Suzuki V-Strom 1000 reviews

I love this bike, it does whatever I ask of it. The first weekend I put over 1000 miles on it. A 720 mile trip in one day. The Tail Of The Dragon in that same weekend and another 1300 miles in the wext week in a half. It did everthing it was asked without skipping a beat. While my off roading is limited to gravel roads, I have no doubt that it will handle much rougher roads I am personally capable of doing. Great bike and I am in no way displeased. Show less

This scooter is a kick in the butt to ride. Bought it 2 weeks ago (used with 1500 miles). I took a 325 mi. day ride last week. Did everything I could ask for -- twisties, back roads, I-80. Work the gearbox and she stays happy. The windshield is crap and the seat needs some help. A friend of mine has a 1000 Strom (second one) and recently picked up a 650. I rode both of them and liked the 650 better. Felt smoother and more nimble. I also own an '04 Gold Wing, but the 650 is a lot more fun to ride. I'll use the Wing for the long hauls and the Strom for the quick hitters. Ride one if you get a chance. You just might be surprised. I will give an update somewhere down the road... Show less

After 15 months and 8,500 miles. and about $3,000 worth of accesories I finally finished adding all the accesories I want. I've added a V Strom tank pad, Suzuki hand guards, a windshield, Suzuki hard trunk and saddle bags, a tour seat, LED turn signals, back off module and LED brake light license plate frame, and full system exhaust from LEO Vince. And after 8,500 miles I can tell you this bike is awesome. It still runs like the day I bought it. It's a total kick. It's the kind of bike that everyone can love. I've had cruisers and crotch rockets checking it out. It really has something that can appeal to everyone. And with an unlimited amout of accessories you can personalize it to your style. Show less

Where to start.. Hmmm. I bought the VStrom 650 on 1/12/2006, the first day of summer. After some research I had settled on the Vstrom despite the challenges of my bike riding mates who could not understand why I had bought a 650 of all things. My friends ride 1000 + cc bikes and thought that I was turning into a girl - WRONG! I purchased the bike from a dealer in a town some 30Kms away from where I live so I had a small but long enough ride home to be bitten by the bug, well and truely. I have another bike, a Ducati 500 Pantah. Those of you that know the bike would know that the thing is on rails and handles like a dream. I can flick the thing into any corner, change direction on a toothpick and pull up on a one cent coin. The Vstrom 650 was simply unreal. I loved the riding position, upright and very comfortable, light and nimble. This has and continues to surprise me considering the size of the motorcycle, but there you go. This bike is full of surprises. I didn't want to turn off the highway and head toward my home as I was just starting to get into it, but, my wife was behind me in the car and would not have been happy if I just rode on. I rode the Vstrom into my driveway, jumped off it and sat there and perved on it for a bit. I must admit that at first the bike looked too large. I suppose that the tank had a lot to do with that as now-a-days I think that it looks fantastic, modern, sort of go anywhere with fuel to spare and in comfort to boot. I have yet to date had anyone say anything other than it looks like a fun and versatile bike and a great colour too. Even BMW tossers have had the same opinion. Oh - buy the way- not all BMW riders are tossers - only the ones who tell you that their BMW is the best are tossers - GS 1200 riders are the greatest offenders and I can stick with you lot all day and for less than half the price so I respectfully suggest you re-evaluate and buy a Vstrom 650. Anyway - my first ride of note was thru the famous, or imfamous, Hellyer Gorge in Tasmania, Australia. A beuatiful winding road thru some of the most magnificent rainforest in Tassie, and it's just up the road from my place. I did whats called the big lap. You ride west from my place and end up returning to my home town from the south. About a 100 Km ride. Not big by any means but one of the best rides anywhere I have been to date. I didn't know the Vstrom at all. It was the first day I owned it. I wasn't used to riding in the upright position and the road I chose was one of the more challenging around my area, but what a ride. I found it different at first because I felt that I was sitting too tall in the seat thru corners and thought that I was going to simply fall of the thing half way round the corner. I didn't. Since then I have changed my riding style and hang off the Vstrom like Casey Stoner. It handles beautifully and I have great confidence in the motorcycle, infact just as much as I had in the Duc, I know that this is a big call but it is true none-the-less. I have been on many rides thru-out the summer the longest being 350 Kms on one tank. My mates on their 1000+ cc bikes are lucky to get 200Kms on a tank and they are not leaving me behind particularly thru windy up or down hill sections. I just love it. Of course, now-a-days, my mates have read the reviews, bought the mags with all the great things they have too say about the Vstrom and best of all stopped stirring me about buying a 650 cc bike. Why, well it's because the Vstrom 650 is no ordinary 650. It simply flogs everything in it's class without exception. Can't go wrong! It is so much more than I expected. Show less

I pruchased this bike the weekend of Thanksgiving 2006. I have driven it several days a week through the winter and almost every day since the weather changed. Mileage is in the 50's no matter how I ride-even 2 up. The bike is a little less than I would like for 2 up riding, if you plan to do a bunch, get the 1000. I live about 70 miles from the mountains and have some great rides out there I love to take. This is the first bike I have been on that I can ride out, ride hard on the twisty roads, and ride back in one sitting and still be able to walk the next day. I am even planning to do an iron butt ride on it. Bottom line, it is a great all around bike, and with gas going well over $3/gallon, who can argue with 50+ MPG? Show less

I looked at all the Big bore dual-sport adventure type machines; BMW, KTM, Triumph and picked the V-Strom and I am pleasantly pleased with the choice. Maintenance can be done by any self-respecting bike guy. Lots of add-ons available. There must be a Suzuki shop in every moderate sized town in America. The old TL engine, de-tuned in the DL, gives gobs of torque above 4,000 rpm with a decent top-end. The six-speed is butter and the OD is tall. Good in the twisties; keeps most of the clip-on crew in sight. Two-up is a decent ride due to the big, wide seat. It is possibly the best all-around bike I have ever ridden. I have not found anything it isn't good at; 75 mph crusin' on the big road to wringing it out on one-lane gravel to draggin' pegs in an off-camber, decreasing radius downhill left-hander. A lot of scoot for the loot! Show less

This is my third V-Strom, and it's the best all-around bike I've owned in 42 years of riding. It's not the best at anything, but it does just about everything well. It's not by any means a dirt bike, but it will get you down some gravel roads. Best of all, it's off the charts on the fun to ride meter. Ideal as a commuter bike, mine gets 55 MPG on the road and 45 in town. Show less

I put 18,500 miles on it from 4/26/06 thur 12/31/07. Rode in all sort of weather conditions. I have several 700 mile days on it and was comfortable all day. I find being tall in the saddle is great for comuting, I am at the same head height as SUV and Pick-ups. I can see everything, which is a plus on my 70 mile round trip to and from work everyday. March thru November it was my daily ride. The only trouble I have had has more to do with the rider than the bike, but 3 times at the end of a day I have dropped it while manuvering out of a parking spot. I attribute this my tiredness, but it would not have happened on my old GS1100E. Show less

I really like this bike. The powerband is great, power is very smooth. It is not the fastest bike but fun to ride. I commute to work and this bike is much better to ride in town than a sportbike. Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway is a blast too. Handles GREAT! Good fuel range, 240-250 miles(easily) on about 4.8 gal fillup (holds 5.8) Very comfortable too. Show less

I come from a dirt bike background, having owned mainly big bore 4 stroke singles. Several XR's, all sizes from 250 to 650, XTZ's, DR's and TT's. This is first 'road' bike I've owned, though I hesitate to call it that because the V-Strom is so many things wrapped up in one convenient package. I do everything on this bike, it's my sole means of transport. I commute to work, I go long distance touring on it, take it on leisurely Sunday rides, attack the twisties aggressively like a madman on it, and I even take it dirt riding and have left many an XR or WR rider in shock when they see me round a bend with the back wheel stepped out on some remote track somewhere. The v-twin engine is an absolute gem. The upright riding position is as comfortable as, just like being on a dirt bike to me, except with a fatload more grunt. The fuel economy is unbelievable, the best I have done is 441 km's from one tank, before I refilled, and there was still a litre or so in it. Top marks for Suzuki on this one. Show less