Suzuki V-Strom DL1000 L3

**BuzzardNZ** · 25th July 2014, 08:10

Probably a good bike, but I just can't get over the beak and the exhaust

The saying 'has the face that only a mother could love' comes to mind.

**willytheekid** · 25th July 2014, 08:55

Ohh shiny!

Great review Hitcher

**Laava** · 25th July 2014, 10:32

Originally Posted by BuzzardNZ

Probably a good bike, but I just can't get over the beak and the exhaust

The saying 'has the face that only a mother could love' comes to mind.

Probably no-one will steal it?
The muffler tho is easily fixed. Have my eye on a 2l stainless thermos that looks the right size and shape!

**Winston001** · 31st July 2014, 22:00

Forgive me if my memory is vague but $20,000 sounds like a lot of money for a Suzuki. Great machines but not in the European mold.

As best I can recall, Suzuki specialed the Vstrom 1000 with luggage at $13,000 a few years ago. Much as I am impressed with these bikes, I'd hold off for a bit.

**Hitcher** · 31st July 2014, 22:38

Originally Posted by Winston001

Forgive me if my memory is vague but $20,000 sounds like a lot of money for a Suzuki. Great machines but not in the European mold.

As best I can recall, Suzuki specialed the Vstrom 1000 with luggage at $13,000 a few years ago. Much as I am impressed with these bikes, I'd hold off for a bit.

It's easy to see where the usual Suzuki bargain basement additions have been left off this new model: stock brakes and suspension that work, plus state-ish of the art-ish electronics.

Yet the new model will start getting pricier once luggage, heated handgrips, radguard, drop-bars, screen and fender extenders have been added. I suspect that the seat would also benefit greatly from a trip to Tauranga to see Mac McDonald. Add all that up and there's a few thousand more to add to the price tag, particularly if Givi Monokey luggage is chosen.

**Ulsterkiwi** · 1st August 2014, 06:46

Originally Posted by Hitcher

[LIST][*]Helmet wind chatter. As a rider of naked bikes I really noticed that. I learned once I returned the Strom that its screen is adjustable. I really should take it out again and see if the other two screen positions are any better.

If the screen can be adjusted to eliminate helmet wind chatter, then eating up the miles atop this machine would be no problem at all.

According to the Laminarlip company, the older VStroms at least were the most challenging to provide a buffet free set up. At 1.98m I am always interested in comments about ride height and screen effectiveness.

Cheers Hitcher, great review.

**banditrider** · 1st August 2014, 21:22

But what's it like on the gravel and worse?

**Mo NZ** · 18th August 2014, 07:06

Originally Posted by BuzzardNZ

Probably a good bike, but I just can't get over the beak and the exhaust

The saying 'has the face that only a mother could love' comes to mind.

I think they got the whole exhaust system very wrong. Its too exposed, with that forward facing pipe behind the front wheel and the sensor all out there. That plumbing under the engine. Then that real low slung fugly muffler. The whole system is just wrong for anything but sealed roads. I would not consider taking that off the tar seal road at all.

**James Deuce** · 18th August 2014, 09:32

ADV bikes like this are all about making road riders feel like they look cool while having a spacious, upright riding position. While I agree with your comments about fitness of purpose in regard to ADV riding, most BMW GS class bikes spend 99.99% of their time on the seal.

And that's fine. But owning and riding a comfy bike that looks like you could traverse the globe is just an update on owning a sports bike that looks like it could front up at a WSB round.

From my perspective all bikes are adventure bikes. I love them all, because "Bike!"

**James Deuce** · 18th August 2014, 11:52

Originally Posted by cassina

Only the rich would risk taking a $20k plus bike off road anyway. I thought people bought Harley type bikes if they just wanted to look cool.

Well, no actually. You have to be above a certain income threshold to afford bikes and their praphenalia and the extra costs attrbuted to them due to their perceived lack of "safety" and additional running costs vs the average car. $20k is probably the median for new bike prices now. People don't just buy Harley Davidson product for their "coolness". There's a lot more to owning any Harley Davidson than people think and it isn't mystical rubbish. It hard nosed economic value. Insurance is incredibly cheap through Harley Davidson's own scheme and so on.

**Gremlin** · 18th August 2014, 12:11

Originally Posted by cassina

Only the rich would risk taking a $20k plus bike off road anyway. I thought people bought Harley type bikes if they just wanted to look cool.

First up, I ain't rich. Second, bought the R1200GSA at about 35k. Perhaps your definition of off-road varies, so technically, it hasn't been off road. However, about 3.5 years on, I've done almost 90k and several of the awesome adventure roads (there's the technical thing there), Nevis, Skippers, Rainbow, Molesworth, Hakataramea, Danseys, Motu etc. To me, I buy something to use it, and it fulfils a purpose. It's got crash guards and scrapes on most of them as it's been down multiple times (including quick baths in rivers). Anyway, belief busted.

Harley isn't about being cool either. They're smarter than the average brand, so instead of selling bikes, they sell a lifestyle. Anyway, belief busted.

**Laava** · 18th August 2014, 16:38

Originally Posted by James Deuce

ADV bikes like this are all about making road riders feel like they look cool while having a spacious, upright riding position. "

What a load of crap.
I bought my first V strom cos I wanted a bike that was comfortable all day, two up, on rough roads, and would just go everytime without fuss.
Don't know if you have ever seen one, but no one bought a V Strom to look cool!

**James Deuce** · 18th August 2014, 16:54

Originally Posted by Laava

What a load of crap.
I bought my first V strom cos I wanted a bike that was comfortable all day, two up, on rough roads, and would just go everytime without fuss.
Don't know if you have ever seen one, but no one bought a V Strom to look cool!

Yes massa. Sorry massa. There are always exceptions to any "rule". But you cannot deny that ADV bikes have replaced sport bikes as that demographic has aged and required a less orthopedically suspect riding position.

**banditrider** · 18th August 2014, 18:10

Originally Posted by Gremlin

First up, I ain't rich. Second, bought the R1200GSA at about 35k. Perhaps your definition of off-road varies, so technically, it hasn't been off road. However, about 3.5 years on, I've done almost 90k and several of the awesome adventure roads (there's the technical thing there), Nevis, Skippers, Rainbow, Molesworth, Hakataramea, Danseys, Motu etc. To me, I buy something to use it, and it fulfils a purpose. It's got crash guards and scrapes on most of them as it's been down multiple times (including quick baths in rivers). Anyway, belief busted.

And I'd do the same. Done the 42nd yet? A certain DL in my shed has...definitely as gnarly as I wanna get....