R1150GS to a Wee? - Page 2 - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

joes4570 · #11 04-10-2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ockerstrom

The bike prior to my 09 Wee was a 2000 R1150GS.

Actual on road performance is very close to the same.

The Wee does everything the GS did, the only downside is a little less ground clearance.

In Australia the Wee is around 2.5 times cheaper than a GS.

From my own personal experience the servicing and repair costs are at least 40% cheaper to do on the Wee.

And the Wee is so much more reliable than the GS ever was.

Shaft versus chain is a no brainer as far as I'm concerned [BMW shaft drives in more recent years have become unreliable].
The option to change ratios from road biased use to more dirt oriented [say if you are doing an outback/bush trip for a week or two] needs by changing the front sprocket is a big advantage.

35,000km+ out of a chain and sprockets these days is not uncommon on modern bikes so it is cheap compared to blowing a shaft drive [it cost me $1500 just to get the shaft bearings done on my GS].

Buy a Wee, lift the suspension a bit and add a bash plate and crash bars and it will do everything the GS does while leaving you with a bucket of spare money.

This is why they make different bikes, because we all experience things differently and have different preferences.
I owned an R1150GS for 3 years and an '05 Strom for one, throwing in a 955i Tiger for 5 years for good measure.d
I'm not going to say you don't know what you're talking about but I will say my experience was different.
On road performance was not all that similar for me. I much prefer the relaxed cadence of the R1150.
I also prefer the more fully developed aspects of the R1150 as a package, luggage keyed to ignition key, heavy duty alternator, much better suspension and brakes.
I did not experience reliability problems with any of the bikes.
Service costs for me were very similar if done by dealers and done by the book
Obviously i didn't think the wee was that bad because i bought one. I also still have a BMW RT to keep my hand in there. All bikes are good, just a matter of figuring out what you want from them and where the strengths and weaknesses lie.

Scott E. Bonds · #12 04-11-2012, 08:39 AM

My brother went from the VEE he sold me to an 1150GS. Previous posters have compared the two well. Weight is not that different. The Beemer has some great features. It definitely is a better slab bike and handles well for its size.

Like Harleys, you can not look just at first cost since resale of a Beemer is higher than a wee.

I tend to ride what I like and not what is cheapest. I like the VEE though, a lot, and it is cheaper. But, I would drop the cash on a used GS in a heartbeat...and may some day.

ockerstrom · #13 04-11-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joes4570

This is why they make different bikes, because we all experience things differently and have different preferences.
I owned an R1150GS for 3 years and an '05 Strom for one, throwing in a 955i Tiger for 5 years for good measure.d
I'm not going to say you don't know what you're talking about but I will say my experience was different.
On road performance was not all that similar for me. I much prefer the relaxed cadence of the R1150.
I also prefer the more fully developed aspects of the R1150 as a package, luggage keyed to ignition key, heavy duty alternator, much better suspension and brakes.
I did not experience reliability problems with any of the bikes.
Service costs for me were very similar if done by dealers and done by the book
Obviously i didn't think the wee was that bad because i bought one. I also still have a BMW RT to keep my hand in there. All bikes are good, just a matter of figuring out what you want from them and where the strengths and weaknesses lie.

Things are a whole lot different, price wise, for European bikes/parts/servicing here in Australia compared to most of the rest of the world.

garandman · #14 04-11-2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M38A1

//
I've found a pristine 2011 model, low miles and nicely farkled I may see if I can take a test hop on this evening. I'm just trying to gather as much input from others as possible. Having been on the BMW's since '99, I'm sort of brainwashed.

Have you ever owned a BMW motorcycle?

M38A1 · #15 11-04-2012, 11:22 PM

Well, we can bring this one back to the top for a bit....

Last week I had my first dreaded "left turn in front of me" happen. I'm sorry to say the R1150GSA I purchased only five months ago was totaled.

So the hunt is back on and I'm again really thinking hard on the Wee w/ABS...

Joe S. · #16 11-05-2012, 12:17 AM

Sorry to hear about this but glad you're apparently okay. Thats a tough way to end up bike shopping.
Since this thread was writteh I've had occassion to do a 2000 mile trip on my 650 along with a friend who has one also.
My opinion is about the same as it was as far as the bike goes except I've discovered that the suspension is less accceptable than I had originally though. And I've found that I dislike riding it on long stretches of highway more than I originally thought I might.
To be fair it did a fine job on our trip and I really did like riding it on tight, twisty road and when I say I disliked it on highway I don't mean it won't do it or it was torture, just in comparison to other bikes I don't enjoy it in that environment.
I also have had the chnnce to compare it more extensively to my 1050 Tiger which as far as I'm concerned is not a really good comparison but since I have them both its sort of hard to avoid..
As with comparing to the BMW the Tiger is a much more expensive bike . IN the case of the
Tiger it shows in much better brakes, suspension and a bucket load more power. I would also say it shows in finishing details, iit just looks like a much nicer finished product than the Suzuki.
Theres a lot of reasons to buy a Vstrom and I do like the bike for my intended purpose but I still don't think it comes off as any sort of equal when compared to much more expensive bikes. That can't be considered a fault in my mind, just realism.

joshnstu · #17 11-07-2012, 08:10 AM

From what I have found, the Wee is about half the cost of a GS, and you don't get twice the value. Then again, there are pro's and con's to both bikes.

Joe S. · #18 11-07-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshnstu

From what I have found, the Wee is about half the cost of a GS, and you don't get twice the value. Then again, there are pro's and con's to both bikes.

Some people are of that opinon. I don't necessarily agree. you are correct though, there are definite pros and cons to both.
Value is very much in the eye of the beholder.

PTRider · #19 11-08-2012, 01:58 PM

M38, buy a good used strom with ABS. Ride it until you see how you like it. If the purchase price is fair, you'll easily resell it for little or no loss. ABS became available as an option in '07, and a slightly larger alternator came in '08.

You can either decide that this is the wrong bike for you, or that it is right for you but you want the new version, or that you want to upgrade the one you have. The windscreen and seat are easily and commonly upgraded. Suspension and brake upgrades work out well. In any case, you'll have fun riding it while you decide.

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