This seems pretty interesting:
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| Image via El Wik |
The idea is that this would join my current bike, not replace it. So does anyone *cough* Uncle Jay *cough* have any experience with this?
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Anyone had experience with the Suzuki V-Strom 1000?
Everyone told me that my first bike would be the wrong one. It's actually precisely the right one for 80% of what I want to do (local knocking about). But it's precisely the wrong one for the other 20% (long highway rides). And so I've started looking.
This seems pretty interesting:
I'm sure it has way more power and speed than I'd ever want, but looks like it might be pretty sweet on long highway rides. And it's not quite 6 gallon tank is a whole lot better for cruising than my current not quite 2 gallon one. It looks like I could take this for a week in Myrtle Beach.
The idea is that this would join my current bike, not replace it. So does anyone *cough* Uncle Jay *cough* have any experience with this?
This seems pretty interesting:
The idea is that this would join my current bike, not replace it. So does anyone *cough* Uncle Jay *cough* have any experience with this?
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17 comments:
Heh, and NOW it begins... :-)
The classic touring bike is the Honda Gold Wing.
(There, that ought to draw some people out of hiding.)
I don't have experience with the V-Strom, but my first bike was a Suzuki and it was very reliable in spite of my best efforts. My next bike will probably also be a Suzuki. The Triumph's been fun, but it's been a bit high maintenance.
Will Mrs. BP be riding with you on long trips? If so, you'll want to see what kind of seating options you can get. The stock pillion on the V-Strom doesn't look too comfortable to me. It looks like luggage space may be limited too.
I'd highly recommend a Victory bagger. They worked out most of the issues around '10 or '11. If you can find a '12 on the floor right now, they are giving them away.
I've had several Suzuki cruisers and I love them. They make a pretty much bulletproof cycle. Unfortunately, one of the things I love most about them - the shaft drive - is not on the Vstrom. It's a chain drive.
Everyone I know that has one, loves it. More versatile than a cruiser and more flickable than a 'wing. Great multipurpose bike.
I'm a guy with over 40yrs of owning and riding bike under my butt. I've owned and rode the wheels off everything from little 2 strokes to Nortons, Ducatis, Hondas. Standards, sportbikes and touring yachts, I owned a Harley Glide when I was 15.
I have not ridden the V-strom but have some seat time on the sportier SV1000. The Suzuki is a great value(bang for $) and even in the sport trim is an all day ride without kinks. The V-strom is designed to cover long stretches without regard for road conditions and do it without drama.
Comparing it to bloated 700lb plus touring or cruiser bikes is ridiculous. Just try taking a bagger over a gravel stretch or a really tight or beat up road and you will learn all about bad choices.
More than a few guys on the ldriders list / ironbutt association ride V-Stroms, including the smaller "Wee-Strom" and have racked up plenty of certificates. It would be one of my first choices for a sport tourer if I could get another bike to go along with my Old Wing ('84 Gold Wing).
My next bike will be a Ducati ST4 or equivalent, just saying. Of course it was only made for 2 years. Maybe a Ducati Multistrada is what you are looking for.
There are places you can rent a bike here in the ATL. Get one go do a grand (500 out 500 back) over a weekend then ask you but and arms if they lime it.
Check out the ADV Rider forum BP - those guys invented that bike and have run it to its limits and beyond. I bought one on their recommendation. They use the V-Strom as a base bike in hopes of arriving at the new genre of adventure bikes typified by the BMW GS1200 and the new Yamaha Super Tenere. These bikes are supposedly more capable in the gravel and crappy roads but they are by no means dirt bikes.
I loathed mine. I bought it used and it had been piped. It had a high centre of gravity and was all over the road in high winds. In gravel it was an absolute pig and a white knuckler to drive. Even my new Suzuki C90 cruiser handles gravel roads way better than the V-Strom did.
Were I you I would look at the baggers. They're reasonably priced, they go as fast as you need to go and in my opinion their lines appeal more than the Goldwings and tourers with their fairings and hard saddlebags. I can carry more stuff than they do simply by lashing my load to the bike - it looks ugly and is not aerodynamic - but it works.
Ride that V-Strom well before you buy it. A lot of people DO love them...but I am not one of them.
my taller half rides a 650 Vstrom. it's COMFORTABLE. the seat's like a dang couch. it's a bit more maneuverable and more offroad-capable than a cruiser (including the goldwing), and it's cheaper than a similar model BMW.
if you're considering it, you will not be sorry.
Laura, thanks.
The input from the men (so far) has been mostly technical, although that's not at all bad. But input like yours (that you'll go riding with your Taller Half) is a whole different - and valuable - thing.
If you're looking in the 1K cc range, look a little higher and check out Honda's ST1100 and 1300. The 1100 went out of production in 2002, replaced by the 1300 in 2003. 1100s are around, most in good shape (they're not bikes the kids like), for $4-6K. They need timing belts every 100K, the 1300 fixed that with a chain for the cams. V4, shaft drive, 7+ gallon tank. My 1100 did Orlando to Key West on one tank. Just barely, but it did it. Honda calls them "sport" touring, but either is heavy enough (680 lbs) to be more touring and not quite as much sport. Like sitting on an electric motor, though, and since the 1100 began in 1989 as the '90 model, they haven't been around long enough for anyone to wear one out yet. Tires, brake pads and oil changes is it for maintenance.
Forgot to mention Honda is still making the ST1100 in police livery. There are a lot of them in AUS and NZ and surrounding areas, as well as where Great Britain used to be, so parts will be in the pipeline for years.
Nosmo, that's interesting. It looks like I can find them locally for even less than you mentioned. They're bigger bikes, though.
The V-Strom is too tall for me, on one the other day and had a hard time keeping even the balls of my feet touching the ground while stopped. With my 'Connie I can keep both feet flat and I have a 32" inseam. Try a Honda ST, Yamaha FJR, a Kawasaki Concours, BMW's and any number of V-twins. Go to lots of dealers and take rides on everything.
oh god, yeah, i love riding pillion on his bike.
a caution i want to make: check the suspension weight. the wee-strom, as it's been dubbed, is sprung for a 160lb rider. with 2 riders it gets a little squirrelly. if you buy new, have them repack the suspension for higher weight if you plan on carrying a passenger.
If you read my post about the trip to Albuquerque there's a couple of shots of Car Guy's V-Strom. I got the chance to ride it for a bit and I have to say I really liked it. So much so that if I decide to buy something new to replace the BMW I'll be giving it a long thought. It's light for a Liter bike, has good power, is comfortable and gets 50+ mpg. And it's drop dead gorgeous. Car Guy is a collector of motorcycles and I think this one is the last one he'd sell. Be tough to pick something better, depending on what you want to do. If you're even considering multi-day trips that bike is a very good choice.
Got 50,000 on and off road miles on the Strom 650. Properly farkled, it'll get you anywhere you could possibly want to go, and very comfortably and reliably. As with most bikes...the seat is the one thing that you'll want to replace, unless your butt happens to like the stock one. I've never missed the extra power of the "men's version", but either should make you happy. And butt-ugly to boot!
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