A 3 year review of the V Strom

[mugwump58]

For the V-Strom fans and the curious

[gritsngravy]

It's nice to know you can get a brand spanking new one for 2012.  

[AzItLies]

Hey thanx for that. Been looking carefully at the new 12 Wee. Really like these bikes, just seem to be great all rounders. Surprised me there is sooooooo much after market stuff available for these! I already know... my dealer is suppose to have one next month...

[radon222]

Like the reviewer said, the only real downside to the Stroms is their resale value.  But that just gave me an excuse to keep my 04' DL650 when I bought the GS ADV  

[Cablebandit]

Sold mine for $1,500 less than I paid for it after 4 years and about 40,000 miles.  They are cheap bikes to buy new.  That's why resale looks low. In reality, as a percentage of new price, the resale isn't that bad.

[Oxblood]

I rode my Wee Strom daily for almost three years. Did me well, and was a great bike to ride. Fuel efficient, handled well, and comfortable once you found a seat to replace the stocker. I paid just under 6000.00 for my bike (used trade in at my dealer, 1380km on the ODO). Traded it in for the GSX 1250, and the dealer gace me 4400.00 credit on the GSX even with 48,000km logged by that time. They sold it for 6000 (actually more than I paid for it originally) a few weeks later. When you consider the bike retailed for about 6k in Canada in 2007 when it was new, that represents a pretty good retention of value.

[MidLifeMike]

I rode my Wee Strom daily for almost three years. Did me well, and was a great bike to ride. Fuel efficient, handled well, and comfortable once you found a seat to replace the stocker. I paid just under 6000.00 for my bike (used trade in at my dealer, 1380km on the ODO). Traded it in for the GSX 1250, and the dealer gace me 4400.00 credit on the GSX even with 48,000km logged by that time. They sold it for 6000 (actually more than I paid for it originally) a few weeks later. When you consider the bike retailed for about 6k in Canada in 2007 when it was new, that represents a pretty good retention of value.

Interesting. A local shop has a really nice 2009 GSXR 1250 with ABS and 3 full size cases, next to a 2006 DL650, no extras.  So I suggested to a friend doing some window shopping for a Wee Strom to think about the 1250. I know he's looking for 2 up riding with the missus. He expects the diff' in insurance will make the DL650 more attractive. I figure I'd beg borrow or steal $2k to get the 1250 - 3 years newer, expensive cases, helibar, ABS, etc.
You've had essentially both - what's the verdict?

[Oxblood]

Interesting. A local shop has a really nice 2009 GSXR 1250 with ABS and 3 full size cases, next to a 2006 DL650, no extras.  So I suggested to a friend doing some window shopping for a Wee Strom to think about the 1250. I know he's looking for 2 up riding with the missus. He expects the diff' in insurance will make the DL650 more attractive. I figure I'd beg borrow or steal $2k to get the 1250 - 3 years newer, expensive cases, helibar, ABS, etc.
You've had essentially both - what's the verdict?

I guess my response would be based on what your buddy wants to do with the bike, and whether or not power is important. Also ABS, as in 2006 and 2007 it was an option on the DL650. My 07 did not have it, and I can say that even though the 1250 is heaviier, the ABS does make a big difference in braking.

Also consider the price difference. What is the 1250 going for, and what is the 650 going for? If the price difference is not too great, go for the 1250 with luggage. Good luggage is not cheap, and the luggage on the 1250 is definitely goo. If he gets the 650, do NOT, under any circumstances get the VStrom OEM luggage. It is crap (unless the dealer still has 06 luggage in stock). In 2007 Suzuki dropped the Givi/Kappa luggage for the VStrom, and replaced it with some no named crap from a company called "Soft". Check out rider responses over on stromtrooper.com for just how lousy that stuff is.

Also consider riding style. While the DL 650 is pretty sporty, the 1250 is much better in the twisties. It is a much more sports oriented bike. But, if your friend wishes to explore backroads like forest service roads, etc then the DL650 is the ticket.

The 1250 accelerates amazingly well, and has a much higher top speed. The DL 650 gets better gas mileage, but is not as snappy and fast.

I actually like BOTH bikes. They have both served me well. For the time being, I will be sticking with the 1250 for a while. But the new 650 has an appeal that may have me trading in again   Whichever bike your friend picks up, he will be well served by it, as while Suzukis aren't the fanciest bikes, they are BONE reliable (the only "failure" I had on my 650 in three years was a burned out brake light switch on the front brake handle).

Have fun and ride as much as you can.