V-Strom 1000 - Good/Bad?

[RandyO]

What was the reason, then?

long distance 2up touring

[Stromper]

Wee weighs 30 pounds less and most is off the top so it is easier to push around

Not on my criteria list for bike purchases though.

I used to commute on a Burgman 650 which was a great commuter and not a bad
over all thing

[gregp]

Which one is more fun to ride (easier to wheelie), 650 or 1000???..... They both look so long, that it looks like it would be difficult on either, but I have seen pics of the 650 doing it, so I know that it can be done... I know that pretty much *any* bike can wheelie, but some are much easier than others. I do not intend to be wheelying all over the place (and *never* on public roads, Ahem) but every once in a while, a guy should be able to have some fun!

[jasnmar]

Which one is more fun to ride (easier to wheelie), 650 or 1000???.....

[nhbubba]

The 1k has something like 30% more torque than the 650, so I would hope that it is easier to wheelie than the 650.

I am not a small guy. (North of 200 lbs.) I have clutched the front of my 650 up in traffic when riding pissed. It caught me completely by surprise and I honestly did not think it was possible with me aboard, but it is. I honestly haven't tried to wheelie it on demand.

I won't lie, I miss the extra cc's when on the open Interstate and when passing. Although I don't miss them all that much. She is a bit whiny on the 'slab. I am typically wound out to about 6k. Youtube has plenty of on-board video of the experience.

But I love, love, love the range of the 650. I can get over 300 miles/tank if I try. I am averaging almost 55 MPG on the thing. Everyone told me the mileage would drop off, but it hasn't. It is quite something.

The bike is long and tall. Every one of my non riding friends insists its bigger than the naked 1200 I replaced it with.

It rides crappy New England secondary roads like a dream. But then that is true for a lot of the ADV bikes.


Were my DL650 to vanish today I'd either be looking for another, a Triumph Tiger 800, or a VFR. I've looked at the Tiger half seriously. But I keep coming back to the conclusion that it can't possibly be better enough of a bike to justify the bath I'd take on the trade. That'd be different if I didn't have a bike in the garage.

[Stromper]

Both Vstroms share the same frame except for the engine mounts

[TheIglu]

I can loft the front end without touching the clutch when crossing an inter section just because of the crown in the road. It won't snap your head back, and it is no ZRX, but I'm happy with the power.

[Stromper]

I have tre eliminator and a little yosh box

1st gear wheelies when wanted even 2nd gear if I work it. The purpose of the tre is to limit power in some gears for many reasons, wheelies is one. So is you don't change it you''ll be fine

Even with Whiskey Throttle I am sure you can't loop it

I pass a lot, almost anywhere any when on little roads so the 1000 is a help. I also have had a 1 K bike
for 35 years and would not go calmly into that good night

[Garandman]

Any bike with a 17" front is going to be more agile in the twisties - and be lumpier over bumpy roads, chose your poison.

The V-Strom is loooong. It's 90" long and won't fit in our Transit Connect van without removing the passenger seat. Bikes like the Tiger 1050 and SV650 I had are 83" long or so.

[xxaarraa]

Thank You for the candid response, Garandman! You are the first person to tell that the engine feels "rough", and I do not doubt you at all. I suspect that the 650 is much smoother. Out of the others you mention, I have considered the Versys and the NC700X. The Versys "looks" taller, although I have not sat on or ridden one. They do get great reviews, though, and are said to have great, sporty motors. I also considered the NC700X, and I am particularly fond of the tank trunk. It has a bargain price ($6,999) and the only thing that bothers me is that I am worried that its bland, utilitarian power delivery may get boring after a short while. I do like some excitement in any bike I end up with. The other thing about both the NC and the Versys is that reviews have not raved about passenger (and pilot) comfort as they have with the big 'Strom.

Greg, not sure how seriously you are considering a versys. But Jared has one with a fair bit of kit on it and lives not far from you.

[Rossco]

My one major gripe about the Versy's (and the NInja 650 and ER6-N for that matter) is the inability to fit a center stand due to the way the exhaust is routed on those machines.

[nhbubba]

Decent point. One of my gripes with the V-Strom is that Suzi nickel and times you and doesn't put a center stand on the bike from the factory. They have them as an (overpriced) accessory and there are several aftermarket options. But the bike should come with one.

At least they still put tool kits under the seat.

[RandyO]

Decent point. One of my gripes with the V-Strom is that Suzi nickel and times you and doesn't put a center stand on the bike from the factory. They have them as an (overpriced) accessory and there are several aftermarket options. But the bike should come with one.

At least they still put tool kits under the seat.

I'm glad it didn't come with a centerstand, that way I didn't waste money on somehting I wasn't going to use and woulda removed

Suzuki builds budget bikes to budget specs

[nhbubba]

You think they passed big savings on to you? I don't.

[RandyO]

You think they passed big savings on to you? I don't.

$7500 otd and not a leftover but in beginning of model year

ya really thing they would sell for the same price with a centerstand, ha!

[Stromper]

I think Murph Kit had a center stand for $130

[gregp]

Certainly the one thing that stands out about the big V-Strom, and even the smaller 650, is that they are both a lot of bike for the money. Most of the other bikes I am considering weigh much less, and cost a bit more. In motorcycling, the drive for weight reduction from both materials and engineering mean that you pay more, for "less". Unless you dive into the cruiser category, where it still holds true to some extent, but aesthetics kind of takes over.
I am still shopping,...and loving every minute of it. My new Cycle World just showed up, so lets see what they say is coming...