Riding Positions
It's amazing this class is so overlooked by the general cruising public, especially when you consider the value it offers. All the bikes here make for great entry-level, commuter or light-duty all-rounders at the very least, but there are some compromises. I was unimpressed with the Star's suspension right off the bat-its front fork consistently bottomed out, and the brakes were unimpressive. It's still the comfiest bike here though; the S40 cramped even my 5-foot-7-inch frame. The Suzuki's riding position is made for aggressive maneuvers through traffic, but anyone over 5 feet 9 or 170 pounds will be hating life on the freeway. Oh, yeah: Singles do buzz.
That's why it's cool to see fresh blood in the class. The Hyosung's a pleasant surprise, with a free-spinning motor that gets you there in a hurry, unlike the others. Plus it's got a raft of features you'd normally find on much higher-end bikes. Hello, DOHC? Adjustable front forks? Fuel injection (next year)? Sign me up!
Not that I'm trashing the Star or the Boulevard, but let's face it: They'd need a serious overhaul to get my attention at this point in their lifespan.
Andrew Cherney, 5' 7'', 155 lb, 30.5" inseam
Hyosung: 3.5 out of 5
Star: 2 out of 5
Suzuki: 2 out of 5
The S40 is a great bike for the daily commute and quick errands around town. What struck me about the S40 is how small it is. Even our vertically challenged staffer felt cramped. The Star is the best-looking of the bunch and is well finished. Where it really fell short is the suspension. It is way too soft, and the forks dive hard when you apply the front brake. The motor was also disappointing, requiring quick shifts to keep up with traffic.
My favorite is the Hyosung. It isn't the best-looking, but it's the only bike I would recommend if you want to do more than just commute. I could stretch out and let the GT650-based motor pull me where I wanted to go. Suspension was a bit harsh, but it has some adjustability. The brakes worked well but felt wooden and didn't provide enough feedback. The display is placed on the triple clamp so I don't have to look down to check my speed. And yes, it was the only bike of the bunch to have a fuel gauge as well as disc brakes on both wheels. Now if we could do something about the styling . . .
Jerry Buerger, 5'9", 205 lb, 32" inseam
Hyosung: 3.5 out of 5
Star: 2.5 out of 5
Suzuki: 2 out of 5
Putting these 650s through their paces was a lot of fun. I love small bikes, always have and always will. I just love the great handling, light weight, stopping power, fuel mileage and low insurance costs of small bikes. Plus, you can learn a lot more about how to ride a motorcycle when you aren't scared to death of its power and bulk. That's especially key for novice and intermediate riders.
Getting the S40 on the boil was fun, but at high revs that thumper becomes tiresome. It's perfectly well suited for commuting but not real fun on the highway. And motorcycles are supposed to be fun, right? I thought the V Star would give me a whole lot more bang for my buck from its engine room, but its V-twin doesn't provide substantially more power than the Boulevard's single and not much better braking, either. However, the riding position suited me much better, and its highway manners were more than acceptable. The Hyosung surprised me with its technological edge and double the power of the others-but the seat let me down after 45 minutes.
Is that enough for it to come in second? Can you say "custom seat?"
Evan Kay, 5'4", 159 lb, 29" inseam
Hyosung: 3.5 out of 5
Star: 3 out of 5
Suzuki: 1.5 out of 5