Is it touring capable

[Ncdan]

Hey guys, just doing some research. I was thinking about adding a second bike, possibly a duel sport bike. I want one  as light as possible but it must be big enough for comfortable touring, within reason, understanding it's not going to compete with a heavy touring mechine. The one,of probably many out there, I've been looking at is the Suzuki Strom 650. This bike,with larger planners, seems like a good choice and older models with low miles can be had from 3-4K can be found. What say y'all?

[Lannis]

Thousands of people use the Wee-Strom for touring all over the world at any weight and under any conditions.

I've ridden one a ways, and I wouldn't hesitate to ride it anywhere ...

Lannis

[Tom]

Good choice. 

[Kev m]

I think the real question is, can it be actually used off-road?

At least this test suggests it takes another $1100-1200 to prepare it for such use.

http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/suzuki-v-strom-650-off-road/


I always got the impression it was used more for on-road touring than off-road anything.

[Lannis]

I think the real question is, can it be actually used off-road?

At least this test suggests it takes another $1100-1200 to prepare it for such use.

http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/suzuki-v-strom-650-off-road/


I always got the impression it was used more for on-road touring than off-road anything.

I don't get the impression than Ncdan is intending to go off-road with it.   The "dual sport" thing was just an indication of the bike type.   I say that because I have a "dual sport" and I'm not taking that monster off-road; it's the best road bike I have ... !

Lannis

[Ncdan]

I think the real question is, can it be actually used off-road?

At least this test suggests it takes another $1100-1200 to prepare it for such use.

http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/suzuki-v-strom-650-off-road/


I always got the impression it was used more for on-road touring than off-road anything.

You are definitely right in your assessment. Being a serious trail ridder and hill climber in my youth, I don't think I'd want to take a mechine this big in the woods. However I would be into off pavement dirt roads through scenic area and such and best I can tell it would be suitable for that type of ridding.

[Kev m]

I still think you're looking at tires, bash plate, and crash bars right? That's still another $1kish.

[fotoguzzi]

I wouldn't call it very light tho. I can do touring on a DR650 and it's at least 100# lighter than the Strom.it does freeway speeds no problem.

[Ncdan]

I still think you're looking at tires, bash plate, and crash bars right? That's still another $1kish.

It would be great if I could find an older model with not a lot of miles, that already had that extra stuff, including hard tough luggage. However I would not spend more money to add the protection bars etc. like Lannis speculated I will not be doing any serious trail riding as I realize this bike is really not designed for that type of use anyway. I think slightly rough roads would be the limit for me and the bike. Any worse than that I'll be looking for a wide place in the road for turning around:)

[ohiorider]

I hope my riding buddy, Tom, (Grebmrof) responds.  We headed West in 2011, me on my 2008 MG Sport 1200, Tom on his V Strom 650.  Both of us were equipped with panniers and rear racks, and were carrying standard camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, air mattress.)

My 1200 Sport was flawless on this trip.  As was Tom's 650 V Strom.  I don't recall one time that the fact my bike had nearly 2x the displacement, as well as a hp advantage, put Tom at a disadvantage.  That damned Strom seemed to be a perfect bike for this cross country journey.

Though small(er) in displacement, the V Strom appears to be a large bike, with plenty of room for someone over 6 feet tall to move around.

Bob

[JohninVT]

The Strom has 65-70hp, has a 280 mile tank range, is super comfortable, has good weather protection(once you add a Madstad bracket), has one of the most reliable engines ever made and has a huge aftermarket.  It is the Honda Civic or Toyota Camry of dual sport motorcycles.  They’re very easy to live with.

Skip the skid plate.  They’re just loud and make changing the oil a hassle.  You don’t need one to cruise dirt roads.  Get some Givi or Hepco Becker crash guards instead.  You’re more liable to flop the bike on its side in a campground than you are to center punch a foot high boulder in the middle of a gravel road. 

Definitely sign up at Stromtrooper.  You’ll learn a ton as well as getting in on things like a Terry Adcox group buy for custom seats.  Nice members in that forum and they’re serious riders who put on a ton of miles. 

[twowings]

A certain adventure riding forum is chock-full of very happy Wee-Strom riders...it's a solid traveling companion. 

[JJ]

Thousands of people use the Wee-Strom for touring all over the world at any weight and under any conditions.

I've ridden one a ways, and I wouldn't hesitate to ride it anywhere ...

Lannis

Agree 100% with Lannis on the V-Strom...

[LowRyter]

I think you could ride that bike comfortably to the moon. 

[Guzzistajohn]

I went to see my AHRMA trials buddy and 'Zuki/Triumph shop owner Randy Lusk to buy a wee-strom in2006. He put me on a wee, and said "but you have to ride a tiger when you get back" I still have the Tigger. The triple 955 and it's linear power delivery and top end made it a no-brainer for me.

[nick949]

Yep - I think so. Great bike!

https://advrider.com/f/threads/avoiding-canadas-winter-february-riding-in-the-uk-now-complete.1288030/

Nick

[arveno]

https://advrider.com/f/threads/2014-suzuki-dl650a-v-strom-ks.1352640/

Here you go.
not in your price range but....

[Ncdan]

I hope my riding buddy, Tom, (Grebmrof) responds.  We headed West in 2011, me on my 2008 MG Sport 1200, Tom on his V Strom 650.  Both of us were equipped with panniers and rear racks, and were carrying standard camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, air mattress.)

My 1200 Sport was flawless on this trip.  As was Tom's 650 V Strom.  I don't recall one time that the fact my bike had nearly 2x the displacement, as well as a hp advantage, put Tom at a disadvantage.  That damned Strom seemed to be a perfect bike for this cross country journey.

Though small(er) in displacement, the V Strom appears to be a large bike, with plenty of room for someone over 6 feet tall to move around.

Bob

Wow, thanks for this response Bob! You guys were loaded to the hilt! Sounds like the little Storm is the " Little Engine That Could" the bikes remind me of the trip I made a few years ago across the Jefferson National Forest, with my horse and dog packed to the max.

[Ncdan]

The Strom has 65-70hp, has a 280 mile tank range, is super comfortable, has good weather protection(once you add a Madstad bracket), has one of the most reliable engines ever made and has a huge aftermarket.  It is the Honda Civic or Toyota Camry of dual sport motorcycles.  They’re very easy to live with.

Skip the skid plate.  They’re just loud and make changing the oil a hassle.  You don’t need one to cruise dirt roads.  Get some Givi or Hepco Becker crash guards instead.  You’re more liable to flop the bike on its side in a campground than you are to center punch a foot high boulder in the middle of a gravel road. 

Definitely sign up at Stromtrooper.  You’ll learn a ton as well as getting in on things like a Terry Adcox group buy for custom seats.  Nice members in that forum and they’re serious riders who put on a ton of miles.

Good review John, thanks for the great info!! Hope to see this year!

[Jukebox]

Touring yes.
Did Wollongong to Darwin, Australia 5000kms two up no issues.
Stock everything 2013 model.
Fuel consumption awesome below 130kms.
Off road as in dirt trails, forest roads good.
Single line and KTM stuff leave it at home.
Great bike, seat good,riding position good, I still can not get over how good it is for it's  size.
Harry

[Dilliw]

The Stormtrooper rally is in May over at Iron Horse.  Show up there and you will meet some serious Wee fans.  In the end most of the people who go away from the Wee do so because there's just not enough problems and stuff to obsess about!

[JohninVT]

Having toured on a DL650 and DR650. I don't consider the DL650 an off-road bike. Maybe groomed fire roads but the heft at around 500lbs is something that is no fun once off pavement. I've ridden the DR650 in some really good duel sport events and its okay on c-class single track the weight begins to be really noticeable. Its a blast on fire roads but that gets boring pretty quick.


I had the DR fitted with a 5.3 gallon fuel tank to get me 240+ mile range, Seat Concepts Commuter seat, reworked the forks/shock for my weight added pelican 1550 panniers and it never let me down. It'll cruise at 80mph all day and is light and flickable in the twisties.


The DL has a lot better power output but is not fast at all nor does it have a bunch of get up and go, Riding with people 2 up on a well used BMW 800 they could walk away from me on the DL riding solo on the straights.

If you ride with buddies it nice if everyone is on similar bikes so you can run together. If your buddy has a 250 pound KTM and you on a 600 pound KLR nobody has fun. Same if yuor on a Grom and touring with a group of Hyabusas. Just too differetn to be fun.


I replaced the DL650 with a R1200GS that is similar in weight 40 more HP and better...well everything at a sacrifice of 2 MPG. Right before I bought the BMW I rode the DL some big days 12/14 hours n th esadlle 700+ mile days and thought it was dialed into what I wanted. I bought the BMW took it for a 9 mile ride got home hopped on the DL and it felt like cheap i'll fitting piece of junk. Even the brakes sucked. I have had up to 8 bikes and never felt a such a dramatic difference hopping from one bike to the next. While the DL is a fine bike and is bulletproof, inexpensive and have a big following. My 1st will most likely be my last. DR's on the other hand I've owned 3 and still have one with a sidecar on it for the pup.

Of course a DL feels cheap compared to a GS1200.  The BMW costs more than twice as much.  That’s like saying a Toyota Yaris isn’t as nice as a BMW 5 series sedan.  As for comparing the Strom to the BMW GS800...the 800 costs $5,000 more.  I should hope it had a little more oomph for that much money.  It’s about 15hp, by the way.

I always find it amusing when owners of BMW’s and KTM’s point out the shortcomings of the V-Strom compared to their much more expensive machines.  They see the bike as inferior.  I see the bike as punching well above its’ weight and the fact it can even be put in the same conversation as a $20k bike is a tribute to what a great platform it is and has been for over a decade.   

[JohninVT]

I owned a DL1000.  The 650 weighs 60lbs less, gets much better mileage and has the same ergonomics.  I do a fair amount of high speed, two up riding so I chose the 1000.  If you buy either Strom you will need a Madstad bracket.  There are a half dozen shields you can choose from if the stock one doesn’t work.  I had a large, tinted Cee Bailey.  Inch up and inch back bar risers are cheap from multiple sources.  I had Givi crashguards.  They’re a nice place to stretch your legs on or to mount auxiliary lights.  The older ones like mine benefit from a fork brace.  The brakes aren’t great.  I installed Galfer HH pads and steel braided lines.  The brakes still weren’t great but they were better.  Something to consider(depending on your riding style) is that a large screen might not work well, aerodynamically, with a top case.  I could adjust my Madstad so I was in a quiet pocket of air at 80mph but if the top case was on the bike it would begin to weave above 90.  Removing the top case or having a passenger completely eliminated the weave.  The speedometers are notoriously inaccurate.  They all read high by 10-11%.  I used a Speedohealer.  If you have handguards some of the throttle locks aren’t ideal.  I used Throttlemeisters but they’re expensive. 

[rocker59]

-I was thinking about adding a second bike, possibly a duel sport bike. 

-I've been looking at is the Suzuki Storm 650. 

OK.  mixed messages in your post. 

First, a Suzuki Vstrom  IS NOT a dual sport bike  (See DR650 for that).  It's not even an ADVbike, unless beaucoup dinero is poured into the project.  And then it's still not a very good ADVbike.  Endless reading on the subject over at ADVrider.com/forums.  Heavy for its displacement.  Wind management issues.  Crappy stock suspension.  Etc, etc...

If you're wanting to tour on a bike that can comfortably go off-pavement, then there are many better choices out there in the mid-sized ADV segment:  Tiger 800, F800GS, F650GSA, KLR650, etc., etc..

If you're just wanting a middle-weight standard touring bike that you can pick up for next to nothing on the used market, then maybe the WeeStrom will fill your bill.  But, don't do it thinking it's a "dual sport bike".

[mjptexas]

I just bought this for a similar reason.  I want to be able to go down gravel and dirt roads when I am out in the country.  No desire for any serious off-roading.  Didn't have anything in the stable that would comfortably do that.





DR650s are a bit challenging for those of us that are inseam challenged.

[kballowe]

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or you could think about a Versys 650
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[Guzzistajohn]

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or you could think about a Versys 650
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Hey Kevin, where'd you get the Push Mtn Sticker? I want one too : )   (will ride for stickers)

[kballowe]

Hey Kevin, where'd you get the Push Mtn Sticker? I want one too : )   (will ride for stickers)

Alas, no more of those.  There was a rider on the sport bike forum with a bit of artistic talent and access to the right equipment - but he is long gone.
I still have a couple little-teeny 3/4" square Push Mountain stickers if you want.

[Guzzistajohn]

Alas, no more of those.  There was a rider on the sport bike forum with a bit of artistic talent and access to the right equipment - but he is long gone.
I still have a couple little-teeny 3/4" square Push Mountain stickers if you want.

I *need* one for my Tiger bags, if you could part with one, that would be awesome! I'll PM you my address and fix you an old fashion at Cedar Vale : )  THANKS!!

[rocker59]

I just bought this for a similar reason.  I want to be able to go down gravel and dirt roads when I am out in the country.  No desire for any serious off-roading.  Didn't have anything in the stable that would comfortably do that.





 

Those are cool.  Saw them at the local BMW dealer, recently.