Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
Other Stuff => The Blue Oyster bar => Topic started by: Bk on December 18, 2018, 22:11:49
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Hi all. Introduced my self yesterday but seem to have made a bit of a boob in asking questions in that section. Sorry. :icon_batterup: me bad. Well let’s all be friends and start again.(this is how I haven’t become a traffic ticket this last 40 years, a really good ball licker :bow-blue: ). Am looking to get a good comfortable bike capable of carrying me about for a few days to a week at a time, around Ireland and Scotland in the good weather if we ever get it again. I’m not ashamed to say I am a fair weather rider not one of these hardened blokes who go to the artic wearing a rab c nesbitt string vest. I have a clapped our gtr1000 who has come a lot farther than she will go,bit like myself. However I’m not dead yet. Wanted opinions on different bikes for the job. I’m 6ft2ins and 120 kg ( dr says too heavy but sure I’m working on it). Read good things on the Suzuki 650 and 1000, also the versys and the Honda NC750 x. Have joined the versys forum as well. Tried the Honda one but it’s more difficult and I think the may not want me. :violence-smack: . Any advice would be greatfully accepted. Bk.
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Hi BK looks like you've earned your srtipes already with falling foul of the "Stasi" FFS don't quote anything!!!!!! :icon_wink:
I have a 2016 Vstrom 1000 at present, and I've had an NC750X, A bloke your size needs the 1000cc bike everytime, the NC has a seat made of wood, and the worst I've experienced, but an amazing bike, just a shame they don't do a 1200cc version!
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Stasi Here - Heavier and Taller than you and more than happy on the 650. Don't believe those who say you need a 1000 and go test a 650 before you ever waste money on an extra 350cc you won't need.
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I concur with Martin (because he's bigger and heavier than me) and on this occasion he's right, though he doesn't do many miles.
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Very amusing post, had me chuckling away to myself, as said, the 650 is a superb bike, also second hand Honda transalp is a mega reliable easy to live with machine, I live them.
If you do want a but more a post 2014 1000 strom, or Veek as they get called, is a fine mile muncher with good manners, though two up a new rear shock though not necessary, would improve the bike a bit as its a little soft.
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Hi Bk
For what it's worth this Old Biker, slightly taller and about the same weight, switched to a 650 from an FJR1300 and find that these days the lower weight of the Strom is a great boon. On the riding front it is a great bike and easy to live with, take a test ride I don't think you will be at all disappointed :old:
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BK, I've got the 650 and although not as tall & only around 100kg, heading for pensionable age and ride with the good lady on the back most of the time & fully loaded with luggage. We have been around most of Ireland & the west coast of Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Pyrenees & the French Alps, not forgetting the delights of Derbyshire & Yorkshire either and never had a problem. It may not pull as well or have the speed of the 1000 but it's a great bike to ride and will cover miles of road on any tour you fancy.
Good luck in finding the right bike & enjoy.
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:icon_exclaim: is 100kg :shrug:
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15st 11lbs Mr
Imperial English Rat :grin:
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The 650 is more than enough for most.
I toured 2up (I'm 110kg) with 60kg of gear a few years back. No issues at all on fast sweeping roads or major motorways. And more frugal.
I test rode the new DL650 a few weeks back and came away grinning. that's coming from a rider of a litre bike with a muscle bike in the garage.
My next bike is more than likely going to be another DL650.
Great bikes.
The NC750 is bland and with a low rev limit (DCT solves that but takes the fun away from the whole drop a cog and go thing.) It's also a heavy old beast for the power.
The old 650/700 Transalp is as solid as old boots, but is enthralling as the old boots too.
Cb500x is a great little bike and the engine and gearbox combo make it a very usable bike, but I don't think I'd want to do a long tour on one. It is by far the lightest and lowest of the bunch as stock.
Test ride, test ride, test ride.
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Fixed that for you Martin.
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:icon_exclaim: is 100kg :shrug:
I did have to convert my proper weight to that odd foreign stuff. I thought it only fair to the OP
as that is what he used. :thumb:
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Another vote here for the 650. Properly comfortably and enough oomph for a big fella. Not a quick bike by any stretch but I wouldn't call it under-powered either. The balance is just right.
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Fully loaded 650 for the Wales trip including the wife and I, never missed a beat, handling can get twitchy at full lick but nothing it doesn't tell you, well in advance is going to happen.
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So... a Triumph 800, a Versys 650 and a 650 Glee go to Ireland. The biggest and heaviest rider was me on the 650 Glee and apart from a flat tyre it didn't skip a beat or struggle in any way. The Glee was by far the most economic and although recorded as having the least BHP, I was never left behind. I suspect this is because mine was in the fastest colour of blue. A similar story from my trip on the same bike to France and Belgium gives me enough riding time to highly recommend the 650 VsTrom.
Maybe the real question you want to answer is what colour 650 vStrom shall I buy :grin:
Shameless pic of the three bikes parked up on the west side of Loch Erne
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Regardless of colour (that blue is nice), you definitely want one with two headlights and no daft beak :thumb:
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I recently did a 3000 mile round trip to Poland and Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and then home. More than enough power, and never felt like it was lacking. My mate took his Tiger 800 ( 50 MPG ) I was getting 75+ MPG.
Even my dealer said that you don't need mega CC's to tour. Off to Norway on it next year. It's all the bike I'll ever need for touring.
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Folks I am thrilled at all the responses to this post. I lost the post as I didn’t know what section I posted it in. Well sorted now. I really appreciate you all taking time to give me your opinions. I read somewhere that the 750 x was uncomfortable which would put me off. I had even read up on upgrading the seat. I would be afraid the 1000 would be a bit too big for me to handle. As I said I have a clapped out gtr1000 and quite honestly it is too much for me. If I dropped her she would just have to lie there. :groan: .I have never had a Suzuki but reading all your comments I would be easily talked into one. :thumb: .the three bikes sitting at Lough Erin look great but as everyone knows a black one would be much faster. :stirpot: . I will continue trolling gumtree and see if anything turns up. :happydance: . Bk.
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Excellent recovery there Bk and please bear in mind when MartinW mentions his stature and mass that doesn’t include the bulk of the field grey uniform and slashed peak cap he patrols the forum in.
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:shock: :grin: lol
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:shock: Martin has a hat? Where's my hat?
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(https://rlv.zcache.com/funny_party_dunce_hat-r63faf13d8ee84fed944c9bc1dbe0145c_6w0a4_540.jpg)
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:haha:
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"Work Experience Stasi" - lol
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Fully loaded 650 for the Wales trip including the wife and I
Stone me - have you got 4 panniers on there!?
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Yes just the 4, I had the tank bag for my stuff :shy:
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Fully loaded 650 for the Wales trip including the wife and I, never missed a beat, handling can get twitchy at full lick but nothing it doesn't tell you, well in advance is going to happen.
Wales trip? Looks like an emigration move.less stuff crossing the channel. lol .would surely do my job thanks. Haven’t seen the panniers at the front before. Are they strapped to the crash bars or do you get purpose made racks for the front? Thanks. Bk.
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I used some old givi racks I got off fleabay cheap cut off the fitting arms and then clipped them on as in this video. :thumb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJPGuQWzUI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJPGuQWzUI)
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Brilliant idea. Thank you and so simple. :angry-banghead: .
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I recently swapped my blackbird for a new 650xt. Don't regret it for a moment. Less power of course, but lower weight and easy riding style more then make up for it. I got side swiped a couple of months back and was given an NC750x while my XT was repaired. Hated every moment on it.
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I'm also looking for my next bike and have been for about 5 years to fair. Having lurked on this forum over those years I got close to buying a couple of Glees, but couldn't bear to part with my trusty TDM 900. Now I've solved the problem by selling both bikes and making myself bikeless.
I've narrowed the field down to either a Honda CB500X, NC750X, Glee or MT07 Tracer. I'm lean, so don't really need anything bigger. Haven't ridden either the CBX or the Glee, so I'm going purely on the hundreds of positive comments on both of those bikes. Took an NC750X out earlier this year and it was fine--and maybe fine is fine as I enter my dotage. It handled well and the power was adequate, though I'd miss the motorway overtake power of the TDM. What attracts me to it is it's reliability, ease of maintenance (less plastic bits, easy valve check, etc.), and the frunk, looks handy. The MT07 Tracer would be the worthy replacement to the TDM except for the poor quality of it's parts. Nothing about it felt robust. I can't see it lasting anywhere near as long as my TDM did--and I'm not Mr spit and polish to be honest. Brilliant bike to ride though, pulls really well, handles great, is economical and just felt so light and easy to manoeuvre, shame about the cheapness of the package. The CB500X, well with it's amazing frugality and the tank range, it's lightness, what's not to like. I think it looks the best of the bunch as well. But will I miss that top end roll-on?
At this stage it's the CB500X or the Glee for me. Did I mention this is a damn good forum, always a big plus.
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Hi Muddy, I was looking at the cb500x today, bumped into a chap on one, he had been everywhere on it, looked and felt like a really nice old school type of bike that would last forever.
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Lots of pondering there. I'm not very Honda so can't comment. Yam MT07, well you might find the 900 Tracer a better bike after the TDM.
Ah, a Glee....... You must test ride one! It's a do-all bike without having to excell at anything specific......other than fuel consumption.
The only thing you hit right on the spot though was this forum........... :icon_wink:
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Test ride on the type of road you use most or like the best. If you like to go places then a good bit of fast A road or motorway to see how it goes and feels when 'pressing on'. Then some B road twisties and then a potter around town. Will you need to carry stuff? need top / side boxes What's available. How's the ridding position? can you change the bars, add hot grips, where to put a sat/nav. Do you want a screen? want to lower the footrests or lower / raise the whole bike with altered suspension. Alternative exhaust or is the one fitted OK. Stand and look at the bike ... is it you.
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Lots of pondering there. I'm not very Honda so can't comment. Yam MT07, well you might find the 900 Tracer a better bike after the TDM.
I took a 900 Tracer out for a test ride soon after they hit the shops. It shifted, that's for sure. Took it up to just under a ton in next to no time and right there's the problem. It's not sedate, even sat at 80 mph it nags at you to get a move on. Whereas the TDM, with it's long legs would simply stride away all day effortlessly in a most relaxing fashion, without the slightest hind of vibration. The Tracer just felt busy through the seat and fidgety at those speeds, which doesn't bode well for the sort of long distance tours I do. It's more sports bike than tourer really. I guess I'm a 2 pot kind of bloke :shrug: