Getting the V-Strom 650 to Stretch its Legs
Alright, so I’ve had my V-Strom 650 for a good while now. Solid bike, really dependable. But you know, sometimes you just get that urge, that little voice in your head asking, “Just how fast can this thing go?” It’s not like I bought it to be a rocket, far from it. It’s my trusty companion for all sorts of rides. But curiosity, she’s a persistent cat.
So, the other day, conditions were just right. Weather was clear, not too windy, and I knew this one stretch of road, pretty empty, nice and straight. Safety first, always. I made sure everything on the bike was A-OK – tire pressure, chain, the usual checks. Didn’t want any surprises when pushing it a bit.
I started off easy, just getting the engine warmed up properly. Then, once I hit that open stretch, I began to open her up. Shifted through the gears, nice and smooth. The 650cc V-twin, it’s got a nice pull, not arm-wrenching, but respectable. I tried to tuck in a bit, you know, make myself a bit smaller against the wind, though I’m not as flexible as I used to be, haha!
Pushing Onwards
The revs climbed, and the speedo started showing bigger numbers. It was interesting to feel how the bike behaved. Up to a certain point, it’s all very composed. Then, as you get higher up in the speed range, you start to feel the wind a lot more, naturally. The V-Strom, with its upright riding position and screen, isn’t exactly shaped like a bullet.
I kept the throttle pinned in top gear. The engine was working hard, you could hear it, but it didn’t feel like it was about to explode or anything. It just felt like it was giving all it had. The numbers kept creeping up, slower now. You hit that point where every extra mile per hour is a real effort for the machine.
- Felt the wind resistance kick in hard.
- Bike remained surprisingly stable, which was good.
- Engine note changed, working at its peak.
So, where did it top out? Well, I saw an indicated speed of around, let’s say, 115-120 mph on the clock. Maybe a hair more on a perfect day with a tailwind and a lighter rider. Speedos are often a bit optimistic, you know. So, real speed might have been a tad lower. Honestly, getting there took a bit of road. It wasn’t a super quick dash to that speed.
And you know what? That’s plenty. For a bike like this, it’s more than enough. It’s not its main game. The V-Strom 650 shines in so many other areas – comfort, reliability, its ability to just munch miles on all sorts of roads. Trying to find its absolute top speed was more of a “because it’s there” kind of thing, a little experiment.
It’s like having a trusty old Labrador. You know it can run, but you don’t buy it to win Greyhound races. You buy it because it’s a great companion. Same with the V-Strom. Now I know, and I can go back to enjoying it for what it truly is: a fantastic all-around motorcycle. The itch has been scratched, so to speak.
