Well, I have a little over 2,000km's on my bike now.

I can say it's "comfortable" to ride 8 hours on it. Butt hurts after that much but I can't complain, it's a great way to spend 8 hours.

Getting ready for oil change #3. I was impressed with the Rotella-T oil in my bike, smooth shifting, and no issues. So I purchased a 20L (5 Gal) pail of Shell Rotella-T 15w40 so that will be my choice of oil for a while.

Mike

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I want to get one of those but my wife wants to pay the mortgage and feed the kids.
I'll just have to live vicariously through you until I can swing it.
It sounds like it's everything I thought it was when I looked at one a month ago.
Suzuki should send you a few bucks because you just helped them sell a bike.

It's a great bike and I'm really enjoying it more and more. The Suzuki Gel seat really saved the bike in my opinion. I'm sure the stock one is fine for shorter/less inseam riders though, but I'm a little giant and I needed the slide back room badly. I can now ride 6-8 hours and be ok at the end. With the stock seat I was in the 2 hour range before I couldn't take it!

Suzuki did help out with a 5% discount on the bike which I appreciated very much. It's still a lot more expensive in Canada than in the USA though. Out the door cost for me (with the discount) was $8200. Quite a bit more than the US prices they can be had for.

Mike

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From 6 tracked gas fillups the V-Strom DL650 definately gets better gas mileage (58mpg) in the 100-110km range. At 120km/h it drops a bit (53/54mpg) but not by much, at that I still have a 500km range on a completely (22L) tank.

Worst milage so far*: 45.4 mpg (L/100km: 5.18) City riding
Best milage so far: 58.64 mpg (L/100km: 4.01) Highway riding

*Only that once did MPG drop below 53. Maybe it was due to me breaking it in hard?

Mike

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Hey Mister Mike!
Still loving the 'Strom? Let us know how it's treating you, for just one final check up on it!
Wrider

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Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha

So, I almost hit a deer. Seriously, it's true.

Andrea and I were riding down a somewhat rural semi-paved road on the weekend at 70km/h and a deer pops out right out of the bushes (the bushes were touching the side of the road) 3' in front of me.

DAMN!

Slam on the breaks, lock up the rear wheel and the deer is now 6" infront of my bike. The deer's freekin out, first it ran out in front of my bike, then doubles back, then goes back the other way, then back into the bushes. Must have given the deer a heart attack as I, my helmet and my bike got sprayed by, well, not sure (and I don't want to know), but it sprayed liquid brown stuff all over. Apparently they do spray, but you have to be REALLY close (6" away qualifies it seems).

But I'm fine, and all is good. Washed my bike when I got home. Never been that close to a wild deer and it was a good looking animal. Didn't panic and acted as quickly as I could. Glad neither I nor the deer was hurt. But a good story.

Before that we went to Bragg Creek and then to Route/Highway 66 to the end, and did a loop near Kananaskis before heading back to Calgary. Andrea got a new 2006 Kawasaki Z750S that she is breaking in so it's a lot of 80-100km roads (as she's at 350km and her break in is 4000rpm = 93km/h). Mostly she's behind me so she can hard accelerate/engine brake monotune method. Great little but fast bike she has (110hp), and in a very cool matte blue paint job. You can read her Blog here: http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=24215

Mike

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Very happy with the bike, it's quite the all-rounder. I have a little over 4,000km's on it now. GREAT gas milage, just like a camel. I don't ever worry about gas stops like I did before, it will go for 450-600km's on a tank of gas. Amazing.

Also the engine is very good, has very good power for passing, even at 170km/h. Suzuki did a good job with it.

I'd like to upgrade the horn, it's your standard, typical motorcycle horn, but I do honk now and again and I'd like for it to be heard.

I would definately recommend the Suzuki V-strom 650 to a rider who does a lot of day trips and weekend trips. It's a great bike for that and the price definately a bargin considering the quality of the bike.

Mike

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Mike-

Glad you are ok. Those deer moments can be harrowing.

I agree about the horn. I see alot of people add a stebel horn on the V-strom to good effect. The only concern I've ever seen raised about it is that a loud horn leads to more road rage...???? I didn't really understand it.

You both have some fun bikes- I hope you're enjoying the hell out of them!

Steven

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I am glad the deer encounter wasn't a close encounter. I recommend using the brakes instead of the breaks, though. The repair bill is cheaper!

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Practicing the dark and forgotten art of using turn signals since '98.

Damn, those are the breaks then.

I'm glad it wasn't an impact as well, that would have...sucked.

Mike

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