Anybody Have Any Seat Time On A Suzuki Dl1000 V-strom

This bike has caught my attention and since they are so ugly and wierd, they are usually pretty cheap. It may be a good station wagon/urban assault unit for back and forth to work.

lemmie know

Heh heh, after V-Strom has been called ugly and weird, I'm not sure that people are going to want to admit they've owned nor even ridden one (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)

Fear of taint, ya know (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wink.gif)

Never been on the 1000, but I have been on a couple of the 650's and they are pretty nice. I would actually debate adding the 1000 to the garage. It is one of the most comfortable bikes I have ever been on. I think with the extra HP of the 1000, it would make it a great second addition to the garage. I could do even longer days on it than I do on the VFR. They are very impressive in the turns for a tall bike. Speaking of tall, if you are under 6', the 1000 would defintely put you way up on your tip toes. I am 6' 1" and the 1000 stretched me out to the point I would not want it any taller.

Birddog

Newer ridden one but I understand there a good reliable unit. Yep they got hit with the ugly stick like another Suzuki, (did someone say B-King) but if that doesn't faze ya then i'd say you'd have a decent weapon. I wouldn't have one personally cause the seat heights meant for a six footer, its a big boy bike (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)

Rode a couple, nice bikes that handle well. Add a pair of TKC-80's and they will take a bit of off-highway riding with comfort. I'd buy one if I wanted another adventure bike (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/warranty.gif)

timmythecop, Mar 1 2008, 04:38 PMThis bike has caught my attention and since they are so ugly and wierd, they are usually pretty cheap. It may be a good station wagon/urban assault unit for back and forth to work.

lemmie know

They are nice functional bikes, but a bit of an ugly ducking, shouldnt be a theft issue.

Whats interesting is the 650 got abs offering but not the 1000, although the 1000 has a cartridge fork, the 650 from what I hear get 50 plus mpg the 1000 down around VFR 40mpg range

spud786, Mar 2 2008, 01:01 AM

timmythecop, Mar 1 2008, 04:38 PMThis bike has caught my attention and since they are so ugly and wierd, they are usually pretty cheap. It may be a good station wagon/urban assault unit for back and forth to work.

lemmie know

They are nice functional bikes, but a bit of an ugly ducking, shouldnt be a theft issue.

Whats interesting is the 650 got abs offering but not the 1000, although the 1000 has a cartridge fork, the 650 from what I hear get 50 plus mpg the 1000 down around VFR 40mpg range

I like the 1000 but for me the 650 is better. Fantastic mileage, range and 40 lbs lighter. Still not a dirt bike though!! Even cheaper/less expensive than the 1000 .......both are great values. I rode a 650 last week with a Wilbers shock and it was as comfortable on the bumps as the KTM690 SM I was test riding.

I believe that both the 1000/650 turn in faster than my VFR and certainly handle the bumps better.

The engine power of the 1000 is of course bettter and to my mind is the equal of any other adv bike. The 650 motor works till you need to make the high speed pass........don't. Other than that it does fine. Bullet proof too!

Last June I added a 650 abs V-strom to my stable, primarily to be able to explore gravel and fireroads with some of my BMW GS riding buddies.Since then I have put 2k miles on the Viffer and 15k miles on the "Wee" strom. Remarkably fun and functional bike.Pretty is as pretty does as they say.

boog, Mar 2 2008, 01:33 AMLast June I added a 650 abs V-strom to my stable, primarily to be able to explore gravel and fireroads with some of my BMW GS riding buddies.Since then I have put 2k miles on the Viffer and 15k miles on the "Wee" strom. Remarkably fun and functional bike.Pretty is as pretty does as they say.

They tour great too.........as long as you are not slabbing or making serious speed in a straight line.

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1155590136/med_gallery_2144_2004_857.jpg)

Rode a buddy's bike. I liked it. Taller, torquier -- but not sporty. I've ridden the 650 too, and agree with the prior posts. Lighter, tips in easy, better gas mileage (and they even come with ABS. . ..).

Here's a pic of mine and the farkled V:

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1185572379/gallery_2925_3229_30548.jpg)
07292007noflash.ride.jpg

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1204173674/gallery_2925_321_1182622.jpg)
100_2763.jpg

My buddy rode a DL1000 when we rode to Alaska in '05. I ran great for him. As for the high seat height, a 650 seat fits the 1000 frame and is slightly narrower and a little shorter. He is getting close to 30K on his. A down side is the center stand is only an accessory.
(IMG:http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x107/msinkhorn/DL100017Jul05.jpg)

hondalover, Mar 1 2008, 10:36 PM(IMG:http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x107/msinkhorn/DL100017Jul05.jpg)

(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/beer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/beer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/beer.gif)

Just drop me a line if you want to talk DL1000. My husband owns a 2005 that we purchased new. He's logged some serious miles and LOVES the bike. We'd be happy to answer any questions you might be wondering about. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

EDIT: Also, drop ELIZILLA a line. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif) Last I knew, she's got a v-strom.

I have a DL1000 that I've put about 60,000 miles on. It's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. Not the luxo-barge comfort of a Wing, but rather the comfort of having perfect ergos. Lots of leg room, feet just far enough back for good balance, but not too far back for comfort. Wide bars, comfortable reach, very neutral. Much more comfy than the VFR. I was gonna outfit mine with a Russell Day-long saddle, in fact I had a ride in appointment scheduled, back in 2003 right after I got the bike, during a cross-country trip I was taking. But I had to cut my trip short, cancel the appointment, and haul ass back to Michigan (from Nevada) because of a family emergency. After the last day, when I did 1000+ miles in 16 hours with just gas stops and no other breaks, I decided the stock seat was fine and I never rescheduled the appointment at Russell.

It gets about 40mpg. It has the best headlights ever! It handles well, even before I fit it with a Wilbers suspension. It does great in the rain and on crappy broken pavement. There are a couple of terrific forums where you can get great advice. There's lots of aftermarket support. You can get all the adventure touring goodies or you can fit it with fairing lowers and pretend it's a gigantic sportbike. It's much easier to work on than a Honda V4 is. It uses the same tires as the BMW GS, so you can get tires easily if you damage one while traveling.

Now for the negatives: It eats chains like they're going out of style. I have yet to get more than 15K on a chain. Many stock clutch baskets are defective, I had to replace mine. It's super tall, which I consider to be a plus, but other people complain about it. My seat-of-pants dyno tells me that my 4th gen VFR is more powerful. There's a bit more wind noise and buffeting on my Strom than on my VFR.

In 2006 I borrowed a DL650 in Europe, and rode it for 5000 miles. I liked it every bit as well as I like my DL1000, except the forks were way too soft and kept bottoming out. This is easily fixed in the aftermarket, and since the 650 is $3000 cheaper, the suspension upgrades are easier to afford. The DL650 gets better mileage and people are finding them a bit more bulletproof than the DL1000. It probably wouldn't chew up chains as fast. If I were buying a Strom today I'd get the 650. This seems to be true for a lot of people; the 650 has been much more popular.

(IMG:http://stilyagi.org/~kbecker/stromtrooper1.jpg)

I took a short ride on one at Deal's Gap a year ago.

I didn't like the ergos and seating position, and the bike felt very slow and gutless. The guy that owned it, on the other hand, did very well keeping up with sport bikes at a brisk pace.

Thanks for all the info, keep it coming.

Another tour.........another DL650. Maybe I should take my own advice and buy one.

(IMG:http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/23996/2774892490099738507S600x600Q85.jpg)

sportrider, Mar 1 2008, 10:13 PMRode a buddy's bike. I liked it. Taller, torquier -- but not sporty. I've ridden the 650 too, and agree with the prior posts. Lighter, tips in easy, better gas mileage (and they even come with ABS. . ..).

Here's a pic of mine and the farkled V:

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1185572379/gallery_2925_3229_30548.jpg)
07292007noflash.ride.jpg

(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1204173674/gallery_2925_321_1182622.jpg)
100_2763.jpg

FWIW, as of today, my STN buddy has posted this well-farkled V for sale! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)