650 Shootout Versys Vs Vstrom
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- A Coworker brings his 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 on a ride to compare with my Suzuki Vstrom 650.
It's a beautiful day for a ride as we venture through West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania. A day well spent as we find a few new things about our bikes when compared to another similar model.
Thanks guys. Great job. Enjoyed the ride. God bless. Happy trails.
Thanks Ward. Riding is a passion and rural backroads are my favorite. There's plenty where i live but it's giving way to urban sprawl.
I rode the Versys and V-Strom back to back, and then ran straight out and bought a DL650ABS V-Strom Adventure model. That was almost 5 years ago, and it might be my favorite bike out of the 40 or so I have owned in 52 years as an avid motorcyclist. I absolutely know that it is on a "dollar for dollar" basis. I can't believe that Suzuki might actually be moving to discontinue this wonderful motorcycle. So far this is just speculation though, and I certainly hope that's all it is. It is very comforting to know that if something ever happened to it, I could always run out and buy a new one just like it the very next day.
Good choice, and i totally agree. I hope they continue with the 650, because the 800 will never be as good on fuel as the 650. It'll take a long time to see if It's as bulltproof as the vtwin as well.
@@advorlando9855 I also have owned an SV650 since 2014. Suzuki's 645cc 90 degree V-twin engine is pure magic.
I'm 5'7", took off the Kouba link to raise my V-Strom 650, it's more roomy and comfortable, no problem. Best bike I've owned. Magic engine.
Since i made this video, I've learned alot of people shorter than me (6'0") ride these bikes. I'm glad to hear it, and I enjoy hearing it. The vstrom is a great bike, and unless i get a newer one...I'll have this till i can't ride anymore. Thanks for you comment.
Great Video Mate. Ive got exactly the same setup and you've inspired me to get out of the city after our wet season is over here in Sydney.
Thats what got me back on 2 wheels. I was sitting on a boring post, watching motorcycles ride by and remembered when i used to ride. After 30 years of raising a family they dont need me as much so i re-entered with the new ADV style which i love.
14 minutes of nothing and then 4 minutes of review.... this video should have been 5 minutes long!
I can not argue your point. It was my first video doing such a thing, and i was behind the skill curve on how to do it. The overall comparison is that both are great bikes, but the vstrom is better. The engine has a wider power band, so you have to shift less. Economy was slightly better on the vstrom, but the comfort was the biggest difference. I did think the versys was better looking and fun to ride, but I'd never switch between the two.
strom has a longer wheelbase more rake and trail and a bigger 19" front wheel its more stable, versys has shorter wheelbase, less rake and trail and 17" front wheel it feels much much more nimble. power and mileage are close enough to not matter, im 5'9 and chose the versys, my buddy bill is 6'2 and chose the strom, we have swapped rides enough over they years that we both are confident we each made the right choice for our riding styles and physical abilities. they both have 3 case luggage setups with heated grips, upgraded suspensions ,seats and aftermarket(bigger) windscreens. his strom is a bit too tall for me and my versys is too small for his big self. both will run freeway or backroads allday long getting 50+mpg from 40 to 80 mph. for more dirt get the strom, for more tight paved backroads get the versys. freeway is about even with how we have set them up. with the versys being a hair more twitchy in crosswinds due to the wheelbase, and tires. we can leave from nashville and spent the overnight in OKC easily when heading for the grand canyon. they both make great lightweight touring bikes.
Im surprised that at 5'9" you ride the versys, because i can flat foot my strom, but I toe touched with the versys. Maybe suspension set up is different. I do know the versys seat was more comfortable but the seating posture had me leaning forward too much. Strom isn't as fun to ride but definitely more comfortable overall.
@@advorlando9855 had to go with a bit lower seat from seat concepts. A bit of fiddling with the preload and it's good.. took a bit of fitting to it where I wanted it, 2"rox riser, some much bigger pegs from a c14 on motowerks lowering adapter. Penske shock and resprung/revalved forks. I picked it up used at a fantastic price so I had some room to play with it.
@@msmax1138 thats great to hear because these are great bikes. Its changed my perspective about who can ride because of height. I have a friend who has a road king and he cant ride sometimes because it needs attention. He would like to have something like these for a fun, bulletproof reliable bike. Ill recommend the vstrom.
@@advorlando9855 I bought the versys 650 for a specific reason, i had a work accident and am down to 65% on the left leg. at 700lbs my concours 14 is too heavy for me to load in my toy hauler that i live/work on the road out of by myself anymore, i needed something 500lbs or less and freeway capable that handled well. It quickly got down to the strom or versys. with the versys being more compact/lighter and i found a 3600 mile used 16lt for 4500. i had planned on twice that.. had it since 18 and its been a great little tourer/backroad scratcher. i leave the concours 14 at home for the big multi week trips where that monster can stretch its legs. its a bit like killing flies with a shotgun using it as a daily runner. for trips of a week or less and less than600 miles/day the versys gets the nod, its a bit light for allday freeway but is doable for a day or so. if im heading to the west coast or new england in a hurry im on the big iron. not that the little bike isnt capable but im old and like the comfort and effortless power for long trips. for just a week or a weekend here in the southeast I will throw my camping gear and 2 days clothes on the versys and be gone no question..
Ive heard the Suzuki is way better off road. But for the ergonomic ls of the Kawasaki. If your riding on street 90% of the time, even rough roads the verysys 650 wins. Is what ive heard. I haven't ridden either one.
I've ridden Mike's once, and the versus shutters, and stalls easier than the vstrom if you go too slow in a gear. The vstrom has low RPM assist, so it's more forgiving. The versus is quicker, more nimble, and more fun to ride on the pavement. But I'm happy with my vstrom.
@@advorlando9855 good to know. Thank you. Maybe one day I can ride both and see. :) be safe riding
I rode the Versys and V-Strom back to back, and then ran straight out and bought a DL650ABS V-Strom Adventure model. That was almost 5 years ago, and it might be my favorite bike out of the 40 or so I have owned in 52 years as an avid motorcyclist. I absolutely know that it is on a "dollar for dollar" basis. I can't believe that Suzuki might actually be moving to discontinue this wonderful motorcycle. So far this is just speculation though, and I certainly hope that's all it turns out to be. It is very comforting to know that if something ever happened to my beloved 'Strom, I could run out and buy a new one just like it the very next day.
EDIT - I copied and pasted that from my post above after I happened to notice your comment. The 'Strom won hands down to me. It was so much smoother, and seemed to do things with less strain on the engine. That 90 degree twin is just pure magic ...MAGIC I tell you! 😏Just know going in that either of these motorcycles are first and foremost street bikes, and will not be very capable off road, though the 'Strom does seem to be slightly better equipped for it; as long as it also has the right tires and a good skid plate to protect vital engine and exhaust components. Even then, gravel roads and maybe some rough dirt fire roads are all that would be any fun to do at spirited speeds. If you are competent and careful, you could also crawl around in some "real" off-road stuff just enough to get to a secluded camp spot behind the treeline. For a backroads explorer/commuter/weekend tourer/occasional easy trail bike/ultimate UJM, you will be hard pressed to beat the V'Strom in my experience.
Hope this helps. 👍
5'7 on a full moon. I ride an 09 vstrom. i don't have the body with the really short legs. I handle it just fine. yes, if you put it into a bad position, you could get in trouble but that's the case on all bikes. the vstrom with my big square saddlebags HATES wind . On windy days your gonna get buffeted like mad on the highway. 70 will feel fast and a little buzzy turning about 5400 or so rpm. These are 70mph bikes on the highway with this setup, maybe faster than that without the bags and short windscreen. These are only 650 after all with more attention in the 0 to 60 speed range where you will spend most of your time.
I totally agree. With my side and top boxes on, the aerodynamics definitely becomes a problem. I have had it up to 105 MPH with no boxes and this bike is very capable. It's not meant to sustain such speeds, and the engine gets buzzy at that speed. 70 is the end of my "comfortable ride" with the vstrom 650.
I have the same Versys as that one, but am looking at a V Strom...The reason is that I feel like the smaller front wheel of the Versys is not optimal on dirt roads or rougher terrain. Is there any noticeable difference in the ride (regarding bumps or washboard roads and such) between the Versys and the Strom?
I didn't get a chancento ride the versys off road but we plan to do so soon. Ill post the video as soon as we do.
Can you compare the 2022’s models? That would be more adequate. Thanks.
If i could get a sponsorship i definitely would. Riding company sponsored bikes would be great and I enjoy riding these bikes. Both have changed little over the years performance wise. The new ones do have alot of tech add-ons making them better. Interesting thing about these bikes is the vstrom is more popular in the 650 model as to the versys 1000 is better than the 650. But the versys y50 is still a great bike; its just not as comfortable as the 1000 versys or either vstrom.
Probably the least informative comparison video I have ever seen.
Both great bikes but heard suzuki is discontinuing the vtwin 650 engine.
As a vstrom owner i think the positive points are easier maintenance overall. Alot of room will be saved with the parallel twin, but a proven reliable setup being shelved worries me.
@@advorlando9855 Suzuki may go with a 270 degree crank parallel twin engine that was a massive sales hit for Yamaha in the MT-07 & Tenere 700.
Suzuki lists both the V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 800 DE for 2023 on their USA website.
the parallel twin will be a better engine i'm pretty sure.
Safety man has ma lean angle of 5 degrees
He doesn't get much saddle time. Besides, I'd rather go slower riding with a safe rider than going faster with a dangerous rider.
Atleast show the bike not human being
Useless review
My apologies. It was early in my recording days, and i wasn't very good at editing. Nor did i have a good plan on how lay it out. Both Mike and I feel the Vstrom is the better bike. It's more comfortable and more off-roadable. Something i should've mentioned is when riding the Versys, i noticed the bike shuddered alot when RPMs got low for a gear. I had to downshift more on it. The vstrom has a low RPM assist that allows you to chug through a gear rather than downshift all the time. It reduces stalling when taking off to so it's much more beginner friendly. Check out my comparison of the KLX 230 and 300 video. It's a little bit better.