2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 Second Ride - Motorcycle USA
In a few words: Great fun bike but not thrilling.
In a few words: Great fun bike but not thrilling.
I believe you can have both reliability and a bike that gives thrills. My C14 for example is pretty thrilling and they seem to be very reliable. Suzuki could have done it, they just didn't and thats kind of saddening.By home run I wasn't referring to overall sales, but design. Once you own and live with a V-Strom, an understanding develops. You just "get it". I feel the V-Strom is the most underrated motorcycle ever built. It's odd looks turned off a lot of folks, but the machine underneath is outstanding.
I've had two of them. My assessment is not as gushing. Its okay, I would never rate it as outstanding but to each their own.
Since beginning my riding life at age 19 (in 1979) I've owned a total of 26 motorcycles, from Honda CBR's, Yamaha FZ's, Harley-Davidsons, a Buell Ulysses and lastly an '09 BMW GS 1200 Adventure.
I've had over 50 since 1969. Your point is?
The BMW was an absolute reliability nightmare. Final drive issues from 2900 miles until I finally sold it. Very expensive to maintain. Just a total disappointment. I expected better, considering the price of admission ($20,000+).
I've owned 3 V-Stroms, two 1000's (an '03 and current '12) and an '09 650. ALL were excellent bikes. NO problems, utterly reliable. I sold my '03 to get the Buell Ulysses and kicked myself ever since. Recently I was able to correct that mistake and buy another V-Strom, a 2012, the last of the breed, so to say. Blowout priced, I actually paid less for the new one than I did for my '03! Win-win all the way!
Wasn't much of a win for Suzuki. I think their idea is to actually make a profit on the bikes they produce, not have to sell them at giveaway prices.
But that does pretty well tell the story of the VStrom, particularly the 1000. A nice bike nobody seems to want unless they can steal it.
After experiencing and putting tens of thousands of miles on many motorcycles, good and bad, I thought back about which machine of all of them gave me the best value, reliability, durability, and overall satisfaction. The verdict? Suzuki V-Strom all the way!
Thats good you feel that way, a person should like their machine.
The V-Strom's competence, reliability, engineering and overall comfort may be boring, but it sure beats being stranded on the side of the road with a more "thrilling" machine. Been there-done that. No fun. :thumbdown:
CACooper
How dare you post positive reviews of the DL1000! LOL!Wow. OK, I'm done. You win. 50 bikes! Amazing. Obviously, your opinion is far more valid than mine. No hard feelings.
End of discussion for me.
Have a great day.
CACooper
Yes it does. I don't think we should expect too much dissent for the new Vee on this forum. After all, this is a V-Strom forum and most people (still) here pretty much like their bike, even now. So if the new one is improved, which seems to be a given, then most here are going to love it. And staunchly defend it too. Nothing wrong with that really. But equally, there isn't anything wrong with critiquing it a bit either. Many of the journalists have been criticized for basically, not liking the bike enough. But really, who is being more subjective? Us or them? All that really matters is that individuals are happy with their choice. For everyone here that does not like say, a sport bike or a Harley, there is one of those owners who thinks a V-Strom is a turd maybe. I like mine and think I'd probably like the new Vee fairly well. Knock it down to $11 and I'd like it a little more. But I am not the marketer's target either. The bike business would indeed be very hard, maybe out of business, if I were the typical buyer.Takes all types...