V-Strom adventure bike?

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AZRider · #1 Unread post by **AZRider** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:02 am

I have of late been thinking about getting rid of the cruisers and picking up a couple motard, adventure, dual sports, or whatever you want to call em. Looking at the Beemers and Buells, and the duck. But the V-Strom caught my eye due to price. I am thinking of getting a 650 for the wife and a 1000 for me. Any one got any input?From all the reviews Ive read it seems like the Strom is the best bike ever built. So Im wondering , does anyone use there V-Strom as an adventure bike? And how does it do?

#2 Unread post by **Skier** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:21 am

A bit of nit-picking: a motard is generally a dirt bike with street tires on it, an adventure bike a big touring bike with some small concessions to dirt/gravel via tires and suspension travel and dual sport bikes are dirt bikes with some concessions made to street riding such as tire size/choice and they have DOT-approved lighting on them.

That aside, I hear VStroms are 90% on-road, 10% off-road bikes, due to suspension and tires. I would not expect to go mudding with one, but they would make great all-round bikes.

A fellow instructor has one of the 1000s and loves it. He sold his other bikes because his Strom "did it all" so well.

Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:21 am

Check out totalmotorcycle.com

Surfeit of posts and answers over there on this very subject

Is it the best bike ever built? No- but it's almost as awesome as the vincent black shadow

jstark47 · #4 Unread post by **jstark47** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:32 am

Skier wrote:That aside, I hear VStroms are 90% on-road, 10% off-road bikes, due to suspension and tires. I would not expect to go mudding with one, but they would make great all-round bikes.

Agreed. I use a DL1000 for sport-touring and commuting. I wouldn't take it off pavement except maybe for well-packed, well-graded dirt or gravel roads. It's too heavy for any serious off-pavement stuff. However, it's a very capable street bike. If you're a big guy, it's a very roomy and comfortable standard with decent wind protection and lots of grunt.

If you decide to get one, come back and ask me or storysunfolding about getting around the wind buffeting (the bike's one notable glitch)

- there are solutions.

AZRider · #5 Unread post by **AZRider** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:03 am

Ya, I guess I shoulda mentioned it would be primarily ridden on pavement, but if there is a dirt road that takes me to where I need to go, well............
NOT planning on trying to run the BAJA with it or anything

mgdavis · #6 Unread post by **mgdavis** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:08 am

The Strom should be fine on just about any dirt road you can throw at it, though the stock tires aren't the best when it gets slippery. Like Storysunfolding said, totalmotorcycle is an awesome resource if you want to see and read about Stroms getting dirty.

AZRider · #7 Unread post by **AZRider** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:47 am

I have lurked on totalmotorcycle. Maybe I should join and ask some questions.
The site didnt impress me much from what Ive seen concerning the Strom. It seams to be more Beemer focused to me. I dunno, maybe I havnt looked close enough. I just kinda feel like a pioneer or something when it comes to the idea of a strom for this.

I mean, would it be any better than an SV?

jstark47 · #8 Unread post by **jstark47** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:27 am

Most of the V-strom posts on ADV are in the "Beasts" board in the Bikes section. There's also V-strom specific forums like Stromtrooper.com

jeff_connors · Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:56 am

My Wee Strom is off road when on my gravel/dirt driveway but other than that, it's all on road. Unless you change tires, I would not recommend it for off road. Even then, you still have a fairly heavy bike for off road. Get a wee strom for her and a KLR 650 for you. Best of both worlds. I would stay away from the 1000. The 650 Wee is a better configured bike. Just my 2 c.

WARainMan · Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:34 pm

I'm very happy with my 1000, so I disagree with the comment that you should stay away from it. I carefully looked at both bikes and the 1000 fit my needs best. No regrets.

Go to www.stromtrooper.com. It's the best V-Strom related site, IMHO. You can also get some good info at www.vstrom.info