I suspect more people would be interested in a bigger alternator and bigger fuel tank .... say the same size as the GS

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RandyO
IBA# 9560
07 Strom 1k (54,xxx miles)
99 SV650 (135,006 miles)
82 XV920R
A man with a gun is a citizen
A man without a gun is a subject
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/p...dStatesMap.jpg

 

Randy is right !! Another 2.5 gal. of fuel in the tank and no more little red gas cans. and another 200 watts output would put it ahead of all them other adventure bikes. I am speaking of the DL1000 here.

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IF I only Rode in Good weather...
I WOULDN'T get to Ride in Vermont......at ALL!
Here in Vermont , we have 2 types of roads,Unpaved roads and decaying to .............Unpaved roads...
57,000 + miles and counting

With a few tweaks, this could be the thread over at KLR.net! I'm currently an owner of an '03 KLR with 42k miles. I love it, particularly on unpaved roads & water-crossings! But here in the Midwest, unpaved roads are getting further from home & requires more slabbin' to get to them.
I've been kickin' around the idea of owning a bike that can more readily accept the interstate of mind. As a previous co-owner of a GS1000 ('7 & a TS90 ('75), I know Zuki quality & reliability. The Vee v. the Wee is an occasional mental exercise. Then, throw in the Versys variable and I find myself in a self-induced quandary.
One thing I've wondered about with you Strom owners - where's the flat seat? My KLRs fitted with a Corbin and highway pegs. Being able to change positions makes riding thru a tank of gas a simple thing. A buddy of mine rides a GS1150R & I don't know if I could adapt to a butt cradle for long rides.
Your thoughts are invited.

MS

I had an 07' (old style) and an 08' (new style) KLR. When I went to test ride a weestrom, I knew within a mile that the KLR's days were numbered and I had a new 09' Suzuki within the week. I'm an agressive off-road rider and after installing a set of TKC-80 tires and puting on risers and Pro taper bars, I found the strom to be more capable than my KLR's on logging roads. The one thing that I don't like about the strom is the lack of ground clearance. I'm sure I'll own another KLR at some point. Both are great bikes.

when the bike with all the extras was first sold in the UK the price the same as the regular model

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swann strom

I think the basics are all there as has been said......

I looked at the Vstrom, BMW GS, Duc Multistrada, Varadero, Stelvio.
Since I was after a litre bike or bigger I didn't consider the KLR or Tenerife, and one look at the seating on the KTM's, both 990 and 690 put me off them straight away.
Vstrom $14000aus
Duc $22000aus
BMW $24000aus
Varadero $19000aus ABS option
Stelvio $23000aus

Of all of them, the only one I really liked over the Vstrom was the Stelvio, and yeah one day one might occupy the spot where the V is parked, but the 10k difference in price represents a whole lot of touring, though that big italian is so nice.........

Suzuki has done a great job putting together a good all round bike, with plenty of scope for addon's to suit each owner's needs and desires.
The only thing which I thought the V could have done with is a bigger tank, just say 4 litres more, to take it out to 26L for an outstanding range, which for me would be perfect, and looking at the bike it could be easily done with the spacing up front behind the cowlings.

Yeah I guess it could do with some other mods, but then the higher pricing would be reflected in that, and at the moment, here in Aus, you can't really buy too many big adventure style bikes for under 14kaus on the road, so to me it represented the best value for my dollar.

DL

Seriously ?

The DL/GS/Varaderos are not Adventure bikes. You might call them smooth dirt road tourers.
Changing all the things suggested will make very little difference unless you trim a lot of weight off them.

Taking the DL down the Multistrada route may have some merit.
Suzuki please do NOT take the DL down the boring Bandit route.

The DL is an excellent UJM and minimising the less than attractive and inefficient fairing would be a good idea.
.

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www.rockymoto.com.au
Parts and accessories for your adventure bike

08 DR650SE
03 SV1000 nekked (sold)
01 Cagiva Raptor 1000 (sold)

Interesting comments,

I'd like to see a adventure based platform built around the DL v-twin, and granted with the economy being as such I doubt it will happen on the strom. That being said, I still think there is a pretty strong market for a beefed up strom as stated earlier, just give it some more and better suspension and stronger wheels, sure the seat height will be getting up there, but the folks that would be interested in more off road capabilities would probably be coming from some what of a dirt bike background and would be willing to deal with it. after bending my wheel in the backcountry I know I would. Okay Suzuki I'm desperate! just build some off road wheels! I'll put my order in now! Or bring a model out with wire wheels and stick an "A" on the sticker.

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03' yellow dl1000 Rich's seat, custom built racks with ortieb drybags
givi crash bars, powercommander,mm spacers,SV slipper clutch
43t sprocket, speedohealer custom 04'+MpDesigns/madstad windscreen

I agree with Greywolf the platform is there for the mods be it Adventure or Touring. The aftermarket has done a pretty good of filling the needs at a reasonable price.