[starvingstudent]

I really like the V-Strom, though I wonder why a practicality-oriented machine would ever have pipes so high. Wouldn't they cook your luggage or the legs of your passenger? Otherwise, though, a great new big standard (and a V-twin one at that!).



As for the MoviStar paint job, I'd rather have bamboo splinters shoved under my fingernails than ride a bike that looked like that. ICK!

 

[starvingstudent]

Go to the UK...

...and buy an X11. It's a CBR1100XX-powered naked bike, though why anyone would want that much speed without a fairing is beyond me.

 

[starvingstudent]

The V-Strom ISN'T the latter...

If you think the V-Strom can handle anything rougher than a packed dirt road, you're in for a surprise. Even the R1150GS is pretty darned impractical for "go-anywhere" work, and the Tiger, V-Strom, and CapoNord just are too big and too powerful for off-road.

If you want to "go anywhere", check out a F650GS Paris-Dakar, or maybe a KLR650.

 

[starvingstudent]

Re: Go to the UK...

Well, if you're going to be fussy ;-) then how about the new Speed Triple? Doesn't it have the same engine as the new Daytona?

 

[starvingstudent]

Yadda yadda yadda...

Right, so you want a state-of-the-art engine, a state-of-the-art chassis, state-of-the-art weight saving techniques, last-forever reliability, and lots of fancy options, but you ALSO want it to cost as much as a budget naked bike? Why don't they make the entire thing out of titanium and carbon fiber and sell it for US$134.99 while they're at it?

 

[starvingstudent]

It's German. It means "power" or "surge" or something like that.

 

[starvingstudent]

My theory on the name

The V-prefix is a reference to the V-Raptor, and the "strom" is a reference to German motorcycles. If you mate a V-Raptor and an R1150GS, you'd get something like the V-Strom.

As for the foreign name, that I don't find wierd myself. After all, we've had Hayabusas and Tetrastrettas and R1150GSs (GS are the initials of the term "dual-sport" in German). What baffles me is why a Japanese company would give a German name to a bike which is to be sold in the UK and USA.

 

[starvingstudent]

Retro scrambler

How about fitting high pipes on a W650? My father's W really has great composure on washboard dirt roads and such, but is also nice for the street. Don't know if anyone makes such an exhaust, but it will do everything the CL did, and do it better.

 

[starvingstudent]

Scrambler pipes--can be done, has been done

Visit Ian Chadwick's W650 page at

http://ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/w650/

Check out the custom scrambler exhaust system in the gallery. If the original poster is interested, I'd suggest emailing Mr. Chadwick for details.

 

[starvingstudent]

Re: More Great Names From Suzuki

See my above post--Strom is German for "power" or "current" or some such thing.

 

[starvingstudent]

Re: Yadda yadda yadda...

I'd say the only thing "ripped" by your purchase are the ligaments in your shoulders ;-)

 

[starvingstudent]

Impractical features on a dual-sport

The Aprilia Pegaso has got twin headlights and a fancy fairing (like the V-Strom); the F650GS and the CapoNord have twin under-the-tail exhaust. So Suzuki isn't the only one doing things this way with their dual-sports.

Since most adventurer-touring riders don't actually leave pavement, it's nice to have something prettier than a Mad Max type bike. I personally like the looks of the "polished" dual-sports like the F650GS, Pegaso, and CapoNord. For those who _do_ do things the rugged way and want to look the part, there's always the R1150GS, the Quota, and the KLR650.

 

[starvingstudent]

Dual-sport aesthetics

> I just think that it could have been executed a bit better.

Agreed. The CapoNord, the Pegaso, and especially the Cagiva Gran Canyon, are all much more attractive than the V-Strom within the "shiny dual-sport" market. But now there is now the Multistrada, so the V-Strom is certainly not the ugliest of the genre.

 

[starvingstudent]

Re: Anyone notice

I wouldn't worry about it--most cruisers also put the passenger's knees near the rider's kidneys. But the passenger's knees go _outside_ of the rider's body, so you won't be peeing blood after hitting a pothole.

 

[starvingstudent]

Re: Scrambler pipes--can be done, has been done

True, true. But if you pick up a leftover 2000 or 2001 (plenty out there) for, say, $5500, you've still got $2500 to fool around before you even hit the cost of an F650; $3500 before the V-Strom. Custom one-off pipes can't be cheap, but they can't be _that_ expensive either--especially if you're avoiding modern high-tech materials like titanium and carbon fiber.

Easy rider chopper? Sure, I'm sure its coming in somebody's scheming mind ;-) What I'm waiting for is somebody to give a W650 a new fairing, bars, and seat and make it look like a 60's GP bike.

 

[starvingstudent]

Wait for V-Strom...

...because the Tiger has stripes painted on the tank and eyebrows painted over the twin round headlamps. Ick. Could YOU deal with a bike like that?

It'd be different if they dropped the stripes and eyebrows and painted a toothy mouth on it, WWII airplane style.