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three for 9 grand spend the rest on petrol and ferries job done ??
bought meself a v strom today
- Thread starter minkyhead
- Start date
Nice looking bike and at that price you can not really go wrong. Have never ridden one but have looked at them. They are sort of ugly like a GS but most test reports seem good. Give us a write up when you have it a while(thats if you are allowed to ride it) All the best, Ricky.
strom 8000 up o problems
raising links on rear road attacks hypro springs front
handles very very well .... oil filters err thats it
vara 9000 up o problems easy to service one set rear pads thats it
enjoying them both but the strom is faster and handles very very well
no problems with fit or finish on either no rust nothing gone wrong fallen off
notintending to swap until one of the japs bring out a newer model
considering swapping the vara for a 650 strom as i use for a work bike and the better petrol consumpion would be handy
strom and gs in norway nothing in it .......
except the gs couldnt keep up
http://media.putfile.com/norway-2007
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Fanum
Toubab
Just for the record, we had a strom on September's Moto Morocco trip and it was a very capable bike.
Wayne (He's on here now) had stuck a 4mm ally belly pan on it and we stuck TKC's on the thing as soon as he arrived in Marrakech, then it did everything the GS's and Africa Twin did.
He had a problem with the fork oil degrading (or most likely, seals letting by) by the end of the trip and the engine's power delivery totally shredded the rear TKC inside 1400 miles (that probably has a lot to do with his riding style though
) but it went everywhere the other bikes could 
I had a go on it and hated it, but he hated my GSA.....horses for courses I 'spose, but the bike itself is perfectly OK for serious off-roading once it's had a few bits bolted on
Wayne (He's on here now) had stuck a 4mm ally belly pan on it and we stuck TKC's on the thing as soon as he arrived in Marrakech, then it did everything the GS's and Africa Twin did.
He had a problem with the fork oil degrading (or most likely, seals letting by) by the end of the trip and the engine's power delivery totally shredded the rear TKC inside 1400 miles (that probably has a lot to do with his riding style though
) but it went everywhere the other bikes could
I had a go on it and hated it, but he hated my GSA.....horses for courses I 'spose, but the bike itself is perfectly OK for serious off-roading once it's had a few bits bolted on
as you may may not know i do quite abit of off roading
ive never quite got into the big trailie thing off road
expense yeh heavy yeh
the 650 dakar has surpsised me in all but the most difficult climbs
wisdom with the strommers says the 650 does it well... figures
ktm 640 with a good rider ..mad eddy is awsome
however he is nuts and talented
cant come to terms with the expense and weight against acheap ttr drz or whatever to scratch the itch
so me big trailes are for road only
takes some time to adapt but its a very very capable bike
what could never forgive the 1200 for was letting me down so much
ive just tried the gtr 1400 kawasaki what a let down
im with the big trailies thats for sure
like you say different folks ect
everey time i read the press rviews they say capable /undesirable
worthy /dated
smashing engine /ugly
i say japanise cheap fun capable fast... 0 sevicing costs bargain
anyway there we go as a non designer person itll do just fine
http://media.putfile.com/off-road-wales
ive never quite got into the big trailie thing off road
expense yeh heavy yeh
the 650 dakar has surpsised me in all but the most difficult climbs
wisdom with the strommers says the 650 does it well... figures
ktm 640 with a good rider ..mad eddy is awsome
however he is nuts and talented
cant come to terms with the expense and weight against acheap ttr drz or whatever to scratch the itch
so me big trailes are for road only
takes some time to adapt but its a very very capable bike
what could never forgive the 1200 for was letting me down so much
ive just tried the gtr 1400 kawasaki what a let down
im with the big trailies thats for sure
like you say different folks ect
everey time i read the press rviews they say capable /undesirable
worthy /dated
smashing engine /ugly
i say japanise cheap fun capable fast... 0 sevicing costs bargain
anyway there we go as a non designer person itll do just fine
http://media.putfile.com/off-road-wales
strong engine very tractable ..gobs of torque
great handling very surefooted in spite of the o/e trailwings
gear box is as sweet as a nut typicle suzuki spacings are spot on .. alittle leap /drop to 6th but its pulls it fine as long as you aint in a mad rush if you feeling lazy 50mph ..it will pull from 40 but 60 seems the best place to change up
riding position is a1 ..as comfy as they come
..a lot less weight than the vara and the height and balance of the thing is more managable brakes are good without bieng stunning but loads of feel through the bars
very stable and good handling inspires confidence tracks well even on hairpins ..very gs like pull low down
it has a overdrive 6th gear which is relaxed and usful on dual carriagways
90mph cruising at 4600 revs and responds well on the throttle
reminds me alittle of the 1150s 6th but the gearing is better [more go]
weather protection is good i have some madstad brackets which allow the screen to be tilted lifted lowered brilliant piece of kit which allows buffet free cruising ..kind of like tobinators but with loads more options
exelent product i suspect could be applied to other bikes too
heated grips luggage are standard and take all the gear you need one key each box though [nuicence ]
supspension is nice and supple not harsh seems good on standard settings
compression adj on front
preload and rebound on rear
clocks nice and clear fuel guage temp prominant
lights are exelent ..very searching headlight
ok dissfected gser i know is ..there anything that i dont like ???
well i suppose the chain drive but ive fitted a scottoiler streight away and would expect 20 or so thousand from the chain/sprockets
other than that hand on heart no ..its well thought out everythings where it should be
it absalutly stunning value for money
anyone thinking of a second bike should not discount it
sounds like a piaggio scooter
still - if you're happy - we're happy
i'm sure its a very nice road bike
i'm sure its a very nice road bike
Just Like a GS then
Summer
Registered user
Nick had the 650 strom before he got his gs and I can honestly say riding pillion is a lot more comfy than on his gs long distance. I found the gap between bum and foot a lot more forgiving than I do on the gs not that I ride pillion that often any more.
Ok so its a Suzuki but I have to say that whilst Nick had his there was simply not enough publicity made about the stroms, they are a nice and comfortable bike, just my opinion on them
Ok so its a Suzuki but I have to say that whilst Nick had his there was simply not enough publicity made about the stroms, they are a nice and comfortable bike, just my opinion on them
And rightly so
I used mine for commuting in Naples - beats the GS hands down at filtering and traffic - has a stonking engine and is economical
Just struggles a bit two up with gear
Best to decide for what purpose you just need the bike for.
Sounds cool with a LeoVince as well
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hmmmm.....
in (rare) moments of sanity, i've thought that a Strom would be the perfect "sensible" bike for me.
sell up everything GS and Guzzi / finally get all the shi*te out of my shed - coz its Jap innit -idiot proof and simple to maintain;
fit a Scotoiler, do the oil, tappets (?), look after a cheaper finish etc.
but then i see;
bugger! - no use to me then - and i was so near to "getting sense" 
oh well.
in (rare
) moments of sanity, i've thought that a Strom would be the perfect "sensible" bike for me.sell up everything GS and Guzzi / finally get all the shi*te out of my shed - coz its Jap innit -idiot proof and simple to maintain;
fit a Scotoiler, do the oil, tappets (?), look after a cheaper finish
etc.but then i see;
.......
Just struggles a bit two up with gear
Best to decide for what purpose you just need the bike for.
bugger! - no use to me then
- and i was so near to "getting sense" oh well.
