@@lynchlynch8435 In my opinion, having bought a DL instead of an XT, the benefit of buying the XT is getting the tubeless spoked rims which are more suited for off-road than the cast rims. So if you decision hinges on the rim type then get the XT because aftermarket spoked rims are going to cost more than the difference between the DL and XT.
Ryan your description is GREAT, I am much older than you, with more miles on all cylinders HOWEVER your vids are kick... Brilliant, will look much deeper into Fort Nine because of you!
Nice video. No surprise there, all of your vids are good. But the guy off camera on this one, I couldn't hear him. Just a heads up. As always, you don't suck. Much love from MURICA.
I have a 14 DL1000 and have been all over North America on it. Bulletproof reliability is a must and this bike has it in spades. I thought he was pretty accurate in his description, damn I would like cruise control.
7:43 My left eye twitched. I though the crashbar will hit that pipe thingy. Awesome bike. Someone please convince me I don't need a new bike because I already have a perfectly fine one. I hate bike envy.
Ahah I understand you !! I have a 100.000km Vstrom 650 and I know I can still use it for a long time...but i'm really wondering about this 1000 Vstrom !!
Glad you like your strom! I also bought an adv bike(even though i am quite young) . I initially planned to buy a ktm 690smcr (supermoto), but then this crazy good deal showed up at a dealer very close to me. through this deal i was able to grab a brandnew ktm 1050 adventure for about 9000 dollars which is a steal. I love my bike. even though it is ugly and heavy, if you ride it, it is extremely agile and fun to ride. I am easily able to keep up with a fast group of supermoto riders without really feeling like sitting on a bike heavier than 150 kgs. to conclude i can say that this bike enables me to haul ass in the twisties, but without getting as tired as in a supermoto. In my opinion adventurebikes are the most awesome kind of motorcycles, because they are more versatile than anything else out there and if ridden correctly just as fast.
I have a question and I hope i can get an answer here :P. I live in south america and prem fuel here is...... idk crap. Mobil says prem is 87 oct and regular 84. so idk. the V1000 says it needs prem and the V650 says it can run on anything. Both bikes have similar compression. If i remember correctly its 11.3:1 vs 11.2:1 respectively. So what makes the 650 run on anything and the 1000 on prem only?. The 650 gets better gas mileage and it can run on cheaper fuel. So this mean ill be spending around 40% more on fuel on the 1000. And since we have to fuel up the bike to do everything then the choice is obvious for me. Unless of course there is no problem on putting 84 octane gas on the 1000. I want the bike for 2 up touring and solo offroad.
Couldn't pick more different ADV bikes than the V-Strom and Africa Twin. The Strom is essentially a sport-tourer that is surprisingly okay off-road. And the Africa Twin is essentially a big dirt bike that is surprisingly okay on-road. ~RyanF9
Both good. The 1000 is narrower and just as nimble, so not much reason to choose the 650 besides price, fuel economy and power (some people prefer having less). ~RyanF9
Thank you for your reply! I heard that 1000 have problem with engine. At least in previous years. The 650 has proved to be more durable. I just wanted your opinion about this.
@@juancarlosfloreshernandez9093 If you are regularly riding at those speeds, get the 1000cc model. The 650 will do it, but the lower engine speed of the 1000 will be more enjoyable. I don't regularly sit on speeds above 110km/hr (5500rpm) for extended periods on my 650, unless riding with fast friends (license preservation and enjoy the scenery)
I was talking to some V-strom 1000s just the other day. They told me they thought Ryan looked like a bit of a doofus and didn't want anything to do with him. Said something about one of their family members being held against their will.
saddlebag you’re totally missing the point don’t judge a book by its cover, he actually loves the bike on road not bad off-road. Very easy to ride, cheap to buy and use. What more do you want?
I've ridden over 100,000 miles on my Vstrom including quite a bit of off road. All touring / adventure mileage. And I must agree that this is the best and most accurate review of the bike I've ever seen. Props to you guys.
Thanks! We like to try something different in every bike review. We knew we'd be on a time crunch for this V-Strom shoot, so the Q&A format seemed like a speedy way to make a video. I'm glad it came off alright! ~RyanF9
Not a fan of this format. But, every vid from FortNine is different and imaginiative :-) Can we have an Evil Dead style - Ryan with Chainsaw on a Hardley Pan America? Hans Albers or Indy or his dad on the R18? Buster Keaton on the Bullet Trials? :-)
Great honest review. I felt the exact same way when I first saw the V-Strom. I'd gone to the dealer to look at an FJ-09 and a Versys 1000, both of which were new at the time. The dealer wasn't dealing on either of those bikes, but he pointed out an 2014 leftover V-Strom and said, "I can make you a deal on that". Suzuki had a whopping rebate and I ended up paying $9400 for the Vee. I wasn't terribly excited about it, but I couldn't pass up the deal given the Versys 1000 was going to cost nearly $15,000. I figured for the money, if I didn't like it I could dump it for not much loss. Two years later, and I just can't say anything bad about the Vee. It's just good at anything I throw at it. It's been stone axe reliable. I've ridden it over football sized rocks for 10 miles of rough trail, I've tackled the Tail of the Dragon, and I've ridden two up. I've even taken an extended ride on a friends 2017 BMW 1200 GS and I actually liked my Vee better. She's not a pretty girl, but she has all the right moves.
She's pretty like a 4 3/4" stainless-steel 44 magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver with ivory grips. Chad, this is your old riding buddy Adam. I'm in FL now. Saw this review and had to watch it. Imagine my surprise to see your mug at the top of the comments. Nicole and I hope you and Lee are doing well. I quit riding superbikes and went ADV. I've decided to buy a new V-Strom 1050XT. We should catch up.
Coming to this old review after watching so much f9 in the last couple years, it's easy to see how the channel blew up. Ryan just being honest rather than the new "FortNine" persona is simply ... pleasant.
He's so honest that motorcycle companies refuse to invite him to press launches. 1.55 million subscribers, you would think they'll fly him first class to every launch party. He did a video on it, Motorcycle Companies Buying Reviews.
@@adida236 An hour to change an air filter is bad you know? Takes 30 seconds on the majority of production cars and about ten mins on most bikes. I never relish changing mine on the Strom
I own 4 cars, 2 new cars and 2 older cars and I can't change de air filter in 30 seconds on none of them, I also own 3 bikes, the V-STROM (2 years old) and 2 very old bikes whith sidecar, on the old bikes I can change the air filter easy under 10 minutes, I'm not a mechanic but "practice makes perfect" so the next time I will change my air filter on the V-STROM I will do it in a shorter time
@@adida236 I've been lucky then my BMWs have all had big engine bays and have been a really easy fit. My current mule; a Toyota yaris took less than 5 minutes, remove the air box clips, flip the lid, switch the filter.
Where the Vstrom 1000 does excel, is being an all rounder that is frighteningly invincible, effortless and cost effective to maintain. One of the most underrated and underestimated bikes on the market.
That engine was designed in the mid '90s and first saw ultra reliable service in the TL1000 and then the SV1000. It's still going strong in the latest evolution of the V-Strom. The previous versions of the XT 1000 have now become the ADV bargains of the decade.
2018 DL650 ABS I can confirm that this video is spot on. I call my vstrom the perfect wing man. Down for everything. I can spend a few hours getting to some nice trails with easy . And it does pretty well on light fireroads. And gets you back home in comfort again all for well under 10k. Its a no brainer first ADV bike in my opinion. It allows you to realize what you do more of and what direction your future bike will go . It is my first. And i'm not parting with it anytime soon. By the time it gets old and tired I will have comfortably (on and off road)constructed a great Idea for my next purchase.
I've got a 2017 650 kitted out very similarly and pretty much everything Ryan says applies. I imagine you'd feel the 20 fewer HP between the 650 and the 1000 but otherwise it's the same story. I'm getting myself into all kinds of trouble on and off road. 13000 km this year and counting...
I've owned my 2012 650 for four years, it's a great bike an it does what it says on the tin,,but I service it myself an the biggest pain is renewing plugs an air filter.you have to strip half the front end, to the point where you have to undo the lower radiator mount to get at the front spark plug. But I've still got her an she clocked up 56700 mls. So far
Ryan, this is the single best video I've seen you do. Excellent format (Q&A v. Exposition), a relaxed setting, and superb in terms of useful review information. I know that some of this comes from your extended experience with this particular machine and that you aren't afforded that opportunity with other bikes. All in all, really, really good. I hope that you can migrate some of these elements into future videos. Cheers.
I have the vstrom 650 2018. Actually, 13k km. Im pretty sure it is not the best adventure bike, but is by far the most leveled withing all the aspects. In my case, the previous bike i had was a gs800 2014 that had way more vibrations but with the vstrom 650 with the 20 liters tank I manage to do 400km (250mi) almost every tank. (record in 465km/290mi) When I bought it, i was looking for the 1000 vstrom, and after testing both I decided for the 650 (cheaper and lighter hahahaha) but i was a bit undecided because of the less cc but... after all I can really say like Ryan, I do not regret at all.
One of the best, HONEST, motorcycle reviews I've seen. Great job buddy. BTW- Enjoying how the production value and your comfort in and pose in front of the camera has progressed. Not easy things.
The 650 is annoying to own. I’ll watch a ton of reviews and decide that I HAVE to have another, different, bike. Then, like today, I jumped on it to ride ten minutes into town. I returned feeling dirty and ashamed 😢. 😖😖😖. It’s just so good. Not fantastic at anything, but good at everything. And, I have to admit, that is exactly what I want 😐
I bought one of these this year. It surprised me with how good it was on gravel roads but I still haven't found the suspension settings that I like. I find the front too harsh and the rear too bouncy, even with rebound damping set to max. One of the best mods I did was lower wider footpegs from SW Motech. Also, Skidplate, crashbars, LED lights, cruise, heated grips, GPS, topbox and Eastern Beaver power distribution module and I'm pretty happy. I even like the stock Battle wings. I find it doesn't shift into sixth gear very well and the engine also increases revs by itself when the clutch starts to release. I know other Suzukis have and anti stall feature but I don't think the 15 Strom has this. Anyone else notice this?
Very balanced review of a very good bike. I had the 2003 model.Very easy to work on, very roomy bike, and excellent lighting at night when both headlights were on, not just one. Great lighting pattern. Not so great on gas mileage but the bike's profile is rather tall and the fuel delivery in stop and go traffic is spotty, even with the Power Commander III. The wind protection on the freeway is very good I think, but I found the suspension a bit harsh, even adjusted. I miss it dearly... Your review brought back memories, even though it's a different model year.
Great edit / review. With all of the reviews, etc that you have done over the years; Does this review make you want to do a list of "Unsuspecting Heroes" in the motorcycle world... Sort of a list of "black swan" bikes that often go overlooked, yet perform beyond expectation? Just a thought. Stay safe.
Looking for an honest unbiased opinion. Which is a better all around bike vstrom or versys 650. I will hopefully buy one (Versys) next year. I hate Suzukis beak, versys looks so much cooler, but vstrom does seem to be slightly more capable.
I've watched quite a few of you guys' videos from Canada, but this was the first time I spotted the "eh?" "I have it on the inside of my lappelle, eh?"
I bought the same bike. And I tell you why I did. Its not off road capable as Africa Twin, not as fast and sophisticated as 1190, not as good as tiger on pavement, has no driveshaft as XT1200 SuperT and etc.... Its a legendary V Strom heritage like no other, without a reason its a lovely bike, There are tons of DL&TL engines over 600.000 km mileage without a major repair. It is a bulletproof Suzuki...
i had a dl650 and it was a solid, reliable, bulletproof bike. once got 500km from a tank. started every time. never a false neutral. might not be as glamorous as the others, but i loved that bike.
You just described why I bought my 2007 DL 650A 3 years ago. I found too many people telling me that it isn't great at anything but it's good at everything. People have 150'000 + miles on their VStroms with no major complications. My VSTROM is a little tank. I am looking to get a newer 1000 and this video was great!
Very nice review. VStrom 1000 is a great bike and a great value for money. I almost got one last year but the only thing that made me hesitate was the fact that it is a little top heavy and as a short rider, I needed a bike that was easy to handle. Compared with the Africa Twin, which is of nearly the same weight, the Twin has a lower centre of gravity and feels like a lighter bike. I decided last year to wait until I got the Twin and I am glad I did so.
I bought a used 1050XT, and I've had some awesome times taking it offroad, even with the stock tires. Definitely had to invest in that skid plate early on, but it's just an extremely capable machine as long as you respect it.
Thanks for that got me a DL650 2018 and really enjoying it thinking about getting the Dl1000 next year but do like the fuel range on it over 450 km on a tank might take one for a test ride Cheers for new Zealand
Yeah, I stick with the 650 for fuel range and it has enough power, but some people can't adjust to increased revs over the 1000cc model at highway speeds.
I love the DL1000 - I've been able to zip off the pavement and through some fire roads and they are all good. It is still a heavy bike off road but seems easier than some of its adventure tour competition.
FortNine Thanks for asking, Ryan. I received a concussion & fractured my elbow in two places. This happened four days ago. But I'm comforted by the fact that for the moment, at least, I can live vicariously through your fantastic videos. All the best...
Hey Ryan, I thought you'd be interested to know being that you are an avid V-Strom Ryder a friend at my local Suzuki dealer told me they plan to to release the bike with spoke rims for 2017 and I would bet that you probably will like to get your hands on a set! look into it you may be able to find more info. Myself , I'm Still Holding Out for the 2017 Africa twin, Cheers 🍺 BB
I dont like the styling of the never dl1000, it looks a little insect like with that beek kinda like a mosquito. And he is correct about it lacking on the higher revs. When I first got mine it pulled so hard on the bottom I was a little scared to twist it open but when I did it was anticlimactic. That being said I love my bike and would recommend it as a great all around bike. The best feature is it is ridiculously comfortable to drive.
@@2wrdr I have already installed the power commander V I plan to put a exhaust system and intake. The engine is a de-tuned version of the tl1000 so walking it up shouldn't be to hard.
hello bro and really gratz for ur videos... i am about to buy a new bike and i cant decide between tiger 800(used), vstrom 1000(used or maybe new) and bmw r1200gsa(used of course) .. i am 6,3' ft tall and i want it for trips! please help!!!
A used Tiger 800 could be a headache on the reliability front. I'd go for the GSA if you plan to do a lot of off-road. Otherwise I'll take the V-Strom all day long. Hope that helps, and thanks! ~RF9
@@FortNine thanks a lot for the response bro! i want it mainly for trips with my wife on nice curvy roads and some highways and 10% off road so i am leaning towards vstrom cause i like japanese bikes more than german... by the way is the new 1050 way better than the 1000 or 1000 is a good to go choice?
Great honest review. I have a 2014 DL1000 with 25K miles in 18 months. I'm in full agreement that function overruled looks, cruise control should have been included and another gallon of fuel would have been nice at times. Most of my riding is touring and the V-Strom fits my riding needs very well.
Hello Juan, I'm not sure what you're asking but if you're questioning the DL1000's ability to travel in the 80-85 mph (130-140 kph) range on interstates, it's fully capable of that.
At 130-140 kph, it gets about 16 kpl, at more moderate speeds like 100 kph, it improves to 19 kpl or better, depending on the road and how much I like to twist the throttle.
Great review Ryan. I don't think Suzuki employs any stylists at their headquarters. The engineers work hard to whip up these great bikes underneath, and they're left with nothing to wrap them in. Someone over there needs to fall on their own sword (think Gladius, pun intended) and allow real designers to be hired. Only the GSXRs any good. My brother owns a previous gen model V-Strom 1000 and pretty much echoes your sentiments. Tank comes to mind. Function over (no) form for sure. My Tiger 800 XC is quite the same. She looks just OK but, when you get riding, wow. Looks matter less when you actually ride. Your honesty is refreshing; looking forward to the next videos.
all cats are gray in the dark; but some cats are more affectionate than others. the Stroms may not look like Ducatis but they purrr-form great. I've had a '12 DL 650 for almost 6 years and love it; when the day comes (maybe in the next 3 or 4 yrs, I think I'll be happy with a used 2nd generation DL1000 for not a lot of coin.
Ryan, with all the offroading you do did you ever regret not getting the XT model with wire wheels? I hate the idea of cleaning them so I'm interested in how the alloys held up.
I have been eyeing this for a long time, but I still think I'm leaning towards the Versys 1000. I don't ever see myself going off road and I want more a sport bike feel.
Don't rub your windscreen, lay a saturated micro rag over the bug screen during the time you wash your bike, lightly remove debris don't dry with towel. Dry your bike and windscreen within compressed air gives you a showroom look.
Thank you for your reviews! i've watched you video about sports touring tires and bought a pair of pirelli angel gt and i'm pretty happy with it! Now I really wanna buy this bike but now i have a problem and i hope you can help me: the new 2017 model has new front fender, it looks bad. yours bike looks much better! the new one has black fork. you said it's good suspension and i hope they've changed just color. btw the golden one looks awesome. the new one has combined brakes, is it better or worse on your opinion? they 'upgraded' a seat. was it bad or they changed it just for putting a large 'SUZUKI' label there? they've changed the ABS. you said it's good brakes and abs now (which to be honest is not always on suzukis) but they changed it. can you try a new one and say anything about that? they also changed an exhaust. made it more 'eco'. that gay governmental word that means 'just another way to take your money'. i think you bought the bike on its best offering, dude)) can you help me with mine? you're my last change to get verity coz there is no any way to test the bike in third world (i live here) before you buy. order before try.
Hi Victor! Here's my take on the "updates." You're right about the new fender - it looks dumb. The fork seems to be exactly the same except for the colour, so no worries there. The new ABS system is better, especially on-road and in the corners. Off-road it's likely no different from the old system. The "upgraded" seat doesn't feel any different to me. And the new eco exhaust has twice the catalysers, which results in less emissions and a slight loss of torque. It's too bad, because the V-Strom's torquey-ness is one of my favourite things about it. The one big benefit to the new V-Stroms is that the 2018 model comes in an XT version with spoked wheels. That's a huge plus for off-roading. Hope that helps! ~RyanF9
Hey nice review ryanf9. I've been going back and forth looking for an all-rounder and need as much info before making a small jump to 650cc or the bigger 1000cc . You mentioned the vibrations... is it any different from other similar bikes, if you've tried any? Also, no one ever talks about engine heat which is something I find pretty crucial if I'm going to use a bike almost daily. I've never owned a liter bike but I remember the old VFRs and CBs that had insane heat coming off the engines. Having to sit by the side of the road for the engine to cool just defeats the purpose of a motorcycle. Or is this just the characteristic of a big bike that every biker has to live with?
I just got a 2021 dl650...LOVE IT!!! 447 km per tank, less than 500lbs. its great comuter, fun touring..just got the rad guard, skid plate is on the way with sadle bags, crash bars come next. Thanks dude...you helped me chose between the Himalayan, pan American, klr, super ten and a BMW...the DL650 won
350cc max off road for dual sports. I sold my 1994 XR650L because it was too heavy esp in sand. Can't imagine 600 to 1000cc+ I say get rid of the v-strom 1000 and never look back. Recommend a NC750 or MT09.
Always surprised at how many different and inventive ways to host a video. And all of them fitting just right. Like this, a good toned down bike gets a good toned down video.
I bought a 04 vstrom 1000 for $3200 us. I almost doubled that mileage my first year of ownership. It had 11k on it after 12 years. If came with all the luggage and crash bars needed. That said I bought it because it was cheap and don't feel bad about beating on it. Thats what they are for in my mind. I could do more on a ktm or gs but I love beating on the fat pig and not worrying about the consequences
Don't mind me. I'm just binge watching old fort 9 vids even though I can't even get my bicycle running right.
Bicycles can be deceptively difficult, so don't feel too bad. Unless its a single speed, then yes, you should feel bad.
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Saaaame.
eyyyyyy glad to see I'm not alone
Don’t mind me but post a comment, ya ur smart bud
I'm making the transition from my Ninja to an adventure bike and this is exactly what I need, a straight-up, honest review. 😎👍
Still riding my2005 DL1000 today, smooth running never let me down.
2004 here, runs like a charm! Kinda eyeing that new 1050, but than again, if the old one still runs perfect, why bother? Cheers, fellow Stromtrooper!
A few years later, and I reckon this review format has aged quite well.
Good job, makes me wanna buy one, oh yeah, I already did....
John LeGresley would you recommend a DL or XT?
@@chandrasekharghosh222 Why?
@@lynchlynch8435 In my opinion, having bought a DL instead of an XT, the benefit of buying the XT is getting the tubeless spoked rims which are more suited for off-road than the cast rims. So if you decision hinges on the rim type then get the XT because aftermarket spoked rims are going to cost more than the difference between the DL and XT.
Ryan your description is GREAT, I am much older than you, with more miles on all cylinders HOWEVER your vids are kick... Brilliant, will look much deeper into Fort Nine because of you!
Nice video. No surprise there, all of your vids are good. But the guy off camera on this one, I couldn't hear him. Just a heads up. As always, you don't suck. Much love from MURICA.
My videographer buddy is too shy to wear a microphone... still trying to change his mind on that. Much love to MURICA. ~RyanF9
I have a 14 DL1000 and have been all over North America on it. Bulletproof reliability is a must and this bike has it in spades. I thought he was pretty accurate in his description, damn I would like cruise control.
Spot on. Very underrated motorcycle.
Loved mine. Hoping for another soon.
7:43 My left eye twitched. I though the crashbar will hit that pipe thingy. Awesome bike. Someone please convince me I don't need a new bike because I already have a perfectly fine one. I hate bike envy.
Ahah I understand you !! I have a 100.000km Vstrom 650 and I know I can still use it for a long time...but i'm really wondering about this 1000 Vstrom !!
Glad you like your strom! I also bought an adv bike(even though i am quite young) . I initially planned to buy a ktm 690smcr (supermoto), but then this crazy good deal showed up at a dealer very close to me. through this deal i was able to grab a brandnew ktm 1050 adventure for about 9000 dollars which is a steal. I love my bike. even though it is ugly and heavy, if you ride it, it is extremely agile and fun to ride. I am easily able to keep up with a fast group of supermoto riders without really feeling like sitting on a bike heavier than 150 kgs. to conclude i can say that this bike enables me to haul ass in the twisties, but without getting as tired as in a supermoto. In my opinion adventurebikes are the most awesome kind of motorcycles, because they are more versatile than anything else out there and if ridden correctly just as fast.
I have a question and I hope i can get an answer here :P. I live in south america and prem fuel here is...... idk crap. Mobil says prem is 87 oct and regular 84. so idk. the V1000 says it needs prem and the V650 says it can run on anything. Both bikes have similar compression. If i remember correctly its 11.3:1 vs 11.2:1 respectively. So what makes the 650 run on anything and the 1000 on prem only?. The 650 gets better gas mileage and it can run on cheaper fuel. So this mean ill be spending around 40% more on fuel on the 1000. And since we have to fuel up the bike to do everything then the choice is obvious for me. Unless of course there is no problem on putting 84 octane gas on the 1000. I want the bike for 2 up touring and solo offroad.
Cool format.
I had an 07 DL1000 and it sucked off road. Or maybe I sucked off road. It was really fun in twisties. Strom vs AT?
Couldn't pick more different ADV bikes than the V-Strom and Africa Twin. The Strom is essentially a sport-tourer that is surprisingly okay off-road. And the Africa Twin is essentially a big dirt bike that is surprisingly okay on-road. ~RyanF9
+FortNine that's how felt when I rode the AT. Good bike but more dirt oriented. Love my Strom.
Brother! Go for a RE Himalayan review
This is so convincing someone stumbling onto this channel would have no idea this is actually an act.
Opinion. V-Strom 1000 vs. 650?
Both good. The 1000 is narrower and just as nimble, so not much reason to choose the 650 besides price, fuel economy and power (some people prefer having less). ~RyanF9
Boris M
what is the difference in economy fuel between 650 and 1000. riding around 130 140km/hr
Thank you for your reply!
I heard that 1000 have problem with engine.
At least in previous years. The 650 has proved to be more durable.
I just wanted your opinion about this.
Fuel economy of 650 at these speeds is about5,5- 6l/100km, 1000 about 6,5-7,5. if you have a sport drive,1000 will go till 9,5l/100km.
@@juancarlosfloreshernandez9093 If you are regularly riding at those speeds, get the 1000cc model. The 650 will do it, but the lower engine speed of the 1000 will be more enjoyable.
I don't regularly sit on speeds above 110km/hr (5500rpm) for extended periods on my 650, unless riding with fast friends (license preservation and enjoy the scenery)
Moar Ryan F9!
I was talking to some V-strom 1000s just the other day. They told me they thought Ryan looked like a bit of a doofus and didn't want anything to do with him. Said something about one of their family members being held against their will.
Hahahaha best comment I've read today. ~RyanF9
saddlebag you’re totally missing the point don’t judge a book by its cover, he actually loves the bike on road not bad off-road. Very easy to ride, cheap to buy and use. What more do you want?
@@jeffreykiger6894 And you're also missing the point. Whoosh goes the joke
How do you talk to a v strom 1000? Did it talk back? Lol
@Starcade 85 talk radio u ok mate?
I've ridden over 100,000 miles on my Vstrom including quite a bit of off road. All touring / adventure mileage. And I must agree that this is the best and most accurate review of the bike I've ever seen. Props to you guys.
My dad has 126k on his SV. Those motors are tanks.
@@izuksammy and the clutch baskets are shite.
@@tbillyjoeroth thats just offroad abuse. if 300lb dirtbikes with 250cc wear em out a vstrom that weighs 500lbs with 4x the power will do the same.
The interview format really worked here
Thanks! We like to try something different in every bike review. We knew we'd be on a time crunch for this V-Strom shoot, so the Q&A format seemed like a speedy way to make a video. I'm glad it came off alright! ~RyanF9
But in the context of your other work it sort of make this like a parody of the traditional testimony documentary format, and I love it for that
@@FortNine I swear this is riffing on a movie, but I just cant put my finger on it!
@@samgoldwater I thought it was a parody too. Like, they copied the Revzilla format before..
Not a fan of this format. But, every vid from FortNine is different and imaginiative :-)
Can we have an Evil Dead style - Ryan with Chainsaw on a Hardley Pan America? Hans Albers or Indy or his dad on the R18? Buster Keaton on the Bullet Trials? :-)
Great honest review. I felt the exact same way when I first saw the V-Strom. I'd gone to the dealer to look at an FJ-09 and a Versys 1000, both of which were new at the time. The dealer wasn't dealing on either of those bikes, but he pointed out an 2014 leftover V-Strom and said, "I can make you a deal on that". Suzuki had a whopping rebate and I ended up paying $9400 for the Vee.
I wasn't terribly excited about it, but I couldn't pass up the deal given the Versys 1000 was going to cost nearly $15,000. I figured for the money, if I didn't like it I could dump it for not much loss. Two years later, and I just can't say anything bad about the Vee. It's just good at anything I throw at it. It's been stone axe reliable. I've ridden it over football sized rocks for 10 miles of rough trail, I've tackled the Tail of the Dragon, and I've ridden two up. I've even taken an extended ride on a friends 2017 BMW 1200 GS and I actually liked my Vee better.
She's not a pretty girl, but she has all the right moves.
She's pretty like a 4 3/4" stainless-steel 44 magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver with ivory grips. Chad, this is your old riding buddy Adam. I'm in FL now. Saw this review and had to watch it. Imagine my surprise to see your mug at the top of the comments. Nicole and I hope you and Lee are doing well. I quit riding superbikes and went ADV. I've decided to buy a new V-Strom 1050XT. We should catch up.
@@advhawk6455 Hey! Small world! Hope you're doing well. Come back to Tennessee and ride some twisties. There are no good roads in Florida. :)
@@ChadHargis But lots of good weather! :-D
@@advhawk6455 At least until May - December. Too damn hot! :)
Coming to this old review after watching so much f9 in the last couple years, it's easy to see how the channel blew up. Ryan just being honest rather than the new "FortNine" persona is simply ... pleasant.
He's so honest that motorcycle companies refuse to invite him to press launches. 1.55 million subscribers, you would think they'll fly him first class to every launch party. He did a video on it, Motorcycle Companies Buying Reviews.
The production value on these videos are just spectacular. I'd like to know who's behind the scenes.
You're gonna find out soon enough... got a "behind the scenes" video planned :) ~RyanF9
like I said....
@@FortNine bruh
"every part is really accessible"- you must be on your original air filter.:p
Definitely hasn't tried to remove the airbox, to get to the throttle bodies.
I did change my air filter on my 1000 xt and it was a first for me on this bike, it took me 1h to do it, it wasn't complicated at all
@@adida236 An hour to change an air filter is bad you know? Takes 30 seconds on the majority of production cars and about ten mins on most bikes. I never relish changing mine on the Strom
I own 4 cars, 2 new cars and 2 older cars and I can't change de air filter in 30 seconds on none of them, I also own 3 bikes, the V-STROM (2 years old) and 2 very old bikes whith sidecar, on the old bikes I can change the air filter easy under 10 minutes, I'm not a mechanic but "practice makes perfect" so the next time I will change my air filter on the V-STROM I will do it in a shorter time
@@adida236 I've been lucky then my BMWs have all had big engine bays and have been a really easy fit. My current mule; a Toyota yaris took less than 5 minutes, remove the air box clips, flip the lid, switch the filter.
Where the Vstrom 1000 does excel, is being an all rounder that is frighteningly invincible, effortless and cost effective to maintain. One of the most underrated and underestimated bikes on the market.
Suzuki offers great value for all of its bikes. Adventure bikes are swiss army knives - good at a lot of things, but not great at anything.
that's why i love Suzuki, you can never go wrong with a Suzuki.
My Suzuki, a B-King, is the best bike I've ever ridden. You can trust a Suzuki.
@@interman7715 Don't worry i'm late to the party also...My DR650? Same ..jack of all trades ,master of none , on the cheap.
Kawasaki KLR650 baby
olneymaryland77 KLRs are superb .
That engine was designed in the mid '90s and first saw ultra reliable service in the TL1000 and then the SV1000. It's still going strong in the latest evolution of the V-Strom. The previous versions of the XT 1000 have now become the ADV bargains of the decade.
I love the style of the Videos :D
Biker greetings from Austria
ktm is from austria!
But I drive an Kawasaki
Hey, I love your videos Thomas!
Could you please answer me one question?
WHERE YOUR BEARD WENT?!!?!?!?!?
I still can't get used to the idea that Joffrey Baratheon went into journalism and started reviewing bikes.
2018 DL650 ABS
I can confirm that this video is spot on.
I call my vstrom the perfect wing man. Down for everything. I can spend a few hours getting to some nice trails with easy . And it does pretty well on light fireroads. And gets you back home in comfort again all for well under 10k. Its a no brainer first ADV bike in my opinion.
It allows you to realize what you do more of and what direction your future bike will go . It is my first. And i'm not parting with it anytime soon. By the time it gets old and tired I will have comfortably (on and off road)constructed a great Idea for my next purchase.
I love my V Strom 1000; Jack of all, master of none. Most complete ‘all round’ bike on the market IMHO 😉👍🏻
any clutch noise?
Please test the v-strom 650 2019
I've got a 2017 650 kitted out very similarly and pretty much everything Ryan says applies. I imagine you'd feel the 20 fewer HP between the 650 and the 1000 but otherwise it's the same story. I'm getting myself into all kinds of trouble on and off road. 13000 km this year and counting...
@@DanielParker742 l assume the 650 would be a better choice for off-road because it is lighter?
@@riaanvanwyk5374 it's a good bet although it's not a huge difference in weight. I've never ridden the 1000 so I can't confirm.
I've owned my 2012 650 for four years, it's a great bike an it does what it says on the tin,,but I service it myself an the biggest pain is renewing plugs an air filter.you have to strip half the front end, to the point where you have to undo the lower radiator mount to get at the front spark plug. But I've still got her an she clocked up 56700 mls. So far
Ryan, this is the single best video I've seen you do. Excellent format (Q&A v. Exposition), a relaxed setting, and superb in terms of useful review information. I know that some of this comes from your extended experience with this particular machine and that you aren't afforded that opportunity with other bikes. All in all, really, really good. I hope that you can migrate some of these elements into future videos. Cheers.
I would love to see a review of the 2018 V-Strom 650XT
he's ignoring you; I wanted to say the same thing: why hasn't he test ridden the 650... ever?
I have the vstrom 650 2018. Actually, 13k km. Im pretty sure it is not the best adventure bike, but is by far the most leveled withing all the aspects. In my case, the previous bike i had was a gs800 2014 that had way more vibrations but with the vstrom 650 with the 20 liters tank I manage to do 400km (250mi) almost every tank. (record in 465km/290mi)
When I bought it, i was looking for the 1000 vstrom, and after testing both I decided for the 650 (cheaper and lighter hahahaha) but i was a bit undecided because of the less cc but... after all I can really say like Ryan, I do not regret at all.
One of the best, HONEST, motorcycle reviews I've seen. Great job buddy. BTW- Enjoying how the production value and your comfort in and pose in front of the camera has progressed. Not easy things.
I’ve watched this video (along with many others of yours) so many times. A review of the new V-Strom 1050 would be so cool from you! Cheers from Idaho
I bought a DL1000 in 2003 and sold it last year after 95,000 happy miles. Great bike.
Old vid, new comment. 06 k1200gt folds up my legs at 6’2. Looking for comfort….Vstrom? Need a kitchen chair with 100hp
The 650 is annoying to own. I’ll watch a ton of reviews and decide that I HAVE to have another, different, bike. Then, like today, I jumped on it to ride ten minutes into town. I returned feeling dirty and ashamed 😢. 😖😖😖. It’s just so good. Not fantastic at anything, but good at everything. And, I have to admit, that is exactly what I want 😐
This feel like an interview for some kind of dating website...
I bought one of these this year. It surprised me with how good it was on gravel roads but I still haven't found the suspension settings that I like. I find the front too harsh and the rear too bouncy, even with rebound damping set to max. One of the best mods I did was lower wider footpegs from SW Motech. Also, Skidplate, crashbars, LED lights, cruise, heated grips, GPS, topbox and Eastern Beaver power distribution module and I'm pretty happy. I even like the stock Battle wings. I find it doesn't shift into sixth gear very well and the engine also increases revs by itself when the clutch starts to release. I know other Suzukis have and anti stall feature but I don't think the 15 Strom has this. Anyone else notice this?
Very balanced review of a very good bike. I had the 2003 model.Very easy to work on, very roomy bike, and excellent lighting at night when both headlights were on, not just one. Great lighting pattern. Not so great on gas mileage but the bike's profile is rather tall and the fuel delivery in stop and go traffic is spotty, even with the Power Commander III.
The wind protection on the freeway is very good I think, but I found the suspension a bit harsh, even adjusted.
I miss it dearly...
Your review brought back memories, even though it's a different model year.
Great edit / review. With all of the reviews, etc that you have done over the years; Does this review make you want to do a list of "Unsuspecting Heroes" in the motorcycle world... Sort of a list of "black swan" bikes that often go overlooked, yet perform beyond expectation? Just a thought. Stay safe.
Hey great idea! I'll add that to my planning board for next season. ~RyanF9
This bike review format really works - not perfect, but useful and more than adequate. Kind of like the V-Strom . . .
You know when a channel is truly talented, when one will watch the entire video review of a product the viewer has no interest in.
LOL, ik,r - ?
Looking for an honest unbiased opinion. Which is a better all around bike vstrom or versys 650. I will hopefully buy one (Versys) next year. I hate Suzukis beak, versys looks so much cooler, but vstrom does seem to be slightly more capable.
Hi, nice vid, would love to see your take on the new vstrom 1050, how does it compare to the competitors and maybe your current adv bike.
first time hearing "unrefined and Suzuki" in the same sentence . .
I've watched quite a few of you guys' videos from Canada, but this was the first time I spotted the "eh?" "I have it on the inside of my lappelle, eh?"
Could you do a video on the tiger / explorer from Triumph? F9's quality review would be appreciated!
It's on our "hit list" ... hopefully next season we'll get to it! ~RyanF9
I road the tiger years ago and it made impressive power but way too much handlebar vibration.
I bought the same bike. And I tell you why I did.
Its not off road capable as Africa Twin, not as fast and sophisticated as 1190, not as good as tiger on pavement, has no driveshaft as XT1200 SuperT and etc....
Its a legendary V Strom heritage like no other, without a reason its a lovely bike, There are tons of DL&TL engines over 600.000 km mileage without a major repair. It is a bulletproof Suzuki...
hakanerdogan111089
how many l/100 or km/l. do with this?
juan carlos flores hernandez 6 lt/100 km
i had a dl650 and it was a solid, reliable, bulletproof bike. once got 500km from a tank. started every time. never a false neutral. might not be as glamorous as the others, but i loved that bike.
hakanerdogan111089
thanks!!
You just described why I bought my 2007 DL 650A 3 years ago. I found too many people telling me that it isn't great at anything but it's good at everything. People have 150'000 + miles on their VStroms with no major complications. My VSTROM is a little tank. I am looking to get a newer 1000 and this video was great!
Very nice review. VStrom 1000 is a great bike and a great value for money. I almost got one last year but the only thing that made me hesitate was the fact that it is a little top heavy and as a short rider, I needed a bike that was easy to handle. Compared with the Africa Twin, which is of nearly the same weight, the Twin has a lower centre of gravity and feels like a lighter bike. I decided last year to wait until I got the Twin and I am glad I did so.
As for working on it yourself and maintenance, I would bet the Suzuki will prevail. Cheers
Is this the bike we hear in the intro while the F9 logo comes up?
Yep - good ears. ~RF9
60k and many adventures later, I'm still loving my '02 DL1K. It's like dating an 18 year old.
ew
Me to 2002 model blue color GPR exhausts nice sound. Just the other day a BMW 900t was impressed with my 94 on dyno horses. 👌
We want a review on the new V-Stroms!
I bought a used 1050XT, and I've had some awesome times taking it offroad, even with the stock tires. Definitely had to invest in that skid plate early on, but it's just an extremely capable machine as long as you respect it.
Thanks for that got me a DL650 2018 and really enjoying it thinking about getting the Dl1000 next year but do like the fuel range on it over 450 km on a tank might take one for a test ride
Cheers for new Zealand
Yeah, I stick with the 650 for fuel range and it has enough power, but some people can't adjust to increased revs over the 1000cc model at highway speeds.
Ryan has a hell of a lot of experience riding off road, and mile long legs. Something to remember when he says how easy a bike is off road ….
I don't know how old Ryan is but he looks very young yet is so wise as if he's been living since the invention of motorcycles😊
I just bought a Vstrom DL1000 and im in love with it
I love the DL1000 - I've been able to zip off the pavement and through some fire roads and they are all good. It is still a heavy bike off road but seems easier than some of its adventure tour competition.
Seems like it's time to review the new 1050 vstrom
Yes
As someone who has ridden both the Vstrom 1000 and the Africa Twin, which bike is better on road? Also which would be better for 2-up riding?
I made an offer on one of these today, from craigslist. Waiting to hear if the owner takes it. It is replacing my F650GS that was stolen.
Bought it.😂
How can they be so good at motorcycles and so horribly bad at cars?
Great write up, and kinda sums up why I still dig riding my 2006 Vstrom 650......
And runs on the smell of an oily rag!
@@SimonBrisbane always carry a spare!
if possible, please also review the kawasaki versys 1000
Outstanding video. I just totaled my beloved Ducati Multistrada 1100S... & I'm quite sure what I'm replacing it with. Thanks for the great review!
Thanks Rick! Hope you're feeling okay after the crash? ~RyanF9
FortNine Thanks for asking, Ryan. I received a concussion & fractured my elbow in two places. This happened four days ago. But I'm comforted by the fact that for the moment, at least, I can live vicariously through your fantastic videos. All the best...
Hey Ryan, I thought you'd be interested to know being that you are an avid V-Strom Ryder a friend at my local Suzuki dealer told me they plan to to release the bike with spoke rims for 2017 and I would bet that you probably will like to get your hands on a set! look into it you may be able to find more info. Myself , I'm Still Holding Out for the 2017 Africa twin, Cheers 🍺
BB
The office called, they want their genre back.
I dont like the styling of the never dl1000, it looks a little insect like with that beek kinda like a mosquito. And he is correct about it lacking on the higher revs. When I first got mine it pulled so hard on the bottom I was a little scared to twist it open but when I did it was anticlimactic. That being said I love my bike and would recommend it as a great all around bike. The best feature is it is ridiculously comfortable to drive.
and the 'best feature' is also the most important feature.
Just curious if you have considered an air intake and fueling upgrade. Something tells me that just might wake up the upper RPM range.
@@2wrdr I have already installed the power commander V I plan to put a exhaust system and intake. The engine is a de-tuned version of the tl1000 so walking it up shouldn't be to hard.
hello bro and really gratz for ur videos... i am about to buy a new bike and i cant decide between tiger 800(used), vstrom 1000(used or maybe new) and bmw r1200gsa(used of course) .. i am 6,3' ft tall and i want it for trips! please help!!!
A used Tiger 800 could be a headache on the reliability front. I'd go for the GSA if you plan to do a lot of off-road. Otherwise I'll take the V-Strom all day long. Hope that helps, and thanks! ~RF9
@@FortNine thanks a lot for the response bro! i want it mainly for trips with my wife on nice curvy roads and some highways and 10% off road so i am leaning towards vstrom cause i like japanese bikes more than german... by the way is the new 1050 way better than the 1000 or 1000 is a good to go choice?
I just bought this bike, your review influenced my purchase quite a bit! Looking forward to putting some miles on this beast!
This is a very old video but wow the informationis priceless.Just a flood of accurate real world info.Thanks Ryan.
Great honest review. I have a 2014 DL1000 with 25K miles in 18 months. I'm in full agreement that function overruled looks, cruise control should have been included and another gallon of fuel would have been nice at times. Most of my riding is touring and the V-Strom fits my riding needs very well.
Michael Mooney hi, hoy much km/l or l/100 you can do with this?
riding around 130 140km/hr.
Hello Juan, I'm not sure what you're asking but if you're questioning the DL1000's ability to travel in the 80-85 mph (130-140 kph) range on interstates, it's fully capable of that.
how many liters of fuel do u use?
At 130-140 kph, it gets about 16 kpl, at more moderate speeds like 100 kph, it improves to 19 kpl or better, depending on the road and how much I like to twist the throttle.
Okol thanks a lot
Nice interview Ryan! And equally nice review... Stay safe bud.
Great review Ryan. I don't think Suzuki employs any stylists at their headquarters. The engineers work hard to whip up these great bikes underneath, and they're left with nothing to wrap them in. Someone over there needs to fall on their own sword (think Gladius, pun intended) and allow real designers to be hired. Only the GSXRs any good.
My brother owns a previous gen model V-Strom 1000 and pretty much echoes your sentiments. Tank comes to mind. Function over (no) form for sure. My Tiger 800 XC is quite the same. She looks just OK but, when you get riding, wow. Looks matter less when you actually ride.
Your honesty is refreshing; looking forward to the next videos.
Well said, my friend. I still haven't gotten over the Gladius debacle. ~RyanF9
all cats are gray in the dark; but some cats are more affectionate than others. the Stroms may not look like Ducatis but they purrr-form great. I've had a '12 DL 650 for almost 6 years and love it; when the day comes (maybe in the next 3 or 4 yrs, I think I'll be happy with a used 2nd generation DL1000 for not a lot of coin.
So if all the measurements in Canada are metric, why is his height always 6' 3" instead of 190.5 cm?
hybrid system. we weigh ourselves in lbs, distance if long is km, if short is feet or inches. temp is always celsius unless you're a refrig tech.
Ryan, with all the offroading you do did you ever regret not getting the XT model with wire wheels?
I hate the idea of cleaning them so I'm interested in how the alloys held up.
I did bend one eventually, but for 90% of my riding they were just fine! ~RF9
I have been eyeing this for a long time, but I still think I'm leaning towards the Versys 1000. I don't ever see myself going off road and I want more a sport bike feel.
I like that he loves his bike and is passionate about it but at the same time honest about its short-comings.
Don't rub your windscreen, lay a saturated micro rag over the bug screen during the time you wash your bike, lightly remove debris don't dry with towel. Dry your bike and windscreen within compressed air gives you a showroom look.
Thank you for your reviews! i've watched you video about sports touring tires and bought a pair of pirelli angel gt and i'm pretty happy with it!
Now I really wanna buy this bike but now i have a problem and i hope you can help me:
the new 2017 model has new front fender, it looks bad. yours bike looks much better!
the new one has black fork. you said it's good suspension and i hope they've changed just color. btw the golden one looks awesome.
the new one has combined brakes, is it better or worse on your opinion?
they 'upgraded' a seat. was it bad or they changed it just for putting a large 'SUZUKI' label there?
they've changed the ABS. you said it's good brakes and abs now (which to be honest is not always on suzukis) but they changed it. can you try a new one and say anything about that?
they also changed an exhaust. made it more 'eco'. that gay governmental word that means 'just another way to take your money'.
i think you bought the bike on its best offering, dude)) can you help me with mine? you're my last change to get verity coz there is no any way to test the bike in third world (i live here) before you buy. order before try.
Hi Victor! Here's my take on the "updates." You're right about the new fender - it looks dumb. The fork seems to be exactly the same except for the colour, so no worries there. The new ABS system is better, especially on-road and in the corners. Off-road it's likely no different from the old system. The "upgraded" seat doesn't feel any different to me. And the new eco exhaust has twice the catalysers, which results in less emissions and a slight loss of torque. It's too bad, because the V-Strom's torquey-ness is one of my favourite things about it. The one big benefit to the new V-Stroms is that the 2018 model comes in an XT version with spoked wheels. That's a huge plus for off-roading. Hope that helps! ~RyanF9
Based upon this review I bought a V-Strom 1000 today. I was considering a R1200GS, Guzzi Stelvio and KTM 990 Adventure.
@FortNine Have you been out on the FJ-09 yet? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
you have to kiss his ass about how clever his videos are or you won't get a response
Hey nice review ryanf9. I've been going back and forth looking for an all-rounder and need as much info before making a small jump to 650cc or the bigger 1000cc . You mentioned the vibrations... is it any different from other similar bikes, if you've tried any?
Also, no one ever talks about engine heat which is something I find pretty crucial if I'm going to use a bike almost daily. I've never owned a liter bike but I remember the old VFRs and CBs that had insane heat coming off the engines. Having to sit by the side of the road for the engine to cool just defeats the purpose of a motorcycle. Or is this just the characteristic of a big bike that every biker has to live with?
No heat issues with my 2014.
Ok I'll bundle up for a cold one today , glad the Strom has a windshield ;;;;
I own a 650 vstrom, bang for the buck. I would love a bmw gs... but $$ are more important. pretty much the best all round bike out there.
I just got a 2021 dl650...LOVE IT!!! 447 km per tank, less than 500lbs. its great comuter, fun touring..just got the rad guard, skid plate is on the way with sadle bags, crash bars come next. Thanks dude...you helped me chose between the Himalayan, pan American, klr, super ten and a BMW...the DL650 won
350cc max off road for dual sports. I sold my 1994 XR650L because it was too heavy esp in sand. Can't imagine 600 to 1000cc+ I say get rid of the v-strom 1000 and never look back. Recommend a NC750 or MT09.
You sound an act way above your age impression. That's a compliment
The Tom Hanks of moto vloggers ha.
nice review, it was quite a surprise that you were not in love with the bike since day one.
Always surprised at how many different and inventive ways to host a video. And all of them fitting just right. Like this, a good toned down bike gets a good toned down video.
Just bought a VStrom myself. So far I love it!
Love the honesty, that's why I buy my gear from F9
I bought a 04 vstrom 1000 for $3200 us. I almost doubled that mileage my first year of ownership. It had 11k on it after 12 years. If came with all the luggage and crash bars needed. That said I bought it because it was cheap and don't feel bad about beating on it. Thats what they are for in my mind. I could do more on a ktm or gs but I love beating on the fat pig and not worrying about the consequences