Suzuki V-Strom | 650 vs 1000 | Long term review and In depth comparison ( English )

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Күн бұрын

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@neilf335 Жыл бұрын

An excellent and thorough review, thankyou. I've been riding a 1000 (2018 model) for the last 4 years and love the power. The suspension smooths out uneven roads very well but as it was a bit high for me, I lowered the suspension using a Lush Racing lowering kit. The throttle is very aggressive at low speed, it's almost an on/off switch, giving an uncomfortable ride when slowing and turning into a tight junction - for example in 2nd gear it slows very well with great engine braking, but can easily lunge forward as soon as the throttle is opened, even slightly; this can cause you to go wide if unprepared - either stay in higher gear and/or slip the clutch. I've had a test ride on a 650 which didn't have this problem - the throttle, and gear selection, were noticeably smoother. I'm seriously considering swapping it for a new 650, mainly because I'm noticing the weight much more as I get older (70 this year). My main concern is will I be satisfied with the lower power - particularly when overtaking in traffic - this is a breeze on the 1000 but I'm wondering how much more of a challenge it will be on a 650.

@MathieuTechMoto Жыл бұрын

This is mainly why i prefered the 650 over the 1000, overall it was more fun to ride I now have both Kawasaki Versys 650 and 1000 for a year, i will sell the 1000 to a friend that does mostly highway riding and weights about 250 lbs, I simply love how the 650 is so much more nimble even than the Vstrom due rto it's short wheelbase, even with a passenger it remains very easy to control

@neilf335 Жыл бұрын

@@MathieuTechMoto I've ordered a 650 this morning :-)

@MathieuTechMoto Жыл бұрын

@@neilf335 Great choice !

@mr.solitude3352 Жыл бұрын

Great DETAILED comparison. Thank you.

@MathieuTechMoto Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked my work :)

@nikolanix6042 2 жыл бұрын

Great video with a lot of useful information! Thank you for sharing and keep doing these videos!

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching :)

@sanktsalva8886 2 жыл бұрын

Really nice video! Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Kind regards from Germany!

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it :D

@Jandejongjong 2 жыл бұрын

One of the best!!! Thnx for al the quick info!

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you !

@Jandejongjong 2 жыл бұрын

When driving heavy engines and slow down you need to apply the clutch. Keep some throttle, slip the clutch and use your break. All ways keep the chain tight. Its a riding technic we learn in the Netherlands. Speed is controlled by clutch not your wrist.

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

You only need to use the clutch if your injection system is jerky, the V-Strom 1000 is the worst bike i had in term of jerkiness, using the clutch is only a plaster not a fix I had a 1984 Honda V65 Sabre and i could go from idle to redline without any jerkiness, now they call it technology...

@joecamel6835 2 жыл бұрын

@@MathieuTechMoto 😂 He knows you're a noob .

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

@@joecamel6835 of course i use clutch on all my bike, on the DL1000 i would need to hold the clutch every time when transitionning on/off throttle whatever speed i go, go see yourself on Stromtrooper.com, a lot a guys send their ECU to reflash

@ToddBryantsr 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent review. Thank you!

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed :)

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

I know that my talking is slow, you can play the video at 1.25x by clicking on the bottom right corner gear icon

@Bok2022st 10 күн бұрын

Well my friend's your English is better than my French.💯👍🇦🇺

@MathieuTechMoto 10 күн бұрын

@@Bok2022st thank you for your kind words

@Bok2022st 9 күн бұрын

@@MathieuTechMoto hahaha you're welcome brother

@2910mack 2 жыл бұрын

this is he best internet comparison of the 2

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for those sweet words :)

@1001CP 2 жыл бұрын

A good vid on your experience but I had the 650 and the the 2014 Vee I bought new when it came out. I have NEVER had a problem with it sputtering or any issue when taking off before warm up. As you said,there may have been an issue with your bike but I absolutely love mine. I dropped to a 15T front sprocket on my Vee to run more off road where I generally at with my bike set up more for off road but still works great on the street. I run 50/50 tires for leading rides off road through the mountains. With all the economical things I have done to it over the years it is a beast off road and easily converted back to road biased when my dirt days are done. I have been riding over 50 years and absolutely love how maintenance free my Vee is, turn the key and go. Its quick, pretty light for a liter bike and so easy to customize to your likes. BOTH are great machines but for me, the Vee was the best choice.

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Indeed, all Stroms are very reliable machine, i only had sputtering issues on my first gen's DL1000's, my 2014 had a very sensible throttle and on/off abrupt transition ( fixed with neutral mod ), all my dl650's were absolutely problem free i may have changed my mind again, if i pick one tomorrow, that would probably be another 650 ( now riding a 2018 Versys 650 and love it ) Cheers :)

@stube49 2 жыл бұрын

@@MathieuTechMoto I really like my Wee Strom. I bought it last year on Friday 13th! First, I had to fly from Louisville, KY to Washington, DC and then ride it home 643 miles in the wind, rain and up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit temp in 24 hours. So, I was really hoping I would like it and so far it has been my favorite bike of the 11 road bikes I have owned. Also, I am almost 73 and hope I never have another ride like I did on August 13, 2021! I am more confident about my decision now that you are favoring the Wee instead of the Vee. And I am considering the dark side before my next trip to Labrador. Thanks for the comparison!

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

@@stube49 Yeah, you can't go wrong with either as they both are great bikes, unless you have a very long trip (10 000km-6k miles) i would not go darkside, from experience, it really ruins low speed manoeuvrability, if you do mainly highway, then it will not be a problem, i had a 205 50R17 Maxtrek snow tire, it was to large and made the bike want to fall in lateraly inclined road, if you can find an Economist tire, in 180/60R17 or similar sure it would be better

@drewmorg. 2 жыл бұрын

Very good video man, lot of us checking this stuff out. Really liked the points about changing suspension oil. Something to think about.

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it :)

@paulrobert504 11 ай бұрын

Very helpful informations. Exactly what I was looking for. A great thank you.

@MathieuTechMoto 11 ай бұрын

You're welcome !

@kuladeeluxe 2 жыл бұрын

I know I would enjoy the 1000....but what I like best is running through the gears and touring on roads at about 90-110 KMH/HR. I also think I will keep my speed more under control on the 650 and be safer. I agree the power delivery around town is superb. What I don't like about my 2017 650 is how little power it has in 4th or 5th or 6th at 3500rpm. It is great when you want to be relaxed and smooth. When you really grab it by the throttle and wind it out, it is exciting. I think I will get new fork springs for next year.

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Yes stock the DL1000 throttle is overly sensitive so its almost impossible to cruise at 50kmh 30mph, on mine i have shorted the gear position connector, red and black wires so ECU is fooled thinking its always in neutral, now the throttle is A LOT more progressive and also no more fuel decel cut out, very smooth throttle all around If i have found this mod i would have sold it and kept the 650 Thats why now i also have a Versys 650, cruising around, power is enough but must admit that i have a soft point on bog engines

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

Yes stock the DL1000 throttle is overly sensitive so its almost impossible to cruise at 50kmh 30mph, on mine i have shorted the gear position connector, red and black wires so ECU is fooled thinking its always in neutral, now the throttle is A LOT more progressive and also no more fuel decel cut out, very smooth throttle all around If i havent found this mod i would have sold it and kept the 650 Thats why now i also have a Versys 650, cruising around, power is enough but must admit that i have a soft point on big engines

@smashy_smasherton Жыл бұрын

You’re probably right. I bought a used 1000. Love it to bits but I’m definitely changing the gearing when the current set wears out. I can barely use 5th gear, let alone 6th.

@ronmoropito2200 Жыл бұрын

As a Western Canadian, I found your language skills were fine. I know I couldn't do as well if I were to try using my high school French. (Which I failed miserably). For a time I had a 2005 V-Strom 650 and loved it on the many secondary paved roads around the B.C. Interior. Not so much on the big Freeways. I was sorry to have to sell it to replace the roof on my house, and needed the money. CURSES !!!

@MathieuTechMoto Жыл бұрын

Thank you and happy new year :)

@pruppen Жыл бұрын

Thing is, the dl650 kicks ass in the middleweight segment, it has for many years now. If you want a literbike, there are so many other good models, other than the dl1000.

@MathieuTechMoto Жыл бұрын

Yes it's a monster of polyvalence, be sure to try the Versys 650 too

@ZORANSKORIN 2 жыл бұрын

I have 1000 and drives me crazy in town it is hard to control the throtle under cca 60km/per hour as it is very jerky .I was afraid that 650 will lack of power so I did not buy it.I am new rider so will try to use more clutch in town but is not easy and wierd.On the open road it is another story ,as soon as you open the throtle it gets smile on your face and than you know why you buy 1000.

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

i understand your pain, throttle response is very poor from factory, i did a quick test ride on a Versys 1000 and the engine (4 cylinders) was so smooth, your could literally cruise on idle on second gear then smoothly accelerate without jerking, i consider buying one soon but now i have the Versys 650 and it gets the job done

@ioandragulescu6063 4 ай бұрын

slightly different comparison, I switched from a 2019 650 to a 2023 1050 and I can't think of one category were the 650 was better, except the fuel consumption.

@MathieuTechMoto 4 ай бұрын

Thank for sharing, after owning more than 40 motorcycles, i'm now set on the Burgman 400 and don't plan to go back, thanks for watching !

@puridade1 Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing this i had the doubt to wich buy.

@MathieuTechMoto Жыл бұрын

Thank you, unless you do like 90% highway, the 650 is a lot more fun to ride, i now have a 2018 Versys 650, that thing is like a Vstrom but a lot more nimble and sportier

@puridade1 Жыл бұрын

@@MathieuTechMoto what do you think about engine durability?

@buteos8632 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Mathieu! Would you say we loose the fuel economy compared to the 1000 on the highway with pillion and luggage? I have a 650 and my wife and I moved to the countryside and I do 20-40km or 12,5-25 miles on a daily basis without stop lights between 80-100kph or 50-60mph and do 300km or 185 miles on highway once a month in one go. There is quite a bit of climbing and goes near coastal region, so gets pretty windy sometimes, I'm considering the economical impact of changing to a 1000. Would appreciate very much your thoughts as well as the community's. Cheers.

@MathieuTechMoto 2 жыл бұрын

On my 650 i could regularly do 450km on a tank, with the 1000 it was more between 375-400km, with passenger and luggage the 1000 would easily perform the task, the 650 will need downshifts for hill climbs, i have now a 2014 Versys 1000 and really like it, more nimble ,smoother powerful engine and more xonfortable than the Vstrom IMO

@buteos8632 2 жыл бұрын

@@MathieuTechMoto Yeah, those are the millages people report, I'm moving up to the 1000 than, and is more ergonomically bigger so should improve on my comfort since I'm 1,86m, 6"1. The Versys or Tracer would be good options but I live in a rural area and I often do dirt roads so the Strom it is! Thanks for the quick reply buddy! The Versys is fun on the twisties ain't it? Take care ;)