The Yamaha FJR and Kawasaki Concours (new style) are also excellent 2-up tourers, but are also significantly more expensive, and the Gold Wing is on another plane of cost as well.

If cost were no object, I very likely would have ended up on an FJR instead of my DL1000. I considered an old-style Concours as well, since these are also easily available used at good prices.

One of the things that swayed me to the V-Strom was the half-fairing -- I hate the plastics on the Connie and find the FJR only tolerable-looking. I need to see an engine, and I like to be able to change oil without an hour of tupperware removal.

__________________
2002 Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, Dark Metallic Space Blue
1983 Suzuki GS850G, Cosmic Blue
2005 KLR650, Aztec Red - Turd II, the ReTurdening

A couple of years back, after I had some time on the Wee, I was looking at the same options. Went to the Atlanta motorcycle show and Suzuki had both the Bandit and Vee sitting side-by-side, both with luggage. At the time, I was leaning towards the Bandit but after sitting on it, then sitting on the Vee, I pretty much decided the Bandit was out. The rider position on the Vee was so neutral and familiar (I'm a bit biased of course), and just so much more comfortable, there is no way I could be satisfied with the 'sport' position of the sport-touring bikes.

__________________
Some of the more aware dinosaurs warned of the dangers of an iridium-enriched nuclear reactor. 'If this thing goes off', they warned, 'there would be nothing left but cockroaches and mammals.'

------------------------------------------------
K8-DL1000, K7-KLR 650

My impression of the Bandit 1250 was that it did not handle as well as my DL1000. I noticed the extra weight right away. Its engine makes really, really good power right off idle though, but that alone was not enough for me to want to buy one. On paper the Bandit seems like it has all the goods, but when I sit on one or drive one I have no passion for the bike. The motorcycle is so sterile and uninspiring that it should be supplied with antiseptic.

Well, to play devil's advocate, that's relatively easy to address with bar-risers, which my Dad had on his......actually, he had different bars too, Daytona's.

That by itself = DL.

Having ridden the 1250's predecessor, the 1200 for several thousand miles, my main reason for going to the Strom was ergo's. My arthritic back/hips/knees (note to kids - do NOT play sports, the injuries you endure now will heal quickly, but you WILL pay for them as you age) just couldn't handle even the Bandit's relatively relaxed (by current sportbike standards) cramped'ish riding position. I sat on a 1250 the other day, and ran quickly (for me, anyway) back and hugged the 'Strom.

If you are a young whippersnapper, or don't have medical issues, and lean more toward highway-only rides, the 1250 is definitely a winner amongst those who own one. The guys at Maximum-Suzuki.com sing its praises loudly. And Dale Walker has a bunch of hop-up goodies for it too!!

__________________
RWEST
'07 DL1000
'09 BMW R1200GS
"live your life so the preacher doesn't have to tell lies at your funeral"
"even if you're paranoid, they can still be following you"
"ever notice how those in favor of abortion are already born "

Pretty much all has been covered already. To bad you are not in my neck of the woods or I would have you over to test ride both since I have them in my garage right now. The Bandit is however for sale. I need to pair down the fleet due to a directive from Sr.Mgmt and the decision has not been easy since they are both excellent bikes. The best thing about the Bandit is the engine (smooth with all kinds of gitty up) however I live in Northern Ca and the roads are less then perfect around here and that is were the Vstrom eats the Bandit for lunch. It handles back roads far better comparing stock for stock suspension. If all I road on was smooth pavement I probably would be keeping my Bandit but I really love to explore and the idea that all roads are open to the vee wthout beating me up appeals. My wife road on the back of the Bandit once and said never again (5'6") however she is very comfortable on the strom.

Like has been said think about how you are going to use the bike and then decide based on that. The vee will never be as sporty as the Bandit and the Bandit will never be as comfy as the strom.

__________________
2004 DL1000 with lots of goodies
2007 Bandit 1250s
2005 CRF450X for getting dirty

I was actually leaning towards the Bandit when upgrading from my Sportster. My wife hated the Sportster's pillion accomodations, even after a new seat. So I took her to test-sit every bike I considered.
She didn't like the Bandit at all, but the Strom suited her quite well.... second to the R1200GS (she about fainted when she found out what that bike cost!)

Long story short, if you will be riding two-up with any regularity, get the passenger's input.


Muttley

I ended up picking the Bandit

It was the only bike available around my area, and to order a v-Strom would mean waste half of the riding season waiting for the bike.

Like I've mentioned before, both are great bikes - if i could have both, I would

The dealer was pretty good about it- they offered me decent money for my KLR, and they were willing to give me a little break on the bandit. It's a non-ABS model, color blue. I'll pick it up next week!

I just wanted to drop a line here and thank you guys for the input. I appreciate all the comments!

Maybe in the future, when the money gets better, I'll be able to have a DL-1000 to be the Bandit's stablemate

I don't know about the passenger accomodations, but I think you'll be pretty happy with the Bandit. Did you get one with ABS? They have a pretty good deal up here still for the Bandit with ABS, hard bags and fairing lowers - looks pretty good. Definitely a sweet engine, if a little limited on the top end - but then who really needs more than 100 HP or so? And if you do, I know the old Bandit had all sorts of hop-up parts available. I wonder if the new ones do? (the engine has changed quite a bit).

Read my friend, read.

__________________