Motorcycle Forum / General / Motorcycles / September 2008

Yeah Gixxers suck!  :-)

Silly you to expect any consistency.

Most of what I recall is it's right at 32-35lbs heavier and all that
weight is up high.  There are reasons so many want the 1000 to get
down the freeway to the twisty sections then want the 650 through
those twisties. Frankly, even 2-up with full packs I never needed the
literbike. I'll have more fun with the lighter, more agile Strom. :)

Prior to buying the 650 I have now I was working with a motorcycle
apparell company and talked to a good 120+ V-Strom riders.  I asked
them all some pretty similar questions and what I found was very
consistent:

Virtually 95% of those with the 650 were very happy. About 65% of
those with the 1000 were happy.  

There were at least 12 who went from the 1000 to the 650 and were much
happier, there were 0 (ZERO) that went from the 650 to the 1000.  

Those that were happiest on the 1000 mostly used it for long-distance
2-up touring or similiar riding to that of a Goldwing.  A few used it
for commuting.

Those who favored the 650 lived in more winding road area's, did some
mild trail and forest roading, also did the sport touring and a lot of
commuting.  

What got me was the consistency of the reasons people used and the
very similar numbers of times that virtually the same phrases were
used.

Using this info I knew what I wanted to look for and I was sold within
the first 5 minutes I was on the bike. I have yet to ever ride the
1000, but if something happened to my '07 650 I'd go out and replace
it with exactly the same thing.