Is the 2013 V-Strom 650 the best beginner bike?

[@rokhnroll]

I bought a Suzuki DL650 2012 for my first big bike and still have it 2.5 years later. Good value, easy to do a basic consumables service at home, proven engine and gearbox, Good on all tarmac environments from urban - twisties - motorways. You can dress it up with luggage and it works great as a pack horse tourer, Strip off the luggage and its good for a weekend rideout. It is not arm wrenchingly powerful but for new riders that is a good thing. I did find it a bit lumpy on the throttle to begin with but you soon adapt with a bit of clutch feathering and gear selection, I could not get on with the givi airflow screen and went for a Puig which is better for me but not perfect. It does feel top heavy to me as well but once on the move its easy to ride.

[@ralphcantrell3214]

The only “problem” I’ve ever encountered with my DL650 is a tendency to roll off the side stand and fall over. In 52 years as an avid motorcyclist owning scores of bikes, I can remember that happening maybe twice. But it has happened 4 times to my V-Strom in its 25k miles - once to the PO, and 3 times to me. It is something to do with the geometry of the side stand. I am very experienced and careful about this, always leaving it in gear etc, and it just keeps happening. I’ve never seen a bike so quick to “jump” off its side stand. That’s it though. I wouldn’t trade it for any other bike in its category.

[@Motoristika]

I can say I love motorcycling!! I'm 52 years old, I'm a brand new beginner finishing my license and I want my first bike soon. I thought about taking the cb500x because it is lighter, powerful enough for one person but rather small bike for me (1.82 cm high for 100 kg weight) so my second option is the Vstrom 650 but still in fear knowing that it is a good motorcycle with more power, weight, etc... But I want to commute mostly and also do touring later on... the choice is difficult, but with regular training I will be able to drive the Vstrom and I love the color of your bike, the sound and your video. Thank you for that! Regards from far away Serbia :)

[@DrivewithTony]

i got my licence this year (im 36 years old) . and my first bike is a V-strom 650 (2008) i am 190cm tall and 110kg. the bike is really a great beginner bike. i have put some bar risers on mine. and a taller seat. it is a easy bike to ride, low fuel usage (when driving nicely) and is a comfortable bike. i recommend this as a beginner bike.

[@svaralen]

Nice video thanx for that 👍 I am a 50 years old beginner (1,83cm high with 110kg weight) passing from maxi scooter on motorcycle. I think this beauty can be my first bike!! I think is the best choice for everything, touring, commuting, enough power, can take a passenger, comfotable...excellent!!! Regards from far away Serbia 🇷🇸✌️

[@landshark9603]

Thanks mate. Perfect for your needs

[@phil4986]

First off,this is a great video. You simply took us on an almost half hour ride along and you shared your honest opinions about the Suzuki V-Strom 650. I always liked this bike because 1- it has an extremely well designed and reliable v-twin engine 2-it is incredibly versatile 3- it is not a 24 valve nightmare to maintain. 4-the large gas tank means alot of riding betwen fillups. Suzuki,like most of the major Japanese makes, builds astonishing quality into their machines. But I noticed two things in your review that will likely make me buy another bike instead. 1-you said it yourself,the bike feels top heavy ( five gallons of gas) and 2-the entire time you were riding the motorcycle ,it was oscillating left,right left ,right left right,left... I think the high center of gravity might have caused this to happen or possibly your rear tire is off to the left ,in front,slightly after a chain adjustment. In either case,that would drive me insane. Some new bikes are following a new gas tank placement design where the tank you see is not the tank at all and the gas is placed lower in the frame to lower the center of gravity. Hondas NC700 and NC750 are two such motorcycles. I might look closer at those. I am also still looking at the SV650 street bike which still has the same great motor you enjoy in ....potentially... an easier ( and much cheaper) package to live with. Still,thank you for the ride along on a beautiful day. LOL,you have the exact same luck I have. At the start of the video,you put the bike in gear and here come a bunch of cars. Have a great day and thanks for your ride along for us to enjoy.

[@landshark9603]

Thanks Phil, I really appreciate your feedback. Look, the oscillating might totally be rider error/bad habits and she is due for a new chain/adjustment. I only really notice the balance issue after jumping on from riding other bikes. If was your only ride you get used to it. Goodluck with your search! You'll have a very different experience on the bikes you listed, I know the SV is a lot of fun.

[@advorlando9855]

My first bike was a 72 Honda 350 when I was 18. It was a trail bike and was in rough shape, but it was perfect to learn on. You could never go on the highway though. The next two were Honda 400's and they were both upgrades. My 4th bike was a keeper...85 700 Virago, and I loved that bike till the day I totaled it. Later was an old Honda 750 I sold in 1989. FFWD almost 30 years after raising a family, I reentered the bike world with a new style I've always wanted...ADV. A comfortable road bike that you can take off road had a strong appeal to me, and I test drove a BWM GS1200. It was a little top-heavy and intimidating, but I soon saw the 650 Vstrom at a local dealer and took it for a spin. It's my new keeper. For the wife I got a 1600 Nomad and it's a beast to handle making me love the Vstrom all the more. The Vstrom is a tall bike, but I'm 6'0" and I'm good with it. If you're tall enough, I believe there is a first and forever bike, and it's the Vstrom 650. I plan to have other bikes, but I think I will always have a 650 vstrom.

[@landshark9603]

Thanks mate! I love hearing these stories. I feel the same way, I think of my Strom as the comfy goto sneakers. Cheers

[@ilmarinen79]

Nice story! I've been doing research for my starter bike and if not Vstrom 650, Versys or CB500x seem to be decent alternatives. I've yet to test them and see which resonates in actual life...

[@davidkitching6154]

Thanks for an honest review of the bike, I am looking at getting one of the series 3 bikes shortly. P.S. Where did you take this video at, it looks like a very enjoyable ride?

[@ralphcantrell3214]

I bought my son an SV650 for his first street bike on his 14th birthday. He had grown up on increasingly bigger dirt bikes, starting with a CRF50 and ending with a friend’s CRF450R. He wanted a Ninja 250, but I refused. I told him that a 450R dirt bike was a lot scarier than an SV650, and that I didn’t want to be trading bikes again in a month when he outgrew the 250. That was 8 years ago, and the SV650 is still serving him well. He has never stopped thanking me for refusing the 250 either. 😎

[@kmb957]

Its a good beginner bike if it's a taller person. Im 5'6" with a 30" inseam and the bike put me on my toes at stock height. I had to quickly adapt to a one foot stop technique. I bought mine after 4 years of riding so I had the skills to adapt. A new rider may get overcome by the weight and height if they can't get both feet to touch comfortably.

[@landshark9603]

Great hearing the feedback, I wanted to hear from someone with that perspective. You can lower the bike but I agree, if you cant touch the ground comfortable it will be a struggle with the Strom. Cheers

[@kmb957]

@@landshark9603 I lowered mine about 3/4" from stock after I got it. That allowed me to keep the suspension geometry the same with lowering the front at the triple clamps. It was much easier to manage at that point.

[@jameswaterhouse-brown6646]

I’m loving my VStrom more and more. You can really have fun on these bikes. I have put on a delcevic exhaust and it sounds brilliant, looks great and has made it a bit performing I feel. I also installed bar risers( up and back) and now it feels like a mini power cruiser hybrid or something… to me anyway. It would take a special bike to trade it atm. Being able to stand up on it and do some off-roading is also awesome. It’s a gem.

[@landshark9603]

Thanks for watching and sharing. There's so much you can do with them.

[@Labgorilla]

I’ve done around 20,000 miles on 125s for about 6 years. I have rebuilt the top end myself. But this is my first A licence bike. My instructor indicated that it would the best workhorse for my 100 mile a day commute.

[@landshark9603]

Agreed but wow that's some commute. The bike will eat it up. I used to do 500 plus km a day when I was a courier with no issues.

[@robertoc2485]

Thanks for the video. Down to earth and interesting 👍

[@landshark9603]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@stevebirks1]

I'm a new rider and at 6'3" I find it completely manageable. A little top heavy if I'm honest. I chose the Vstrom as it uses the same engine as the bike I learned on.. a suzuki gladius. Not sure how long I'll keep it though, just needed something to build confidence on, and for that I think its perfect.

[@landshark9603]

Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@MK-cr6cd]

Good review, continue to post and let us know add on's and riding updates

[@landshark9603]

Cheers mate. Theres a lot to post up.Coming soon.

[@eamonnmurphy5039]

It's definitely top heavy, I've to remind myself not to fill the tank. With a full tank then even pulling up to a junction you have to think "am I pretty much vertical". To go offroad with a full tank is asking for a workout.....and not in a good way..... Other than that I love it to bits. It does take a few quid to add offroad protection, but even that is probably going OTT.

[@landshark9603]

Thanks for sharing. Im glad you confirmed that for me, it's my daily now, so I'm used to it it but its strange that I haven't heard anyone else mention how top heavy they are with a full tank in other videos I've seen.

[@67daltonknox]

No, the best beginner bike is an old DRZ 400S. Less money, you can drop it a bunch of times while making all the beginner mistakes and after 6 months sell it for what you paid for it.

[@landshark9603]

good comment.thanks

[@renano95]

The v strom shouldnt be your first bike but maybe your second or third. And likely your last

[@landshark9603]

good comment. thanks

[@mrniceguy4920]

no, it's not. you have to ride shit bikes first. start with a 500 dollar 500 cc and then after a year, buy something else. this bike is too good for a beginner. there is a reason only grey fat guys are on bmw gs'es it 's a learning curve

[@landshark9603]

Interesting point of view. It's an old school way of looking at things, thats how I grew up. These days most people buy their first bike on credit and will never turn a wrench. A $500 bike is definitely going to need wrenching. Labour costs aren't what they were 20 years ago but I totally see your point of view, great topic for a video. cheers. ps, I am the grey guy but I don't really want the bmw haha

[@cenkgonen4485]

2023 vstrom 650 xt is 315.000$ here. Yes you can buy 3 ferrari there. We are in huge economic crisis. So taste the life. So lucky. ( PS5 is 25.000 $) our monthly salary is 5000$ (Turkei)