I've heard good things about both the 650 and the 1000/1050. More power is always better. This bike looks good and it sounds like you are really enjoying it. Congratulations once again.
You can't go wrong with either one. V-stroms are just great bikes all around. The more power is definitely a plus makes me smile a little more 😁. I'm definitely enjoying it and can't wait to ride it on a multiple day trip which is coming up soon. Thanks and thanks for watching.
I love the look for the Gen 2 bikes. The Sand and the Red color are great. And I do not know if you will ever tour in it, but man it's comfy for 12 hour days! - Frank
Thanks OBI!! It wheelies so easy that it takes a lot of self control not to do it all the time 😁. I'm really liking the bike and can't wait to ride it more.
Thanks for the great review. That's a sweet bike. I have never ridden the 1000 vstrom but I have a 2021 650xt . I want to try the new 800 DE when it comes to dealers in a month or 2 . And if I like it, it might be my next one.
No problem thanks for watching it. I loved my 650 but this one is better for me. I think the 800 is going to be a great bike too because V-stroms are just great bikes. I think if you ride it you'll probably want one 😁. The extra power is really nice and I'm sure the 800 will be a decent bump up in power.
I'm still working on adjusting the camera angle for this bike. I'm loving this bike so far and can't wait to dip its tires in the sand on the SCAR here really soon. As always thanks for watching. We definitely appreciate it 👊 At the end there's a walk around of the bike showing changes I've made so far.
@@luke_mckay I'm always us a Motoz Tractionator Adventure rear and currently have a TKC 80 front but I'm about to mount up a Motoz Duel Ventura front. Here's my review on the tractionator adventure th-cam.com/video/hkhUR0w7En4/w-d-xo.html
On my "14, I really took time and adjusted the suspension both front/rear. It made it night and day . I got mine new when they first came out and tweaked it quite a bit since then for off road. I had the 650 also but love the 1000. Both are great bikes. I have ridden for decades on/off road and this bike is my favorite. There are a lot of aftermarket not too. I have talked to Hessler on their bikes/parts. Good people. I tried bar risers but they came right off and I adjusted for me. I have a slip on, a servo buddy, and switched to a 15t front sprock and it is even more a ditch digger and still decent on the hwy. It really stays in the power band through the gears. Naturally all crash pro, great bash plate & red cover. Shorty levers since I broke the oem the second day I had it. I ride year round out of MD, especially the BDR and parks in the near states since Im right near the corner of them all and PA is a couple miles to its dirt. Stay safe my friend. *You will see me on the BDR site.
I've done a good bit to this bike already and plan to do more. I've got the suspension pretty dialed in now and have a Hessler rally team 1 inch suspension lift I'll be installing soon. I love it and glad I'm upgraded from the 650.
I just picked up a 2012 I’m in love with it 1000. Just over 500 miles so far . 50/50 dirt pavement. My last bike I put over 100k miles on it . I see this bike is my next 100k mile bike .
Awesome! They are great bikes. I loved my 650 but I'm definitely loving this one more. It just fits me better. I'm glad you like yours and hope you have tons of great rides on it. Thanks for watching and commenting. We definitely appreciate it 👊
Didn't know that but it definitely makes sense. That emissions stuff kills the power. I know when I test rode it the traction control was on and I didn't realize it. I thought to myself this bike is weak 😂 but once its off man it comes alive! I can't wait to put a slip on exhaust on it so I can hear that power more 😁
Great info Greg! It is surprising how nimble the big V-Stroms feel when riding. Your bike came setup quite well already and as you said, just a few minor things to address. They only slight complaint I have with mines is I wish there was more ground clearance. The V-Strom 1000s are great do all bikes. Reliability is another huge bonus for them. Great video! Cheers!
Thanks William! If you haven't ridden a 1st gen you would definitely be impressed by how light and nimble the 2nd gen feels. The setup is getting there and it feels pretty dang good. I too wish they had more ground clearance and I can definitely tell I lost that 3/4 inch from the 650 but I will figure out how to lift this one eventually. I have plans for this bike I just have to do it slowly to keep the wife happy 😁. Can't wait to hammer the shit out of some sand with it and see what it can do.
@@doc650adventures yes they are tkc 80 and so far I don't like them much so it's questionable how good they'll work in the sand. Don't get me wrong they are better than Shinko but nowhere near as good as Motoz or Nothing! 😁
After 40 plus years of riding in the Louisiana heat I have noticed that the bigger the engine the more heat I feel on my lower body so I ride my ZRX only when the weather is cool to fair. When it gets warmer I ride mostly my VStrom 650. There is a big difference.
Nice wheelie at the start! I'm still trying to learn wheelies on mine. Bike looks great, looks like your loving the extra power. Brakes and suspension looks good. Bugs me that they mount the front fender so low, seen plenty of pictures where ADV tyres have rubbed on the guard. Surely you should be able to fit ADV tyres to an ADV bike without them scrubbing. Look forward to seeing more of this bike in the wild!
Thanks! This bike will wheelie on command and I like that even though I haven't done wheelie in a long time. The power is great and really fun. Hopefully I don't hurt myself with it 😂. The front fender being mounted so low is stupid to me and that's definitely going to be my first real "mod" is lifting it. I can't wait to take it out more on some good trips.
Good morning, Greg, I just came back to watch your video again, as I wait for the guy to clear up a couple things on the new to me V1000, apricate the content of your channel. Fingers crossed🤞
Beautiful bike Greg, I'm sure the USD forks are worlds better than the 09 DL650's. I never road a Big VeeStrom but the difference between my gen1 and gen2 650's was night and day, mostly the suspension and nimbleness of the bike. Suzuki refined the gen2's quite a bit. You have done a great job getting the bike set up for yourself.
Thanks. Yes huge difference in the suspension and how well the bike is balanced over my 1st gen 650. Even though it's about 35 lbs heavier it feels 35 lbs lighter than my 650. I can't wait to get to ride it more and see what it can really do. It's getting there on the setup just have to tweak a few little things and it should be perfect. Thanks for watching. 👊
Nice ride you got there. I picked up a 2nd hand 2006 dl1000 2 years back while I was in the states, and it has the del kevic nufflerS (sounds awesome). Additionally, mine had a smaller front sprocket, and a gold valve set in the suspension up front which is a nice upgrade. The guy i got it from even had a good skid plate on it. It had about 30k on it, and I figured it'd give me many more. The clutch basket issue had been fixed on it, and I did the stator magnets with some jb weld. Threw on some Mitas E07 Dakars and am itching to ride some this summer once I get back to the states.
Thanks. My brother has a 04 1000 and it never has skipped a beat and takes him anywhere he wants to go. V-stroms are awesome bikes and I'm sure you'll enjoy every minute you get to ride it. Thanks for watching and if you haven't already please consider subscribing. We would definitely appreciate it 👊
Another advantage that you mentioned briefly is the low rpm unstressed motor on the slab at hwy speeds. The wee was great but had to spin to 5k where as the 1000 is sitting at under 4 k at the same speed. Great for long trips if thats your thing.
I had a 2012 Vstrom 650 and now riding a 2018 Vstrom 1000. I agree, although a little heavier it feels lighter when riding. I think the extra weight must be in the engine and lower while the 650 always felt top heavy. The 650 was a great bike, but I would never go back now. Much better ride and the extra power is great. Also, seems better in the wind.
In the 90's i always had a klr650 and a Goldwing then 2003 I saw a DL1000 bought it and sold the klr . I have owned 2 DL1000's and 1 DL650 all first gen. Now I own only a klr650 and can never make up my mind on bikes. The only thing I don't like about the V-Strom where the lack of ground clearance. I found the DL1000 to be an excellent road bike. Keep up the good work!!!
Yes the ground clearance is their biggest and probably only drawback. That is a fixing drawback and I'm going to be lifting mine hopefully before the year ends. When I lifted my 650 it made a big difference. So I'm excited to get my 1k lifted. Nothing wrong with a KLR though. As long as you're out there riding and having fun that's all that matters. Thanks and I'll definitely try my best. 👊
I remember riding my buddy’s Multistrada and thinking how nimble it felt compared to other bikes I’d ridden. Sitting up higher IMO helps and like you said, the geometry may have been improved as well. I’d do as little as possible to the bike and simply hammer the shit out of it as much as possible! 👊🏽🍺 Can’t wait to see it in the sand. I’m afraid I may have worn out my Shinko rear chasing Moto Giant on some twisties yesterday so I may have to throw the Mitas on the Grey Goose. That’ll make Frank happy. 😂
I don't know exactly what they changed to make the bike less top heavy feeling but whatever they did made a huge difference and I like it. I'm not going to do too much to it but I like to make bikes feel and look like mine and I'll definitely hammer the shit out of it. 😁 Definitely put those new tires on now even if they're not Motoz 😁😂
Thanks for an informative video mate. I'm contemplating this bike among several others. They seem to be maligned by people who haven't actually ridden one, and really enjoyed by those who own them. That's a generalization, of course, but for me l don't want to dismiss the Strom before trying it myself. Cheers!
V-strom are great bikes. They can do pretty much anything that most adv riders want or are willing to do. The 990 I have now fits my riding style better but I still love the V-strom.
I like the red color, sounds to me you got a sweet bike, all the little issues aside. I have always bought used cars and trucks, some really high mileage. There was always little annoying things to get taken care of at the beginning. Sounds like you have that taken care of and just need to finish "your tweeks" to make it your bike. Interested in seeing what you do to it. Enjoy the rally coming up.
I always buy used too. I always know in the back of my mind that something can be wrong but so far these issues have been minor and seem to be good to go now. I have it set up pretty good now and can't wait to do a few more things but just have to do it slowly so my wife doesn't kill me 😂. Thanks I can't wait for the rally because it's been way too long since we've been on a multiple day trip. Thanks for watching man. We really appreciate it 👊
great machines mate, ive had 3 x 650s and a 1000xt, i prefer the 650 over all if doing more dirt riding, due to being a bit lighter, the 1000 better if 2 up, but for solo, i love the 650, great work mate
The 650 is a great bike and I absolutely loved mine. This one just fits me better I guess. I can't wait to ride it more to see what it really can do. Thanks and thanks for watching and commenting. We really appreciate it 👊
I put a couple hundred miles on a friends DL1000 once. It reminded me a lot of my '97 BMW K1100LT in its general riding position and how it felt to ride. Only the seat was better. BMW seats SUCK. Very different engine design than on the k11 of course, but it had good power and braked and handled well. I liked it. It seemed like it'd make a solid touring bike, too.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the bike and I hope that feeling just gets better with more time. I'm really digging the motor other than the few noises it makes but that's starting to fade as I get used to it. I think this bike is going to be great for long trips on and off road.
Thanks. It definitely has plenty of wheelie power and it's hard not to do them every time I take off 😁. It still lacks ground clearance but that can be fixed and will be at some point down the road.
I've been considering getting a V Strom 650. I've always heard they were about the best of the best but I'm going to be riding on the road a lot. I don't know what to think about that the anti-lock brakes but you've got me considering the 1,000. I found one for sale and it is set up. I think it's only got $7,000 Mi on it. it might be my next week!
@@TheBeardedGrump I know where there's a 2014 sitting right now with 7000 miles on it and they're only asking $6,000 and something for it. It's got an extra heated seat and heated grips and all the luggage. It's a nice bike! I hope I don't like the mileage and the price backwards. I might need to look at that again
I was in doubt between buying the new 650 or a slightly used one. I rode both and opted for the new 650. I found it lighter and with more than enough power for everything I do and at a lower cost.
Great review. Between the 2017 V Strom 650XT and the 2020 V Strom 1050XT, what would you recommend? Mine is for daily commute in city traffic with occasional road trips. I'm 5'11. My heart is in the 1050 but my bro says the 650 will be a better bike.
Looks like a keeper! Your mods are just the right tweaks to make her a really trail capable bike… How are those TKC80’s???? You might like’em, just waitin’ to see how long they last. Do ya think that bash plate will survive your adjustment to lower ground clearance? Keep it real buddy!
It's definitely a keeper. So far I'm not a fan of the tkc 80's. I'm a Motoz tire guy and I'm trying to give them a fair chance and I'll do a review on them after I put some more miles on them. I'm down about 3/4 inch from my 650 on ground clearance but I'll fix that at some point. I'm still on the fence about the bash plate holding up to my style of riding but hopefully it will 🤞.
Can't comet on the newer than 1st gen's.. I've had the 1k and 650, I prefer the 650 for most of what I like to do, the 1k wins for grunt and zipping up to and over the 'ton', had to send my clutch basket to a fellow in England who reworks them to eliminate the "Chudder", was smother afterwords, but the 650 slayed it for smoothness and all around usability IMO..for me... Have fun with it, looking forward to how it plays out for you..
The 650 is a great bike. Mine took me everywhere I wanted to go for the last year and a half. This 1k just fits me better. It's a much better feeling bike overall than my 650. I really don't like the noisy clutch and one day I will probably address it. The 650 is definitely a buttery smooth bike.
I put a switch on it. I recently had a motorcycle accident and broke my back and this bike took a lot of damage. I think it's fixable but I don't know that I'm going to fix it.
What tires are you running on that road? I have a 2007 DL1000. Some of my mods are a fork brace, wider foot pedals all metal, handlebar riser and lowering links (Ima short in seam)>
I was running the TKC 80's that came on the bike. I now run Motoz Tractionators. I have done a few mods to the bike since this video and plan on doing more. I plan to make videos for all of that.
They are both great bikes but the 1k is just all around better. I think you'll be happy with it. Thanks for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it 👊
Congrats on the new bike! They are great and I'm starting to really love this one. I want to do a suspension lift on this one at some point. I've been playing around with the preload and compression and rebound on the forks trying to get it better suited for me. We have a 5 day trip coming up so I'll get to test it well then and definitely will give my feedback. Thanks for watching and commenting. We definitely appreciate it 👊
I've had both stroms little and big and always loved the wee, but you don't realize how inferior the suspension of the wee is until you ride the newer 1000 and feel the difference. Nice plush, and firm. I had my wife on the back and honestly felt about the same as without her. I've ridden the 1050 too and I prefer the 1000. They took away the awesome grunt and put 5 more horsepower at the top of the rpm scale. It was disappointing. I heavier bike too. Bonehead move at Suzuki.
I'm also new to the vstrom 1000. I'm up in the air about what weight oil to run. Do you have any suggestions. I've been told that full synthetic 15w40 Rotella works great and almost eliminates the clutch basket rattle.
I have always ran Rotella 15w40 t4 non synthetic in every single bike I've ever owned. I plan to do the same with this one. Rotella has a small amount of zinc in it so it might help with the clutch chatter but not sure.
I installed a switch and I mostly leave the abs off on pavement and dirt. It handles a lot better off road with the abs off and it just is my preference to leave it off on pavement. Here's the switch install video if you want to check it out. th-cam.com/video/Xn5V1VehsRM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5xmn9IGEmo61cHRg
The 1000 is a high rev engine. At less than 3500 RPM, you will get the chudder. I think this what people mean when they say "She will let you know when you are in the wrong gear".
Yes it is and yes you will. Now that I'm more used to it I keep it around 4-4500k rpm when off road. It has plenty of power in that range and no chatter.
High rev compared to what? My 2007 DL1000 is very comfortable at 3K RPM and despite some chatter around 2K it still pulls no problem. At 4K and up it has serious power.
Don't pull out the ABS fuse just yet. That component is almost $2000 and not worth frying. That TC is well loved by seasoned dirt riders. Try riding a bit more and your opinions will change. i had a 2011 650 and a 2014 1000 simultaneously. The 650 is definitely not down on power or bite. In the hands of a capable rider, the 650 can and will keep up with the 1000 all day long. The 1000 has a shorter reach to tha bars and the fuel tank dimension is compact with less capacity so it feels nimbler. Be wary of the rear shock as it is not serviceable by usual means. The idle hammer is nothing and the clutch chudder is just a bunch of OCD folk whining. 650 is definitely cooler and can last longer but the 1000 is very efficient giving up to 75Mpg at times. Remove the butterfly valve on the exhaust for a throatier sound. Longer fender on a ADV bike makes sense due to possible radiator damage from the tyre flick. Look up the Harley Pan-Am junk and its design flaws to undeerstand better. As for suspension, shop around your locale before going elsewhere. I know of someone that waited almost 8mths for his shock to show up from there. Fender raiser kit is available from Adventuretech in the US along with steel braided lines.
I've owned a ridden a 650 for a year and a half and loved it but this bike just feels better and fits me better. I'm old school and just really don't like traction control or abs. I can see in some situations where the traction control could be useful but I probably won't use it much. I've actually gone back and about the abs thing for the reason you mentioned and might put an in line switch on it instead. That way I can turn it off when I really want to slide the bike around with the rear brake. I saw those fender lift kits and they look great and probably will go that route. Those engine and clutch noises are starting to fade as I ride it more just different from the super quiet 650 motor. V-stroms are great bikes no matter if it's the 1k or the 650 and I'll probably ride one for a long time.
@@TheBeardedGrump in my country there is an L4 that's used as a dispatch bike. Approaching 150,000miles and it just blew its fork seals for the 1st time ever. No engine work ever required or done. Crap oil and low octane fuel keeps it happy and running.
This is the 2nd gen 1000. 2014 was the start of the 2nd gen. The 650 had more generations because they changed it more. Suzuki added the beak to both bikes to make them look like the old DR800 (DR Big)
No problem. Thanks for watching. You will love the 1000. I owned a Buell xb9 back a few years ago and I liked it a lot but I've had the most fun I've had on a motorcycle on adventure bikes.
I've heard good things about both the 650 and the 1000/1050. More power is always better. This bike looks good and it sounds like you are really enjoying it. Congratulations once again.
You can't go wrong with either one. V-stroms are just great bikes all around. The more power is definitely a plus makes me smile a little more 😁. I'm definitely enjoying it and can't wait to ride it on a multiple day trip which is coming up soon. Thanks and thanks for watching.
ROB !!!
I love the look for the Gen 2 bikes. The Sand and the Red color are great. And I do not know if you will ever tour in it, but man it's comfy for 12 hour days! - Frank
I really like the sand one but red looks good now that I own it 😁. I want to do anything on it that time and money will allow me to do.
GRUMP !!! - Great video, WHEELIE & review / comparison. Awesome !!! - Thanks for sharing. I like the looks of the 1000 too !!!
Cheers !!!
Thanks OBI!! It wheelies so easy that it takes a lot of self control not to do it all the time 😁. I'm really liking the bike and can't wait to ride it more.
Thanks for the great review. That's a sweet bike. I have never ridden the 1000 vstrom but I have a 2021 650xt . I want to try the new 800 DE when it comes to dealers in a month or 2 . And if I like it, it might be my next one.
No problem thanks for watching it. I loved my 650 but this one is better for me. I think the 800 is going to be a great bike too because V-stroms are just great bikes. I think if you ride it you'll probably want one 😁. The extra power is really nice and I'm sure the 800 will be a decent bump up in power.
First, and I was filming ! - Frank
I can always count on you Frank! 💥👊
FRANK !!!
I'm still working on adjusting the camera angle for this bike. I'm loving this bike so far and can't wait to dip its tires in the sand on the SCAR here really soon. As always thanks for watching. We definitely appreciate it 👊 At the end there's a walk around of the bike showing changes I've made so far.
Hey! What kinda tires are you using for this dirt/gravel and what're you gonna use for the sand??
@@luke_mckay I'm always us a Motoz Tractionator Adventure rear and currently have a TKC 80 front but I'm about to mount up a Motoz Duel Ventura front. Here's my review on the tractionator adventure th-cam.com/video/hkhUR0w7En4/w-d-xo.html
@@luke_mckay here's my brothers setup and this is what I'll be running as well. th-cam.com/users/shortsm2Z_W_NQMhM?feature=share
It is a great looking bike, I can’t wait to see how you feel after the ADV weekend!!
Thanks. I can't wait to get it out on a multiple day trip and especially see how it handles in the sand.
On my "14, I really took time and adjusted the suspension both front/rear. It made it night and day . I got mine new when they first came out and tweaked it quite a bit since then for off road. I had the 650 also but love the 1000. Both are great bikes. I have ridden for decades on/off road and this bike is my favorite. There are a lot of aftermarket not too. I have talked to Hessler on their bikes/parts. Good people. I tried bar risers but they came right off and I adjusted for me. I have a slip on, a servo buddy, and switched to a 15t front sprock and it is even more a ditch digger and still decent on the hwy. It really stays in the power band through the gears. Naturally all crash pro, great bash plate & red cover. Shorty levers since I broke the oem the second day I had it. I ride year round out of MD, especially the BDR and parks in the near states since Im right near the corner of them all and PA is a couple miles to its dirt. Stay safe my friend. *You will see me on the BDR site.
I've done a good bit to this bike already and plan to do more. I've got the suspension pretty dialed in now and have a Hessler rally team 1 inch suspension lift I'll be installing soon. I love it and glad I'm upgraded from the 650.
I just picked up a 2012 I’m in love with it 1000. Just over 500 miles so far . 50/50 dirt pavement. My last bike I put over 100k miles on it . I see this bike is my next 100k mile bike .
Awesome! They are great bikes. I loved my 650 but I'm definitely loving this one more. It just fits me better. I'm glad you like yours and hope you have tons of great rides on it. Thanks for watching and commenting. We definitely appreciate it 👊
Looking at buying one of these! Forgot that you had one ! Great review!
Can't go wrong with buying a V-strom. Thanks! 👊
Fun fact I learned about my 2014 when I got it, that model has a little more grunt than the newer ones, they had to change emissions after 2014!
Didn't know that but it definitely makes sense. That emissions stuff kills the power. I know when I test rode it the traction control was on and I didn't realize it. I thought to myself this bike is weak 😂 but once its off man it comes alive! I can't wait to put a slip on exhaust on it so I can hear that power more 😁
Great info Greg! It is surprising how nimble the big V-Stroms feel when riding. Your bike came setup quite well already and as you said, just a few minor things to address. They only slight complaint I have with mines is I wish there was more ground clearance. The V-Strom 1000s are great do all bikes. Reliability is another huge bonus for them. Great video!
Cheers!
Thanks William! If you haven't ridden a 1st gen you would definitely be impressed by how light and nimble the 2nd gen feels. The setup is getting there and it feels pretty dang good. I too wish they had more ground clearance and I can definitely tell I lost that 3/4 inch from the 650 but I will figure out how to lift this one eventually. I have plans for this bike I just have to do it slowly to keep the wife happy 😁. Can't wait to hammer the shit out of some sand with it and see what it can do.
@@TheBeardedGrump Spot on. Looks like the tires you have will do good in the sand. Are they TKC 80s? That is what they look like.
@@doc650adventures yes they are tkc 80 and so far I don't like them much so it's questionable how good they'll work in the sand. Don't get me wrong they are better than Shinko but nowhere near as good as Motoz or Nothing! 😁
@@TheBeardedGrump Ha! MOTOZ or nothing! You will like the ones I have on my DR650! So far so good with them!
@@doc650adventures any Motoz is better than any other tire on the market
After 40 plus years of riding in the Louisiana heat I have noticed that the bigger the engine the more heat I feel on my lower body so I ride my ZRX only when the weather is cool to fair. When it gets warmer I ride mostly my VStrom 650. There is a big difference.
Nice wheelie at the start! I'm still trying to learn wheelies on mine.
Bike looks great, looks like your loving the extra power. Brakes and suspension looks good.
Bugs me that they mount the front fender so low, seen plenty of pictures where ADV tyres have rubbed on the guard. Surely you should be able to fit ADV tyres to an ADV bike without them scrubbing.
Look forward to seeing more of this bike in the wild!
Thanks! This bike will wheelie on command and I like that even though I haven't done wheelie in a long time. The power is great and really fun. Hopefully I don't hurt myself with it 😂. The front fender being mounted so low is stupid to me and that's definitely going to be my first real "mod" is lifting it. I can't wait to take it out more on some good trips.
Good morning, Greg, I just came back to watch your video again, as I wait for the guy to clear up a couple things on the new to me V1000, apricate the content of your channel. Fingers crossed🤞
Thanks man. Hopefully the deal works out for you. 🤞👊
Beautiful bike Greg, I'm sure the USD forks are worlds better than the 09 DL650's. I never road a Big VeeStrom but the difference between my gen1 and gen2 650's was night and day, mostly the suspension and nimbleness of the bike. Suzuki refined the gen2's quite a bit. You have done a great job getting the bike set up for yourself.
Thanks. Yes huge difference in the suspension and how well the bike is balanced over my 1st gen 650. Even though it's about 35 lbs heavier it feels 35 lbs lighter than my 650. I can't wait to get to ride it more and see what it can really do. It's getting there on the setup just have to tweak a few little things and it should be perfect. Thanks for watching. 👊
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is a gen3 weestrom.
Looks like a nice upgrade. I haven't ridden the newer 1k at all. Only the older 1k. Cool to know that you think it is better balanced than the 650.
Yeah it's way more balanced and just feels lighter. I don't know what they did to it to achieve that but I'm glad they did it.
Nice ride you got there. I picked up a 2nd hand 2006 dl1000 2 years back while I was in the states, and it has the del kevic nufflerS (sounds awesome). Additionally, mine had a smaller front sprocket, and a gold valve set in the suspension up front which is a nice upgrade. The guy i got it from even had a good skid plate on it. It had about 30k on it, and I figured it'd give me many more. The clutch basket issue had been fixed on it, and I did the stator magnets with some jb weld. Threw on some Mitas E07 Dakars and am itching to ride some this summer once I get back to the states.
Thanks. My brother has a 04 1000 and it never has skipped a beat and takes him anywhere he wants to go. V-stroms are awesome bikes and I'm sure you'll enjoy every minute you get to ride it. Thanks for watching and if you haven't already please consider subscribing. We would definitely appreciate it 👊
Another advantage that you mentioned briefly is the low rpm unstressed motor on the slab at hwy speeds. The wee was great but had to spin to 5k where as the 1000 is sitting at under 4 k at the same speed. Great for long trips if thats your thing.
It definitely makes a difference.
I had a 2012 Vstrom 650 and now riding a 2018 Vstrom 1000. I agree, although a little heavier it feels lighter when riding. I think the extra weight must be in the engine and lower while the 650 always felt top heavy. The 650 was a great bike, but I would never go back now. Much better ride and the extra power is great. Also, seems better in the wind.
I loved my 650 but I love my 1000 more. I agree with you and couldn't see myself ever going back to a 650
In the 90's i always had a klr650 and a Goldwing then 2003 I saw a DL1000 bought it and sold the klr . I have owned 2 DL1000's and 1 DL650 all first gen. Now I own only a klr650 and can never make up my mind on bikes. The only thing I don't like about the V-Strom where the lack of ground clearance. I found the DL1000 to be an excellent road bike. Keep up the good work!!!
Yes the ground clearance is their biggest and probably only drawback. That is a fixing drawback and I'm going to be lifting mine hopefully before the year ends. When I lifted my 650 it made a big difference. So I'm excited to get my 1k lifted. Nothing wrong with a KLR though. As long as you're out there riding and having fun that's all that matters. Thanks and I'll definitely try my best. 👊
I remember riding my buddy’s Multistrada and thinking how nimble it felt compared to other bikes I’d ridden. Sitting up higher IMO helps and like you said, the geometry may have been improved as well.
I’d do as little as possible to the bike and simply hammer the shit out of it as much as possible! 👊🏽🍺
Can’t wait to see it in the sand. I’m afraid I may have worn out my Shinko rear chasing Moto Giant on some twisties yesterday so I may have to throw the Mitas on the Grey Goose.
That’ll make Frank happy. 😂
I don't know exactly what they changed to make the bike less top heavy feeling but whatever they did made a huge difference and I like it. I'm not going to do too much to it but I like to make bikes feel and look like mine and I'll definitely hammer the shit out of it. 😁 Definitely put those new tires on now even if they're not Motoz 😁😂
SPAZTECH !!!
Thanks for an informative video mate. I'm contemplating this bike among several others. They seem to be maligned by people who haven't actually ridden one, and really enjoyed by those who own them. That's a generalization, of course, but for me l don't want to dismiss the Strom before trying it myself. Cheers!
V-strom are great bikes. They can do pretty much anything that most adv riders want or are willing to do. The 990 I have now fits my riding style better but I still love the V-strom.
Loved the comparison Greg 🙂
Thanks! I really appreciate it 👊
I like the red color, sounds to me you got a sweet bike, all the little issues aside. I have always bought used cars and trucks, some really high mileage. There was always little annoying things to get taken care of at the beginning. Sounds like you have that taken care of and just need to finish "your tweeks" to make it your bike. Interested in seeing what you do to it. Enjoy the rally coming up.
I always buy used too. I always know in the back of my mind that something can be wrong but so far these issues have been minor and seem to be good to go now. I have it set up pretty good now and can't wait to do a few more things but just have to do it slowly so my wife doesn't kill me 😂. Thanks I can't wait for the rally because it's been way too long since we've been on a multiple day trip. Thanks for watching man. We really appreciate it 👊
That's really cool and awesome vidz bro. Keep it up and more vidz to come. RIDE SAFE ALWAYS brother.
Thanks man! We appreciate you watching and commenting. 👊
great machines mate, ive had 3 x 650s and a 1000xt, i prefer the 650 over all if doing more dirt riding, due to being a bit lighter, the 1000 better if 2 up, but for solo, i love the 650, great work mate
The 650 is a great bike and I absolutely loved mine. This one just fits me better I guess. I can't wait to ride it more to see what it really can do. Thanks and thanks for watching and commenting. We really appreciate it 👊
@@TheBeardedGrump you cant go wrong with a strom buddy, awesome bikes, ride safe!
I love my 2012 650, but I’ve never been on a 1000, not sure I want to, because then I might start wanting to upgrade!!!😂😂😂
I loved my 650 too and never even knew I wanted a 1k but now I'm glad I made the switch. So if you don't want to spend money don't ride one 😂
Wait... You are upset about a fault code on day one? My 2014 V-strom 1000 would not start the first day tried to ride it! 🤣 - Frank
You must have luck like me 😂
I put a couple hundred miles on a friends DL1000 once. It reminded me a lot of my '97 BMW K1100LT in its general riding position and how it felt to ride. Only the seat was better. BMW seats SUCK. Very different engine design than on the k11 of course, but it had good power and braked and handled well. I liked it. It seemed like it'd make a solid touring bike, too.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the bike and I hope that feeling just gets better with more time. I'm really digging the motor other than the few noises it makes but that's starting to fade as I get used to it. I think this bike is going to be great for long trips on and off road.
That's a good looking bike. The 2 things I would like that the dl650 doesn't offer is wheelie power and ground clearance. Looks like the 1000 does.
Thanks. It definitely has plenty of wheelie power and it's hard not to do them every time I take off 😁. It still lacks ground clearance but that can be fixed and will be at some point down the road.
I've been considering getting a V Strom 650. I've always heard they were about the best of the best but I'm going to be riding on the road a lot. I don't know what to think about that the anti-lock brakes but you've got me considering the 1,000. I found one for sale and it is set up. I think it's only got $7,000 Mi on it. it might be my next week!
You really can't go wrong with either one but I did like the 1000 better.
@@TheBeardedGrump I know where there's a 2014 sitting right now with 7000 miles on it and they're only asking $6,000 and something for it. It's got an extra heated seat and heated grips and all the luggage. It's a nice bike! I hope I don't like the mileage and the price backwards. I might need to look at that again
@@johnblackwood1337 that's a great deal.
I had an '07 650 for 3 years, and I'm now in my third year on my '16 1000, and I have to say, I prefer the 1000 in everyway, except, maybe, the looks.
I liked the 1000 better in every way also. Great bikes
I was in doubt between buying the new 650 or a slightly used one. I rode both and opted for the new 650. I found it lighter and with more than enough power for everything I do and at a lower cost.
The 650 is definitely a great bike.
Great review.
Between the 2017 V Strom 650XT and the 2020 V Strom 1050XT, what would you recommend? Mine is for daily commute in city traffic with occasional road trips. I'm 5'11.
My heart is in the 1050 but my bro says the 650 will be a better bike.
Thanks. They are both great bikes but I would choose the 1050 every time. More power and the suspension is better.
Looks like a keeper! Your mods are just the right tweaks to make her a really trail capable bike… How are those TKC80’s???? You might like’em, just waitin’ to see how long they last. Do ya think that bash plate will survive your adjustment to lower ground clearance? Keep it real buddy!
It's definitely a keeper. So far I'm not a fan of the tkc 80's. I'm a Motoz tire guy and I'm trying to give them a fair chance and I'll do a review on them after I put some more miles on them. I'm down about 3/4 inch from my 650 on ground clearance but I'll fix that at some point. I'm still on the fence about the bash plate holding up to my style of riding but hopefully it will 🤞.
Can't comet on the newer than 1st gen's.. I've had the 1k and 650, I prefer the 650 for most of what I like to do, the 1k wins for grunt and zipping up to and over the 'ton', had to send my clutch basket to a fellow in England who reworks them to eliminate the "Chudder", was smother afterwords, but the 650 slayed it for smoothness and all around usability IMO..for me... Have fun with it, looking forward to how it plays out for you..
The 650 is a great bike. Mine took me everywhere I wanted to go for the last year and a half. This 1k just fits me better. It's a much better feeling bike overall than my 650. I really don't like the noisy clutch and one day I will probably address it. The 650 is definitely a buttery smooth bike.
Put the bike on the centralstand and let the rearwheel spin in gear for aprox 10-15 sec to shut off the abs.
I put a switch on it. I recently had a motorcycle accident and broke my back and this bike took a lot of damage. I think it's fixable but I don't know that I'm going to fix it.
What tires are you running on that road? I have a 2007 DL1000. Some of my mods are a fork brace, wider foot pedals all metal, handlebar riser and lowering links (Ima short in seam)>
I was running the TKC 80's that came on the bike. I now run Motoz Tractionators. I have done a few mods to the bike since this video and plan on doing more. I plan to make videos for all of that.
I'm diggin it
Thanks man. So far I'm pretty happy with it. Can't wait to get more time on it.
I believe you made up my mind about getting the 1k instead of the 650
They are both great bikes but the 1k is just all around better. I think you'll be happy with it. Thanks for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it 👊
Looking forward to hearing more! I recently purchased a 2018XT. Interested in how you set up your suspension. I’m 5’9” and weigh 150lbs with gear.
Congrats on the new bike! They are great and I'm starting to really love this one. I want to do a suspension lift on this one at some point. I've been playing around with the preload and compression and rebound on the forks trying to get it better suited for me. We have a 5 day trip coming up so I'll get to test it well then and definitely will give my feedback. Thanks for watching and commenting. We definitely appreciate it 👊
I've had both stroms little and big and always loved the wee, but you don't realize how inferior the suspension of the wee is until you ride the newer 1000 and feel the difference. Nice plush, and firm. I had my wife on the back and honestly felt about the same as without her. I've ridden the 1050 too and I prefer the 1000. They took away the awesome grunt and put 5 more horsepower at the top of the rpm scale. It was disappointing. I heavier bike too. Bonehead move at Suzuki.
You are right. The suspension is so much better on the 1k. I'm loving this bike.
All them noises keep me going tho the dl1k got the perfect hum to it
The more I ride it the more I get used to all the noises. 😁
One thing I’ve learned is to shift into 2nd before abt 3,000 rpm and you don’t feel that clunk, vstroms are notorious for shifting hard into 2nd gear
Unfortunately I had an accident on this bike and no longer have it. I'm still recovering but I have a KTM 990 now
@@TheBeardedGrump Hope yr well!
I like it !!!
Thanks! Me too 😁
I'm also new to the vstrom 1000. I'm up in the air about what weight oil to run. Do you have any suggestions. I've been told that full synthetic 15w40 Rotella works great and almost eliminates the clutch basket rattle.
I have always ran Rotella 15w40 t4 non synthetic in every single bike I've ever owned. I plan to do the same with this one. Rotella has a small amount of zinc in it so it might help with the clutch chatter but not sure.
Did you turn the ABS off? How did you find it affected the handling?
I installed a switch and I mostly leave the abs off on pavement and dirt. It handles a lot better off road with the abs off and it just is my preference to leave it off on pavement. Here's the switch install video if you want to check it out.
th-cam.com/video/Xn5V1VehsRM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5xmn9IGEmo61cHRg
@@TheBeardedGrump legend!
Ive no idea what your saying,yet great videoing
🤣 thanks 👊
The 1000 is a high rev engine. At less than 3500 RPM, you will get the chudder. I think this what people mean when they say "She will let you know when you are in the wrong gear".
Yes it is and yes you will. Now that I'm more used to it I keep it around 4-4500k rpm when off road. It has plenty of power in that range and no chatter.
High rev compared to what?
My 2007 DL1000 is very comfortable at 3K RPM and despite some chatter around 2K it still pulls no problem. At 4K and up it has serious power.
Don't pull out the ABS fuse just yet. That component is almost $2000 and not worth frying. That TC is well loved by seasoned dirt riders. Try riding a bit more and your opinions will change. i had a 2011 650 and a 2014 1000 simultaneously. The 650 is definitely not down on power or bite. In the hands of a capable rider, the 650 can and will keep up with the 1000 all day long. The 1000 has a shorter reach to tha bars and the fuel tank dimension is compact with less capacity so it feels nimbler. Be wary of the rear shock as it is not serviceable by usual means. The idle hammer is nothing and the clutch chudder is just a bunch of OCD folk whining. 650 is definitely cooler and can last longer but the 1000 is very efficient giving up to 75Mpg at times. Remove the butterfly valve on the exhaust for a throatier sound. Longer fender on a ADV bike makes sense due to possible radiator damage from the tyre flick. Look up the Harley Pan-Am junk and its design flaws to undeerstand better.
As for suspension, shop around your locale before going elsewhere. I know of someone that waited almost 8mths for his shock to show up from there. Fender raiser kit is available from Adventuretech in the US along with steel braided lines.
I've owned a ridden a 650 for a year and a half and loved it but this bike just feels better and fits me better. I'm old school and just really don't like traction control or abs. I can see in some situations where the traction control could be useful but I probably won't use it much. I've actually gone back and about the abs thing for the reason you mentioned and might put an in line switch on it instead. That way I can turn it off when I really want to slide the bike around with the rear brake. I saw those fender lift kits and they look great and probably will go that route. Those engine and clutch noises are starting to fade as I ride it more just different from the super quiet 650 motor. V-stroms are great bikes no matter if it's the 1k or the 650 and I'll probably ride one for a long time.
@@TheBeardedGrump in my country there is an L4 that's used as a dispatch bike. Approaching 150,000miles and it just blew its fork seals for the 1st time ever. No engine work ever required or done. Crap oil and low octane fuel keeps it happy and running.
@@parans95 they are great bikes for sure. Really hard to beat.
The bike has 100% of torque at only 4k rpms, it's punches like a 1200
Yes! I absolutely love the power of this bike.
Why does everybody say this to the second-gen isn't this the third gen I have a 2015 650 v Strom and it's the one that looks like a frog lol
This is the 2nd gen 1000. 2014 was the start of the 2nd gen. The 650 had more generations because they changed it more. Suzuki added the beak to both bikes to make them look like the old DR800 (DR Big)
Thanx Man, i had 4 suzuki's, now i have a 2006 buell ulysses and an electra glide, selling both , and buying the dl 1000, (used)
SGT.PENTRITE
No problem. Thanks for watching. You will love the 1000. I owned a Buell xb9 back a few years ago and I liked it a lot but I've had the most fun I've had on a motorcycle on adventure bikes.