ATTN V-Strom Owners

[WARainMan]

I am thinking about changing from my M50 to the V-Strom DL1000. I love my M50, but I want something that is better suited for LD riding and may be easier on my back. I'd like to hear from V owners about their experiences with the bike.

Thanks!

[jstark47]

My comments are for the DL1000. There are some forum members (storysunfolding, d2mini) with DL650's, hopefully they'll respond. For context, my previous riding experience is with a 05 Triumph Bonneville and a 04 Suzuki Marauder 800 (also a Honda Reflex scooter.)

• Looks- draw your own conclusions. Possibly one of the ugliest bikes ever made IMO. The JMV lower fairings from Eurobikes might help, but generally the more farkles installed, the uglier it gets! People who want to look cool should avoid V-stroms. Personally, it doesn't bother me at all (uncool R me ), but just wanted to deal with this point up front....
  
  Size- it's BIG. If you're not big, stay away. It's not terribly heavy (believe it or not, the DL1000 and Bonneville are almost the same weight) but it's top-heavy and ungainly to move around the garage. And it's TALL. Make sure you're comfortable getting your feet down. Tall-ness works in your favor in traffic - now you're eye-to-eye with all the SUV drivers.
  
  Comfort- the flip size of BIG-ness. This may be the first bike I haven't wanted to change out the stock seat. I'm big, and I can stretch out on this bike. I'm good for miles and miles on this bad boy.
  
  Handling- quite good. If you're used to smaller bikes, at first there's a bit of vertigo as the head drops in to a turn. This is just because of the height, and you'll get used to it. Compared to the Bonneville, slippery road handling is uncanny. The V-strom doesn't wiggle at all on metal bridge decks, and tracks through turns on wet roads without any of the Bonneville's histrionics. The extra suspension travel (nominally, it's an adventure tourer) does well neutralizing potholes and bumps at 80mph.
  
  Engine- a bit of an enigma. You'd think, big v-twin, gobs of low-end torque, right? Wrong. Gutless under load when under 3K RPMs. You can actually stall it cracking open the throttle under 3K. The torque is all up high. At 5K it's just getting warmed up, at 7K (redline is 9.5) you'd better be holding on tight! And it's smooth at higher RPMs, turbine-smooth. The key to this bike is keep the RPMs high, and learn to feather the clutch when RPMs have to be low.
  
  Miscellaneous- Clutch and throttle are a bit stiff for my taste. Wind protection is good for a 1/4-faired bike, but stock windshield aerodynamics are a disaster. 99% of owners seem to install aftermarket shields, windshield brackets, shield extensions (laminar lip), etc, etc. Center stand not included, make the dealer include it. And insist the dealer synch the throttle bodies before delivery, and don't accept any BS or excuses on that point.

Conclusion- it's a competent bike, not a brilliant bike. But at its price point, it's a brilliant bargain.

[WARainMan]

Thanks for the good information. One more question: is there much difference between the '05, '06, and '07 models?

My local dealer has an '05 DL1000 with hard bags and trunk with only 2500 miles for $7500. Pretty tempting. Any thoughts?

[jstark47]

My local dealer has an '05 DL1000 with hard bags and trunk with only 2500 miles for $7500. Pretty tempting. Any thoughts?

All three cases included? That's like $1000 worth of farkles. I'd snap that up in a heartbeat. 2500 miles simply means someone else suffered through break-in for you. (Break-in limits you to 4500 RPMs at first, a royal PITA.)

Thanks for the good information. One more question: is there much difference between the '05, '06, and '07 models?

I don't think there is. I don't think there's been much change since the initial 2002 model - they fussed with the instruments and the windshield a little. Strom trooper is the V-strom board par excellence; poke around on there if you need to know beyond a doubt.

[storysunfolding]

V-strom 650- Blatantly plagarized from jstark who is very forgiving

Looks- Same as Vstrom 1000 except it lacks the hand guards and only has one exhaust pipe.

Size- Same size as the Vstrom 1000 but both can easily be lowered 3/4''.

Comfort- lower seat, but still comfy

Handling- quite good. If you're used to smaller bikes, at first there's a bit of vertigo as the head drops in to a turn. This is just because of the height, and you'll get used to it. Compared to the Bonneville, slippery road handling is uncanny. The V-strom doesn't wiggle at all on metal bridge decks, and tracks through turns on wet roads without any of the Bonneville's histrionics. The extra suspension travel (nominally, it's an adventure tourer) does well neutralizing potholes and bumps at 80mph.

Engine- Great little engine from teh sv-650 but detuned for more low end power.

Miscellaneous- Has 160 extra watts for toys Wind protection is good for a 1/4-faired bike, but stock windshield aerodynamics are a disaster. 99% of owners seem to install aftermarket shields, windshield brackets, shield extensions (laminar lip), etc, etc. Center stand not included, make the dealer include it. And insist the dealer synch the throttle bodies before delivery, and don't accept any BS or excuses on that point.