After having bought three new ‘Stroms (‘09, ‘12, 15) and having put more than 180 000 kilometers extensively riding through Canada, USA, Mexico and Central America I can say this: The DL650 V-Strom is a pretty good motorcycle. And, should you think I’m condemning with faint praise, let me say this: I’m not. The Wee Strom has a jewel of an engine, the rest of the package being decent for the buck. I hope to always have one in my garage, but hopefully . . . along with other bikes too.
@@HumGuitar it will have far more than enough, I used to tour with a passenger on a 150 cc bike, which will often feel week and not having enough power to overtake at speeds higher than 50kmh, after trying a v strom 650 and 1000, both of them have lots of power for riding on the highway, and can overtake smoothly without the need to downshift. but for long distances on the freeway at speeds higher than 100kmh, the 650 will have more noticeable vibrations due to it's higher rpm.
Awesome bikes for the money, I've had all 3 generations , 2008, 2012 and now the 2018. The 12 and 18 models will top 200kph which is pretty good for a 650 V twin. They are great on fuel, 450km per tank is achievable and service costs are low. The 2012 model I owned from new had its first valve clearance check at 74,000 km and all were within spec. Just change oil and filters at the specified intervals and you will have years of trouble free riding. Good honest review mate.
That's exactly what I was thinking. In the USA, there are a lot of sweet deals on lightly used ADV bikes available. For example, I saw a bike advertised yesterday that runs in the neighborhood of $9,000.00 - $10,000.00 brand new, depending on what options you add on. It was a year old, had 3,000 "easy" miles on it, and the asking price was $5,200.00. If you're truly in the market for an ADV bike, why would a person not jump on a deal like that? It may be different in India, but for the USA, I'd have to disagree with the title.
Kentucky Justice In India, people try to rip you off every chance they get, that’s why it is safer to buy a new machine than pick up an old one, unless you know the owner directly and for some strange reason you get a good deal on it too.
@cuppateadee If you broke down in the middle of nowhere, I know which I would rather work on to get going again ... and it isn't the Triumph! So many modern bikes these days are far too complicated! :-)
Yep, that Suzuki 650 V-Twin engine is one of the sweetest little motors out there. Smooth, enough torque over a wide band, great economy, eagerness to operate throughout the rev range and of course virtual bulletproof reliability. It definitely performs better than the peak figures suggest. Fit a decent pipe and it also sounds pretty good too!
Kudos to the host for being uber honest about his height unlike the general youtube crowd. on the other hand Karti-K sure looks around 5 feet 9 on the screen.
Halogens are better than |LED's and that is because LED casts solid shadows where the light rays do not hit the object directly while a halogen emitted light is scattered around it in a much better manner.
Yes mam. We are discussing it from a pride of ownership aspect... And looking current.. we haven't said anything about LEDs by default being better than halogens. We have seen proof of that often.
I had a 2014 Honda Valkyrie with LED headlights and I didn't really care for it. The headlights on my 2014 VStrom are the best I've experienced in high and low beam. Hell, the headlights on my VStrom are better than some cars I've driven.
Great job. I bought my 2013 brand new in 2014 came with hard. Panniers which I hate to ride with unless I am going away for vacation. The most comfortable bike I have ever owned cause there is plenty of room to adjust your sitting position. Great fuel mileage. The only reason to trade in is for the lower seat. I am 5’6” with a 29-30” inseam.
Thank you, nicely done presentation with a strong end user focus and not a lot of hype. Good points made about the need to add the centre stand, and although the XT comes with the skid plate and the hand guards, they are very cheap plastic, one might be better served by third party metal products that cost less per unit. I cannot comment on availability of such things in India as I live in Canada where there are many options that I know of, but I have no knowledge of what is available in India.
true story. most of "us mericans" barely (probably don't) understand those two big words you just used, congratulations on being diligent students of the game :) I wish more of our native students better valued the opportunities we have, but it's good to be reminded a lot of people do care about language and work hard. Good luck
I was only offered a 35 litre top box in Aus which i find a bit small. Weight is not a problem. I find it a superb adventure bike. Just clicked over 11000 km. Will get 50/50 tyres next time.
I own a Versys, and while I absolutely love it, I think the new V-Strom is a better bike. The dash has better info, and the configuration is nicer for long roads. The one touch start and safe-idling are very nice touches for in-town use. The traction control is questionable on a mid-size bike with 53KW like that, though. I don't think one would easily slip the back on the tarmac, and off-road you'd probably switch it off anyway.
Sir led lights are for abroad countries.. Halogen bulbs are much better in all weather conditions.. Led shines well only inside the head lamp.. Halogen covers both low beam patch and long throw Lane.. Cheap to replace too.
Except these 2 ? So simple ? Man , spoke wheels are d best for off-road , that too with tubeless tyres combo is really amazing . Traction Control - Its a life saving feature too .. Especially in dirt and sand , atleast for first timers . These 2 aren't simple features , they are amazing feature additions .
Excellent comments. Trying to decide on something to get back into biking and I'm 6'3". Worth thinking and I think I may move to a slightly higher cc and more touring oriented after reading this.
I brought a used adv bike, nothing wrong with that, infact i prefer used bikes, you dont lose as much money reselling, you dont mind taking things off to customise it, so much better to buy used
Hey Yogesh! Long time! With Suzuki all bets are off.. there are some super passionate people working in India and they are proper bikers.. for them getting the price right is important too.. so let's see
Great Pro presentation. You have awesome command of nuances of language and catch phrases. I really enjoyed the presentation and you got me info I need about the bike I am getting in 2 weeks. Did dude say it is capable to tackle our "non-existent city roads," lol True story.
Please ATTACH a SIDECAR to your Bike, maximum Storage, Co-Rider and the Biker can take rest while riding, no need to over-weight the bike and modify any parts. Please share the message across all Bikers, ATTACH a SIDECAR for Bike - gives you best comfort on a long road trip. Please promote use of SIDECAR to the Bikes.
This is a great engaging review! Thanks! I've had this one in mind as a possible second bike to buy next riding season. Seems like real good bang for the buck. I need something other than a supersport!
Great review thanks for posting. This seems like a bike that I am interested in. How does it compare to the BMW 850 or 750? would you have one of those over the vstrom? Thanks
this is a very good motor cycle,but if you try the yamaha tenere 1200,then you feel a big difference in fun factor and build quality;but sure not a bad choice the v strom..The versys is not up to the plate with these 2..
Ktm 390 adventure will have the lion's share !! And choosy people who can afford will take the tiger 800. Suzuki looks over priced.. 6 lakhs on road was a good tag.. All the best to marketing team.
Kartikeya is the best... waiting for his review on royal enfield interceptor 650... Kartikeya should run his own channel on utube i am 100% sure it will be an amazing show... Best host ever
On 1.30 min there's a improper edit while u guys edit plz play it and check it the videos the frame is not analyzing for wrap stabilizer on premier or a.e
How much better is it going to do than the Himalayan 450? Or even the ktm 390 adventure.? For so much money this still has helogen lights, and still has ordinary telescopic forks instead of the more premium USD forks. what a shame. So again, the question is. How much better is it going to do with two times the price then a Himalayan 450?
I really can't understand why these bikes are so grossly overweight. My 2001 Aprilia Falco is under 200kg, dry . It has the 990cc V60 engine with twin exhausts and a full fairing. It also has a 21l fuel tank. Considering the elapsed time and advances in materials, how is it that 650cc bikes are over 200kg?
Hey Kartik Grt review as usual Seems like Suzuki has got right price ( still pretty high for many) Looks are subjective Only fear is after sales and service- Suzuki has great product bank but u don’t see many of them o man road or in monthly sales except few busas. Suzuki pl raise the bar- u have ace in ur hand Cheers
I wanted to raise point about big bikes and not daily commuters. Hope this goes well in India. Thank u for ur reply- made my day😄 Hoping to see u soon in person at Pune. Cheers
RWU forks make much more sense for an off road bike, or a semi-off-road bike in this case.. I can remember when off road bikes had gaiters to protect the chrome on the tubes ........... but for today's fashions that's a big no, no .... form over function ... not always right is it
Nice review. I own a Versys 650 and have done 30,000kms on it and have ridden the VStrom 650 for 1000kms on the famous Mae Hon Song Loop in Thailand. Both motorcycles are almost identical but the Versys wins hands down in comparison if you like better power delivery, handling and an overall more fun to ride motorcycle
WTH? There are GREAT deals with used V-Stroms. Do your homework. Stroms are terrific bikes. Have had 2 of them. Went almost coast to coast once and 4k miles in one trip. Both were used/pre owned !
After having bought three new ‘Stroms (‘09, ‘12, 15) and having put more than 180 000 kilometers extensively riding through Canada, USA, Mexico and Central America I can say this: The DL650 V-Strom is a pretty good motorcycle. And, should you think I’m condemning with faint praise, let me say this: I’m not. The Wee Strom has a jewel of an engine, the rest of the package being decent for the buck. I hope to always have one in my garage, but hopefully . . . along with other bikes too.
I'm thinking of getting the 650 vstrom. I can only afford one bike. Will the 650 have enough power to tour with a passenger and luggage?
HumGuitar yes I did fully loaded with my 20yr old daughter , from uk to , Belgium and France , no problem whatsoever
Yes, with no problems at all.
@@HumGuitar it will have far more than enough, I used to tour with a passenger on a 150 cc bike, which will often feel week and not having enough power to overtake at speeds higher than 50kmh,
after trying a v strom 650 and 1000,
both of them have lots of power for riding on the highway,
and can overtake smoothly without the need to downshift.
but for long distances on the freeway at speeds higher than 100kmh,
the 650 will have more noticeable vibrations due to it's higher rpm.
Hi. Would you recommend also older V Storms? Such as 2006-2008 y? What you think about used V Storm?
Awesome bikes for the money, I've had all 3 generations , 2008, 2012 and now the 2018. The 12 and 18 models will top 200kph which is pretty good for a 650 V twin. They are great on fuel, 450km per tank is achievable and service costs are low. The 2012 model I owned from new had its first valve clearance check at 74,000 km and all were within spec. Just change oil and filters at the specified intervals and you will have years of trouble free riding.
Good honest review mate.
when does it hit reserve?
@@carlosandleon Doesn't have reserve.
You India guys are making some top end motorcycle videos...well done and thumbs up!
The title also says , dont buy a used adv .. nothing about that was mentioned in the video
Adn dna that means do not buy a used tiger rather buy this😁🙏
@@BuluBiker ahh! Thank you very much for connecting the dots! 🙏
That's exactly what I was thinking. In the USA, there are a lot of sweet deals on lightly used ADV bikes available. For example, I saw a bike advertised yesterday that runs in the neighborhood of $9,000.00 - $10,000.00 brand new, depending on what options you add on. It was a year old, had 3,000 "easy" miles on it, and the asking price was $5,200.00. If you're truly in the market for an ADV bike, why would a person not jump on a deal like that? It may be different in India, but for the USA, I'd have to disagree with the title.
Kentucky Justice In India, people try to rip you off every chance they get, that’s why it is safer to buy a new machine than pick up an old one, unless you know the owner directly and for some strange reason you get a good deal on it too.
@cuppateadee If you broke down in the middle of nowhere, I know which I would rather work on to get going again ... and it isn't the Triumph! So many modern bikes these days are far too complicated! :-)
Leave it to a country that still runs actual daily life on two-wheels to know what they're talking about. Great video!
There is no better mid size Vstrom in the market, better than the Versys 650, NC 750 and Yamaha Tracer 7. Super reliable and great value.
1:29 someone forgot to fix the adobe premier pro error
Yep, that Suzuki 650 V-Twin engine is one of the sweetest little motors out there. Smooth, enough torque over a wide band, great economy, eagerness to operate throughout the rev range and of course virtual bulletproof reliability. It definitely performs better than the peak figures suggest. Fit a decent pipe and it also sounds pretty good too!
Well as for the looks, and the headlights, I think it looks pretty good and is a good example of suzuki design language.
unbiased review thank you karthick,will wait for a comparo with the versys.
Thanks bro!
Kudos to the host for being uber honest about his height unlike the general youtube crowd. on the other hand Karti-K sure looks around 5 feet 9 on the screen.
Nothing to hide... Except weight.. 😆
Halogens are better than |LED's and that is because LED casts solid shadows where the light rays do not hit the object directly while a halogen emitted light is scattered around it in a much better manner.
Yes mam. We are discussing it from a pride of ownership aspect... And looking current.. we haven't said anything about LEDs by default being better than halogens. We have seen proof of that often.
I had a 2014 Honda Valkyrie with LED headlights and I didn't really care for it. The headlights on my 2014 VStrom are the best I've experienced in high and low beam. Hell, the headlights on my VStrom are better than some cars I've driven.
Great job. I bought my 2013 brand new in 2014 came with hard. Panniers which I hate to ride with unless I am going away for vacation. The most comfortable bike I have ever owned cause there is plenty of room to adjust your sitting position. Great fuel mileage. The only reason to trade in is for the lower seat. I am 5’6” with a 29-30” inseam.
Thank you, nicely done presentation with a strong end user focus and not a lot of hype. Good points made about the need to add the centre stand, and although the XT comes with the skid plate and the hand guards, they are very cheap plastic, one might be better served by third party metal products that cost less per unit. I cannot comment on availability of such things in India as I live in Canada where there are many options that I know of, but I have no knowledge of what is available in India.
you have the fluent and clearest dictions among indians that i have heard . keep it up bro . greetings from philippines
true story. most of "us mericans" barely (probably don't) understand those two big words you just used, congratulations on being diligent students of the game :) I wish more of our native students better valued the opportunities we have, but it's good to be reminded a lot of people do care about language and work hard. Good luck
You are very talented. I love watching your videos. Lots of personality and great technical advice!
I was only offered a 35 litre top box in Aus which i find a bit small. Weight is not a problem. I find it a superb adventure bike. Just clicked over 11000 km. Will get 50/50 tyres next time.
I own a Versys, and while I absolutely love it, I think the new V-Strom is a better bike. The dash has better info, and the configuration is nicer for long roads. The one touch start and safe-idling are very nice touches for in-town use. The traction control is questionable on a mid-size bike with 53KW like that, though. I don't think one would easily slip the back on the tarmac, and off-road you'd probably switch it off anyway.
Sir led lights are for abroad countries.. Halogen bulbs are much better in all weather conditions.. Led shines well only inside the head lamp.. Halogen covers both low beam patch and long throw Lane.. Cheap to replace too.
You didnt explain why not to buy a used ADV as mentioned in your title. Please elaborate.
Except the wheels(spoke but still tubless, size) n traction control I feel Versys is still a good package.
If versys get that two things which you tell then good package brother
Except that "just" these 2 differences are definitely not insignificant
Except these 2 ? So simple ?
Man , spoke wheels are d best for off-road , that too with tubeless tyres combo is really amazing .
Traction Control - Its a life saving feature too .. Especially in dirt and sand , atleast for first timers .
These 2 aren't simple features , they are amazing feature additions .
What about the service cost in long term?
Excellent comments. Trying to decide on something to get back into biking and I'm 6'3". Worth thinking and I think I may move to a slightly higher cc and more touring oriented after reading this.
I was always wondering, is this a good bike for shorter rider? thank you for the answer. 03:55 great review!! hope you had a better cover image :)
I was wondering that too, I am almost 5"8' (172cm), so the height factor is always present
V Strom 650 is the best bike ever built, I had a 2004, 2012 now 2024, nothing to compare, perfect bike in every way.🏍
Refreshing to see a review like this... thanks
I brought a used adv bike, nothing wrong with that, infact i prefer used bikes, you dont lose as much money reselling, you dont mind taking things off to customise it, so much better to buy used
Strictly talking about the Indian market... Where buying a used one is a gamble that you'll most like end up on the losing side.
Why do people use white led... The light scatters in fog... Halogen works perfect in almost all the road conditions...
What error? You guys must be seeing things!
At 1:30 Frame not analyzed for stabilization; click Analyze.😉
1:30
😁
2:00 , 38c degrees, you are lucky hot weather
havent got the notification , but well rounded review kartik😊
Mr Bagul! Good to see you here too! 😆 Thanks again bro!
Love my V-Strom 1000 XT. Can't recommend it enough.
Maybe one of the best V Strom reviews on RUclips, thanks
i cant help but pronouncing it as STORM rather than STROM is more satisfying
@chez421 thank you.
you are graet reviewer! we hope we can see 2023 vstrom 650xt and vstrom 800 de from you. Glads from Turkei
now this is the perfect most review I found about this bike on internet
🙏 grateful for your time !
Big fan of the way Kartikeya Singhee puts things on perspective, great job once again... And kudos to Suzuki for a good bike with fab pricing...
Like the review style and provided info.
Keep up the good work!
I didn't hear anyone utter "S" and "V" together.
Shumi on the other hand didn't disappoint.
i have Suzuki GS 150 R Bike. Suzuki always make a best bike
The service network is not wide. You have 2 showrooms in the east and parts are not available without any doubt
Well detailed review. Awesome.
Thanks for watching! Appreciate any feedback!
Thanks for watching! 🙏
Awesome review as always. Do you think Suzuki will bring DR650 in India or any other brand with their dual sport motorcycle ?
Hey Yogesh! Long time! With Suzuki all bets are off.. there are some super passionate people working in India and they are proper bikers.. for them getting the price right is important too.. so let's see
Wearing out my 05 (650) and it s big brother 06 (1000) . Would only get a new 650 if I bought another one. Great all arounder s .
I love your presentation , good flowing
tubeless on spokes .
v twin engine
bhaiya SUZUKI CHALO
Really informative video. Well done - thanks
Great Pro presentation. You have awesome command of nuances of language and catch phrases. I really enjoyed the presentation and you got me info I need about the bike I am getting in 2 weeks.
Did dude say it is capable to tackle our "non-existent city roads," lol True story.
You do it so neat .. thanks for the wonderful and honest review
Please ATTACH a SIDECAR to your Bike,
maximum Storage,
Co-Rider and the Biker can take rest while riding, no need to over-weight the bike and modify any parts.
Please share the message across all Bikers,
ATTACH a SIDECAR for Bike - gives you best comfort on a long road trip.
Please promote use of SIDECAR to the Bikes.
Fantastic review! Thank you!
Nice information on the bike enjoyed the video. Only bad thing is the size of the exhaust box.
I am going to buy versey 650 next year best option.
How did that video did a timeline export without analysing the warp stabiliser?!
1:29 Analyze Frames. !!??
This is a great engaging review! Thanks! I've had this one in mind as a possible second bike to buy next riding season. Seems like real good bang for the buck. I need something other than a supersport!
Loved the review and thoroughly enjoyed !!
Great, well done ! Review is super
Where did you got those ridding boots can you please tell me it's awesome
Great review thanks for posting. This seems like a bike that I am interested in. How does it compare to the BMW 850 or 750? would you have one of those over the vstrom? Thanks
Always loved ur review, I have a question, are side panniers not available for V-storm then ?
Thank you sir! 🙏 They aren't available yet.
Wether you tie your hair or open, you look so good either way! P.s my hair are longer than you but I keep them tied 😂😂.
Awesome review btw 👌🏽❤️
Haha... Thanks for watching bro!
this is a very good motor cycle,but if you try the yamaha tenere 1200,then you feel a big difference in fun factor and build quality;but sure not a bad choice the v strom..The versys is not up to the plate with these 2..
I have got one
This bike is wonderfull.....don t hésitate.....buy it
Ktm 390 adventure will have the lion's share !! And choosy people who can afford will take the tiger 800. Suzuki looks over priced.. 6 lakhs on road was a good tag.. All the best to marketing team.
am Karthikeya singhee fan when u are in autocar way of presentation suprrb
Thank you for so many years of attention! 🙏
Great video !!!
Kartikeya is the best... waiting for his review on royal enfield interceptor 650... Kartikeya should run his own channel on utube i am 100% sure it will be an amazing show... Best host ever
Pause at 1:29-1:30
Great review!
A great all-round review, well done. I don't know how you wear protective motorcycle gear when the temperature is 38 degrees C!
Amazing how the v-strom 650 is 7kg more than a yamaha tracer 900 and the tracer even has bigger usd forks
Tracer is not an ADV, its a sport tourer.
On 1.30 min there's a improper edit while u guys edit plz play it and check it the videos the frame is not analyzing for wrap stabilizer on premier or a.e
How much better is it going to do than the Himalayan 450? Or even the ktm 390 adventure.? For so much money this still has helogen lights, and still has ordinary telescopic forks instead of the more premium USD forks. what a shame.
So again, the question is. How much better is it going to do with two times the price then a Himalayan 450?
You mentioned at the end that it's assembled in India. I'm pretty sure that the ones we get here in the states are still made in Japan.
I was waiting for this from the day v storm 650 release
I really can't understand why these bikes are so grossly overweight. My 2001 Aprilia Falco is under 200kg, dry . It has the 990cc V60 engine with twin exhausts and a full fairing. It also has a 21l fuel tank. Considering the elapsed time and advances in materials, how is it that 650cc bikes are over 200kg?
Planning to buy one of these two bikes
Honda Cb500x or sujuki v strom 650xt
Your advice
Whuch will better value for money
Hey Kartik
Grt review as usual
Seems like Suzuki has got right price ( still pretty high for many)
Looks are subjective
Only fear is after sales and service- Suzuki has great product bank but u don’t see many of them o man road or in monthly sales except few busas.
Suzuki pl raise the bar- u have ace in ur hand
Cheers
I don't think the sales and service is an issue there . And thank you for watching Sir!
I wanted to raise point about big bikes and not daily commuters. Hope this goes well in India.
Thank u for ur reply- made my day😄
Hoping to see u soon in person at Pune.
Cheers
Good review 👍
LUIZ CEZAR: TENHO UMA TWISTER 2018. VOU DA DE ENTRADA NA VESTRO 650. AMEI AMOTO.
Frame but analysed for stabilization. Click analyze
1:30
Kartik...bhai...new..look....👌👌👌
Manjunath sir! 🙏
i like this video regardless of what people are saying about his hair!
What a package this is.....superb
what's close to this good? for bout same money? 7500 I can get this 2019 strom for new.
Karthikeya you work for both PD& ZW??
Yes sir! Stay subscribed to both! 😆
@@SirKart OK gud anchoring brother
If he could take over instead of Varun Painter, it will be great. I get tired of Varun's style in seconds, in any of his videos.
@@gichanLive I love varun painter !!! It doesn't matter
RWU forks make much more sense for an off road bike, or a semi-off-road bike in this case..
I can remember when off road bikes had gaiters to protect the chrome on the tubes ........... but for today's fashions that's a big no, no .... form over function ... not always right is it
great review..
Nice review. I own a Versys 650 and have done 30,000kms on it and have ridden the VStrom 650 for 1000kms on the famous Mae Hon Song Loop in Thailand. Both motorcycles are almost identical but the Versys wins hands down in comparison if you like better power delivery, handling and an overall more fun to ride motorcycle
Damn you're good at reviewing bikes :)
What's the news on "KTM Adventure 390" ?
Early 2019
Hi! Can you share the service intervals?
6500km
One of the dealers told me it's 4000kms or 4 months...r u sure about 6500kms?
If u buy... between versys 650 and suzuki 650.........then what u choice sir........reply pls
Ones again a beautiful review by kartikey
Many thanks bro! 🙏
spare parts availability is big issue here in my city. even for suzuki access scooter.
WTH? There are GREAT deals with used V-Stroms. Do your homework. Stroms are terrific bikes. Have had 2 of them. Went almost coast to coast once and 4k miles in one trip. Both were used/pre owned !
Didn't know Sayid Jarra rode motorcycles. He's even cooler now.
Karthik is back to zigwheels???
Didn't he move to powerdrift few weeks back !!!
Bro.. we are one family.. so .. I get to do videos on both channels..
It doesn't even have USD forks for two times money of himalayan 450. Still has helpgen lights instead of LED. What a shame.
is it comfortable for long trips?
Great Video.