Originally Posted by asheville thumper

Norm:

I wish I knew you guys were headed down to Myer's Saturday. I was going to go but decided to dodge the rain instead. I'm a wimp and my Tiger doesn't like to get wet quite yet!

Originally Posted by Stromin'Nroman

I would've bailed if it looked dicey, don't want to mess up my vintage leather.

Turned out to be a lovely day, I'll keep you in mind next time. I got me a Tricati edjumucashun.

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

The Scrambler is a great weekend warrior bike.

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

It's very smooth and comfortable to ride. It wasn't that great on gravel roads despite what the professional rider was doing in the video (very impressive though).

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

The suspension is pretty bad in stock form.

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

The biggest complaint with the Scrambler is lack of luggage options. There are some side pannier options and people do put Givi top boxes on.

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

From my time spent on this forum reading about your adventures, I would say you would be highly dissapointed with the Scrambler compared to how you are able to use the DL650.

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

Norm:

I wish I knew you guys were headed down to Myer's Saturday. I was going to go but decided to dodge the rain instead. I'm a wimp and my Tiger doesn't like to get wet quite yet!

Originally Posted by asheville thumper

Here's a pic of my old Scrambler. It was a great looking bike. Probably one of the best looking bikes made today if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Black Lab

Other then daily commutes, "weekend warrior" rides are largely what the majority of us do on our V-Stroms. Me included.



I am not a professional rider either. However, I do feel I can hold my own on dirt/gravel situations. In looking at the Scrambler, I think it would be a better ride on dirt/gravel then the DL-650.



So is the DL-650, but easily rectified. The Scrambler can be changed to meet a rider's needs, just like nearly all of us do to our V-Stroms.




This is not an issue for me. I have no plans to purchase a conventional luggage system from a manufacturer.



And, add the below quote to the above; I copied it from a subsequent post.



[I have a slight smile on my face as I type my reply to your last two quotes.]

The last two sentences, that you wrote in the "Norm" paragraph above, leaves a "hint" to me that, possibly the full potential of the Scrambler you owned was not completely realized. To me, the Scrambler is meant for not dodging the rain, and for getting wet! That is why there isn't gobs of plastic, and electronic "doo-dads" all over it like the Ténéré has, the Tiger has, (Or, the V-Strom for that matter!).




When I look at the Scrambler, like you, I see a great looking bike! Some of it is from an aesthetic perspective, (The "form" part.). But, most of my attraction to the Scrambler comes from a "function" perspective. What I see is a motorcycle with great potential to mold it into something very personal to a rider's desires and needs. The Scrambler is already stripped down; a "blank canvas" if you will. It is prime real estate ready for development.

I can't say that I will purchase this motorcycle. But, it keeps bumping up against what few brain cells I have left in my head. My current DL-650 has around 105,000 miles on it, and the clutch is going. The clutch is not slipping, (yet!), but I know from shifting the transmission, there is not much left. I am hoping that I can squeeze the rest of the season out of it.

I love my DL-650! We have done some amazing things together! And, we have been through some tough times together as well. Would I purchase another one, like several other riders have done? Where those riders are on their second, or third Strom?!

My initial feelings about answering that question is, "No, I would not purchase another DL-650." (And, I have absolutely no interest in the DL-1000 whatsoever!!!). My "no" answer is not directed towards any disliking of the DL-650, or towards any of some individual's perceived shortcomings of the bike. To this day, anytime that I am riding home from one of my long trips, I literally shake my head in amazement and state, "I do not know of any other motorcycle in the world that can deliver what this motorcycle delivers." That's a BIG "Period"! There just isn't any other bike out there that can hit the purchase price point, insurance price point, fuel consumption price point, maintenance cost price point, ease of an owner doing their own work on the bike, and the biggie, RELIABILITY! Let me repeat that last one, RELIABILITY!!!!!!!!!

So, why would I consider the purchase of a different make and model motorcycle; to gamble so heavily against the reliability factor?

The answer to that question lies within one of the many flaws of my personality. It's quite simply for the challenge of it. I don't know everything about the DL-650, but I do know a little more about the bike then the average rider. And, discovering and learning all of that stuff has been a big part of the adventure of owning, and riding the DL-650.

If I purchase another motorcycle, to replace my slowly wearing out DL-650, I have a strong feeling that I will be greatly disappointed if I purchase another one. That's because some of the adventure of owning a DL-650 is likened to, "Been There, Done That." Something new and different to get to know, would freshen the riding experience for me.

That's because, where I would ride the new motorcycle would be in the same geographical area that I presently ride my DL-650. And, remember that, I am a commuter and a "weekend warrior" rider; I have a job, and I need a job to tie everything together.

Riding in the same geographical area, over and over again, is also a, "Been There, Done That." experience as well. Right now, I can't change that part of my adventure riding pleasure. I can change the other part of the adventure riding experience by changing the bike I ride; getting to know a new piece of machinery.

Understand?

B.L.

Originally Posted by stephenmarklay

I would give you advice if you had 25k on the bike looking for the next best thing but clearly that is not the case.

Originally Posted by Black Lab

I would never spend $25,000 on a motorcycle! I doubt that I would ever spend over $10,000. NO ONE really needs all of the "modern" crap that is tacked on to a bike! Riders have been riding around the world without it for years; and continue to do so. The electronic stuff, that adds so much cost to the new breed of adventure bikes, is just a ticking time bomb. Often, it goes "boom" in the most inconvenient locations!

Keep It Simple Stupid, is how I like to ride!

B.L.