V-Strom 1000 - Good/Bad?

[Garandman]

Is this a "Liter Bike thing"? No. Not at all. It is a comfort thing. Comfort for pilot and passenger. /

If I recall correctly, the 650 and 1K have the same ergo's aside from the seat.

The only riding-position difference between the DL1000 and DL650 is that the DL650 comes stock with a seat that is approximately 25mm / 1" thinner. They are interchangeable: I sold my stock DL650 saddle to a short DL1000 rider. Short riders also remove the rubber bumpers under the seat which further lowers the seat 7// (1/4").

Post on here and stromtrooper and just go sit on one or the other first - what you "test sit" doesn't mattter, just see if it fits you, and go from there. Then check out cycle-ergo.com.

Here's what cycle-ergo shows for a 5'7 rider with a 30" inseam sitting on a DL1000.


As mentioned previously, the BMW F650GS and F700GS are both available with low suspension and low seat from the factory cost around the same new - the F700GS is $10,195 new. They are both actually 800's.
There are similar models like the F800R and F800ST and GT that may be better suited to your intended purpose. CE shows you can flat-foot a F800GT.
Ditto the NT700V.
Ditto the Gold Wing.
etc.

[nhbubba]

I think that graphic is probably pretty accurate. I am a bit taller than you, but also have a 30" inseam. I cannot flat foot my 650. And as pointed out, the rider's portion of the saddle on the 650 is shorter than the 1k.

[nt650hawk]

I could just about FF the 1200GS with an inseam of 32+.

[Garandman]

What am I thinking. Forgot the default recommendation here.

'Busa!

[gregp]

I am actually considering one. Is the passenger position comfy?

[Falko]

Two bikes to consider would be the Concours 14 and the FJR. Lower than an adventure bike, not the weight of the Gold Wing, comfortable for the passenger. I had my rear seat on the FJR re=worked to flatten it a bit and make it less forward leaning. If it were a different time of year, I'd say bring the missus up and take the FJR for a spin with the two of you, see what you think, but she's tucked in for the winter. I'd suggest a Norge, but you said no Guzzi's.
That said, my friend that has a C14 had a DL1000 prior to. He like the DL a lot, some ways better than the C14 other ways not so much. What that means, I don't know.
Good luck.

[GearHd6]

I am actually considering one. Is the passenger position comfy?

Check it out on that Cycle Ergo website. I'm only 38 years old and I wouldn't want to ride that very far. The shorter you are the worse off for being stretched over the tank.

Do you have a price you're trying to stay under? I see you're caught on that $10k mark of the Strom 1000 so I wasn't sure if that was your cut off. I would just go sit on all the bikes you can during the off season and see what feels comfortable to you. I'm sure you first fell in love with the $10k price tag of the Strom and now you're hoping everyone can talk you into that being the right bike for you. I wish it worked that way because I wouldn't have bought my Tiger. I wanted to spend less but nothing "inspired" me as much as the Tiger did. If you already think the Strom is going to lack inspiration, then it probably will even after you buy it. Find a bike that has a comfortable riding position and that you can touch the ground comfortable on. If the seat ends up being uncomfortable (which most stock seats are) then send it out to have it reworked or spend some cash on a custom seat. You can spend top dollar on a bike and still find the seat uncomfortable. Again, don't discount the BMW's. Some of those come "low" from the factory and I'll bet you can touch flat foot on a properly equipped bike. My dad rides his A LOT. He is always where the weather is warm so he rides all the time. I want to say his 09 BMW has 60k on it now and he sold his 02 Heritage Softail with 145k on it. He is about your size and finds these bikes extremely comfy, obviously.

[gregp]

When I started this search, I didn't really have a price limit. That is why I was even considering a 'Wing, at $25k. Then, logic and frugality set in. I started looking at the new NC700X, and I still am. My wife and I have always been prudent with our money, and this wins out at every purchase we make. I bought a 2011 Tacoma, new, and I chose the 4 cylinder, standard. A month or 2 later, I wished I had bought the V-6, Auto. The money doesn't seem to matter much, after you have spent it.
Right now, my wife has been looking at pictures of different bikes with me, and she likes the big 'Strom, and everything we have read about it. I am still listening to everything posted in this thread. I guess that I will have to go, with her, to a couple of dealerships, and actually sit on a couple of these bikes. That is really the only way to see what fits us best. I always recall that the older Kawasaki Concours also has a lot of good things written about its comfort levels, but she hated one when she tried it.
I have a good friend that has a big Strom, but the time of year is preventing me from taking a test ride. If I wait until spring, the deal I found might be gone.
I do want to thank everybody for chiming in here. I will take all of the information I can get to help me make a choice that I won't regret.

[nhbubba]

We've discussed it before, but I find the NC700X so very underwhelming. I cross shopped the NT700v while shopping for my 'strom a couple years back and it was almost as bad. Ironically I think I'd like the NC better if it had the NT engine. But in the end I'm left asking why bother? I'd rather have a V-Strom 650, Versys 650, Tiger 800, or even a 20 year old VFR750 instead. Plenty of good (erhm, better) options out there IMO.

[No Quarter]

Looking at this dilemma strictly from a 2-up riding point of view...that's the place i was in last year at this time. I was trying to find the best "compromise" between comfort, handling, weight, technology...etc... I wasn't ready to go "old guy" GoldWing yet. I ended up with a BMW K1600GTL. Very happy with it for it's intended purpose. I do also have a VFR 800 for myself and I am replacing that shortly with a new HyperStrada. Looks like I have the best of both worlds...at least for me.

Sorry this went kinda off the Vstrom question...My brother has the 650 for 4 years and 50K, he loves it.

[Stromper]

another 25 thousand solution

[gregp]

I enjoy reading these responses. Yes, the GTL is another $25k solution, but it is a little bit less expensive than the 'Wing. One of the problems, for me, is that reviews I have read say that the seat is unbearable. I mean, that doesn't "kill" the whole bike, but something about buying a new bike, and then having to experiment and plunk down another $400 or more on a seat just rubs me the wrong way. It is shameful that such a nice bike should come with such a device. I am also not too keen on the whole Beemer thing. I guess that I have just read too many horror stories. If I did get one, it would have to be a GS. The smaller ones just look too funky. To me, a V-Strom is beautiful.
I also started looking at Aprilia Caponord's, but there is not a new one out yet - at least I did not see one on the Aprilia USA site. Odd that I did not see their v-twin dirt models either..
A friend has an older KTM 950 Adventure (first year?), and that thing is *way* too tall. It was the only bike that I have ever straddled that I had to get on with the bike on the side stand. My 1996 620 RXC was way too tall as well, but the 950 was ridiculous. I hear that the newer ones are lower, but they still lack the comfort of the big 'Strom.

[nhbubba]

To me, a V-Strom is beautiful.

If you will excuse me, you are frickin' weird!

I love the 'strom and think it's a fantastic bike. But beautiful? Not a chance!

The seat really does suck on the V-Strom too by the way. Arguably the worst thing about the bike, in my opinion. (Again, I'm speaking of the cut down 650 seat too.) Dropping ~$500 on a 'custom' seat is likely in my future. But then I spent so little on the bike that I can afford to do such things. One of those beautiful things about buying these bargain basement Suzukis.

[Stromper]

I have riden my VEE with the stock seat 600 miles in a day on 2 lane roads

[nhbubba]

I have ridden my WEE with the stock seat that far too. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck.

[boosten lebaron]

When i was picking up my new bike today i kept eyeing the nc700 sitting in the corner. I know nothing about it nor do i know about adventure touring but it was neat looking and dirty cheap as far as i could tell. Im sure a trip to twisted throttle would solve alot of its adventure short comings. Looking at some of these posts it may not be the best bike. Id at least give it a whirl.

[Garandman]

No matter the bike some people will like the seat and some will complain. Personally I use the Suzuki Tall Touring saddle.

What is true for sure is that the V-Strom has a lot of real estate to work with.

[RandyO]

I have riden my VEE with the stock seat 600 miles in a day on 2 lane roads

I have ridden my WEE with the stock seat that far too. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck.

I have ridden my Vee with stock seat 1600 miles in a day

your saddle has little relative importance in all day comfort

key to comfort is your underwear

[nhbubba]

I don't care how far I can ride, I am NOT wearing your underwear!

[gregp]

This thread just went from good, to GREAT!

[RandyO]

I was going to buy a new pair anyway

should I put the old pair on Craigs list or E-bay ?

[Currently]

Come on Randy, sweeten the pot a little!

[Falko]

I'd leave any customization out of the description.

[gregp]

FWIW - There is now a used '08 on CL - Barely used, 3.5k miles, with a PC, RT suspension, a Givi top case, and more, for $6.8K. I called and spoke with the (2nd) owner last night. Decisions, decisions,... The wife says "New"... It sounds like a PC is a "must have" with these machines, and the RT suspension work is really nice, and that makes me lean "Used"...
The funny thing is that the owner says "I just found that I like riding my 650 more..."

[nhbubba]

Barely used, 3.5k miles ... the (2nd) owner ... owner says "I just found that I like riding my 650 more..."

Based on what I've read on the Interwebz, this is not unusual. My experience when shopping was that the clean machines went quick and the only ones I was able to see in person were beat, tired examples.

Were I riding 2-up, I'd probably have gone 1k. Although in retrospect, the 650 would do the deed too. Bottom line is you need to go do some test riding, if you can. (I have never been able to do that successfully.)

Yes, I agree that it sounds like the PC is a necessary evil with the 1k's, particularly the earlier ones.

IIRC the 1k has up-rated suspension vs the 650. Doesn't it already have a cartridge setup from the factory? What are the RT mods? Springs? If just springs, that's only ~$100 and not worth much of a premium at all.

Nearly $7k seems like a lot for a 4 year old 'strom.