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V-strom and Being Cheap

6K views 50 replies 41 participants last post by  1956 CJ-6 
#1 ·
Not sure where this will go but just wanted to know how other Strom riders felt.

When I first started looking at bikes again I new I had to be on a budget. I have a buddy that highly recommended the Strom. One of his big pitches was they are reasonably cheap to purchase, own and operate.

I purchased one and absolutely love it, just like he said I would.

As I have joined this site I have come to the conclusion that alot of people may have done as I and purchased the strom for its value.

But yet if you look at many others posts this is not the only bike they own. Many have way more expensive bikes than the strom.

I guess the question is do we ride the Strom because it is reasonable to own or is it because of endless farkles that can be purchased or is it that it is JUST THAT GOOD OF A BIKE.

Oh yea and I am trying to learn not to be cheap, but it is not working so good.
 
#2 ·
Seeing you have owned a KLR, you must define cheap. So goes the rumor.

However, there is no other bike like the Strom ANYWHERE close to the price range. So that is where I landed. Its a stigma I support because honestly, being cheap is a virtue if you ask me.
 
#3 ·
Some bikes seem to attract more thrifty people and people who use their ingenuity to work around bikes problems.

The KLR is a prime example but the Strom isn't close behind ;).


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#4 ·
I wanted a middle weight bike for sport touring that had good fuel range, was comfortable, especially for my bad knees, and fun. It needed to handle all my needs in one bike. A check of reviews indicated to me there wasn't a better bike for the job at any price than the DL650.
 
#8 ·
yup



That about sums it up. But my knees are OK.
 
#6 ·
I read all the reviews of mid size sport tours because I wanted an upright riding position and seat height was important because I am 6'3". It was down to 3 bikes, the Vstrom, the Honda nc700x and the BMW G650GS. After studying dozens of reviews and test riding the honda I decided on the strom. The single cylinder of the Beemer turned me off eventually and I felt a little cramped on the honda. Decision made... The Vstrom 650 is a great bike and the affordability is just the icing on the cake.


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#7 ·
Hey Craig....I bought my 2008 Vee based on the affordability, it's comfort for me and my wife, looks and maintenance. I have not regretted my decision as of yet. The cost was he biggest most important issue.

I only have one bike at the moment, don't anticipate being a multi bike owner. I try to keep my expenses to the minimum. I've always like the BMW 1200 GSA but out of reach in price for me.

Mike
 
#9 ·
I wanted a practical, inexpensive bike that I wouldn't think twice about riding all over the country, and that wouldn't cost a fortune to operate. I've already owned a Debt Enhancement Machine (a Harley Road King) for the past nine years, and just got tired of $40.00 chrome choke knobs and backrest kits where the bolts to actually assemble the kit are not included. Since the words "practical" and "inexpensive" are rarely applied to motorcycles, the field was pretty limited. That being said, I couldn't be happier with my DL650. It's my tenth motorcycle, and (adjusted for inflation) probably the fourth cheapest, and so far it's been the most fun of all of them.

But I swear, the seat was designed by Torquemada.
 
#10 · (Edited)
When I sold my 96ST1100 I knew I wanted a lighter motorcyle to carry me through my "sunset" years. I liked the Versy but a friend owned one and loved the engine but hated the rear suspension. He went to a Triumph Tiger 1050. I was thinking of a new KLR650 but 90-95% of my riding would be on road. I know KLR owners love their bike and have a blast on our trip around Lake Superior. I really liked the Triumph 800 but I thought of the difficulty getting parts and having service performed with limited dealers plus $11,000 MSRP with ABS. BMW F800 GT looks like a nice bike but $11800.00 MSRP. I have my own personnel reservations about owning a "Beemer".

When they came out with the 2012 DL650 it seemed to address my concerns about physical appearance. Reviews were great even by people who didnt care for the previous model. Plus incentives like 0% financing and $450.00 off by Suzuki sold me on buying a $8500.00 bike out the door with ABS that I will probably only ride 6 months of the year.

So I'm driving a brand new motorcycle that does eveything pretty darn well and putting the rest of the funds in a 401K to pay for my walker and false teeth some day.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Having two good bikes in my garage already, my wife let me purchase the Vee last year only because I could get it for only 1,800 bucks (see my signature below for the full story).

Now I've sold the other two motorcycles and ride the Vee everyday, snow, rain or shine. :mrgreen:


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#13 ·
There's a difference between being cheap, stingy, frugal, economical, thrifty, etc. I also have a 2003 C-10 Concours. The same comments appear on the Connie forums. I have noticed a lot of people own this bike combination.

I think it is mostly a matter of people being conscious of "value", as in getting a lot of "bang for the buck". Both these bikes are at the lower end of the cost spectrum for their class, yet perform admirably with great reliability and ability to be easily and economically modified for the rider's tastes. Why pay two or three times the price for another brand of machine that won't appreciably out-perform the DL or the Connie and yet still require thousands of dollars in mods to make it fit you?

When I buy something I don't care about looks or styling. I go for performance, utility, etc. I believe in function over form. It has to do what I want it to do and be reliable and cost-effective. The DL650 meets all those requirements for me. Someone else may feel they need to spend the extra money for a very slight difference in performance or looks, and that's OK.
 
#16 ·
Like a lot of people, I was looking for a middleweight ST bike. A good all-around bike that I could commute on, take long trips on and would be good for some 2-up riding. I'd been using Concours for that, but got tired of the combination of weight, heat and buzz. Rode both the 1000 and the 650 in the process of developing the springs for them, and really, really liked them, the 650 a little better.
While I'm certainly not a "price is no object" buyer I don't mind paying more if I'm getting more. I just don't see a bike out there that would suit my needs better than the Strom does, at any price.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I first came upon the strom from a guy at work. I wanted something of a "beater" since I ride to work year round and didn't want to put those miles on my sport bike. I ended up buying his k5 and got along really well with it. When the new 2012 released I liked all the little things they did with it so I sold the k5 and bought the L2. Honestly I don't even ride my r1 anymore even when I'm headed to the back roads around here, I just take the strom. Maybe I'm getting old but Im starting to think from a more practical side and the strom does it all for me and is very affordable doing it.

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#18 ·
I got a Wee as a loaner when the BMW dealer was servicing my 800ST. I was impressed and when I came into a handful of free money I bought a used one that was like new. That was 3 years ago.
If I had wrecked the BMW instead of the Wee a year and 1/2 ago, I would have taken the money and run. I like the Wee so much that I spent the time and money to repair the damage and am still riding it.
It's not cheap, it practical and fun.
I've still got the 800ST too but it sits a lot in the garage.
 
#21 ·
The Strom isn't a cheap bike. Although I got a used Wee for about 2500 after trading in my KLR I don't really consider it cheap. Cheap is me taking any part I still have from the KLR and adapting it to the Wee :green_lol:

The Mermite cans fit nicely on there!

I just think its much smarted to buy a bike like this over something that costs way more and you get marginally more performance wise. I was looking at the 2012 but couldn't pass on the 2005 with 11K on it and almost every big farkle I needed.
 
#24 ·
I guess the question is:
do we ride the Strom because it is reasonable to own; or
is it because of endless farkles that can be purchased; or
is it that it is JUST THAT GOOD OF A BIKE.

Oh yea and I am trying to learn not to be cheap, but it is not working so good.
I'd suggest that any motorcycle can be reasonable to own, based on the owner's finances, needs and temperament. In that vein, I purchased my K9 1K because it met my requirements at a price I was willing to pay. The availability of factory and aftermarket accessories is only ever lightly weighted in my decision process. The foundation of a house is always more important than the color of the siding.

As a modus operandi, cheapness is not a virtue. Informed thriftiness, is.
 
#25 ·
You might get a kick out of this little poem I posted on the "I'm tired of hearing Cheap" thread last Christmas:

" Hi my name is Steve and I ride a WEE.
It could be said I'm a cheap SOB.

She is as reliable as hell and great on gas.
Although when out with the VEE she will not pass.

Whether a ride in the country or to work in the town.
She'll get me there she won't let me down.

She takes me here and she takes me there.
She takes me damn near everywhere.

Never once has she let me down.
I ride with a SMILE and never a frown.

Sometimes I lust for a different bike.
But prices and maintenance I do not like.

So for now(and forever) I will stick with my WEE.
Because I'm to damn CHEAP to go on a spending spree.

With my manhood I feel I must be secure.
I just need my "WEE" I don't need anything more.

Merry Christmas and pour me another eggnog."

Personally dollar for dollar I think the V-Strom is the best buy in it's class.
Now stop these threads before Suzuki catches on and raises the prices.:laugh:
 
#26 ·
I had been riding, for about a year, daily to work, a barely-street-legal DR350 that just barely had enough power for the highway. It would keep up with 55-60 mph traffic - but there was little left at those speeds.

I started looking hard at new KLRs, because that's the only type of bike I'd ever ridden much, and because it seemed like a substantial move up from the 20-year-old DR. I like to think things out well before I buy an item that costs a significant number of dollars, and over the few months I considered it I happened to be on an interstate highway when a new KLR - just like I was looking at - buzzed by (I'd slowed when I saw the bike behind me so I could see what it was as it passed me). I know interstate highways are not what KLRs are made for, but the look of that guy on that "buzzing" bike just reminded me too much of what I thought I looked like on the DR. I didn't like the image...

During that time I also stumbled across this forum (during a search of some type) and started doing a lot of reading here. Seemed like a great bunch of folks and everyone seemed happy with their bikes. So I started checking online sales sites, went to a dealer to sit on a Strom, etc, and ended up with a ~5-year-old Wee with only ~5K miles for the same price as a new KLR. I've never regretted not getting the KLR - I love riding my Wee - and I ride practically every day - year round - here in Virginia.
 
#28 ·
It kinda bugs me when people say cheap.. I am of Dutch descent so I know cheap. I have a 2012 ADV 650n abs.... not because its cheap! Because when I road tested it my wife said... do we have to go back already? It is a great bike, comfy, frugal, well appointed and well equipped.. How do you get any better than that!:thumbup:
 
#29 ·
Thanks guys for the replies. I really had no idea how much I would enjoy this

bike when i purchased it but it has been a blast for me and my wife. I really do

enjoy the part about the bike being affordable to own. It does pretty much

everything we have asked of it with minimal changes for longer range comfort.
 
#30 ·
Wife said, "We have this much to spend." She sat on the back of each of the bikes under consideration (really just the Ullyses, the 955 Tiger and the Vee) and said I like this one best. Plus the Vee was less expensive by at least a few thousand and had way more aftermarket and dealer support. I rode the Tiger and Buell and didn't fall in love. Bought the Vee without riding it. I fell in love with it after a remapping.

Seriously considering buying another now that this one is in its twilight years. Is it wrong to buy the same bike twice?
 
#31 ·
In my view it is cheap, not necessarily in a negative way.
The reality is though that Suzuki tried really hard to keep costs down, they typically do on most of their bikes.
When compared with some other brands I think Suzuki typically has the cheapest finish. Where another company might use a decal and clear coat over it, Suzuki uses a stick on decal that will peel off with the use of a hair dryer. If another company would have polished the part for appearance Suzuki will leave it as cast.
Obviously they went inexpensive on the brakes and suspension, very middle of the road components.
What you can say for them though is that the engine is a very rugged unit, that seems pretty well beyond dispute.
I've owned a bunch of Suzukis over the years, they often come up with these bikes that are sort of niche bikes that I end up liking. What I find odd is that they don't ever seem to exploit the niche and they also don't seem to do anything towards fostering any real brand loyalty.
Its an interesting contrast when you look at them, and a company like Triumph. Here Triumph is building bikes in Thailand and if we look at the Tiger 800 for example we see that it shares a lot of characteristics with the Strom, inexpensive suspension, brakes that are not top of the line yet Triumph commands a much higher price for their bike and they also seem to generate more excitement among potential buyers.
Part of this is, I think, how Triumph has positioned themselves and courted their potential owners. Accessories, clothing, things like their Riders Association of Triumph. I would also say the bikes are much nicer finished and have generally more style.
Personally I think Suzuki is potentially vulnerable financially. That should be obvious by the failure of their automobile division and their lack of introduction of new models in the motorcycle and ATV divisions. I hope they don't fail, the motorcycle world would be poorer without them but I really think they need to kick it into gear so to speak.
 
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