Ok guys... the thread in the mailing list about the Vstrom got me thinking. One of the things about the VFR I never liked was that I couldn't get on a dirt road without worrying about falling and scratching it. The VStrom, while not the most attractive bike to me, looks like it might make a good dual purpose ride that I could take a long way. How many of you have ridden them? What do you think? I have found one ,an 06 for $7400, that I am thinking of going to look at. It already has a givi tail box, windscreen, side engine bars, and a sargent seat... sounds tempting...
I had one , DL650K7 the silver one. the bike is excellent I loved it and certanly can handel almost anything the VFR can but here it is the V-Storm can handel everithing and it is good on everything but not excellent in anything. I have never rode off the paved road so I tried the VFR and it fot like a glove. Chcek out the stromtroper.com or the vstrom.info and will find lots of peopele who wil tell you that the bike is exellent The ride is upright sitting, it is top-heavy (so many people tip it over ) and with the givi screen-madstad barcket you can make the bufetting go away. The VFR is good out of the box. For my riding which os most (95%) freeway the VFR is more suited. DL650 got about 50 mpg and the VFR about 40. It is a V-twin agains a V-four. If youy can have both it is a great combination. Vstrom wit hthe bags is wider tha VFR with OEM bags. Picture of my sold VStrom with full OEM set pf bags http://www.gyalay.com/albums/2007V-Strom/index.htm So have fun at it and take it for a spin you will see the difference.
I had 2 of them, made the same mistake twice. But yes they worked great, but were no dirt bike, basically just a new UJM that looks weird. My old 81 honda will go down any gravel/dirt road just a good as my dl's did, in fact they did everything just as well, plus no $%%^ wind blender! but then of course the DL does have that other factor..its new!! I's say try one and see how you like it..mine were about the total opposite in everything I can think of from the vfr. seating, power, looks and sound , Not bad, just different...But in the end i my dl's were missing most of the factors that make riding a bike fun(for me)..so in the end, basic uninspiring transportation..kinda like driving as plastic camel with a honda lawn mower engine in it..reliable, quick enough, but just so $^%$^% dulllll!! And if you do like the clean smooth vfr airflow, you are in for a nightmare on the dl..I tried all the shields,waste of money. the $%% thing is just too far out front, lean ahead a foot and its fine... Nothing cures that problem completely except removing the shield altogether..I did, it worked, it was uglier.. I also find i can do any rough road just as well with the vfr as i could my dl, it may have looked the part, it isnt...very high up in the saddle! Much harder to maneuver slow, with a passenger due to the height, much harder on my back with the sit on the spine seating, just a diff critter. One I would never ride again thank you! Just my take on the 2 bikes after owning 2 of both... opinions are wild eh???? Still a great bike for those who like it.., just not for me.....
Why not think about the 900/950 KTM. good for off road,and a better bike than the Vstrom.IMOA you understand.
And the KTM is cool looking and not hideously ugly like the VSTrom is. OR You for something better for distance than the KTM you could try the BMW R1200GS, know a few riders that have gone from VFR's to GS's and they rave (too much sometimes) about them. GS Review: http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/BMW/r1200gs/page1.htm
I had a VStrom 1000 with Givi bags for a little while. Enjoyed the heck out of it. Great seating position, plenty of motor. I think it would make a great sport tourer, just a little too tall and top heavy for me. It's not a dirt bike, but it should handle a dirt road pretty well.
I don't understand the new "dual sport" thing. Yeah, you sit higher and it looks like it's better on dirt/sand, but it all comes down to the type of tire you put on the bike. Vstrom and other "dual sport" bike or "motard" is just like buying a Harley, it's all just an image thing.
Think of all the folks you've seen driving SUV's - esp. Jeeps and Hummers. What percentage of the time are they actually "off road"? 10% would be a high percentage. Most are never off road, but I guess some folks like the idea of thinking they could go offroad. I put the BMW-GS, V-strom, and others into that SUV catagory. I've enjoyed my short rides on the bike, but my 30" inseam make me short to ride. It was a joke trying to get a leg over the Husky dual-sport at the bike show last year. some of it is image, but if it was *just* image, who'd still buy a V-strom?
I got rid of my Exterra for this exact reason. I never FIORDED rivers anymore, I barely camp anymore. it would be cool to rip down fire roads, but how much are you actually going to do that. If the answer is alot then rock out on the adventure tourer. I agree about the tires, no bike with street rubber will handle for anything off road, I don't care what the moniker.
