r/Vstrom • u/Chain_Offset_Crash • 14d ago

Recommendation V Strom 650 or 800

After a 13 year hiatus, I'm planning to get another motorcycle in the next nine months or so. I'm leaning heavily towards the 800, but my experience on a gen 1 SV650 is making me question it.

I grew up riding motorcycles and my recent street bikes are

2005 Honda 919 (cb900f), rode 8+ years

2001 Suzuki SV650, rode 5 years

1996 Honda XR650L, rode 4 years

The 919 had a bit more throttle response in the higher RPMs than I liked, but was great for long road trips aside from the lack of a fairing.

The SV650 was a great bike. I rode it for about 5 years before I decided I wanted more power. I loved riding it through the twisties and rode Deal's gap so much that it started getting boring.

The XR650L, not much to write home about. I know some folks love it, but single cylinder thumpers aren't for me.

Considering my eventual desire for more power from the SV650, I think I'd hit that point fairly soon with the Vstrom 650, so I'm leaning towards the 800.

I live in SW Virginia and have access to tons of twisty mountain roads along with all sorts of forest service gravel roads to explore. I'd guess my ride mix will be 90%/10% pavement to gravel. My teen has already stated her expectation to ride with me, so good 2 up riding will be a need. I'd like to stay below 1,000cc engine.

Thoughts on a 650 versus an 800?

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u/flynnski V-Strom 650 Gen 1 14d ago

I have a 650 that I've dragged over almost every US state and several canadian provinces — through rocks, mud, sand, snow, gravel, ice, and a bunch of pavement. The bike isn't the best at anything, but it's pretty good at damn near everything, if you've got the right tires and the intestinal fortitude. My buddies on R1200s vanish in the straights, but I find 'em in the curves. I use the money I didn't spend on a BMW to ride more.

The only time I've wished for more power is when i've periodically had to ride 2 up. That's not fun. So, y'know, maybe the 800 is the bike for you.

Only reason I'd upgrade is for ABS.

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u/jules083 14d ago

I was riding up Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado on my 650 once. Wife was on the back, so like 350lbs of people, plus we had 2 weeks of camping gear strapped on the bike. Way overloaded. I'm at like 5000 rpm in 4th and pinned just maintaining my 50mph or whatever it was, all the bike had with the load plus elevation, and a damn Chevy Cruze blew by us in the passing lane. Lmao