Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
V-Strom specific discussion => V-Strom specific discussion => Topic started by: Captain Sensible on November 25, 2012, 09:03:46
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I am a keen Wee owner, I have a 2008 which is a solid little 650cc bike which is currently my main transport.
But I have had a love affair with Triumph for some years now.
How many other Strommers out there share the Triumph passion?
In particular I love the Triumph Bonneville....do any others share that passion? I love my Suzuki AND my Bonnevilles :auto-dirtbike:
Do look at my web/blog site and if you like it leave me a nice message on my guest page (I have a page on the Wee as well).
http://www.freewebs.com/bonnevilles/ (http://www.freewebs.com/bonnevilles/)
Dave :)
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I like Triumphs... love the look of the classics like the Bonneville and Scrambler. Also find myself strangely drawn to the cruisers...
But my current thinking is that my next bike in a couple of years will probably be a Triumph Tiger Explorer... subject of course to test ride going well and the competition not bringing out something that blows it away.
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Like you had a double passion for Suzuki and Triumph. Had a Wee for the past 5 years, Bandits 10years and an SV 650. Last 3 years finally able to get my dream bike, currently running a Sprint GT but also enjoyed having a Bonneville SE. Marvellous 'little' bike (I'm 6'3'' and 15.5 stone) loads of room on it due to the traditional flat seat and it went like *!:) Many a surprised motorist dispatched by the elephant on the old retro :grin: :auto-dirtbike: Currently without a Suzuki as the Vee has been replaced by a Versys thousand but there's a very nice example of a Bandit 1200 on an 04 plate with 6k sitting in our local dealers at under £3k that seems to be calling to me. Don't think the wife :angry-tappingfoot: would be too pleased this side of Christamas to find another bike squeezed into the garage
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Had a Triumph Tiger 90 350 back in the mid 70's. Took it two up with throw over panniers and a top box to the Isle of Man in 1977. And it only broke down 3 times on the trip their. But at least I was able to fix it each time.
Love the lines and the feel of riding the older triumphs, not the newer ones though. I just can't get into them and the solidness of the old Meriden twins just isn't their any more. When the new Bonniville came out I looked at it with a nostalgic eye. However after seeing how flimsy the rear mudguard was the bubble burst.
With the triples, they ride nice I must admit and they have another difference compared to the old models. They don't leak oil :)
Keith c
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Like you had a double passion for Suzuki and Triumph. Had a Wee for the past 5 years, Bandits 10years and an SV 650. Last 3 years finally able to get my dream bike, currently running a Sprint GT but also enjoyed having a Bonneville SE. Marvellous 'little' bike (I'm 6'3'' and 15.5 stone) loads of room on it due to the traditional flat seat and it went like *!:) Many a surprised motorist dispatched by the elephant on the old retro :grin: :auto-dirtbike: Currently without a Suzuki as the Vee has been replaced by a Versys thousand but there's a very nice example of a Bandit 1200 on an 04 plate with 6k sitting in our local dealers at under £3k that seems to be calling to me. Don't think the wife :angry-tappingfoot: would be too pleased this side of Christamas to find another bike squeezed into the garage
I got my ''bug'' in 2006 with a lovely little 790cc Bonneville. Here she is.....
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/casperdog777/IMG_0386-1.jpg)
It was a super little bike, I wished I had of kept it! I then got a few various bikes and then ended up with a 2006 Triumph Scrambler, of the two I think the Bonneville (road version) suited me better, but the Scrambler is an iconic bike.
I am surprised that the Bonneville is OK for tall riders as I am a shorty and it suits me just fine too! I would like a pre Hinckley bonnie (a Meriden) but they are older bikes and need a lot of TLC by all accounts.
Dave
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I sold a 2004 790 Black to get the Wee. Cracking bike for it's time and served well for close to 8 years. Various thoughts here: https://sites.google.com/site/threewheelbonnie/end-of-the-line and here https://sites.google.com/site/threewheelbonnie/Home
I have no nostalgia for old bikes and honestly find some of the attention the Bonneville used to attract annoying. That said, simple easy to use mechanicals are nice. There was a period when they switced to FI when it looked like Triumph might have understood that as well as a fake classic they also had a usable do-anything bike on their hands. They then reduced the size of the fuel tank, did nothing about the fuel economy and took the price above Wee's/F650's and so forth. They've been left behind IMHO.
If I had space in the garage for a nice open face lid type tourer it'd be a tough choice between a real classic, another Enfield and another Hinkley Bonneville. If you can only have the one bike and that's the style you want I'd say the W800 was the better bike, but Kawasaki don't know it so the Bonneville is still the best bet.
Andy
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The Thumperclub have a tradition of tounge in cheek rants. My contribution:
I own a Triumph T790. That is the name given to my bike by engineers. Men of Hinckley using one of the most modern CADCAM systems in the world who's company is the fastest growing motorcycle brand in the world. These modern engineers made an aircooled twin that met 21st century emissions legislation while keeping to a design employing the best Japanese design principles from the last decades of the 20th century. This bike will cruise at 90+ MPH, will turn in over 60 mpg if not pushed and has 6000 mile service intervals. Put knobblies on it and go anywhere and do anything.
So, what did the lazy ****wits in the marketing department do? The named it after a *****y town in America where sometime in the Jurassic period they managed to get some semi-mobile oil leak to run for long enough to break a speed record. Goodness knows how they found anyone daft enough to ride the thing on the tyres they used and with the brakes they had, but they did. Now fair do's to the boys back then struggling to start the thing by rubbing pterodactyls together, but face it, that was a whole lifetime before I was born.
As a result of this laziness, I have to deal with cooing old fools drooling over my bike, telling me how they rode one during the war. Now, much respect to anyone who might have charged those Russian guns, but they didn't, Napoleon was dead years before my T790 even rolled off the line. I'm sure whizzbangs and endless Charlie Chaplin films do nasty things to the mind, so I humour these chaps. Then however there are the train spotters. They arrive in Volvo's, break there necks to get there and then it starts. "Ooh, it's not real". "They tried to copy a b-series pre-67 acetylen tank cover on what is plainly a poor copy of a bike that should have a the mid '65 left hand Whitworth thread one" . I reach for the GPS mount to put them out of my misery.
Giving the poor thing THAT name has worked. People buy them and dress up like George Formby (before he invented his grill). They probably get together on bank holidays in Brighton and hit similar people who have roundels on their zimmer frames and listen to different wax cylinders on their tape players. I have no problem with this, I just don't want to join in.
I ask one thing. Please. Do not think that because I ride a T790 that I want to be Steve McQueen or do things with Mars Bars to blond women who are old enough to be my grand mother. (Please don't even mention things like that, I can't remember it, so yes, stands to reason I wasn't there). I ride a T790 excatly because it doesn't have Lucas electrics or leak oil or need it's tappety jibbet adjuster replacing every 45 yards. I just like my T790 because I get on it, press the button and enjoy the ride.
See, didn't even mention ****ing BONNEVILLES.
Andy (Age 36 and 3/4)
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lol
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Proper Triumph
(http://www.custgp.com/images/TRIUMPH%20TIGER%2090%20350cc.jpg)
Keith
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Had a lot to do with Triumphs during late '60s and early '70s and have to say that taking off my rose tinted specs, they weren't too clever. Externally oil cooled, filling loosening vibration and generally lousy handling and brakes. Did have a go on a factory built 1970 T120 Thruxton that was smooth, handled beautifully and didn't spew it's oil everywhere. It was also quite quick. Great shame they couldn't get them off the production line anything like that. Tridents and Rocket 3s were also a bit of a let down yet the factory racers were (and still are) amazing.
Had a rather nice red 900 Daytona for a while. Lovely three cylinder motor and quite quick in it's day. Can't say any of the new Triumphs do much for me. I'd sooner have a '69 or '70 Bonneville painstakingly rebuilt to sort out it's faults. Had a look at the new Trophy at a show in Paris last week. Too big, too heavy and far too complicated. Clearly aimed at BMW owners. They seem to be rushing into producing lots of new models and updates every year or so and are losing their grasp on quality and reliability. This may well be due to getting more and more stuff manufactured abroad. Also rather like BMW I fear...
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I have a double passion but its for yamaha. I've just got rid of my yamaha xvs1300 cruiser [ got a bit fed-up of the hole cruiser thing ] and bought a yamahaTDM 900 & what a stonking bike they are . heard no end of folks on about how underestimated they are and they were all right. I use my wee for 1 up riding & going abroad on holidays ect, and love it. but needed something a bit bigger for taking the wife & covering distances at a fair speed [ what the cruiser couldn't do ] .. the TDM will cruise 2up at anything up to 100mph with no vibration at all and being a 900cc it has plenty of pulling power . its got 86bhp but then again its only weighs 190kg ..it feels very relaxed on the motorway due to being a low reving twin [ 70mph at 4th rpm ] and returns excellent mpg ..I think I've got 2 of the most underestimated bikes out there ....what is your second bike ?
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I'm having a love affair with a Honda cx 500ec. more of a love hate relationship though. everytime I say I love the bike another bit breaks lol
but I do like the ols thrumpets. nearly bought a speedmater before I got the strom. now the mrs wants an america or a vn900. can see there being an Honda Suzuki and a triumph in garage before the end of next year.
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I'm having a love affair with a Honda cx 500ec.
Oh, dear! That makes the sheep thing seem almost normal :grin:
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do things with Mars Bars to blond women
Nothing I like more than a Mars bar, preferably straight out of the fridge, and an older blonde.....
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Just hope her indoors can't read this....
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doboy, what's the fuel economy like on the TDM then, numbers?
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well cannot give you any real facts as I'm still finishing off running it in and don't really check it till its well bedded in ... under 70mph its not as good as the wee but were the wee starts to use a bit [after 80mph] the TDM seems to be a bit better ..I did a motorway run up to hull & back and at 80-90mph got 64mpg [ with gps ] ..my mate who has just got rid of his said he went to skegness on it [ and wasn't hanging about ] he got 66mpg ..as I said I only checked it that once after that run to hull but I'll start to log it and let you know what I get ..but under 70mph the wee is the best bike I've ever rode for fuel economy. how these road testers get down to 40mpg I'll never know ..
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I still have a Triumph passion but no Triumph at the moment. The Wee is my sole transport at the moment and I still love my Wee. :)
I did look at the Triumph Tiger 800cc but they come with NO extras and you have to pay a shed load of money for heated grips, hand guards, centre stand and luggage! So my Triumph dealer is getting tiddly squat out of me.
The Tiger 800cc seems like a capable all round bike but there are not the ones around with all the extras.
Incidentally cannot find a new Wee or Glee with all the extras on it 2nd hand either. Anyone seen one for sale?
chopper next?
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/casperdog777/100_2513JPG-for-web-xlarge.jpg)
Dave
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The Thumperclub have a tradition of tounge in cheek rants. My contribution:
I own a Triumph T790. That is the name given to my bike by engineers. Men of Hinckley using one of the most modern CADCAM systems in the world who's company is the fastest growing motorcycle brand in the world. These modern engineers made an aircooled twin that met 21st century emissions legislation while keeping to a design employing the best Japanese design principles from the last decades of the 20th century. This bike will cruise at 90+ MPH, will turn in over 60 mpg if not pushed and has 6000 mile service intervals. Put knobblies on it and go anywhere and do anything.
So, what did the lazy ****wits in the marketing department do? The named it after a *****y town in America where sometime in the Jurassic period they managed to get some semi-mobile oil leak to run for long enough to break a speed record. Goodness knows how they found anyone daft enough to ride the thing on the tyres they used and with the brakes they had, but they did. Now fair do's to the boys back then struggling to start the thing by rubbing pterodactyls together, but face it, that was a whole lifetime before I was born.
As a result of this laziness, I have to deal with cooing old fools drooling over my bike, telling me how they rode one during the war. Now, much respect to anyone who might have charged those Russian guns, but they didn't, Napoleon was dead years before my T790 even rolled off the line. I'm sure whizzbangs and endless Charlie Chaplin films do nasty things to the mind, so I humour these chaps. Then however there are the train spotters. They arrive in Volvo's, break there necks to get there and then it starts. "Ooh, it's not real". "They tried to copy a b-series pre-67 acetylen tank cover on what is plainly a poor copy of a bike that should have a the mid '65 left hand Whitworth thread one" . I reach for the GPS mount to put them out of my misery.
Giving the poor thing THAT name has worked. People buy them and dress up like George Formby (before he invented his grill). They probably get together on bank holidays in Brighton and hit similar people who have roundels on their zimmer frames and listen to different wax cylinders on their tape players. I have no problem with this, I just don't want to join in.
I ask one thing. Please. Do not think that because I ride a T790 that I want to be Steve McQueen or do things with Mars Bars to blond women who are old enough to be my grand mother. (Please don't even mention things like that, I can't remember it, so yes, stands to reason I wasn't there). I ride a T790 excatly because it doesn't have Lucas electrics or leak oil or need it's tappety jibbet adjuster replacing every 45 yards. I just like my T790 because I get on it, press the button and enjoy the ride.
See, didn't even mention ****ing BONNEVILLES.
Andy (Age 36 and 3/4)
lol lol lol lol
Hello Andy,
on you avatar it looks like you got a rod stuck through your neck mate :grin:
Dave
PS a man's bike......
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/casperdog777/377569_10151147312433791_896884129_n1.jpg)
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Not V-Strom specific :angry-tappingfoot:
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I have a real liking for the Bonneville (the newer one, not the 70s version an there'd be one in my 12-bike garage along with a 955 Tiger. Just something about them that appeals.
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I do have a soft spot for the scrambler.
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I share it! And here are my two side by side:
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/StreetHippo/BD9AAEB6-106D-4207-94D4-51A1C89B56C1-1640-00000176DEB0FE3D.jpg)
I know many won't like the look of the STripleR, especially the new headlights, but I love her!!!!
The Strom is my car, the STripleR my pure toy!!
Stu
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I had Triumphs in the early 70s after upgrading from the Fanny Barnets Bantams and Starfires must say they were pretty much crap broke down regulary handled badly and leaked oil over the garage floor.My saviour was a 250 Suzuki Hustler brilliant bike, turn the key and go.Since then its been all Jap stuff, never understood why people like classics must be that they prefer getting their hands dirty instead of riding them.Oh the reason I had a bike in the first place was that a car financially was out the question.
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I have a 955 Daytona as well as a Wee. Unfortunately the trumpet is off the road waiting for a new regulator and chain and sprockets.
Would stick a photo up but don't know how to :shrug:
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Now onto my third Triumph (new 800xc delivered today). Loved my Bonnie and still love my Trophy 900. Think that I've had 5 or 6 Suzukis so count me in for the "double passion" brigade.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yTEXQo_qKLo/UPhXrKg5YXI/AAAAAAAACvg/1OsDP1InnlY/s800/S5004981.JPG)
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that's a surprise Oldie ...I'm thinking of a 800 xc if I sell my KTM . How about a review after a few weeks of ownership ?
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that's a surprise Oldie ...I'm thinking of a 800 xc if I sell my KTM . How about a review after a few weeks of ownership ?
Yeah, it's fun Andy :) Tested one about 6 months ago and knew that I'd get one eventually. Only went out for half an hour today but didn't want to go home.
Having said that, I've not ridden a bike that I didn't like so I'm not a good judge of how good any bike is, but this one is sweet :lala:
I had to take my GS for an MOT before the Tiger arrived and I wasn't expecting it to be any better than the Beemer, but it probably is. Mind you, my old GS is real sweet too :)
Maybe not a bad idea to do a write up after a few weeks of ownership as I'm pretty honest about my bikes - if it's shite then I change it.
:thumb:
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Love it in that matt green colour they do now... nice looking bike!
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Love it in that matt green colour they do now...
Ditto :thumb:
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Better get another pic in then when nobody's watching :lala:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-krkpfTiJHFQ/UPkgUDQ8o2I/AAAAAAAACv4/z1QdM8RUYEo/s800/2013-01-18%252010.03.43.jpg)
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Here's a couple of pics of Jack Meoff's Daytona
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/64012197/march_20212_053.JPG)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/64012197/Daytona.jpg)
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Oldie,
lovely bike your 800 and I think that's a cracking colour. Be interested in your longer term views on the 800 , a nice all rounder. Nice to hear of your double passion.
At the moment my Wee is filthy and totally a winter hack! But I do like ''her'' and I do think my Wee is so well put together.
I commute every day - except in heavy snow. My Wee is a tough old girl.
Dave
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Well Dave, it did strike me when I had to recover Earthcore's bike just how solid the Wee felt. I still rate it as one of the best buys in the motorcycle world and still regret selling my K5 - it was a beauty :)
However, I cannot find a bike which does it all for me. I've had a load of bikes in the last 18 months and they've all been fun, but I'm still waiting on that "special one". Maybe the 800 will be it. I hope so because I've spent a bloody fortune chopping and changing lol
My advice to anyone looking for a great all rounder to keep for a few years is get yourself a Wee, full stop. Yes, there are more attractive, more powerful bikes around but it's hard to beat that great V twin and superb reliability, one of Suzuki's masterpieces.
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Oldie , what made you choose the XC over the road version ? Its the one thing that puts me off the XC , is in the event of a puncture you have to faff with innertubes !
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Don't know about double passion but I sold my 2011 bonneville black to fund my wee strom expedition.
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Oldie , what made you choose the XC over the road version ? Its the one thing that puts me off the XC , is in the event of a puncture you have to faff with innertubes !
My main reason for choosing the XC was simply down to looks - I just happen to like spokes and the larger diameter wheels plus they only do khaki green on the xc.
In the event of a puncture you have two choices - call the breakdown man or do it yourself. If you have to do it yourself then the front won't be a problem but I hear that breaking the bead on the rear is more difficult. The tyres themselves are the "tubeless" type which means that they should hold up a bit longer in the event of an inner puncture (or so they say) :shrug:
I didn't do any research before buying the bike, just looked good in the showroom and I'm happy with it.
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Oldie , what made you choose the XC over the road version ? Its the one thing that puts me off the XC , is in the event of a puncture you have to faff with innertubes !
My main reason for choosing the XC was simply down to looks - I just happen to like spokes and the larger diameter wheels plus they only do khaki green on the xc.
In the event of a puncture you have two choices - call the breakdown man or do it yourself. If you have to do it yourself then the front won't be a problem but I hear that breaking the bead on the rear is more difficult. The tyres themselves are the "tubeless" type which means that they should hold up a bit longer in the event of an inner puncture (or so they say) :shrug:
I didn't do any research before buying the bike, just looked good in the showroom and I'm happy with it.
Yes I agree the XC looks better , more Adventurish and the colour of yours looks the best . They must have had the idea from here
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/64012197/MT%2520500%2520right%2520side.jpg)
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This is something for you all to consider, NOT a Triumph or a Suzuki but this is really really really a Swiss Army Bike. Honest.
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/casperdog777/97390410663069403_vjbzVzsX_c_zps9f80599b.jpg)
Not owned this but it made me smile. Does it come with a cork screw and a tin opener? :)
Old Norton ad from a long time ago....
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/casperdog777/Copyofnorton750_71.jpg)
and an old triumph ad.....
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/casperdog777/40532465365997493_GFnNt0r4_f.jpg)
Dave