Hey BluePlanetCitizen

I did decide. I got me a V-Strom 650 and I love it so far. Just a few rough reasons I chose it: Lighter weight, newer bike (5 years vs 10 years) taller riding position, easier to handle off road, can put knobbly tyres on it.

Some of those may not apply to you but you can make your choice. I did a few Europe trips on the CBF and loved it, but I'm glad I've got the Strom. I took it a little "off road" a few weeks ago, down a farm track which had a steep gravel hill, deep muddy tracks and lots of loose stuff and for my first time off road at all it was a treat, handles like a dream for me. I was always squirming around on the CBF but the Strom feels easy. I jump on the CBF from time to time now and it feels like a race bike sitting on it (Which it is not).

I'm having fun taking it apart for various things and finding it slightly easier to work on than the CBF, though that may be my experience and it being a newer bike (less bolts and clips worn out).

I'm happy with the power, I think it actually has more grunt < 40mph but you don't feel fast at all it's so smooth. But it doesn't much like > 90mph. Which is perfect really.

All that said, I haven't set off yet, or come up against any big technical issues or been off road for significant amounts of time. So I may have made a huge mistake. Happy choosing!