There are issues with a lot of bikes out there that only come to light (and sometimes too much focus put on them) with message boards such as this.

Over the past 20 years I've owned multiples of each - Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and Triumph.....and can give you a list of issues that are worse than what sometimes gets blown out of proportion here about the Vee.

Clutch basket issues....I can give you some for Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Overall electrical gremlins....I can give you some for Triumph.

Charging issues.....I have some for Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Transmission issues including shift forks, drums and shift rod....I can give you some for every Suzuki I've owned except for the Vee so far (knock on wood).

Fueling issues........I can give examples from all the Japanese and Triumph.

How about frame issues including failing welds on aluminum perimeter frames and flex issues with steel tubular frames that can lead to motor mount failures? I have those for 2 of the Big 4 from Japan.

I've never owned a bike that didn't have some inherent flaw from the factory that the aftermarket or resourceful owners haven't solved on their own. For better or worse, it goes with the territory it seems..

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Jim
2006 Gray Vstrom 1000

One the higher up from Suzuki North America told me 2 things this evening.
1..The pics of the new NEW Vee on the internet are from Suzuki!!.
2.. The fueling issue's have all been fixed !!.
He could not confirm that the clutch has been fixed BUT he said that they ( Suzuki NA ) has asked for a fix and Japan has been listening.


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1982 GS850..BLACK SUNSHINE,the tripod
2007 DL996AR..BRUTUS
Ah screw it,I'm goin ridin !!!!!!!!

Amen. How many new Ducatis or KTMs have I read about that don't exactly run smoothly below 4k rpm? Several Aprillias have SERIOUS fuel mapping issues. This is not an uncommon problem with motorcycles. The magazine guys like to side step the issue by saying "I didn't spend much time in that part of the rpm range...."

The EPA regs are a major part of the problem. The motorcycle has to meet some pretty goofy requirements at certain rpms and in order to meet those goals the engineers stand on their heads and mess up what is probably a perfectly smooth running map in order to get the bikes to pass. Not all bikes have the same combustion chambers, cam timing, etc. so each needs different tweaks to pass.

In general I don't find the problems with the Vee all that big a deal. A remapping solves the fueling problems very easily and can produce one of the smoothest running bikes ever. The clutch issue can be solved very easily for ~$300. Big deal, it will cost you close to $300 for a new quality chain and sprockets or a set of tires.

No bike is perfect, some are closer than others, but I've never owned a bike I didn't modify in some manner to make it better for me, just some more than others.

I rode the nice new Yamaha Super Tenere and I don't like the low speed fueling/throttle response on that bike either. CycleWorld Magazine complained about it also, so ????

I've ridden quite a few of the new ADV bikes out there and I keep thinking to myself, "gee, my old Vee is still pretty damn good". My only wants are modern suspension and brakes, both of which can be improved. I have no complaints about the engine or trans once I got them sorted out.

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06 Suzki DL1000
09 Kawi KLR650
00 Suzi DRZ400-S
95 KTM MXC300

Kurgan... dank... Those last couple of posts actually made me feel better about my Vee.

Over the years I've done every mod conceivable to the thing with great success.
About all that's left is the possibility of losing another stator at any moment and the fact that my fuel pump has 45,000 miles on it.
For $750.00 and an hour's wrench time I can make the fuel pump issue go away.
As for the stator...
I do have an LED type voltmeter on the bike so when she fails (yet again) I should have plenty of time to respond before the battery dies and strands me on the road.

In the mean time I'm in the process of getting a new, larger, motorcycle rescue trailer since the last one I had for our dirt bikes was a bit too small for the Vee w/luggage.
Having a Son that has a truck with a hitch (and a rescue trailer), is my "Plan-B" when my bike of choice for a weekend ride is the DL1000.

Gee, I guess that's why they call the Vee an "Adventure" bike.
-Ej-

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A "Commuter" not an AdvTourer.
Currently Commuting On: 06 Harley XL1200C, 06 DL1000, 07 GS500F, 2 mopeds, and a pair of sneakers.

Have you done the MOSFET R/R upgrade? I did that upgrade in the second week of owning my Vee. It's easy, fairly cheap, and produces amazingly smooth voltage control. Stators don't fry themselves, the R/R frys the stator.

The only thing I worry about now is "maybe" someday the magnets will fall off the flywheel if the adhesive gives up, but this is not a widely reported issue, though it has happened.

Having a MC trailer or truck around is always a good thing. I've had a 3 rail MC trailer for a long time. I've used it for my Vee a couple times.

Something to consider is Uhaul rents a MC oriented cargo style trailer for very cheap ~$15/day and they are well designed trailers for MC use. I recently helped a friend haul his Harley using one and it's a nice trailer.

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06 Suzki DL1000
09 Kawi KLR650
00 Suzi DRZ400-S
95 KTM MXC300

My stator failed and the RR was fine ( and still is after another almost 40,000 miles ) I don't believe my RR had anything to do with it !!.


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1982 GS850..BLACK SUNSHINE,the tripod
2007 DL996AR..BRUTUS
Ah screw it,I'm goin ridin !!!!!!!!

If you want to prevent stator problems, the best way is to use a series R/R mounted in the airstream. It takes the heat, literally and figuratively, and it seems stator burnout just about always happens near the top and that means heat failure to me as the oil bath should be more effective at the bottom. Roadstercycle-Index

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

Whoa, hold everything!
You guys have just presented me with a mod that my Vee does not yet have. This is wonderful news.
Thanks for the suggestion and for the link too.
I gotta' read-up on this simple and affordable up-grade.
Thanks crew!
-Ej-

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A "Commuter" not an AdvTourer.
Currently Commuting On: 06 Harley XL1200C, 06 DL1000, 07 GS500F, 2 mopeds, and a pair of sneakers.

I did the mosfet RR but it didn't work.They said I hooked it ip backwards ( I didn't ).So anyway I put the stock one back on and it's been on for 40,000 miles.
I have a mosfett on my GS500 and it works great !!.


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1982 GS850..BLACK SUNSHINE,the tripod
2007 DL996AR..BRUTUS
Ah screw it,I'm goin ridin !!!!!!!!

Off topic but...
Everything about a GS500 is great.
Price,
Reliability,
Track manners,
Fuel economy,
Fun factor.
I've owned an "F" bike previously and If I come across one at the right price I'll probably get myself an 'E' model in the future.

BTW: Where's the link to the MosFet discussion?
-Ej-

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A "Commuter" not an AdvTourer.
Currently Commuting On: 06 Harley XL1200C, 06 DL1000, 07 GS500F, 2 mopeds, and a pair of sneakers.