Hi, I have been thinking of possibly doing more off road riding next season but I have read that the V-Strom isn't a true off road bike . Can I get an opinion from anyone on just how off road this 2008 V-Strom 1000 can be . I have been on some hard dirt roads and tight gravel roads but never on thick loose sand , dirt or gravel. I'm guessing I'd need extreme knobby tires for that.
Tires do make a difference. I just got a set of MotoZ Adventure that I need to mount up for grins.
The 805 Shinko really feels better than the 705 at least on pavement. Haven't had a chance to test in the loose stuff.
If you are going to go gonzo, tread up!
not having taken my vee on any soft, deep, loose surfaces, i'm not an authority per se. however, it is a beast. i sometimes struggle with my DR on soft sand and when i get home and look at the sheer massiveness of the vee, i simply discard any thought of taking it anywhere but hard-pack.
having said that, and with most bikes, there are experts that can do wonders with the big pig off-road. i guess after all is said and done, it's more about the pilot than the ship.
If you are not an ex dirt biker with plenty of experience I would be very careful about venturing further off road.
Hardpack roads with a little dirt and gravel are OK, but, any deep loose sand or gravel will quickly become a BIG challenge. The only way to tackle such areas is at speed with the power on and your weight back. Mud or wet clay are also difficult.
They are big heavy bikes.
Formed dirt roads are a challenge and an adventure. No tyre will make a DL1000 easy to ride over deep sand or gravel.
Have a look here. The off road review starts at 5 min in. With at least 50/50 tires guys have told me they take it almost everywhere(and it looks it). But it is a heavy bike and if it ends up down a bank with handlebars on the downhill side recovery is difficult.
Have a look here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8r9d8ZAh8I The off road review starts at 5 min in. With at least 50/50 tires guys have told me they take it almost everywhere(and it looks it). But it is a heavy bike and if it ends up down a bank with handlebars on the downhill side recovery is difficult.
I don't do dirt often, except in my 4Runner, but hit some soft stuff in Anza Borrego State Park. there are a lot of metal sculptures located around the community of Borrego Springs. Access to those structures can often be in loose sand. The few approached had me standing on the pegs and looking well ahead and keeping up the speed in 2nd gear. That was on my G650GS which is 70 pounds lighter than the Wee. It wasn't really fun because I'm so out of practice at that sort of riding.
I would say generally if you are asking, it's fine for your skill level.
This is one of those topics that is just a minefield of opinion. Your vee is a capable offroad machine. It lacks a bit in ground clearance and suspension, it isn't a dirtbike, nor an Africa Twin or KTM, but it's probably fine for what you want to do. I just did the COBDR and most of the IDBDR on my 2003.
Sand, rocks, loose gravel, baby heads, water crossings, whatever, yes it's harder on a vee than an enduro or some of the other big adv bikes, but it is capable of doing it. Any big adventure bike is hard to ride real offroad, 19 inch front is harder than a 21 inch front in the sand and mud and rocks, smaller purpose built bikes are easier to ride around, easier to learn, less costly to dump.
Off-roading our Vstrom? Good question and some great responses: experience, tires, other upgrades will certainly make a solid difference off road, as well as knowing your own limitations as a rider and the limitations of your Vstrom. I agree with Vanislejay comment "it's harder on a Vee than an enduro or some of the other big adv bikes, but it is capable of doing it".
After two phases of on/off road upgrading this past year, I was pleasantly surprised recently by what my 650 took me over/through-- crazy intense off-road stuff I hadn't attempted up to that point (needed those Mitas e-07 tires btw!). That said, it also revealed some additional upgrades that will probably help make my future off-road journey's a little better, safer, and more fun. Lots of research/input from this excellent forum has helped greatly!
So my phase III ('going gonzo!) of additional off-road upgrades will hopefully get my bike ready to take on several Colorado mountain passes next year (ie: Cinnamon, Imogene, Engineer, Ophir, etc)--passes I have previously only taken on a rented CRF450, not my Vstrom. Plan is to practice more off-roading locally this winter, do the AZBDR in the Spring, and then off to Ouray, CO in July '20 for another adventure of a lifetime!
The dreams of bigger ADV trips makes this heart beat a little faster... Meet you at the top!
There is opinion and fact. I had a Strom, own a Tenere, and have an older XR400r (real dirt bike). For a dirt bike you need only 3 things. Power is NOT one of them. You need;
- light weight - the Strom and Tenere both suffer here
- ground clearance - the Strom suffers here
- good traction tires - you can put these on any bike
That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. Anything over 400 pounds (under 350 pounds is better) should best be considered an "all roads" bike. Sure, you could take a Strom (or Tenere) places you see some YouTube riders go, but be prepared to get hurt (either picking it up or crawling out from underneath it) and/or tear up your bike.
A Tenere is only marginally better than a Strom off-road and only because it is geared better, has better low speed manners, and about 2 more inches of ground clearance. I consider my Tenere (and the great Strom I loved) to be "all roads" bikes. The 400r is my dirt bike, pure and simple, and we both have the scars to prove it.
I consider my Tenere (and the great Strom I loved) to be "all roads" bikes. The 400r is my dirt bike, pure and simple, and we both have the scars to prove it.
All Roads is the perfect label for the v-strom series.
I flipped flopped between the Tenere and Vee this summer. Even drove them back to back twice. When I ignored all the electronics and comforts of the Tenere, the Vee was the bike that felt more like an extension of me... where the Tenere was like going for a trail run with your dog... but could that dog pull! :grin2:
The VStrom will get you down a gravel township or forest trail road better than a cruiser or sport bike, and there are some incredible YouTubes of hill climbin', riverbed fishtailin' log hopin' stonking on a Wee, but for mere mortals like me I equate it to how my Ford Escape has some capabilities off road, but it ain't no Raptor. I do have a set of Mitas E-07+'s or Shinko 805's (edit: in mind for replacement tires). The stock Bridgestone Battlax's are an 80/20 tire: 80% for pavement riding 20% off pavement. Not much bite in the dirt. the other two are considered 50/50 tires, sacrificing some milage and outright road burning, for better bite in gravel and, up to a point, sand and grass.
You can spend a little time fixing up the older Vee to reduce weight. Switch out the exhaust, since there are 2, putting in a light aftermarket can, can make a big weight difference. Remove rear passenger pegs, put on some lighter pegs, that kind of thing. Weight makes a big difference offroad.
The type of terrain is huge too, this bike will not crawl over logs well, or boulders, or deep potholes, the clearance underneath is minimal, but it handles gravel OK, if you are not too heavy yourself. You can go virtually anywhere on it, until you discover you can't.
Benefits, cheap, reliable, lots of power, fun to ride, can take a beating and keep on going. Just be sure you have a skid plate underneath to protect that exposed oil filter, and crash guards.
IF you have dirt bike experience it's capable enough. I actually took mine places a trials bike would struggle and it was much more capable than I thought it could be, and I was much more capable than I thought I was.
Tires more than anything else, TKC-80's but be warned they wear quickly used on seal. If there are dirt roads nearby, put some knobs on and spend a weekend trying to wear them out on dirt. Just go round and round and round, when it gets boring, go round the other way. Just aim for smooth and controlled not speed, speed comes with confidence.
Dirt roads, generally not a problem. Mud, with good balance sortof OK. Deep sand, problem. The tight gnarly stuff a DL is slower than something like a DR650 - more open roads, bikes like DR's are just things to ride around. With a lot of practice and suspension work so were KTM990's and 1200GS's
Getting competitive, big problem. The reason I say competitive is a problem is that I could ride through almost anything but I often had to slow down and pick my lines, try racing something and things will break. (Most likely the rider )
IF you have dirt bike experience it's capable enough. I actually took mine places a trials bike would struggle and it was much more capable than I thought it could be, and I was much more capable than I thought I was.
Welllllll......I would have paid to see that. Maybe Trials riding is different where you are at? I could not take a trials bike or any other bike...and do what they do.
I treated my 05wee like a dirt bike and it kicked ass.
Tires are 100% the deciding factor.
With street tires it's as capable as a street bike. With aggressive dirt tires, I could go most anywhere.
Clearance was limiting, it's relatively heavy, so you get more worn out. But ride after ride I was patting my good work horse with a smile on my face, because it surprised and impressed me countless times.
Gotta have a serious belly pan if you're gonna bounce around in serious stuff.
Well, personally i wouldnt reccomend it. Tip the bike over on a trail and if you can pick it up again, i guess go for it. I could BARELY get mine upright with luggage at a gas station tip over. Would really not want to try it in the woods. I mean, its a pretty solid bike
When you see an post about V Stroms being off road capable, one must temper that with common sense. Can they get from point A to point B? Sure, with the right rider that is willing to do what it takes no matter what that does to the bike. Tires being the factor most overlook...
Thought this video would make my point better than words....
When you see an post about V Stroms being off road capable, one must temper that with common sense. Can they get from point A to point B? Sure, with the right rider that is willing to do what it takes no matter what that does to the bike. Tires being the factor most overlook...
Thought this video would make my point better than words....
Freaking awesome RS. I read a good book The Longest Ride, by Emilio Scotto. He took a Gold Wing around the world several times and set a Guinness Book world record. There are still pieces of that Honda scattered across several continents.
I took my '07 Wee onto a 4x4 trail a couple of years ago. Bent the front rim trying to go up some ledges. Bent the rear brake, brake support, and stand hardware. Didn't try any deep loose stuff. The bike weighs 450 lbs and I'm getting older every year. I love my Wee. It can do a lot. Just not that (with my skills).
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