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School me on Stroms

2K views 16 replies 17 participants last post by  JasonLester 
#1 ·
Hi all, I'm a brand new member very interested in getting a DL 1000. I'm a commuter/sport touring rider and would like to get some input as to how the bike performs comfort and mileage wise as well as maintenance costs. Any input will be very appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Hi and welcome. Comfort? I've had few diferent bikes befor V Stroms ( on 4th one now) and no one of them have been as comfortable as either Wee or Vee. (except maybe Kawasaki Z750). And except OEM seat on it. Mileage? Pretty good for a 1000cc. Maybe not as good as 650, but faster it goes closer it comes (to Wee). One more thing. Before you go for the Vee take a Wee for a spin...remember?, I've had 4 of them. First twice Vee and now on second Wee.
 
#3 ·
I had to add a Russell Day Long seat, highway bars, some peg extenders and handlebar risers to mine to get the comfort sorted out.

My bike already came with PCIII so that helped immensely (according to previous owner).

Heated grips and hand guards are must have items if you live anywhere with Winter in it. Grip puppies help with hand cramping on the smallish 7/8th in. bars and stock grips.

Some shorty levers help prevent them from breaking off in a tip over. A folding shifter is a good idea.

Change out the gearing, add a fork brace. Madstad bracket to eliminate any head buffeting. Change to a Givi windshield.

Might want to consider the clutch mod to eliminate Chudder.

Redo the suspension.

Change the front brakes to 4 piston calipers.

Add a fuse block. Some charging plugs, a plug for your Garmin heated gear, a thermometer. Maybe a digital shift indicator and digital voltage indicator. GPS, camera, phone mounts.

Don't forget all the luggage and racks. Engine guards, bash plate.

It's a great bike, with lots of room for improvement. Once you get it all setup you can ride all day.
 
#5 ·
Seats are a very personal thing - some are comfortable on stock, others are not.
Same thing with the windscreen - some think it's fine, others get buffeted badly and have to try different screens, mounting brackets, mirrors, etc. to get comfortable.
The 1000 was known to have lean running issues, and a clutch "chudder". Again, some thought nothing of these, others felt the need to fix them.

Mileage: I got between the low 30's and mid 40's depending on temp, gas, riding style, speed, etc.

Maintenance: I bought used and did all my own maintenance so it's hard to say. I'm led believe Japanese bikes are easier/cheaper to maintain than German or British bikes; and that Stroms are among the more reliable Japanese bikes. The engines are a very old (well-tested) design, and considered to very robust and long-lived.

You didn't mention whether you're considering new or used - I think the issues I mention with the 1000 may have been improved or fixed on later model bikes - I had a 2005. I think they changed clutch baskets at some point; I know they've updated the ECM a time or two also over the years.
 
#7 ·
you didn't mention your size/weight/inseam

the STROMS are kinda like ANVILS

outstanding bangs for the bucks

as well as several of the guys i camp/ride w/, i ride a WEE & several more of the guys, i ride/camp w/, ride V's

can't remember anyone coming into camp or the cafe w/ a burr under their bonnet about any STROM issues

the most common comments are sharing what a good experience they just had

the comment about riding a WEE b4 pulling the trigger is a sound one

most folks highly under-rate the 650 & her abilities

i weigh in just over 260# + riding gear& have a 30" inseam

i camp from her w/o issues

she keeps up w/ the most $$$ rides

i shift a little more often than the guys on the V's & GS's

the above mileages that were mentioned for the V's are about what i've been hearing

my mileage has ranged from 38 - 62mpg w/ a camping trip(4500 miles) average of 48

running around w/o camping gear i get about 50±

the fuel injection system rocks

most folks, i know & ride w/, do the vast majority of their own wrenching, which mostly consists of oil/filter/tire changes & the installation of their personal farkles

the KLR650 may have a greater after market following than the STROMS but it would only be by a smidgen

farkles abound, both factory & after market

remember, most of the postings you find on forums are written by folks who need help of some sort, THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF RIDERS' EXPERIENCES, which are happy ones

HAPPY V OWNERS & HAPPY WEE OWNERS

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR QUEST!

sw
 
#9 ·
Welcome
I've had an '08 Vee for 3 yrs and just love it. A very comfortable ride and have done very little to it; tires, oil change, filters. Did have valve check at 15K which wasn't cheap but required. I can get mid 40's mpg when on highway with luggage on. Plenty of power w/ wife & luggage and 8hr rides don't 'hurt me' like previous bikes. I do have a seat upgrade for long hauls but also like the stock seat for around town. I go off road a bit and although a bit heavy for tight areas, I'm still confident going. I haven't driven the Wee so I won't get involved in that argument. It is a tall bike (I'm 5'10") but I like that and have no issues w it. I haven't experienced the lean running or other issues some mention...very little chudder for me...but did find a PC3 cheap so will instal that this spring to see if there's any difference. I think its a great bike choice if you can only have one. You can zip around the rural WNY twistys, explore the Adirondack off-pavement wild and venture cross country all on successive trips if thats your passion. At 24k miles, I haven't had to walk home yet. I'd truly take it anywhere I care to go on a moments notice w/ little concern.
 
#10 · (Edited)
You'll probably like the 650 more for winding roads in your region. It is the more nimble bike, especially on unpaved roads. Try both. Many riders who thought they needed a litre bike ended up with a bigger smile while riding the 650.

The seat is totally personal. You can take a scenic ride to Shasta Lake City for a Russell Day-Long custom seat. Other comfort items can be adjusted to the rider's size...bars up or back or both, foot pegs lowered, bike lowered or raised.

Maintenance costs are very low, especially if you do some or all of the work yourself. The tankermen I've known were all good with wrenches. Electronic diagnostic gizmos are hardly ever needed for work on these bikes. The reliability of these bikes is extremely high.
 
#11 ·
You'll probably like the 650 more for winding roads in your region. .
+1. I'm 6-3 and 220 lbs (today, been pigging for a couple weeks!) and the Wee hauls well. I feel no need for the litre bike (though I'd probably like it if that was what I had). The Wee does handle quite well, and, like I said, pulls well enough. Yet I've had a certain Amazonian Princess wheelie right past me on her Vee, likely with a great grin within her helmet.

I don't like my bike for long distances at freeway speeds, but I tend to avoid the multi-lanes anyway. I feel I get beat up after a couple hours at highway speeds, but have little experience to compare with, say, an ST Honda. It's not a power thing. The more relaxed gait of the Vee engine (it's turning much slower) might be the ticket if you're into high cruising speeds on the freeway. At high speed on the freeway, I'd rather be in my Volvo. The bike is just so much fun on secondary (and tertiary) roads though; and does a limited amount of dirt roads well enough for me; and is fuel efficient in the bargain.

With either the Vee or Wee, seats and windshields are the biggest gripes, and easy enough to fix if you feel it's necessary. I've got $600+ into seat and windshield mods alone, plus more than that in other "reasonable" upgrades. Suspension is next, but that takes serious though probably well spent money.

A stock Vee exhaust sounds richer than a stock Wee exhaust. Fixable with money, if it's a concern, or cheaply if you like the sound of noisy lawnmowers. Stock is fine with me, until I have money I really have no better use for.

Wee or Vee for you? Hell if I know.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Interesting how threads mutate, the guy never asked at all about wee vs vee. He said he is interested in a dl1000.
In any case you will likely find that some people are relatively happy with the bike as it comes and those that feel it can benefit from tailoring for their needs. What you think will likely be somewhat dictated by your previous bike experience.
What I can tell you about the 650 that is directly translatable to the 1000 is that I found the seat lacking (I think that about most bike seats, Rick Mayer rebuild in this case) and the wind protection was not to my liking (madstad bracket and screen). I did some tailoring of the riding position with rox risers and richland rick lower pegs which may or may not be necessary for some. With those changes it is acceptably comfortable for at least 500 miles a day.
Anything else would be specific to the dl1000 which I've not had direct experience with. I did own its cousin, the SV1000 and I believe it is a very tough engine, I would have no concerns in that area.
 
#16 ·
Interesting how threads mutate, the guy never asked at all about wee vs vee. He said he is interested in a dl1000.
My same thoughts!

Regarding the "DL1000", the bike has great power for all types of riding, not lacking or reaching it parameters. It's an overall great value and extremely versitile. You will, like most of us here who own one, farkle it to your liking.
Wind management was a concern after my first rides on mine but pretty much have it worked out now. Fueling was also an issue but not a deal breaker and can be resolved.
 
#17 ·
Agreed he asked about the Vee. But those of us one the Wee want to contribute too :green_lol:

Seriously though I haven't ridden a Vee. But I ride an 05 Wee and my dad has a '12 ADV 650 both great bikes. Dad was leaning towards the Vee until he rode his 2012. For our style of riding the 650 is plenty. But I the thought of the Vee. I have got to ride one sometime. I'm sure I'll love it to. I love my Wee enough if I had the money I would have a Vee too. Just to play.

I don't think you can go wrong new or used. The is a guy that posts on here that has a Strom with 250K+ miles on it. And quite a few in the 100K+ range.
So you know there is something right about them.
:thumbup:
 
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