DL1000 Vstorm the bike for me?

[UberRhys]

So I'm thinking of getting a new bike to eat some serious miles and I was just looking over the DL1000 Vstorm. I have had a quick sit down on it and it was comfortable, not too big and appeared well laid out.

Who has one and how do you feel about them as a bike that can "do it".

[vtec]

I've spent a fair bit of time on my dads one. it felt very big to me. Cruised well, but it's lack of aerodynamic design limited top speed quite substantially and fuel economy was only as good as a small car. Comfortable and all but too big and heavy in my opinion.

Seriously I would consider the DL650 first. Lighter, much cheaper on gas, and I think it would be more fun. A couple of my dads mates had them on the Taupo race circuit and they had a lot of fun.

No need for the 1000 engine in this bike. 1000cc vtwins are too touchy in the corners. It did make it easy to wheely though

[Winston001]

One mate has a 1000, the other a 650. If you travel two-up then the 1000 is more comfortable. My mate with the 650 is an analytical motorcycle fanatic and spent weeks researching adventure bikes before settling on the 650.

Nice bikes, can't fault them.

Personally I like something slightly different, like a Triumph Tiger, but you wouldn't regret a VStrom.

[Tank]

I've got the 1000. I was looking for the 650, but got a great deal.

Yep - they are a bigger bike, but they are easy to manage and fairly nimble.

The aerodynamic shortfall can easily be corrected with madstad screen brackets - this fixes the issue beautifully and you can ride all day in a bubble of smooth air. cost iro $150

I disagree about the comments about fuel consumption - I have found it to be pretty good on fuel (not as good as the 650 obv), but no issue - several hundy kms to a tank.

The comments about it being touchy in the corners I also disagree with - I find it solid and planted - having said that I ride like a nana.

I love the bike, I think its a perfect bike for touring NZ on - yet still being easy enough to commute on day in day out.

Someone described it as 85% of a GS1200 at 1/3rd of the cost. Apart from messing percentages and fractions together (pet hate) it seems a fairly fair comment to me (but I am new to bikes and dont know that much - so Im happy to be corrected). It will eat gravel roads and twisties day in day out and will never cause you any problems.

Top bike - buy it! (hint Silver is best)

[UberRhys]

One mate has a 1000, the other a 650. If you travel two-up then the 1000 is more comfortable. My mate with the 650 is an analytical motorcycle fanatic and spent weeks researching adventure bikes before settling on the 650.

Nice bikes, can't fault them.

Personally I like something slightly different, like a Triumph Tiger, but you wouldn't regret a VStrom.

I looked at the 650 but it was more expensive than the 1K!! Go figure...

[Jantar]

I have had my DL1000 VStrom for a little over two years now. In my opinion it is the most versatile bike I have evr owned. It just eats up the miles with ease, handles as well (and sometimes better) than most sports bikes in the twisties, and is at ease on the gravel or the motorways.

Fuel consumption is averaging 16 km/l at a moving average speed of 97 km/h. I have fitted a Madstad bracket to cure the aerodynamics, and I've changed the fianl drive ratio from 17/41 to 16/43. This makes top gear much more usable and gives a bit more oomph at low speed.

I normally replace my bikes every 2 - 3 years, but this time the option is to simply trade in on a newer model Vstrom, or maybe just don't change bikes at all this time and wait another year or three.

[Bass]

Fuel consumption is averaging 16 l/km at a moving average speed of 97 km/h.

That fuel consumption is pretty vicious, about on a par with a 747 I reckon - do you tow a fuel tanker behind?

BTW, how's the healing after the postie prang coming along?

Have the surgeons given you a clean bill yet?

[Jantar]

That fuel consumption is pretty vicious, about on a par with a 747 I reckon - do you tow a fuel tanker behind?

That should have ream 16 km/l. Corrected now

I'm riding again, but not quite a clean bill of health. It appears that one of the tendons hasn't taken and I'll probably need more surgery in about a year from now.

[Bass]

:
I'm riding again, but not quite a clean bill of health. It appears that one of the tendons hasn't taken and I'll probably need more surgery in about a year from now.

Sorry to hear that. I hope they can get it sorted for you. It was a real bugger of a way to end a big adventure.

Right, back on topic.

[vtec]

That's good that there's a partial fix for the aerodynamics, I'll mention it to my dad. Bit that'll only go so far, it is a big, upright bike so it catches a lot of wind. I used it two up a bit aswell.

I was only getting slightly better than 10km/l. Maybe 12km/l at best, which is only slightly better than my 2.2 Honda Prelude car.

Plus yeah i was racing against Leong (GSXR600) on the way back from Taupo one year haha, and I was keeping up Ok, managed to overtake him at one stage. Had pegs and even exhaust cover scraping on the ground at times. But in tighter corners you have to be very careful with that throttle hand. Pegs scrape easily which is good because it stops you leaning it too far, and you know the extent of its cornering capabilities.

Maybe that's why the 650 is more expensive, I reckon I would much prefer the 650. But if the 1000 is cheaper you may aswell get that.

I loved my gutless Honda NXR125 with 12hp though, so I'm easily pleased, could only go about 85kph with two people on it though Up to 120kph in the draft of a truck. Still I could take it anywhere, (used it as a courier bike) through parks, downs stairs, jumped it regularly and could get it to pull wheelies. Not stoppies though because of the drum brakes only ever managed one. And could get that thing round corners like you wouldn't believe on the stock rubber. And air cooled, 30km/l, and it took about 1 litre of oil haha. For some reason I just could not crash it no matter how stupid I was on it.

Because of my NXR125 I now want a motard.

[Oscar]

Had one and loved it.
Seems perfect for your defined uses - it eats up miles and has a great seating position.

However, I wouldn't classify it as a full on Adventure Bike.

It is fine on smooth gravel or on a beach, but its major flaw is the very ordinary suspension it has. If the gravel has braking ruts in it, it can be almost uncontrollable at speed as the suspension (particularly the forks) will just not react.

[YellowDog]

In my search for the 'higher ride' I test rode one late last year. I found it pretty good, it just felt a bit on the large size for town riding. I suspect this was just an illusion and I could have got used to it. It seemed firm on the ground but in my opinion the steering was a little cumbersome. Again, if I had a longer ride I would have got a better idea. My wife then comes up with "you can only have a new bike if it has ABS". The conclusion to my Suzuki research was to go for Touring Bandit 1250, which I felt was excellent value for money, but not the 'Higher ride' I was after.

And then went out and bought a Triumph Tiger that I couldn't really afford.

[ducatijim]

.
but its major flaw is the very ordinary suspension it has. If the gravel has braking ruts in it, it can be almost uncontrollable at speed as the suspension (particularly the forks) will just not react.

I am worrying about this Oscar, we seem to be in agreement too often for my liking!

I rode a mates once, and found the major downside was just as you say: the suspension( I have a REAL thing going with Suzuki Dual-road bikes and their suspension, don't I??)...the rear was very ordinary, 1-up, and the front:well....vague barely described my feelings of it. However, temper this with the fact that I was straight of my Ducati back then...

They are however, good value for money, and with even a few xtra bux thrown at them, could easily realise a very satisfying ride for our NZ roads.

[Oscar]

I am worrying about this Oscar, we seem to be in agreement too often for my liking!

I rode a mates once, and found the major downside was just as you say: the suspension( I have a REAL thing going with Suzuki Dual-road bikes and their suspension, don't I??)...the rear was very ordinary, 1-up, and the front:well....vague barely described my feelings of it. However, temper this with the fact that I was straight of my Ducati back then...

They are however, good value for money, and with even a few xtra bux thrown at them, could easily realise a very satisfying ride for our NZ roads.

I saw one in Aussie fitted with RMZ forks and an Ohlins...

[Tank]

I ordered a superbrace for mine this morning ($316 landed in NZ) - All the info I have read on stromtrooper.com points to them being almost a great improvement.

Will report back when I have them and some time under the wheels.