards. radiator guard. Avon Trailrider tyres. far more reliable than any BMW ive owned. and ive had 4.

 

[Morety]

Must admit the few miles I got to ride the bike, I really enjoyed it. I was concerned that it would be a little softly sprung, that it wouldn't handle too well and that it might be e little underpowered but I was wrong. The suspension was better than the RS, not as bumpy and far more forgiving without bouncing about. Very well damped and firm enough to push on a bit on corners. Handling took some adjustment as it's a little slower than the RS due tot the larger front wheel but it stays planted. The engine is brilliant. Not under-powered but IMHO ideally powered for a relaxed mile muncher although it needs working harder than bigger bikes for overtakes, but the engine belied its age. It may be a design which goes back to the late 1990's but it's refined, smooth and I love the flat torque curve. No need to rev it to enjoy it. Comfort wise it seemed spot on in terms of fit, but as I didn't get to do more than a few miles I can't comment on comfort too much beyond saying I liked it. One ride told me everything I needed to know. The previous owner has fitted Oxford heated grips, engine bars and sump guard and it's also got an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser and tracker system fitted. Keen to get it repaired and back on the road. The outfit I bought it from still hasn't arranged pick up two days on, hasn't attempted to contact me despite saying they'd aim to pick up yesterday so a stern phone call was made this morning to sort it out. Lets hope their customer care picks up a bit.

 

[Morety]

Bike will be back on the road next week. Rectifier had overheated, warped it got so hot and the wires feeding it were burnt through. The bike had been standing a long time and I'm guessing parts withing the rectifier had corroded. Stator and rectifier being replaced...possibly with cheap aftermarket versions, but we'll see how that goes.

 

[MarkShelley]

Not cheap, but ElectrexWorld do excellent aftermarket electrical components, including MOSFET regulators.

 

[Morety]

I may not rely on the one they've used and set that as my summer time job for the bike, fitting a good aftermarket one rather than (I suspect) the cheap chinese kit they've likely used. Electrosport ones have been recommended with the caveat that the connectors to the rectifier aren't a particularly good fit.
Bad as chinese ones are, I might get 1K miles or 10K miles from it. I aim to replace the cheapy rectifier with a series MOFSET rectifier anyway for reliability.

 

[Morety]

Here's a photo of the Weestrom. Very tidy for a 17 yr old bike:

 

[Greenman14]

Here's a photo of the Weestrom. Very tidy for a 17 yr old bike:

it certainly is. Who said Suzuki build quality and finish was a bit suspect?

 

[Morety]

Indeed. I don't see many 17 year old BMW's in the same condition! (Older air heads aside).

 

[McT]

great buy Morety - I had a 650 and loved it - great bike that just works!

 

[Morety]

Thanks McT. I'm pretty impressed with the ride despite the modest output and the fact it's well cared for and came with a new rear tyre, fresh MOT and a top box. Previous owner fitted an alarm and immobiliser which I may have removed depending on how tidily wiring has been done as badly done usually leads to issues down the line. Need to strip everything from it and check it through. Ready for winter though with handguards and heated grips and the screen I don't find too bad at all despite the negative comments from reviews on it. Fork gaiters were a very sensible addition by one of the previous owners too.

 

[Morety]

Well, the weestrom will be picked up tomorrow after being repaired. Had a new uprated stator fitted, new rectifier/regulator and a new Yuasa battery as the battery was toast. I'm hoping that's the end of the electrical woes
A word of caution to anyone thinking of one of the cheap chinese stators and regulators; the wiring loom connectors apparently won't fit. I was told the UK sourced replacement was one of the few with the correct connectors, otherwise a complete wiring loom replacement would have been needed! I'll try and find out who the stator supplier was, all I know is it's uprated like the later ones so able to supply more juice than the original.

 

[Morety]

Put up a fair few miles since picking up the bike earlier this week, today, in heavy rain with a hail shower thrown in for good measure! Got to say it's a pleasure to ride. Very comfortable riding position, excellent saddle and more engine braking than even the R1200RS. Fuelling as a little snatchy low down, but I need to adjust to it to get smoother with it. Balance is superb. Low speed manoeuvring is a doddle. Rear visibility with the barn door mirrors is very good at all speeds and revs. I found the hand protectors very welcome. Kept my hands bone dry, and along with the Oxford heated grips, dead warm too. Tried fitting my spare Nav 5 via the Ram mount on the bike with a micro-usb power supply. Whilst it works ok without the connected cradle I cannot get the bluetooth to connect with my phone or helmet, so have to concede defeat and just use it without audio.

Handling seems very sure footed, and a little slower than the RS but it holds a line well and suspension has been tuned from the factory to be spot on. Brakes are a little wooden but effective. Engine has bags of character although a touch muted but on a longer trip I'd be grateful for that. Overtakes are surprisingly nimble given the 70BHP output. It's enough for rapid safe overtakes at legal speeds.

It feels much lighter than the 214Kg claimed dry weight and is dead easy to manoeuvre off the bike, when getting into it's slot on the garage.

All in all, a stellar bargain of a bike. I can see now why they're so popular.

 

[alan29]

Had two. Toured Europe a few times two up, full luggage. Excellent bikes.