2008 Suzuki V-Strom DL650 review from United States of America
"This is a great second bike after the first one that you learn to ride on. You won't be disappointed"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
Replaced factory seat with Gel seat... works better, not great, but better.
Replaced windscreen with Givi unit and with some tweaking, it works better than the stock shield, again, not perfect but better.
No parts failures unrelated to normal wear. Just replaced brake pads, chain and sprockets. Pads still had about 1/3 to 1/2 left, chain was shot, starting to kink up.
General comments?
Great fuel economy. Between 55 and 60 mpg most of the time at speeds less than 65 mph. Over 65 it gets worse quickly.
Great power anywhere above 4000 rpm.
Good handling especially with Works rear shock and stiffer spring. It can keep up with faster bikes in the twisties.
This is a great motorcycle to do everything with. Reasonable in cost, reasonably cheap to own. Performs well in many kinds of usage.
Recommended reviews
| An honest, reliable commuter and tourer that is often, sadly, underrated |
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| This is a great all-purpose bike |
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2008 |
| Year of manufacture | 2008 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Acceleration marks | 8 / 10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Handling marks | 9 / 10 |
| Braking marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 24000 miles |
| Previous motorcycle | Suzuki Burgman 650 |
| Date of Entry | 18th July, 2009 |