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Author Topic: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?  (Read 10300 times)

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Offline Sea-Strom

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2015, 09:30:38 »
Good old Glee -  the best value middleweight 'adventure' bike IMO too. As regards the screen, I'm 6' and in the high position I get pretty clean air wearing my Shoei XR1100 with visor locked. Town work is nippy and motorway cruising smooth. Rides the bumps well and with a new can, sounds the dog's bollox. With World class touring capabilities and low prices, the Glee is a strong contender for best all round bike award IMO. I too looked around but the final decision was an easy one.
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Offline doboy

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #21 on: December 19, 2015, 09:45:05 »
Of course its just a style thing because there's nothing wrong with the older models ..
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Offline Hondaman

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #22 on: December 19, 2015, 10:09:55 »
Interesting comparison Mrp192, let us know how you get on :)
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Offline MartinW

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #23 on: December 19, 2015, 11:10:03 »
Quote from: doboy on December 19, 2015, 09:45:05
Of course its just a style thing because there's nothing wrong with the older models ..
Spot On!
 :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Offline greywolf

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #24 on: December 19, 2015, 13:49:58 »
Since both XT and non XT are available in the same model year, I'd say there is nothing wrong with the other models rather than older models. That has nothing to do with my own dislike of spoked wheels and beaks.
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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Tigerjohn

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #25 on: December 19, 2015, 19:10:13 »
Quote from: mrp192 on December 19, 2015, 00:23:09
Not sure which way I'm going to go but will have to decide pronto to take advantage of some great prices on the VStrom at the moment if the Suzuki wins my order...

Mrp: I'd be interested to know which way you go ......I went from a Tiger 800XC to the DL650XT. The Tiger was a great bike with considerably more power but I feel more 'involvement' from the V twin engine and the Strom is more comfortable. Not so fast, especially with pillion, but fast enough. The Tiger has a higher centre of gravity - for slow speed work on quiet back roads, I'd definitely choose the Strom. Fast A roads and motorways, it's a tighter call.

Back to the key question.....the styling exercise (aka XT) has pushed interest in the Strom  to a wider audience and if it sways the occasional doubter, like me, then it's worth it. I like spokes and beaks. OK, weird, I know!
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Offline Sea-Strom

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #26 on: December 19, 2015, 21:10:14 »
One winter cleaning spokes and I recon you'd regret not choosing cast.  :bawl:
Of course, if you are like me and don't clean your wheels, it probably would not matter. Black spokes do look a bit neglected, mind!
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Offline Tigerjohn

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #27 on: December 19, 2015, 21:56:50 »
New Year's resolution - must clean my spokes! Might get round to the front wheel at some point but will probably let the protective, anti-corrosion oil and grime stay on the back! Spokes are like wives, some like theirs clean but dirty's OK too!  :icon_wink:
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Online Hugo Magnus

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #28 on: December 20, 2015, 07:49:35 »
The XT gets a good review in this months (online and free!) RUST magazine.
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Offline Sea-Strom

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #29 on: December 20, 2015, 09:11:22 »
Haven't ridden the XT but both bikes must ride virtually identically? Good reviews of either surely complements the other. The beaky spokey look is very adventure bike. Whichever you fancy. V-Strom rules OK!
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Offline Brucey

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #30 on: December 21, 2015, 09:35:46 »
Do you like the Triumph £3k more than you do the Suzuki? That's an awful lot of extras plus would fund several breaks away. Does the price of the Triumph include ALL of the extras that you want? Interesting and thorough list of bikes you've tested. Thanks for your impressions. I test rode the BMW before I got the Strom - the clutch on that one was feather light, so it may be that your test bike was duff. I liked it as much as the Strom, but it was £3k more expensive, so it was a no-brainer for me. Your dilemma is much harder though, but I have to say that I found the Triumph screen worryingly flimsy and ineffective, and the seat bloody uncomfortable as it seemed to compress over a short period of time so that it felt like my bum was sitting directly on the frame rails....
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Offline Hondaman

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #31 on: December 21, 2015, 10:44:39 »
The Trumpet is a lovely bike but just wasn't for me
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Offline mrp192

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #32 on: December 21, 2015, 23:19:14 »
I had another ride on a VStrom today and came back and bought one. The standard model in grey and used the money saved over the XT model to help buy a GT pack and a few bits and pieces.
The Triumph was an excellent bike in every way but the Suzuki was so close in the end common sense dictated my choice. Looking forward to the New Year when I can bring my new baby home!

Brucey, I rode the XRX Triumph that comes with a 'comfort' seat and it was OK for my short, 55 mins, test ride.
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Offline Sea-Strom

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #33 on: December 22, 2015, 00:32:43 »
Quote from: mrp192 on December 21, 2015, 23:19:14
I had another ride on a VStrom today and came back and bought one. The standard model in grey .
:lala: Wahey the best colour!
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Offline MartinW

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #34 on: December 22, 2015, 09:10:59 »
Quote from: mrp192 on December 21, 2015, 23:19:14
I had another ride on a VStrom today and came back and bought one. The standard model in grey
Good Choice - No beak on that one  :)
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Offline Kayaker413

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #35 on: December 22, 2015, 21:07:18 »
It it just personal preference. I love my XT as for me it has the adventure bike look where as the standard bike looks like a commuter machine regardless of the fact it is the same bike!  :stirpot:

I paid 7200 for mine with the full alloy lugage on the magic 0% finance.
For me to get the standard bike in fit hand guards, bash plate, crash bars and the lugage would have been more expensive and all of which I need cause I do take it laning.
As for the spoked wheels they are a pain in the arse to clean but to be honest the nice men at Tesco wash it for a £5 and one is really into bikes so does a good job.
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2008 650

Offline Tigerjohn

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #36 on: December 22, 2015, 21:29:39 »
From this month's ABR, '9 bikes we want for Christmas'.........

"Affordable, comfortable and perfectly capable at carrying pillions, the V-Strom 650XT is probably one of the best middle-weight adventure bikes on the market. And while it's not exactly a RTW overlander, additions including spoked wheels, a sump guard and tubeless tyres are more than welcome. Not a bad choice at all."

OK, nine bikes is a tad greedy, but good to see the old Strom on Santa's list. Note comments on spokes and sump guard....maybe not such a styling exercise after all?
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Offline Brucey

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #37 on: December 23, 2015, 00:20:58 »
Well done and welcome to Stromming! I don't think you'll regret it. I was directed to the gel seat (cost) option by Mr Triumph, although he had no answer as to why I thought it wrong that I should spend extra money on a 'comfort' seat when it's reasonable to expect a seat to be comfy in the first place.

Shame it's grey when everyone knows that blue is best. :stirpot:  lol
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Offline Kayaker413

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Re: Is the XT 650 only a styling exercise?
« Reply #38 on: December 23, 2015, 08:45:52 »
Having pulled a near vertical wheely and landed it on the rock I was trying to avoid; I can fully vouch for the Alloy sump guard. (I can also vouch for the crash bars as it went down with a bang immediately after) I was very surprised to find only a bent bar end bolt which was fixed with a lump of the lake districts finest rock and refitted.

I can also say it is a better climber than the Tenerre on the loose stuff but this is probably down to the longer wheel base and my "open her up and pray" system.
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2008 650
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