V-Strom VS. Ninja 650R (Need advice from 650R owners)

Guillaume · 07-23-2012, 12:42 PM

Hey guys,

I had an 09 V-Strom 650, loved it. Sold it for an F800ST than bought a CBF1000F, then a Tiger 1050.

Now I want to go back to a 650 and I loved the V-Strom. Also like the SV650 but for long rides it seems pretty uncomfortable.

The Ninja 650R never got my attention because it wasn't available with ABS but for 2013 it will be an option in North America.

I already know the V-Strom 650 is a wonderful bike and I'm totally in love with its engine. BUT I'd like something more.... sexy. Long story short, my question is : Is the Ninja 650R is good for long rides and touring ? I mean 3-4 days riding with saddlabags and stuff. Is it good for the wrists and butt ? Is it easily tunable for touring ?

Thanks !

Grainbelt · 07-23-2012, 12:58 PM

I put 25k miles on a 2006 Ninja 650R. Only changes were frame sliders, GPS mount, accessory socket, and full Givi luggage. The brakes and suspension were a little taxed when fully loaded, but I took several ten-day trips on it without any issues.

I recently test rode a 2012 Ninja 650R since the demo truck was here in Minneapolis. It is just as fun as the previous model, but has much better instrumentation (gas gauge, etc) and a windscreen that can be mounted in one of three locations. The suspension was a bit more compliant than I remembered from the '06, and really handled our potholed, frost-heaved roads quite well.

Now that I see the 2013 is available in white with ABS, I want one badly.

Guillaume · 07-23-2012, 02:07 PM

Some people told me the seat was really uncomfortable. But it's possible to change that anyways.

I just love the look of the new version. So sexy :)

Nice setup by the way ! It was a classy bike !

erda · 07-23-2012, 06:06 PM

Wife road her 650r from Alberta to the Redwoods and back last summer. Currently we are in Durango CO. All that on her 2009 650r with Givi cases. Only changes to her bike are an Alaskan sheepskin, an MRA vario windscreen, frame sliders, and a heated gear plug.

Guillaume · 07-23-2012, 06:44 PM

And comparing to your DL560, which one did you prefer for long distances ? If you only had one bike between these two, which one would you get ?

FlyingFinn · 07-23-2012, 06:57 PM

I had a VStrom 650 for a while and my partner rides a Ninja 650 and I often borrow it from her...

I'm 6'1" tall and for a multi-day trip there would be no contest for me, I'd take the DL. You already know how amazing that little engine is.
And the DL just feels like a better built real motorcycle, and fits larger people better.

The Ninja is maybe more fun around town, it feels lighter and fir shorter people much better. The Ninja motor is fine and does a good job but doesn't quite match the feel and thrust that the Suzuki V-twin delivers.

Everyone might not agree with me but the Ninja feels more like a "beginner bike" to me, compared to the Strom that feels like a real 650 motorcycle for people who appreciate a good real-world mid-size bike.

They ONLY thing going against the VStrom really is that it's not.... well..... sexy.

--
Mikko

dddd · 07-24-2012, 04:28 AM

between vstrom 650 and ninja 650, I would like to get vstrom for abs and rugged style. I do ride easy trail with my ninja 650 surprisingly, but that's usually because I was trying to route through a shortcut... I am scared of flat tires.... But since spring 2010, I have done 80'000km (yes 80k km) on a ninja 650r. That should answer your question about touring abilities.

The tank is a bit small (15.5L but it does normally below 5L/100km (4.3 to 4.8) so that is 270 km easily without even going into the stressful blinking icon). Oh, by the way, the 2012 instrument cluster sucks!!!!!!!!!!!. The all digital one from 2009-2011 was way better looking and no blinding white backlight at nigh but a gentle red.

comfort wise, the legs are too bent. I start feeling butt pain and knee pain after 500-600km. (still pretty confortabe I think, although I cant compare with other bikes, only had this one. maybe the pain would occur anyway after those hours). Wrists are very comfortable it is so upright. Get a throttle lock and you can steer with the fingers so you are even more upright and no arm tension. I bought a airhawk cushion recently and butt pain is gone. knee pain still an issue.

I wish I could put in the abs, I agree. It it about 3000$ to upgrade a 4000$ bike... So, likely not.

I bought a zero gravity ST windshield that raises 3.5 inches. gets the wind well above the throat finally unlike the stock one.

I got the swmotech trax alu evo hardcases (2x35L) this year. love them. I could not understand what idiot would buy a side opening cases and see all their stuff fall off. The top opening cases is THE ONLY way to do hard luggage. Period.

So, because I hate so much the 2012 ninjar 650r, (for many other reasons not mentionned here), I would recommend a the international top 10 success bike: vstrom 650 (2012+ is narrower fyi) (on which my trax alu evo side cases will fit... when I buy one...!)

Guillaume · 07-24-2012, 06:53 AM

Thank you dddd !

So the only problem so far that I see is the knee pain. How tall are you ? I am 5'9 with 30 inches inseam.

Grainbelt · 07-24-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guillaume

Thank you dddd !

So the only problem so far that I see is the knee pain. How tall are you ? I am 5'9 with 30 inches inseam.

That's going to vary by height, age, previous injury, etc. I'm 5'11 with a 33" inseam and was a little sore on a 900 mile day on the Ninja 650, but not bad. Lots of 600-700 mile days as well, 10+ hours in the saddle, and never had any issues, but I was 25 and in pretty good physical condition.

Guillaume · 07-24-2012, 11:54 AM

Grainbelt, you're a hardcore rider. I RARELY do 600 KM (not miles) days. If it was comfortable enough for a 600 miles day, I guess it will fits the bill for me ! I'm in pretty good shape too, 26 years old, 155 pounds for 5'9 so not fat.

CharlestonADV · 07-24-2012, 01:00 PM

I think the Kawasaki Versys would be a better choice for a comparison with the DL650 V-Strom.

dddd · 07-24-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlestonADV

I think the Kawasaki Versys would be a better choice for a comparison with the DL650 V-Strom.

I agree
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/adversys/

dddd · 07-24-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guillaume

So the only problem so far that I see is the knee pain. How tall are you ? I am 5'9 with 30 inches inseam.

5'10", 32"
Yes, age is my factor I guess...
I did a 1330km day once, with a big 1h30 pause 500km from the end, and it wasn't bad at all, it depends A LOT on how many and how long pauses you take. Of course I was still vibrating 2 days later...damn twin parallel rocking couple...

p0diabl0 · 07-24-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guillaume

Thank you dddd !

So the only problem so far that I see is the knee pain. How tall are you ? I am 5'9 with 30 inches inseam.

re: that knee pain, I'm 5'11" with a 31inch inseam. Coming from a KLR and DRZ I felt too cramped and purchased bar risers and foot peg lowering brackets. A few months later the bar risers went back into the parts bin but the lowering brackets stayed - easy fix IMO.

dddd · 07-24-2012, 03:48 PM

http://cycle-ergo.com/

07-23-2012, 12:42 PM	#1
Guillaume ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal Oddometer: 54	V-Strom VS. Ninja 650R (Need advice from 650R owners) Hey guys, I had an 09 V-Strom 650, loved it. Sold it for an F800ST than bought a CBF1000F, then a Tiger 1050. Now I want to go back to a 650 and I loved the V-Strom. Also like the SV650 but for long rides it seems pretty uncomfortable. The Ninja 650R never got my attention because it wasn't available with ABS but for 2013 it will be an option in North America. I already know the V-Strom 650 is a wonderful bike and I'm totally in love with its engine. BUT I'd like something more.... sexy. Long story short, my question is : Is the Ninja 650R is good for long rides and touring ? I mean 3-4 days riding with saddlabags and stuff. Is it good for the wrists and butt ? Is it easily tunable for touring ? Thanks !

07-23-2012, 06:06 PM	#4
erda Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Great White North, EH! Oddometer: 181	Wife road her 650r from Alberta to the Redwoods and back last summer. Currently we are in Durango CO. All that on her 2009 650r with Givi cases. Only changes to her bike are an Alaskan sheepskin, an MRA vario windscreen, frame sliders, and a heated gear plug. __________________ Current ride: 2009 Bandit 1250SEA Previous rides: 2009 V-Strom 650SEA; 2004 Kawasaki Ninja 500ex erda screwed with this post 07-25-2012 at 08:31 PM

07-23-2012, 06:57 PM	#6
FlyingFinn Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Oddometer: 940	I had a VStrom 650 for a while and my partner rides a Ninja 650 and I often borrow it from her... I'm 6'1" tall and for a multi-day trip there would be no contest for me, I'd take the DL. You already know how amazing that little engine is. And the DL just feels like a better built real motorcycle, and fits larger people better. The Ninja is maybe more fun around town, it feels lighter and fir shorter people much better. The Ninja motor is fine and does a good job but doesn't quite match the feel and thrust that the Suzuki V-twin delivers. Everyone might not agree with me but the Ninja feels more like a "beginner bike" to me, compared to the Strom that feels like a real 650 motorcycle for people who appreciate a good real-world mid-size bike. They ONLY thing going against the VStrom really is that it's not.... well..... sexy. -- Mikko __________________ "It is not when or how you die but how and if you truly were ever alive!" Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald

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07-23-2012, 12:58 PM	#2
Grainbelt marginal adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Minnyhappiness Oddometer: 25,021	I put 25k miles on a 2006 Ninja 650R. Only changes were frame sliders, GPS mount, accessory socket, and full Givi luggage. The brakes and suspension were a little taxed when fully loaded, but I took several ten-day trips on it without any issues. I recently test rode a 2012 Ninja 650R since the demo truck was here in Minneapolis. It is just as fun as the previous model, but has much better instrumentation (gas gauge, etc) and a windscreen that can be mounted in one of three locations. The suspension was a bit more compliant than I remembered from the '06, and really handled our potholed, frost-heaved roads quite well. Now that I see the 2013 is available in white with ABS, I want one badly.

07-23-2012, 02:07 PM	#3
Guillaume ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal Oddometer: 54	Some people told me the seat was really uncomfortable. But it's possible to change that anyways. I just love the look of the new version. So sexy :) Nice setup by the way ! It was a classy bike !

07-23-2012, 06:44 PM	#5
Guillaume ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal Oddometer: 54	And comparing to your DL560, which one did you prefer for long distances ? If you only had one bike between these two, which one would you get ?

07-24-2012, 04:28 AM	#7
dddd Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2012 Location: Montreal, Canada Oddometer: 203	between vstrom 650 and ninja 650, I would like to get vstrom for abs and rugged style. I do ride easy trail with my ninja 650 surprisingly, but that's usually because I was trying to route through a shortcut... I am scared of flat tires.... But since spring 2010, I have done 80'000km (yes 80k km) on a ninja 650r. That should answer your question about touring abilities. The tank is a bit small (15.5L but it does normally below 5L/100km (4.3 to 4.8) so that is 270 km easily without even going into the stressful blinking icon). Oh, by the way, the 2012 instrument cluster sucks!!!!!!!!!!!. The all digital one from 2009-2011 was way better looking and no blinding white backlight at nigh but a gentle red. comfort wise, the legs are too bent. I start feeling butt pain and knee pain after 500-600km. (still pretty confortabe I think, although I cant compare with other bikes, only had this one. maybe the pain would occur anyway after those hours). Wrists are very comfortable it is so upright. Get a throttle lock and you can steer with the fingers so you are even more upright and no arm tension. I bought a airhawk cushion recently and butt pain is gone. knee pain still an issue. I wish I could put in the abs, I agree. It it about 3000$ to upgrade a 4000$ bike... So, likely not. I bought a zero gravity ST windshield that raises 3.5 inches. gets the wind well above the throat finally unlike the stock one. I got the swmotech trax alu evo hardcases (2x35L) this year. love them. I could not understand what idiot would buy a side opening cases and see all their stuff fall off. The top opening cases is THE ONLY way to do hard luggage. Period. So, because I hate so much the 2012 ninjar 650r, (for many other reasons not mentionned here), I would recommend a the international top 10 success bike: vstrom 650 (2012+ is narrower fyi) (on which my trax alu evo side cases will fit... when I buy one...!)

07-24-2012, 06:53 AM	#8
Guillaume ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal Oddometer: 54	Thank you dddd ! So the only problem so far that I see is the knee pain. How tall are you ? I am 5'9 with 30 inches inseam.

07-24-2012, 11:54 AM	#10
Guillaume ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Montreal Oddometer: 54	Grainbelt, you're a hardcore rider. I RARELY do 600 KM (not miles) days. If it was comfortable enough for a 600 miles day, I guess it will fits the bill for me ! I'm in pretty good shape too, 26 years old, 155 pounds for 5'9 so not fat.

07-24-2012, 01:00 PM	#11
CharlestonADV Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Oddometer: 108	I think the Kawasaki Versys would be a better choice for a comparison with the DL650 V-Strom.

07-24-2012, 03:48 PM	#15
dddd Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2012 Location: Montreal, Canada Oddometer: 203	http://cycle-ergo.com/