SV 650 vs V-Strom 650 Curiosity Question

[nedodjija]

I'd have to dissagree with everyone who favours SV650. I had 2000 SV650, then I had 2005 SV650, and now I ride 2008 DL650. All three bikes I rode to work and back every day. These bikes were my basic mean of transportation. Vstrom is easier to manuver in the trafic, you are sitting up more and the handlebars are wider. It does not have as much pep as the SV650, but it is much more confortable and you don't need that much pep for the comute. Now SV is funner bike through the curvy roads, and on the freeway where you can just turn the throttle and feel the power. The same is with the Wee but not as drastic. If you like long rides, and if you are going to use the bike for your daily comute, my vote goes to DL650. This comes form a guy who had both bikes, and used them for commuting and long rides. Good luck.

[Cat0020]

Originally Posted by nedodjija

Vstrom is easier to manuver in the trafic, you are sitting up more and the handlebars are wider. It does not have as much pep as the SV650, but it is much more confortable and you don't need that much pep for the comute. Now SV is funner bike through the curvy roads, and on the freeway where you can just turn the throttle and feel the power. The same is with the Wee but not as drastic. If you like long rides, and if you are going to use the bike for your daily comute, my vote goes to DL650. This comes form a guy who had both bikes, and used them for commuting and long rides. Good luck.

Personally, I feel the WeeStrom overweight in comparison to the SV, larger front wheel is really unnecessary for city commute. The wider handlebar makes it easier to maneuver, I put wider handlebar on my Gladius, which is very similar to naked SV650 and it did make the bike feel more maneuverable.

IMO, SV is not more fun on the freeway, if anything the fairing and windshield on the WeeStrom make it more suitable for freeway riding.

[nedodjija]

Originally Posted by Cat0020

Personally, I feel the WeeStrom overweight in comparison to the SV, larger front wheel is really unnecessary for city commute. The wider handlebar makes it easier to maneuver, I put wider handlebar on my Gladius, which is very similar to naked SV650 and it did make the bike feel more maneuverable.

IMO, SV is not more fun on the freeway, if anything the fairing and windshield on the WeeStrom make it more suitable for freeway riding.

I assume you owned both bikes. If you did, it is amazing how different people experience differently the same bikes.

[SpaceManSpiff]

Wow, old thread revival---but I have a (slightly farkled) 04 DL650 and a (moderately tweaked) naked Curvy SV650.

The DL is a surprisingly nimble bike (with that wide handlebar) with a sweet motor, practical (bright lights, straight up riding position, big luggage rack, comfy passenger accomodations, protection from the elements, really good range on a tank of gas. It also handles very neutral (maybe the 19" front / 17" rear tire combo?). The height of it is nice in traffic to see over cars...and maybe be seen by cars. Is a bit topheavy and can be tough to back up out of inclined parking spots of you are a little short on inseam.

Somehow, the sv is a just happy puppy dog of a bike. Puts a grin on my face everytime, guaranteed. The lighter weight makes it much snappier than the DL and gives it better handling. The newer S models have an unnecessarily aggressive riding position, I think. For strictly in town or sport riding, I prefer the SV --until i need to pick up groceries, give my GF a ride, etc.

The SV experience is more...visceral, with no big fairing in front of me, somehow it hits me right in the gut. The DL is so practical it hurts.

[Cat0020]

Originally Posted by nedodjija

I assume you owned both bikes. If you did, it is amazing how different people experience differently the same bikes.

Nope, I have owned a 2002 SV650S and ridden a 2006 DL650 for two weeks as a loaner bike. I'm used to commuting on my dual sport XR650R Supermotard or my 250cc Chinese scooter, both of which weighs under 360 lb. that's wet weight, ready to ride. Even my 2009 Gladius' wet weight is 450 lb.; mine has tail pipe removed (-8 lb.), swapped heavy OEM chrome bar and mirrors to alloy bar and plastic mirrors (-4~5lb.), removed other body plastics (-1lb.)

2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650 (DL650) - USA Specifications

Model Number DL650K9
Type DualSport
Warranty 12 month unlimited mileage limited warranty.

Suggested Retail $6,999
Engine 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90° V-twin
Bore & Stroke 81.0 mm (3.189 in) x 62.6 mm (2.465 in)
Compression Ratio 11.5 : 1
Fuel System Fuel injection
Overall Length 2290 mm (90.2 in)
Overall Width 840 mm (33.1 in)
Overall Height 1390 mm (54.7 in)
Seat Height 820 mm (32.3 in)
Ground Clearance 165 mm (6.5 in)
Wheelbase 1555 mm (61.2 in)
Dry Weight 217 kg (479 lbs)

Specifications: 2003 Suzuki SV650

Base Price: $5,899
Warranty: 12 mos., unltd. miles
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse 90-degree V-twin
Displacement: 645cc
Bore x Stroke: 81.0 x 62.6mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Valve Train: DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Wheelbase: 56.5 in.
Rake/Trail: 25.0 degrees/3.9 in.
Seat Height: 31.5 in.
Dry Weight: 165kg (375 lbs.)

[nedodjija]

Originally Posted by Cat0020

Nope, I have owned a 2002 SV650S and ridden a 2006 DL650 for two weeks as a loaner bike. I'm used to commuting on my dual sport XR650R Supermotard or my 250cc Chinese scooter, both of which weighs under 360 lb. that's wet weight, ready to ride. Even my 2009 Gladius' wet weight is 450 lb.; mine has tail pipe removed (-8 lb.), swapped heavy OEM chrome bar and mirrors to alloy bar and plastic mirrors (-4~5lb.), removed other body plastics (-1lb.)

2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650 (DL650) - USA Specifications

Model Number DL650K9
Type DualSport
Warranty 12 month unlimited mileage limited warranty.

Suggested Retail $6,999
Engine 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90° V-twin
Bore & Stroke 81.0 mm (3.189 in) x 62.6 mm (2.465 in)
Compression Ratio 11.5 : 1
Fuel System Fuel injection
Overall Length 2290 mm (90.2 in)
Overall Width 840 mm (33.1 in)
Overall Height 1390 mm (54.7 in)
Seat Height 820 mm (32.3 in)
Ground Clearance 165 mm (6.5 in)
Wheelbase 1555 mm (61.2 in)
Dry Weight 217 kg (479 lbs)

Specifications: 2003 Suzuki SV650

Base Price: $5,899
Warranty: 12 mos., unltd. miles
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse 90-degree V-twin
Displacement: 645cc
Bore x Stroke: 81.0 x 62.6mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Valve Train: DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Wheelbase: 56.5 in.
Rake/Trail: 25.0 degrees/3.9 in.
Seat Height: 31.5 in.
Dry Weight: 165kg (375 lbs.)

I believe that your input is very valuble.The numbers don't lie. I just know that when I had SV I always wanted to go faster then the trafic would allow. Not so much with DL. I love both bikes. If I had money the second bike would be SV650 hands down. What a value for the buck. Thanks for the specs.

[Cat0020]

Originally Posted by nedodjija

I believe that your input is very valuble. The numbers don't lie. Thanks for the specs.

Not a problem.

Originally Posted by nedodjija

I just know that when I had SV I always wanted to go faster then the trafic would allow. Not so much with DL. I love both bikes. If I had money the second bike would be SV650 hands down. What a value for the buck.

What you've experienced of "want" or "feel" to go faster seems to me like a personal problem; not related to one vehicles or another. IMO, if you prefer the ride of an DL, then your second bike should be something different, other than a V-twin just for veriety sake.. but that's just my opinion.

[SpaceManSpiff]

470ish pounds should be the wet weight for a DL650. Dry wieght is around 417 or so. ABS probably adds about 10lbs.

[SpaceManSpiff]

470ish pounds should be the wet weight for a DL650. Dry weight is around 417 or so. ABS probably adds about 10lbs.

[shrubitup]

Just picked up a SV650 '05 model naked. Did you know that you can add taller/wider bars to the SV to make it more upright? That's my plan. Several posts here criticizing the SVs bars. I'm gonna do it right and spend $20 whole dollars on some Bikemaster Daytona's.

The DL650 feels like a pig on the street compared to the SV but that's only in my very limited experience on both bikes. Just happy to be free of the death machines called dual sports for road riding.

I agree the SV wants to go fast but it's up to the rider whether it's appropriate to twist that throttle. That said, I can lug and chug and idle through parked traffic and then pull away like I robbed a bank. 0-60 in 3.5 seconds if necessary.

[650VTwin]

In a nutshell, the DL650 is taller, softer, and more roomy. The SV650 is lighter, zippier, and a lot smaller (not great for us talk folks). The DL's high seating position is great in traffic, and although it is top-heavy, the wide bars and upright riding position make it very maneuverable. I plan to keep both my DL and my SV for a long time -- the SV for around town and the DL for long trips.

[jon_l]

The '09 ABS DL650 is 485 lbs wet, according to Suzuki Canada website (http://moto.suzuki.ca/Product%20Lines/Cycles.aspx). The same site lists the SV650S ABS at 445 wet, the naked bike at 11 lbs less, 434lbs.

So the real weight difference between DL and SV would seem to be more like 50 lbs.

Originally Posted by Cat0020

Nope, I have owned a 2002 SV650S and ridden a 2006 DL650 for two weeks as a loaner bike. I'm used to commuting on my dual sport XR650R Supermotard or my 250cc Chinese scooter, both of which weighs under 360 lb. that's wet weight, ready to ride. Even my 2009 Gladius' wet weight is 450 lb.; mine has tail pipe removed (-8 lb.), swapped heavy OEM chrome bar and mirrors to alloy bar and plastic mirrors (-4~5lb.), removed other body plastics (-1lb.)

2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650 (DL650) - USA Specifications

Model Number DL650K9
Type DualSport
Warranty 12 month unlimited mileage limited warranty.

Suggested Retail $6,999
Engine 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90° V-twin
Bore & Stroke 81.0 mm (3.189 in) x 62.6 mm (2.465 in)
Compression Ratio 11.5 : 1
Fuel System Fuel injection
Overall Length 2290 mm (90.2 in)
Overall Width 840 mm (33.1 in)
Overall Height 1390 mm (54.7 in)
Seat Height 820 mm (32.3 in)
Ground Clearance 165 mm (6.5 in)
Wheelbase 1555 mm (61.2 in)
Dry Weight 217 kg (479 lbs)

Specifications: 2003 Suzuki SV650

Base Price: $5,899
Warranty: 12 mos., unltd. miles
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse 90-degree V-twin
Displacement: 645cc
Bore x Stroke: 81.0 x 62.6mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Valve Train: DOHC, 4 valves per cyl.
Wheelbase: 56.5 in.
Rake/Trail: 25.0 degrees/3.9 in.
Seat Height: 31.5 in.
Dry Weight: 165kg (375 lbs.)

[D.T.]

Anybody modded a DL motor to SV specs? This would be my plan if I got a Wee.

[jon_l]

Originally Posted by D.T.

Anybody modded a DL motor to SV specs? This would be my plan if I got a Wee.

If the DL650 engine isn't enough for you, it'd be easier and cheaper to just to get a (used) DL1000. And a lot more powerful.

[GlennR]

Old thread...

But today I found a good deal on CL for an 04 SV650S, 3400 miles for $2000. I got sort of excited, because I'd confused it with the V-Strom 650 which I knew was a upright riding "do-all" type bike. Anyway, I was disappointed when I saw the SV and realized that it had such low handlebars. I wasn't sure what was "wrong" but figured that I'd mistaken the VStrom's "letters".

Oh well, "live & learn".

Btw, if anybody here want's a nice 04 SV650 the guy's in Charlotte NC (btw, the rear brake doesn't work. It feels "dead" like there's no fluid in the res or the seals are shot. Probably not much to fix, but I don't know. Besides that it's a sweet looking bike.) His add says $2600 or $2500, but he said $2000 was good since the rear brake issue. I just didn't want that type of riding position.