What is it about that V-Strom?
I received an inquiry from a fellow rider in search of his next motorcycle. Bryan wants to know what makes the V-Strom the best motorcycle on the planet.
I have questions about the V-Strom 1000 since I am considering buying one. I have been riding motorcycles almost 40 years now, and I love all bikes. Why do you guys love the V-Stroms? Seriously! In some ways they look a little nerdy and like they have antiquated suspension. They look like a bike for amateurs. They have a cool motor, and when I sat on one it felt very comfortable similar to my dad’s 1200GS. Is it because some of you ride on gravel roads in your touring or what? It would seem like there are other better, faster, nicer bikes out there for someone who spends most of the time on pavement such as a 1300ST along with many more. Almost every time I ask someone how they like the V-Strom they go off the deep end about how great it is–reminds me of the Harley crowd in that respect only. Do you guys think of it as as poor man’s BMW or what? Now I said I’m considering it so don’t think I’m attacking your society of V-Stroms but I just really want to know what is so great about them! I look forward to your comments I hope! Thanks!!
Bryan R.
Bryan, baby, did you take it for a spin? It only took me one ride to make my decision. I commuted for one week before a 1,400 mile run down the east coast. If you are even considering the V-Strom, you can’t possibly be concerned with looks. After 40 years, I shouldn’t have to remind you that riding a motorcycle isn’t about looking rad.
Whether you are riding this machine two minutes or two days, the mixture of power and comfort is highly gratifying. The V-Strom is built around the bulletproof Suzuki v-twin motor, and features upgraded cylinder sleeves among other changes from the similar SV power plant. If your image is a major concern, this v-twin sounds amazing through any exhaust can.
Its standard riding position makes the V-Strom far more comfortable than any cruiser over distance, and its dual sport aspirations make rough roads very manageable. You might even enjoy yourself. I think the 32 inch (plus!) seat height and higher center of gravity make the V-Strom a formidable challenge to amateurs. Have you seen the rack space on this thing? The cargo capacity is much greater than most bikes, especially something like the 1300ST.
I don’t consider the V-Strom a poor man’s anything. Buying my 1000 was the best riding decision I have ever made. Price does matter, and the V-Strom is a serious value play. I think the BMW you have in mind is about 6,000$ more, right? That’s almost enough to buy a 650 and a 1000.
Give the V-Strom another look, and consider riding the beast this time. I hope my readers don’t run you out of town after that Harley comment :) Just to make it interesting, I’ll send the best commenter some free stuff. What do you think?
Posted on February 1st, 2010 in BS | 21 Comments »
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
To the guy who asked the original question, define “better”?
My 650 gets 50+ mpg, and rides happily at any speed under 100 mph. It’s faster than anything with four wheels. It sits me so I can look *down* at people driving pickup trucks. The bags I found for it hold about 100L of space. I sit upright, and my butt and back are fine at the end of the day. It’s also quiet, and I think that’s worth it’s weight in gold.
It also cost me $4k with 2000 miles on it; that won’t get me the service on the 1300cc BMW you mentioned, but I’ll go on.
I ride 360 days a year, give or take. The BMW folks are afraid to get salt on their $20k bikes… but the V-strom’s still plowing through the snow without an issue, because it fits knobby tires as well as slicks.
The Strom is the swiss army knife of bikes; it isn’t the best at anything, but it does *everything* pretty well. It’s also cheap enough that you’re not afraid to try pretty much everything with it.
The only downside is that I wound up spending loot on three extra things if you want to ride 2-up over long distance:
1. Aftermarket seat.
2. Luggage racks and bags.
3. Suspension upgrade.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:22 pm
It´s simple. For me, it took 1 mile drive to take the decision!.
…Comfort (big space for 2), easy riding (can drive continuosly up to 2 hours), MPG´s, intellegence (for $6000 less have all the features of BMW´s (said by my own friends who ride with me on F650GS and F800)
so…wanna ride one??Best regards from Costa Rica
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Now your talk’n! Finally some intelect. You guy’s are right up my alley on your comments almost like you know me. Thanks for the great info. I like stealth quiet bikes anymore and upright comfort. I do like power and the Vstroms looks are starting to grow on me!
February 8th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Wide handlebars, comfortable upright seating position, 50+ miles per gallon, visibility over car tops, reliable, good in the twisties, on the highway, and down a logging road. All this for under $7000. new. What more could you ask for? I love my 650 V.
February 16th, 2010 at 2:32 am
I bought an 08′ DL650 with great intentions of dipping into the world of ADV/Touring,i heard so many great things about this bike,so i figured great…Perfect starter bike to see if i like this style of riding,and if so,i would then jump into a R1200GS…Well…I have enjoyed this bike so much,that i have not found a reason to get anything else,it’s done in my own opinion,touring and light off-roading very well,as for my friend rides a R1200GS,and i have not had not had any issues with this bike,once you farkle(adding accessories)the bike for your needs,it is truly a fantastic bike,and very easy to work on…Could i buy a R1200GS ADVENTURE? Absolutely!! But why? I have 4 other motorcycles sitting in the garage collecting dust,but don’t take my word on one,just ride one and believe…
February 18th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Most of what needs to be said here has been said but I will add two more cents. I went from a six year old R1150 RT to the DL 1000 after the RT started running into heavy repair and maintenance issues, it would only be a matter of time before a final drive was in order. I bought the Strom new last April and put 8000 miles on it before winter. I love it for all the reasons above but looking down the road, the long term maintenance costs will surly be a fraction of what the GS would have been. That’s money I can use on trips and gas.
March 30th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I’ve been riding since I was 12 (40+ years) and the DL1000 is the best bike I’ve had, out of thirty or so others. Hey, it’s a 100 horsepower dirtbike that handles like a dream and eats up the twisties, highway and dirt roads with aplomb, is super comfortable, has six speeds and fuel injection. Who cares what it looks like? You can’t admire the cosmetics from the saddle of any bike, but the aesthetics of actually riding it sold me–it put a grin on my mug the first time I rode one…still does!
April 15th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I’ve got 200 miles on my brand new ’09 DL650, and let me share what I’ve discovered about this great bike so far. There are prettier bikes, there are faster bikes, there are sportier bikes, there are more comfortable bikes, and there are bikes that are better in the sand or mud. But there isn’t any one bike that is as good in so many different categories. The ’83 CB550 I rode last year was quicker, but after an hour, I was done. My butt was numb and my hands were tingling. My wife’s S40 is light, nimble and fun, but its single-cylinder 650 is no match for the DL650’s V-Twin in power, torque or smoothness. The Street Triple R I almost bought instead was way sexier, but can’t do all the things I want to do. In the end, the V-Strom was sporty (enough), quick (enough), good-looking (enough), and comfortable (with no qualifiers). It may not be outstanding in any one area, but it’s more than capable in *all* of them.
The 650 V-Twin in the DL650 is the smoothest engine I have ever been lucky enough to ride. The V-Strom feels like an electric engine compared to the CB550 or the S40 Boulevard. If there is any one area where the V-Strom is truly outstanding, the smoothness of the engine is it.
Despite all that I’ve read about turbulence and buffeting from the stock windscreen, I still found the stock bike comfortable enough to take for a two hour ride down Turnagain Arm in 40F weather last weekend.
As for the bike itself, while I had to adjust to the height, weight and higher C.G. as compared to my CB550, the bike is still reassuring enough that I’ve taken my daughter to school and my wife to lunch on the Strom, and felt very confident riding two-up, even though I haven’t even broken the bike in, yet.
There are lots of bikes I’d like to own, but when I had to pick just one (for now…), there really was nothing that was as good at so many things for anywhere near the price. The V-Strom easily wins in the bang-for-the-buck category.
May 1st, 2010 at 8:11 am
I too, just bought a new V Strom 650 about 2 weeks ago. I shopped and studied and shopped some more…for over a year I sat on every bike made twice before I made my decision. It boiled down to a white 2010 KTM 990 adventure bike or a silver 2009 (no 2010’s avail) V Strom DL650. The decision between the two was pretty easy when I factored in that I am just an occasional weekend rider, 50 years old and didn’t need the power of the KTM which was 2 & 1/2 times more expensive. The V Strom with 1 & 1/2″ handle bar risers, new Gel seat, foam Grip puppies and knobbies is my dream machine & like riding heaven. I’m the envy of every other guy in my neighborhood.
May 4th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Everyone seems to really love the vstrom. I, like many has just purchase a 2010 dl000. Tons of power. Great 2up. 1400KM’s and getting 360km per tank. The wind buffeting makes me want to drive it off a cliff. Seriously, 10 miles and I have a headache. Every site/forum you go to has the perfect sollution. Nothing has worked yet. The BMW as per everyone that’s test road one will tell you they suck worse than the vstrom for buffeting. So for the ultimate adventure tour bike get a vstrom and find a way the find clean windsheild air. Is there anyone that can convince to really really love this investment?
May 24th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
I have been riding for nearly 20 years on big cruisers, most recently H-D. I finally concluded I no longer needed image, and I wanted something upright, comfortable for weekend crusies, or quick ebough for short morning rides to clear my head. From the moment I left the dealer lot, I keep asking myself why I didn’t convert sooner. This is the best all around bike on the road.
I have replaced the windscreen with CalSci, installed Mototech risers, nothing else. The CalSci has eliminated the dreaded buffeting completely…wonderfully designed and very effective. The risers help reduce fatigue on longer trips.
Before I bought the VStrom, I researched BMW, but found I could buy two Stroms for the price of one Beemer. Now it lacks the “image” but you won’t find a better all around bike than the Strom. I walked away from the Suzuki dealer with a new bike and $2,500 cash from a loud, bulky, highly overrated bulk of chrome. Now I am comfortable, confident and very pleased with this bike. No more hours spent cleaning and polishing farkles that add no performance. No more H-D hundred dollar price tag for a t-shirt and jeans. I am so glad to be past that BS.
If you are thinking of buying a Strom, you won’t regret it. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I love mine.
June 28th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Ride one! I went to the dealer with every intention of buying a cruiser style bike with my eye on a Yamaha Star model. I rode one and decided to ride an ’09 DL650 V-Strom just to check it out. When I got back from that test ride, all thoughts of a cruiser bike were gone and I bought the ‘Strom on the spot and rode it home! That was in mid-April 2010 and I’ve been using it to commute to work every day (80 miles round trip). Less than a quarter ton, all fun! Buy one you won’t regret it.
July 12th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I bought a V-Strom 1000 thinking of it as a budget BMW GS and rode it from England to Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland all 2-up and with 35 kilos (80 pounds) of luggage and the bike lapped it up. Tuscan mountain roads with hairpins you can’t see round to thousands of miles of Autostrada, Autoroute and Autobahn the Strom does it all. This year I sold it and bought a 2010 BMW GS Adventure. After three weeks and 3000 miles round Italy I sold it back to the dealer and tracked down the Strom I had traded in and bought my old bike back. For me it’s the better bike, it carries passenger and load better, it cruises all day at 80mph better, it has WAY better overtaking punch on two-lane overtakes (like being fired from a gun)and I am more comfortable after a 600 mile day in the saddle. OK the brakes aren’t as hot and off-road the GS rules but that’s only 1% of my tours. I’ll not sell mine again. Find your own.
July 29th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
As a 30 year+rider, I consider my DL1000 a “do it all” ride. I looked for a bike that I could either nip to the shops on, or cross the Rockies without doing anything to it. It’s now a veteran of several cross country trips (biggest day:845 miles), and is, along with me, a lightning-strike survivor. Corbin seat, high windshield, luggage… press the button and go.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
I just finished a 3330 mile camping trip to Wyoming and back with my DL650 and a friend on a BMW 1100 RT. What a great trip. I’ve riden a lot of motorcycles since the Yamaha mini-enduro, 1971, but the DL650 is the best all around bike I’ve had. It does everything good enough. The biggest plus is the smooth and reliable engine. On the return trip from Wyoming we covered 1230 miles in 2 days without a problem and I believe I could have kept that pace for a week without a problem.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:38 am
I bought a dl 650 V Strom two years ago when I started riding- I’m a novice really, but I’ve taken long trips that seasoned riders considered difficult. The bike commands respect because it can handle itself in situations which you don’t think you can- it is reassuringly capable and always manages to surprise me. I flirted with the idea of getting a dl 1000 or BMW 1200 for power over long distances and things like ABS and ETC ( electronic traction control). Otherwise I wouldnt think of changing it- Anyone on advice as to whether its worth changing for those two ?
September 25th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
wind noise, buffiting….I have non of the above. I use a Rifle windscreen, and recently installed the touratech windscreen spoiler (not really needed, just liked the idea ). I have every item that Touratech sells for the 650 VStrom, and they all work and look good. I have never had an issue with wind buffeting, I’m 6 foot tall and ride on the gel VStrom optional seat……..cheers
October 7th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Lets say I am very abusive to equipment. I have owned the 05 DL650 from 0-miles. First time I knew of its existence I wanted to own it. I bought it without my wife knowing about it and kept it a secret for about 3 months. At that time I lived in my home town in Western Colorado. The first month I crashed it, (hit some mud and the front tire slid right and I flew over the left like superman) stock tires were horrible for anything but road. But it was light enough with a full tank of gas I was able to get it up with no help. No real damage except the V-strom sticker on the side of the tank looked awesome now. The turn signals on the left were broke off but still operational and the clutch lever broke off at the ball on the end.
I love taking it off the paved road, camping with it in the jagged mountain roads. Never had any problems after the stock tires were trashed.
Later that year and after the stock rear tire was down to the cords I warmed up the new treads with a trip to Moab Utah. I just so happened to be in the middle of the flash flood season I guess. I rode that bike through extreme heavy wind/rain ( a 4 car carport almost took me and my Strom out while it flew across the road 50ft ahead.) I was driving through deep water above the middle of the wheels at some of the intersections in Moab. The bike was not phased at all. I was going 75-80 hit the rear brake a little too hard locking it up and it started fishtailing bad but amazingly it recovered, probably saving me from a few broken bones because of a car that was at a dead stop in the road waiting for a dog.
The stock bike will run 126mph maxed out sustained at about 5,000ft elevation with stock sprockets while hiding behind the windshield. I love the four wheeler sound of the engine at idle, and it sounds like a pissed off four-wheeler when its red-lined.
Right at 20,000 hard miles I have had to replace the starter solenoid, 3 sets of tires, front and rear sprockets, chain, spark plugs, front wheel bearings, 3 batteries, tightened the exhaust pipes at the engine. Discovered the clutch cable push rod near the transmission hardware was ready to fall off, just tightened it up.
The oil filter hangs low and rocks like to hit it if you don’t have a skid plate ( like me)
But worst of all and the only complaint I really have is the freakish windshield. I have tried everything to make it stop brain bashing me. I am 6’3â€. The only thing I have found is removing the windshield completely in the summer and riding with it all the way up when its cold. (When it is freezing outside the bike will start every time.)
It seems to attract lightning probably because the motorcycle gods are jealous, I am grateful I haven’t got hit yet like the other guy.
The bike is still stock except for the Suzuki hand guards I modified with extra protection for the cold. And a tank bag. I plan on buying more parts as soon as the wife forgives me.
I’ve noticed the H-D riders don’t wave back all the time. And if you go to the biker bars they all look at you like your crazy.
I plan on buying more parts as soon as the wife forgives me.
February 6th, 2011 at 11:04 am
I have owned a number of bikes over the past 25years but always cruisers. Bought a V-strom DL650 used last year and moved to Prince Edward Island, Canada. I couldn’t have picked a better bike for this province! The Island can be crossed from end to end in about 3hrs but is criss crossed by dirt lanes and sub-par roads off nicer highways. The best way to discover it I found, was to just head out until I got lost on a lonely dirt road and switched on my GPS to get back home! I equipped the bike with a nice set of Givi bags and a trunk and this thing rocks! Go anywhere, lots of power, cheap to run, responsive and just plain fun to ride! This bike is like the girl you marry….looks wear off but it’s about the ride!!
March 10th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Very good comments! I am new in ridding my V-strom, but I have been reading a lot about reviews for this bike. I guess the V-strom is a balance between beauty and power. I love all bikes, small ones, big ones, any kind… But since I found the V-strom I just felt in love, not because the body and shape, but reading reviews from US, Spain, Argentina, Suzuki V-strom has demonstrated to be the best choice between quality and price… BMWs are great, but you will always be careful not to scratch it or use it that much.. it feels like you are having a fine piece of art in a museum… These are my two cents. V-strom is the greatest bike for me price vs quality… there’s not a better option… You got to ride to convince yourself is not a motorcycle… is the motorcycle! Have a nice day people…
March 29th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
I wound up on a 06 DL650 3 years ago because I got a great deal. I kept it because of all the above reasons, it is the most versatile bike I have been on. The smooth quiet engine is a joy to ride. The Madstad bracket and tall Givi windscreen was my solution to buffeting my 6’3 frame.