Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Hello again from Melbourne Oz,

After all your great feedback re my "slow corning" concerns, I took another 650 out for a ride and, yes, fits like a glove. Tomorrow's the big day.

I'm not sure if it's the colder weather, the ongoing (never ending?) global financial problems, or because this bike is a bit of everything, but there's bargains to be had on the second-hand market. Hopefully the woeful depreciation levels out a little. Could a five year old bike, one kept in good nick and modest mileage, lose 75% of its value in 5 years? Hmm...

Still, this 45yo newbie (moving up from a 150cc, which I traded for a new Shoei helmet - my 11yo daughter gave me a look ) is looking forward to his first ride; the soon-to-be-all-mine lives 600+ kms (about 400mi) away in one of the more beautiful parts of Australia. My 70yo dad and I are making the pilgrimage and he seems even more exited!

Cheers and thanks again,

Matt Blain

For those interested, it's an 08' Blue & White, 5000kms (3200mi) on clock, mint condition, yoshi exhaust and yes, the regulator has been exchanged.

I got my bike used. It had 2700 miles on it, Two Brothers exhaust, and was in fair shape.

And I love it just the same

So don't be nervous. It really is a hard machine to screw-up. That's what makes it what it is.

Good luck and ride safe. I think you're really going to enjoy this bike. I know that I love mine. I just hit 1600miles.

Yep, don't sweat it being second hand if yo checked it over really well. I always buy used and have always been ok. Picked up my 650F with 10,000 miles and it needed a chain and sprockets, but is great and I got it pretty cheap. Have had it for over 2000 miles now.

Congrats Matt.

Congrats! It really is a great bike... 17,000km I've logged thus far, & I'd pick the same bike all over again!

As for buying used... don't worry about it... my only regret is buying new... I could have saved a bit of $$$$

By the way, when I bought mine back in March, I saw a couple of used ones for between $4000 and $4300 US. I ended up getting mine as a left over 2008 from a dealer. Brand new for $5000. I only spent around $800 more than I would have on a used one. AND, I don't have to worry that the last owner may have abused it like our friend trying to turn his into a wheelie machine.

Excellent deal! Glad you pulled the trigger on it.

So how's the bike rollin' Matt B (one month on)??? Pictures???

Got mine, 08, used for $4k. The guy probably did some burn outs on it. The battery dumped on me a year later. Just finished a 2000+ mile trip around lake Michigan and Superior. Running like a champ. It's a tuff bike. Do your due diligence, there is no inherent flaws with the bike. Take it for a test ride and if it works for that you should be ok.

Good luck.

Picked the bike up last Thursday, following an all-day trip to get there (by car, with dad as wingman. Big adventure; he loved it!). Spent 7 hours in the saddle next day, with "Goose" in tow, watching my back) stopping a half-dozen times for pics, nibbles and, well, you know...

The weather on Friday was, in a word, crap!. 70% rain, 80% gusty wind, wet road all the way, cold. This was going to be my first ride on the open road - EVER! - so already had a few trepidations. But I have to say, in keeping to to the limits - little bit over perhaps - this machine, if nothing else, instills great confidence. Logging trucks powered toward me, trailing great plumes of H2O, but the bike barely flinched in the subsequent buffet. Ducking low seemed an option.

Though I was glad to get off it by the end (last stretch was two hours - airhawk for the next tour), Saturday morning I was out again visiting the kids at their various tennis meets.

I can't describe how thrilled I am with this... "purchase"? Just have to say that if this is a mid-life crises, wish I'd had it twenty years ago!

Thanks again for all your good wishes.

Matt Blain
Melbourne, Australia

A couple of pics...

Bike (still thinking of a name for it)

"Goose" (Dad, my wingman)

Me wearing the old bike (exchanged it for a Shoei)

Good looking bike. Glad you are enjoying it.

Way to go! Glad you decided to "take the plunge".

I like the pipe. How does it sound?

The yoshi sounds good (my neighbour of 25yrs riding experience says it "sounds Japanese" ), though below 6000rpm isn't too noticeable. I can see why the young blokes like to launch away on green lights with after-markets fitted! Does back-fire a little on rapid deceleration from higher revs, but neighbour assures me this isn't a problem and does sound pretty cool.

Can confirm that at one bar on the fuel indicator (little pump-thing starts flashing), there's at least another 100km (60mi) 'til empty. I prefer the clock to the odometer.

Probably the only criticism is the 5000+ rpm at highway speed. Seems a little high for fuel efficiency. A new sprocket may be my second mod after adding a 50litre Givi.

Otherwise, love the bike.

Cheers, Matt B

Matt ,no offence to you ..but it does make me laugh when people buy a bike and want to change it to save ..guess $100 in fuel over 12 months.
Leave it as it is ,ride it to see if you like the gearing ,if not then change it ,don't upset the ride to save $1 per tank in fuel.
I have a Hundai Getz ,its cheaper to buy ,own and run ,then our bike .
Bike are for fun ,not to save fuel and commuting.