I have 7 bikes, of which a 2005 V-Strom 650 is one of them. The others are a 1990 Honda VFR750F, a 1994 Yamaha YZF750F, a 1997 Honda CBR600F3, a 2002 Triumph TT600, a 2002 Triumph Daytona 955i, and a 2003 Kawasaki Z1000. I like the V-Strom a lot, but if I was keeping one bike, it would be the VFR750F. Just a classic bike. The Z1000 would be second, and then the V-Strom third. It could use a little more power, which is why I would keep the VFR first. I rode the V-Strom from Florida to NY, and it has not given me any problems. I routinely get 55 miles per gallon too.