what is the difference between the DR650SE and the DR650SE L2

[Soundboi]

I did try a search that did not yield any fruit.
This is driving me insane other than R4000 I cant find any difference on the net.   

[Torque Curve]

L2 = 2012. New bike, therefor R4000 more than old stock from 2011 etc.

[Soundboi]

You are kidding me right? Nothing different other than the date of manufacture. That's TOTAL BS...
Hello sir welcome to Suzuki, okay so we are going to shaft you and you will take it without lube. this is the L2 its the same as the one next to it but is is more expensive and therefore better. WTF?

[Inprogress]

You are kidding me right? Nothing different other than the date of manufacture. That's TOTAL BS...
Hello sir welcome to Suzuki, okay so we are going to shaft you and you will take it without lube. this is the L2 its the same as the one next to it but is is more expensive and therefore better. WTF?

No not WTF...that is exactly how the majority of consumers in South Africa rate consumable items. The saying is rampant when people pay R800,000 for a car and R6000 for a pair of pants "You get what you pay for" - well obviously you get what you pay for cause it you didn't it be called theft. We are vain and it shows when you look at all the complaining about over priced items yet the same overpriced items is constantly being sold out, 2010 models sold for 2011 models and later 2012 models. Cars are sold cause the out of warranty service costs is too expensive, and instead of not supporting that car, people just buy the new model.

But yeah, the DR650SE has been unchanged since 1996. Wonderful bike.

[lecap]

...
But yeah, the DR650SE has been unchanged since 1996. Wonderful bike.

Mostly.

Some tiny differences:

Some 1997 and 1998 models did not have the starter gear torque limiter. You want to have this item. Feel free to google "DR650 engine grenade" for explanation. It seems the affected bikes were retrofitted by the dealers under warranty (?) which means if yours wasn't dealer serviced it might still be as delivered

In 2004 the graphite compound cylinder base gasket was replaced with a layered sheet metal gasket. Besides making a top end overhaul some two hours quicker by cutting the time to scrape off the very persistent old base gasket it does not make much difference.
The reason for the upgrade is often cited as the old base gasket being failure prone.
I suspect the base gasket failures to be misdiagnosed timing chain tensioner gasket failures. Mrs. Le Cap's 2001 is still on its first base gasket after 109,000km.

Some slight differences between various country models:
Bread bin size taillight contraption on US / Cali models.
Rear carrier ("towel rail") on some bikes.
OEM alli sheet mini bash plate on some early models.
Headlight switch and park light on early German / continental European (?) model. These seem to have a different type / VIN starting SP46Btoo. (?)

Besides that it's just a phletora of colour schemes (plastics white / tank white; then white / blue, yellow / yellow; black / silver; black / black; black & white / black and annually (?) changing sticker designs.

Short answer to the original question:
The year of manufacture and the stickers on the tank.

[Bliknêrs]

When you trade it in you can expect more for it than the older model.
All vehicles works like that.