1200 miles in, I love it. I even like the model name, DL650K8A.
Current mods: painted exhaust shield, madstad windshield bracket/mount, and oem knuckle guards.
53 average MPG on my daily 70 mile commute, 90% freeway at speeds ~70MPH. actually kind of low compared to some other peoples milage reports – reporting high 50s low 60s! I guess I like to ride hard, maybe I should’ve got a DL1000… :)
after an extended lane splitting adventure past multiple accidents on Northbound highway 101 yesterday, including a brief inconsequential encounter with a CHP biker, I figured I should find out exactly what the law states.
Can motorcycle riders “split” lanes and ride between other vehicles?
Lane splitting by motorcycles is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner.
so it is entirely up to the officer to judge your technique. just hope you don’t split past an officer having a bad day, because they can make up anything to smack it to ya.
So, I’ve become pretty comfortable on my daily ~35 mile commute (each way) but there’s always new ready-to-kill-me obstacles. This mornings were *two* abscent minded cagers changing lanes and a LADDER in the middle of the freeway.
I wish I had captured a picture of that gigantic thing. It was almost fun, though, because I spotted it a couple seconds before I needed to react. thus was able to gracefully glide around the death-trap with a grin on my face and the throttle held steady.
Here’s your friendly PSA: stay aware out there, your reflexes are the first and last defense on the road.
after seeing it done on various v-stroms, I decided this is a look I want to sport – My Ninja Wee.
removing the heat shield is simply unscrewing two hex screws:
naked pipe doesn’t look half bad:
I used krylon fusion camouflage ultra-flat black spray paint:
the goo gone is here because I screwed up the first coat (d’oh.) goo gone will remove new spray paint quickly and completely in just a few minutes. just spray, let soak and wipe – dirty job but just the ‘undo button’ I needed.
finally a finished paint coat that looks great*:
* overall though, the paint job while the color matches the rest of the bike well, turned out a bit patchy because I ran out of paint with the first reject coat.
update, mid-July ’08: I have since sanded and applied another coat. this picture is a much better side shot and taken with a superior digital imaging device! enjoy – I know I do.
having just passed 700 miles (it started at 1!) and getting the ehh-ok at the 600 mile service – $170, overpriced oil change much? – I’ve noticed the bike running more and more smoothly and enjoying it more as well. from shifting to the power curve everything seems less jittery.
part of this I am sure is myself improving my own skill and familarity with how my bike operates. the other part, I assume, is the break-in process progressing.
the biggest observed win is the shifting – I had some serious qualms with the jolty shifting. especially going from neutral to first while stopped (I know not the safest idea, I only go there at long lights and after there is someone stopped behind me.) the transmission would stick in neutral, I could not kick into first at all… often right when a light would turn green. because of this, I forced it once or twice before figuring out that all I needed to do is let off the clutch the slightest bit while pushing down (normal pressure) on the shifter and it would slip right into gear. also, first to second seems a bit smoother, and I find myself using the clutch with less and less tension while shifting.
as a majority of my engine break-in is complete (again, I assume,) I have been riding at higher rpm (i.e. going faster, yay!) on the freeway. cruising at ~5500 rpm in 6th feels pretty solid with a good amount of engine breaking (if/when needed) and an equally good amount of ready-torque when I need it.
only farkle have on the bike so far is a madstad windshield mount. I bought it to help with wind issues however I do not feel that they are “resolved.” I am still using the stock windshield and think that it may be just too small to provide the amount of protection and calm-wind-pocket I want on my commute. I am currently undecided which after-market windshield to purchase…
my OEM hand guards come today… can’t wait to put them on. I am also considering these stock mirror replacements – emgo mark ii mirrors – that I’ve seen a couple times and looks like a cheap and effective farkle.
the 2009 models have just started appearing on suzuki’s product website.
here’s the scoop:
colors:
- 2009 V-Strom 650 ABS comes only in gray, 2008 is flat black (here’s mine!)
- ’09 WeeStrom non-ABS comes in orange and gray, ’08 in flat black and wasp yellow.
cosmetic changes:
- gray version has matching gray rims.
- all have clear signals. (might have to pick these up an’ stick em on my ’08..)
cost:
- 2009 models are universally MSRP $300 USD higher than the 2008 models.
spec changes:
- no technical changes (!)
I compared the ’08 vs. ’09 specs side by side both ABS and non, and the only differences are how weight and dimensions are listed :
2008 (both): Bore Stroke: 81.0 x 62.6mm
2009 (both): Bore Stroke: 81.0 mm (3.189 in) x 62.6 mm (2.465 in)
2008 (ABS): Dry Weight: 197 kg (434 lbs)
(no ABS): Dry Weight: 194 kg (427 lbs)
2009 (ABS): Curb Weight: 220 kg (485 lbs)
(no ABS): Curb Weight: 217 kg (479 lbs)
lastly, the 2009 v-strom DL1000 has not (yet?) been announced..
since purchasing my V-Strom from cyclewest, who assured me I was getting the bike on a “buddy deal,” I have received two return calls as a result of my multi-dealership inquiries back in april. the 2008 v-strom 650 abs has arrived, in great(er) numbers.
so much for getting it to me ahead of the game, jerkwads.
in believing them, I totally tossed out the negotiation card as well and paid premium. I’m not that upset about it because I love the bike, but it still ticks me off. so much so that I’m abandoning the “maintenance plan” and quite likely the “extended warranty” the dealership offered me.
I believed scarcity would drive up the cost regardless of dealership (which I suppose, may still be true…)
quick-background:
I finally got my brand-spankin’ new 2008 DL650 last week (after writing about only one final contender and two months of waiting for it to arrive from the factory.)
I broke in the first ~50 miles (proper engine break-in is super important) using a combination of techniques found here, here, and the user’s manual (though not really.)
I changed my oil & filter yesterday, accidentally overfilled it then promptly drained the excess (very irritating thing to do..) I’m using a stock suzuki oil filter and valvoline 10w-40 oil for the next ~500 miles – until my 600 mile service which I expect will be by the mid-end of this month.
pros summary:
fucking fun. a very different experience than riding my ’87 Yamaha Virago (a 700cc.) the handling is very tight and I generally always feel safe on my Wee. the breaks are astounding: I’m much more likely to fly off the bike by breaking than accelerating.
a few cons:
I can confirm that there is a lot of ‘helmet buffeting’ that is pretty headache inducing in large doses. I plan on tweaking to kingdom-come in efforts to fix but at this point, the issue is not so bad reducing the fun I am having is lessened any. milage during break in is crap. there is a lot of vacuum’y sounds from the bike at all rpms that I’m a little leary of. the dealership I purchased from is pretty shitty; also, I didn’t get a great deal on the bike.
my ride to work – through the woods, over the hills and straddle the cliffs overlooking the shore.
absolutely awesome ride for twisties:
as much as I’d like to think I don’t need the Internet‘s validation of a purchase in order to actually make one, that’d be fallacy. I grep the web for insight from those who’ve purchased what I want for any tidbit of information they wish to impart.
In general, this grepping does one of two things: 1) makes me ever excited to the point where I don’t really care what I pay anymore (to a firm degree..) or 2) discourages me from that particular model, brand, product altogether.
these twolinks lend to #1. I want it I want it I want it.
- comfort: upright riding position, feet flat on the ground at stop, no major fatigue from just cruising
(fairly hard to judge from intarweb reviews and a brief sit on it at the dealership)
- great mpg: would love 60+
(concensus seems to be ~52)
- safety: high speed travel with crazy commuter cagers and the occasional lane splitting
(ABS! full frontal fairing.. additional safety accessories available)
- sports-like torque, great 0-60 – top speed no where near as important
(still need to test ride it… but reviewers and various tidbits from around the web show it on the slow side from what I’d like)
- love the way it looks: cruiser appeal with the protection of a touring bike, great color paint
(it almost has it all… it’s a teensy bit too bug-like lookin’ but compared to the alternatives hardly an issue)
- passenger comfort, storage
(the girlfriend wants to feel safe & secure too! laptop & lunch needs a safe place while I ride)
Big consideration: 75-90% highway travel (commute ~70 miles a weekday)
a concise video review of a very-similar model:
a short thread on how much I’m shooting for at the dealership.
