650, 800 or 1050?

[TheWildHaggis]

Folks,

I currently have a DL650 2006 plate, love the bike but thinking of updating to something newer. Do a lot of touring,  200miles a day for  3-4 days at a time, some 2 up riding, and a lot of single lane roads (think NC500ish)

My 650 is adequate, but when fully loaded with luggage and 2 up I feel could do a bit more 'go'.

I was contemplating the DL800R, but with it being a new engine a bit wary, and no so sure if I like the 'beak' and 'stacked' headlights.

This leads me to the 1ltr V-Twin. Possibly an slightly older model.
How much of a noticeable power difference the 650, 800 1ltr?

[Upt North]

Before you ask if you need more/different power ask yourself do you already use what you've got. Strapped to the Cycle World Dynojet 250i dynamometer ahead of an upcoming comparison test, the Suzuki V-Strom 650 produced a peak 66.85 horsepower at 9,210 rpm and 43.04 pound-feet of torque at 6,560. A smooth power delivery is complemented by an overall flat torque curve of the V-twin powerplant. The result is an approachable and flexible engine characteristic that works well in nearly every riding environment.
So are you consistently riding at 9000 rpm plus? Or for that matter at 6000 rpm plus for maximum torque.
Plus check out the kerb weights, more weight needs more power, it's physics innit. My last bike had 100 of your horses but a kerb weight of 330 KG'S. The 650 actually feels swifter although loses out on comfortable top speed, but that's not an issue for this o'd geezer.
Good luck with the nice dilemma.
Upt.

[Rixington43]

 
650 to either the 800 or the 1000 is a significant jump in low end grunt, I wouldn't say the difference is staggering once the revs are up but the bigger lumps do give you a bit more shove low down. The new 800 engine is very smooth, the older 1000s (Gen 1s) are a little less refined. Not air cooled American level agricultural but they're definitely a bit rougher around the edges than either the 650 or the newer model 1000/1050.
I love my old 1000, it's reliable, comfortable, has all the power I need (in fact more) and it's easy to work on yourself with basic know how.
Downside - Drinks, not like a sociable pint on a Friday afternoon drinks, more like hammered on a Tuesday lunchtime. Think 42mpg most of the time unless you're cruising on an A-Road or motorway at constant speeds. It will push 50s in ideal conditions but that's the ceiling.
I'm sure the new 800 will be a reliable bike and the fit and finish is very nice, as are things like suspension and brakes.
Ride as many as you can and see if the shove is worth the cost I guess.

[The Doctor 46]

I have the 650 and the newer 1000 and agree 100% with what Rixington says above. The extra grunt from the 1000 is great fun but the 650 is so much more economical, so much so as it would make a big difference on tour...... More fun. 

I have only test ridden the 800 but loved it. That could be your bike?

[minkyhead]

 id get some test rides in     I've ridden both 800s     had a650 and a1000 an own a 1050de at the moment 
        I liked the 800 and the motor is strong  low down  for sure   I found the  R version too small and cramped for my 6f1 frame    prefered the de  ..I think  for the 1k class   the newer 1050 motor is the one to go for    ..it significantly more pleasent in the low down fueling  has better gear ratios and more punch  for it    and  is  notably better on fuel than the 1000s  ..touring at decentpace   will be easily in the low 50s   against the low 40s  ,I wouldn't be  disspointed if I owned a 800de   but tbo whar swung it was  the  bigger feel of the 1050  and  much more scope to achieve  decent weather protection   more suited to longer stints   for me  ..

[Phild]

I’m on my 2nd 1050XT in 14 months (first one was written off in April…. Not my fault). The reason I went out and purchased the 2nd one is because I love the bike that much.

My local dealer had no more of the 2022 XT’s so I ended up buying another,  zero miles, pre-reg one from Swansea….. about 100 miles from where I live.

My local dealer tried his hardest to sell me the 800, but I just wasn’t interested in any other bike.

I’d never had a v-twin before. Last June I did 3170 miles, to Italy and back,  in 10 days. The last day I did 600 miles to get home….. I’ve never had a bike I could do that sort of mileage on before. 300 miles had been my previous longest day.

Even though I’m vertically challenged for such a tall bike (29” inside leg), the low seat option and slightly thicker soles on my boots sorted this.

I don’t carry a pillion, but with my top-box fitted, and a 40 litre roll bag on the pillion seat, I don’t notice them being there.🤷‍♂️

Touring I get 60+ mpg…. I don’t rush.🤷‍♂️

When looking to replace my written off bike I found plenty of used, fully kitted out, 1050XT’s available at good prices.

Good luck with your search.👍

[nigel s]

It is a sliding scale of cost/grunt/riding style. My advice would be get test rides ( though all will do a job for you with the right mods to suit your needs, this is a key part ) then do some research as to how much in tyres/ petrol/range, when it comes to range the 650 gen 3 is king ,(servicing is much of a much)  costs you are willing to sacrifice for that grunt and how far you like to turn your right wrist.
I understand your reticence about a new motor in the 800 but so far all seems good, this forum and our american cousins at stromtrooper have found no reliability problems. As to looks.......eye of the beholder etc.
Just to throw one spanner in the works .......I see you have a 2006 650....... don't forget the gen 3 650 in your thinking , it is maybe the update you are looking for?
For me the 800 RE/DE is the pick at the mo on the grunt/cost scale. I would have one now but for the fact is so new no one seems to do suspension upgrades yet to haul my heavier than normal arse and right wrist about 
Oh... and the fact I have a nicely fettled gen3 650 ,barely run in , with 30,000 miles on.

[mrp192]

I had my 2015 650 for six years and 40k miles without any complaint or major issue.
I was going to buy another 650 in 2022 but whilst looking Suzuki did one of their £1000 off offers on the 1050 (cast wheel) before the upgrades.
The seat, feet, hands ratio was almost exactly the same as my Glee, but the extra power was very noticeable. Like the 650 on steroids and easily outweighs the little bit of extra weight, but still over 60mpg.
If you are looking for a pre owned bike consider the 1050RQ, I have no plans on changing, it's excellent.

[Barbel Mick]

Have you read this post I put up last week?
https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=43444.0

We're 2 up all the time, often with full luggage & have done many long tours (3k plus) & many shorter ones 1k plus) with lots of days out in between on the 650 & hopefully we'll be doing the same on the 800.
Last year we went to have a look at the 1050's but only got as far as sitting on them. With all the luggage there didn't seem to be the room there was on the 1050 for us both, so we left the showroom.
A couple of months or so back we had a little trip back to the showroom to look at the 800RE. There wasn't much time between that look, a test ride, & the purchase of a new one.
It's still not perfect & we're working on the mods required to make it as comfortable for us as the 650 had been. Most, if not all, of these mods had been done to the 650 too.

But it's no good reading my, or anyone else's, opinion about any bike, that's all it is an opinion. You have got to get down that showroom, have a look, have a test ride & then decide which is best for you.

Good luck