SUZUKI DL1000 V-STROM (2002 - 2008) Review

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Annual servicing cost: £270
Power: 105 bhp
Seat height: Tall (34.4 in / 875 mm)
Weight: Medium (456 lbs / 207 kg)

Prices

New N/A
Used £2,600 - £3,300

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom is a far better bike than its subdued manner and slightly anonymous styling suggests.

It’s heart is the excellent V-twin motor from the TL series. The Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom's chassis is top notch road-trailie, it’s comfortable, brisk and excellent value, too.

It's for these reasons that it also appears in our expert guide to sub-£3k adventure motorbikes.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom's wide, high bars and low pegs have you adopting a sit up and beg posture that makes comfortable sense in the long run. The suspension is plush to soak the bumps and ruts of British roads easing your ride.
That plush suspension can mean the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom wallows a little, but only if you tackle twisties in the way you would on a more dedicated sportsbike.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom is the acceptable face of the old TL1000 motor. Detuned for greater low-down grunt the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom will drive you hard out of corners or past caravans on long distance jaunts. And apart from the glorious noise, you would be hard-pushed to recognise that the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom is a V-twin, it's that vibe-free.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom is not quite the luxury item that a BMW GS or KTM Adventure professes to be, but although more workmanlike it’s fairly decent, robust and reliable. Look after your Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom and keep it clean in all the right areas and you won’t regret it.

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
5 out of 5 (5/5)

There’s no getting away with it, with the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, you get an awful lot of bike for your buck. Lots of extra such as heated grips, luggage and centre stands are available too making the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom a true go-anywhere motorcycle for not a huge amount of dosh. Find a Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom for sale.

Equipment

4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom dash is well equipped with digital fuel gauge, clock, rev counter and all the other usuals and the mirrors work very well, offering a big, clear view of the scene behind. Some may find the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom screen a tad low for high-speed work, but that can be sorted with a flip-up, or some leaning forward when you want to whip along at three-figure speeds (overseas, obviously).

Specs

Engine size 996cc
Engine type 90-degree 4v V-twin, 6 gears
Frame type Aluminium twin spar
Fuel capacity 22 litres
Seat height 875mm
Bike weight 207kg
Front suspension None
Rear suspension Preload, compression, rebound
Front brake 2 x 310mm discs
Rear brake 265mm disc
Front tyre size 110/90 x 19
Rear tyre size 150/70 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 39 mpg
Annual road tax £117
Annual service cost £270
New price -
Used price £2,600 - £3,300
Insurance group 12 of 17
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance

Max power 105 bhp
Max torque 68 ft-lb
Top speed 130 mph
1/4 mile acceleration 12.2 secs
Tank range 185 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

2002: Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom introduced.

Other versions

Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom Grand Touring. Introduced in 2006 with heated grips, centre stand and luggage pack as standard fitments.

Owners' reviews for the SUZUKI DL1000 V-STROM (2002 - 2008)

28 owners have reviewed their SUZUKI DL1000 V-STROM (2002 - 2008) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your SUZUKI DL1000 V-STROM (2002 - 2008)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.4 out of 5 (4.4/5)
Engine: 4.7 out of 5 (4.7/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.7 out of 5 (4.7/5)
Equipment: 4 out of 5 (4/5)
Annual servicing cost: £270
5 out of 5 The equivalent motorcycle of a devoted and loyal wife.
29 July 2024 by Octavian

Version: K2

Year: 2002

Annual servicing cost: £300

I ride for 10 years now, in which 7 of them the Suzuki V Strom 2002 is my daily. I use it from -5 C to 40 C here in Romania to go everywhere: coffee shops, supermarket, weddings, funerals, track days and so on... Even tough, more heavier than the more popular 650 version, I like it more for the surefooted-ness, snappy acceleration, double exhaust and timing gear whine. If you’re taller than 185 cm and heavier than 90 kg the bike is more than manageable, I would say. Very easy, intuitive bike to ride and doesn’t need a lot of imput to steer it. Shorter people would say that is top heavy. Pretentious people would say the brakes lack power and feel. The lack of ground clearance makes it more of a pavemenet machine but can be used on dirt roads.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

For the 90+ kg riders, front suspension is soft, if you ride it hard like a sport bike front feels vague and keeps wondering left and right. I always ride it with max preload on the back because it makes her more eager to change direction. If you ride it normally is pretty plush and dialed in I would say. Soft suspension dives a lot for my liking but also helps a lot when you take speedbumps with 40-50 miles per hour. 😊 To do mods for suspension front fork brace, and stiffer springs if you want a more sporty, precise ride. The brakes are good but it depends a lot wich pads you use. Brembo red ones double sintered, strong bite and stopping power, but are too strong and in the bends disrupts the bike geometry too much for my liking. EBC HH double sintered are top picks on the forums. Right now I use EBC V pad semi sintered which I think is a great all rounder for pad wear and breaking performance. For more feel and performance I recommend steel braided lines straight from master pump to brake caliper.

Engine 5 out of 5

I think the most reliable V twin in last 20+ years if you don’t take in account the clutch basket chudder problem. Very nice power and torque delivery, even if you ease the clutch out the bike takes off with no throttle input. I recommend an engine remap for more smoothness and you get rid of that particular snatcy-ess right when you crack the throttle and you have to smoothen it out with the clutch. Enough power to get fun but not scary fun, also if you know what are you doing, you can hang out with the 600cc sport bikes in the bends. If you want some fun, you can always wack the throttles in first 2~3 gears and pop a wheelie. Sounding wise, best sounding V twin period. Heat management I thing its pretty good with 2 radiators; 1 water cooling, 1 oil cooling but in congested traffic, in 30 C + wheather you will feel it but it doesn’t bother me that much (still not as bad as some Ducati’s). Easier to work on than the 650 variant if you need to do timing chain.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

In 7 years and @40.000 kms later, bike now has @ 80.000kms. I had only 2 issues: 1 electrical problem (@ 65.000kms mark) on low beam in main harness connector, the connectors were corroded. I cleaned them and they worked flawless since. The second one is the almighty documented problem found on the clutch basket also known as the clutch Chudder effect between 3-4000 rpm, wich has been solved with a moded clutch basket. Other than that, plastics are in pretty good shape, no rattles and squeaks. The color on the seat material has started to fade but in not sure if it’s the original material because the seat is from a 650 versions which is more lower and shaped like a ladle. The original is more flat and higher. I would suggest a brake and clutch actuation rebuild Now 22 year later, the age started show up as rear sub frame rust, paint chipping on the engine, rusted bolts, noisy bearing. Things which, with with little money can be solved. And even though the bike is 22 years old, i get compliments from poeple how good the bike looks and doesnt show its age that much.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Insurance here in Romania is @ 50 pounds per year if you’re over 45-50. Mileage on A and B roads @300 km (185 miles) from a tank (20 litre) when I thrash it, in the city @ 160 kms (100 miles) in very congested traffic. (got to mention i got Arrow exhaust and need to do a remap because fuel ratio is wonky) That said i think the bike is a bit on the thirsty side. Maintenance, I do it myself(except suspension) but for the parts : - Oil and filter @55 pounds give or take on every 5000 kms - Sparkplugs 4x @15 = 60 pounds on (iridium which last longer) on every 30.000 kms - Air filter @20 pounds on every 2 years - Brake fluid + for the hydraulic clutch also @ 20 pounds every 2 years - Chain KIT @ 110 pounds just changed it after @ 39.000 kms - Tires lasted me @20.000 kms bought the bike with new Metzler Tourance and then switched to Michelin Anakee 3 @ 250 to 300 pounds per set. - Front fork and shock service is @ 170 +170 pounds at the shop - Brake pads front and rear @ 130 pounds for EBV V pad semi sintered

Equipment 4 out of 5

Well, mine (2002-2003, non face lift model) has fixed windshield and no adjustable fork only manual preload on the back. It came with plastic handguards(wich are very efective) and a helmet lock (standard equipment I guess), after market taller windscreen, crash bars, 50 liter top box, rack and 37 liter side cases. The fixed windshield helps having storage space over instrument cluster and you can put there a rag/ towel, some crips/sweets to enjoy on your ride. The bike engine is fuel injected and has a fuel gauge. Electronically the bike has no abs, no combined braking, no power modes, no traction control, no cruise control, no nothing. From 2004 the introduced adjustable wind shield, and adjustable front fork. From 2008 they introduced ABS. A lot of under seat storage. You can put almost 4 bottles of .5 liters of water under. Very good headlight can be improved with LEDs with out dazzling oncoming traffic. Also the hidraulic actuated clutch is a big plus, when going in the middle of no where, with no cable to snap and leave you stranded. Even tough, lacks a lot of features comapred to a mondern bike, after market support is plenty and above avreage quality.

Buying experience: Bought it in 2017 with equivalent of @2800 pounds back then, from a private seller with @40.000 kms after he purchased it half a year earlier from a renown multi brand dealership here in Romania. Planning to keep it 2~3 years more then get a 2016+ Honda VFR1200X CrossTourer or 2012+ Kawasaki GTR 1400.

2 out of 5
12 April 2024 by Stefan Mitov

Year: 2006

I think that the people that hype this bike in 2024 have never ridden a proper motorcycle. As an adventure bike it is awful. Extremely top heavy. This is a touring bike and nothing close to adventure bike.

Ride quality & brakes 2 out of 5

But it has no stock customization options. Stock suspension is terrible and it has not customization options. The brakes are vague with no bite.

Engine 3 out of 5

Good enough power but very thirsty. Wet sump.

Reliability & build quality 3 out of 5

It is reliable but boring. It has much corrosion on the subframe.

Value vs rivals 2 out of 5

Very thirsty for the performance that you get.

Equipment 1 out of 5

The bike needs all the customization in the world. The stock seat is bad, the stock handlebar is bad and soft, it needs a proper sump guard.

5 out of 5 The Unsung Hero of ADV Touring
12 April 2023 by Pappa Bear

Version: K8

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £200

Decent power, quick acceleration, very comfortable, great V Twin sound, low center of gravity makes it flickable in the twisties. Light and easy to handle for such a big bike. Keep an eye on the speedo - you can find yourself running a lot faster than what it feels like. Great tourer on tar and gravel. It's a bit sluggish around 2000rpm or less, does not like to putter along, mine has had engine cut out a few times after a cold start (in warm weather). I highly recommend this bike to all riders, especially long distance multi day tourers, and folks over the age of 50 :).

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Good ride quality. Spacious cockpit. Ride-all-day type of comfort. Brakes comparatively soft, but nothing to complain about. Does the job. Can ride for hours easily and comfortably. If you are with other riders, they will be needing a break before you.

Engine 5 out of 5

I love the power, the acceleration, the sound. but keep revs above 2500 for a smooth ride.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

At 70 000km, no issues yet. Starts first time and runs like a dream.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Follow the spec intervals or shorter for oil changes. Easy to maintain. Plugs and air filter changes need seat and tank removal, but this is also easier than other bikes I have owned / serviced.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Enough to keep me informed, not too much to distract me.

Buying experience: Bought this 2009 model with 40 000 miles on. It had been treated well by previous owner, and stored indoors. Replaced chain and sprockets and rear brake disc shortly after my purchase, but nothing unusual or unexpected to be spent. Price for bike was ZAR 52 000 and another ZAR 10 000 on necessary replacements and tyres.

4 out of 5 Outdated but still a very good tourer.
26 September 2022 by Lui

Version: Canadian VStrom

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £120

The VStrom 1000 is outdated when compared to modern bikes in this class but, if you can get one well maintained and sorted out it still makes a very good and reliable tourer. There are still quite a few in the market with low mileage and very affordable pricing. Take care of your clutch basket shudder, keep an eye on your voltage and upgrade your suspension (correct springs & valving) and you have a keeper.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

For a bike with OEM suspension I would rate 3 of 5 but mine had both suspensions upgraded and it made a huge difference. Brakes are a bit dull but they do stop the bike safely. There are aftermarket parts to improve a little.

Engine 4 out of 5

This V-Twin runs a little lean in the 3000 to 3800 rpm range. Install iridium spark plugs and keep your throttle bodies synchronized, it helps a lot. Strong pull from 4000 up to 8500 rpm, will make you grin... A proven bulletproof engine, lots of bikes still running with very high mileage.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Reliability has been perfect with mine, it has 133,000 kms, not a single problem and it still looks good. For sure, It helps that it is always stored indoor and my riding season is 8 months at the most.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Estimate above would be for consumables only (oil, filters...) because I do all service myself. Runs perfectly on regular fuel. It is an easy bike to work on, valves are gear driven, parts are not expensive. Lots of aftermarket and resources on the web e.g. stromtrooper.com.

Equipment 3 out of 5

Compared to today's standards it is a pretty basic set up. The only thing I wish it had is ABS brakes, all other electronics I can live without.

5 out of 5 Great Bike. V Strom.
02 January 2022 by William Hobbs

Version: K8 GT

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £500

Best all round Bike I ever had. So far! Yes would recommend to anyone.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Was re called for rectifier mods but so far been very reliable.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5

Vee twin engine. Had mine re mapped with Arrow cans. Adjustable screen bought from USA. Suzuki lowered the bike. Took off Centre stand due to grinding on corners. Mitchelin tyres. Two teeth smaller rear sprocket makes 6th gear a true overdrive & better cruising legal motorway speeds.

Buying experience: I paid £6k for Bike 2nd hand in2010.

4 out of 5 Fun, Reliable, Fast, Do-Everything, Apocolypse-Ready
10 February 2021 by John W

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £300

Found a nicely-kept 2004 with 31K miles. Was not initially impressed with the power, specially the power delivery, but found it was basically ignored for years. With some known fixes (clutch basket, new screen (Moose shorty), Power Commander, fork brace, etc.), it's surprisingly capable - smoother, faster, easier to ride. Plenty of stretch-out room, and good places for a pillion and luggage. A keeper, but support from dealers is getting thin.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

A tad too soft in the front, but is very comfy around town with the long wheelbase and forgiving settings. With the fork brace, now totally acceptable for hooning around on. The brakes could use more bite. Will get steel lines and slightly more aggressive pads. Will get contemporary tires soon - which really should help.

Engine 4 out of 5

After the updates, much better, a bit thirsty. Still some adjusting to do, but am *very* optimistic. A TB balance is in the cards (and is supposed to be a mandatory adjustment, just like valve checks), as are slightly hotter plugs. Will also play with the Commander settings after the above adjustments. I've read original reviews about just how smooth this is, but have yet to experience it at that level. I might be asking too much for a twin, but I think it'll be better after the tweaking. There are some tips/tricks owners on the forums have employed and seemed to have given the engine a much better personality.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

After the updates, no issues. Have talked with owners who have put over 150K miles on, one with over 200K miles. Nothing had blown up!

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Can't annualize yet, but it would appear to run about $300 plus fuel. Totally acceptable.

Equipment 3 out of 5

Maybe unfair, but by today's standards, not much comes with. Could use cruise control (Kaoke mechanical for stock hand guards on the list), maybe a seat. Has Leo Vince cans, which sound great, but are physically too big and a bit too loud. Might replace.

Buying experience: Bought it used from an individual who was NOT on his game. Luckily he only had it for a couple years, and didn't ride it much. Find one with documentation, specially evidence of regular maintenance. And, make sure you have someone who can work on it locally *before* you buy it.

5 out of 5
02 November 2018 by Chris_21

Year: 2004

Amazing to ride, breaks smoothly and it gives you more than you would expect from a low budget motorbike.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

Buying experience: I bought it from a dealer with 48000km for 3500€. Excellent condition.

4 out of 5 Vstrom4life
13 May 2018 by SoloRiderZX

Year: 2007

Annual servicing cost: £200

So far, so good... Over 70k miles covered. It's a reliable bike, I bought it used but I don't regret it. It's quite thirsty. I think the twin exhausts are a cool feature.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Touring side is nice and you can hit some light off-road. 19 inch wheel. Of course it's not as comfy as a GS or KTM. Gel or replace the seat.

Engine 4 out of 5

Power is always there but after 3000rpm...nice V-twin sound.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Build quality is ok. Sometimes the gears skip and without an indicator you get confused.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

If hitting the trails then you must add crash bars and other protection. A centre stand would be nice.

4 out of 5 Amazing Bike
12 August 2017 by Kyle

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £300

The upright riding position is very comfortable but the stock seat has to go. It's hard to tell that you're not on a sport bike when you hit the twisters. Great bike overall.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Rides great. Very comfortable and the brakes work great. Mine doesn't have ABS, which will be a requirement on the next one.

Engine 5 out of 5

Crazy powerful and a ton of torque. No complaints.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Very easy to work on once you've learned to tear it down. The only issue I have is the notorious clutch basket rattle at around 3000 RPM. 50,000 miles and it hasn't hurt anything. Just noisy.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Tons of goodies available for the DL1000. Engine guard, a throttle lock, and hard panniers are a must.

5 out of 5
09 October 2015 by raymond060

Year: 2005

very impress except to ride slow, have to play the clutch in trails so engine does not go below 3000 I will change the sprockets to 16-43.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5

pulls like a tractor 4000-7000 but can't go below 3000

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

could be better but price would go up too

4 out of 5 Great Foundation
18 July 2013 by dwfree

Stock it's an ok bike - suspension average at best, decent motor, excellent ergos and weather protection. With a PC & dyno Tune, opened up airbox, Remus cans it barks & runs much better (97 HP). Racetech fork springs, and revalved fork, Penske shock, lowered front by 1.5", raised rear 1 1/4", it's no GSXR but handles extremely well. The long seat to peg distance makes it very comfortale, but a bit top heavy. Great value if you know how to make the right mods. It is but ugly, but I bought it to ride, not look at. Mine will hang with any other adventure bike until the road turns turns to goat trail.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
4 out of 5 cinderella
06 September 2011 by invertedmatt

Beautiful from some angles,and as ugly as big Hilda from the chippy from other angles, very few people know what to make of the big DL, unless they've owned one. It lacks glamour and focus but once you've had one, they'll always hold a place in your heart. It looks massive but is infact light and agile, weighing less than a Honda 800 Vfr. A big tank, comfy seat, bullet proof punchy engine,and good weather protection are a few of its good points. Aftermarket is easy and I recommend: progressive front springs, hyperpro rear suspension, Renthall fatbars, Oxford heated grips, Leo Vince/two Bros exhausts, Givi crash bars, Givi panniers and backbox. Poor bouncy suspension and poor brakes are its main faults but curable. So if you want a bike that is almost as good as a GS but at a fraction of the price and you can ignore some questionable styling and a few budget parts, this is a fantastic buy. Suzuki describe it as a dual purpose sports tourer and it is. Gravel, highway, commute, tour, racetrack, one up, two up, it does it all and pretty well indeed. If you think that you might get one, then get one, you won't regret it.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
5 out of 5 twice the bike for half the price (of a BMW, KTM...)
14 December 2009 by

Why is the ugly BMW GS the benchmark for big trailies? Don't get me wrong its great to ride, solid, powerful, great handling and mature; but with the boxer that gets in the way or demaged with serious greenlaning, horried looks, stupid switchgear.... what is it about it? And why does nobody even mentions the V-Strom as a competitor? I can only guess - because it worries the competition. It is simply the best of all: Tiger, to heavy unreliable and useless for even gravel, Varadero an expensive softy with no soul, Aprillia not really a serious contender, KTM ugly as pig (which is why most are orange...), less reliable and more expensive than the V-strom. After a few month of Immobilizer related problems that proved a challenge to get right, I finally enjoyed hundreds of miles of mixed british roads: A,B and M. Even some green laning. In the sun, rain and frost. The V-Strom is so easy to live with. It easily keeps up with 'hard working, sport bikers on smoot A-roads, copes brilliantly with the poorer roads of the yorkshire dales and is almost as comfy as a tourer on the motorways. so why does it get so little recognition? shame it's discontinued too. Let's hope a new version, just as good, comes out again. I'll cercainly buy one.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Fairly Reliable "07
12 April 2009 by thecoreguy2

I bought mine new in July '07. I began taking trips the following week, it was broken in within a week and ready for first service. I put a Suzuki gel seat on when I bought it, never have sat on the original. Also bought bar risers to come up and back a couple inches both ways. It's fairly comfortable for 2-3 hours, need to stretch a bit after that. I often ride to Central Oregon, a 4 hour(less at times) trip to where I go. Stop about half way for gas and bathroom, I'm good the rest of the way. Not a pro at all, but love to corner, it does quite well except if it's wet and you corner on cross walk paint or railroad tracks, hops a bit sideways if you don't slow way down. Only real issue I've had, when it was about 10 months or so old, about 8,000 miles, it started running badly at steady speeds unless I revved it quite a bit. Barely got it too the dealer, they changed plugs but couldn't duplicate the problem. Ran good for a while, then did same thing a couple of times, though not as bad as first time. Again, really couldn't find it, though they suspect factory lean settings at lower revs, supposed to be a fix for that, new chip or something. Other than that, really nothing wrong, been a mostly very good bike and a good buy I thought. Love the torque available, and if you kick down a gear to pass on a 2 lane road, pulls very hard to 90-100mph very fast. The test says top speed of 130, I've had mine to 130-135 several times and still more to go, dealer says 150 and I bet it's close. All in all, avery good bike and I've met many people that have 650's and 1000's and they are generall y very pleased with them.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 work on it ....
07 November 2008 by minkyhead

two years now ...total reliability ...strong engine from the start ..the handling has improved no end ..raising links [ebay..up inch at the rear ] hagon rear shock ohlins springs sae 15 oil [fork brace ..murphs 020s fitted instead of swapping the bike i have improved it ..its cost around 1500 pounds but what i have now is a real compliant and competant bike one or two up the engine has a tourque curve betwwen 3500 and 7500 revs that you could play bowls on it dynod at 94.7bhp at rear wheel 97 nm torque at 4800 revs i get miffed when people say ugly bland japanise ect ect this bike has loads of chariter ..as a ex 1150 1200gsand varadero pilot ..in its present form its the best road bike of them all ....for not a lot of money the screen is the best of any bike ive sver ridden google madstat brackets [clever ajustable up down 4inches also the forward/ rear pitch ..and add a givi tall screen absalutly superb protection buffet free all day at a ton no dealers feed it halfors oil and the odd filter air filter gets very dirty when its abroad i paid 4900 quid four months old 900 miles ill get half me money back on improvments on ebay a lot of bike for no money at all

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Long term reliability
04 July 2008 by ice-cycle

I have an 03 with 80,000 km. During the past five years the only problem has been a leaking slave cylinder --however routine cleaning keeps this under control. The Strom is a great bike, among the very best purchases I have made in my life. The engine has great torque, the clutch on 03 is flawless. I am 5'8" so I do find the bike a bit top heavy, especially when stationary --getting it upright off the kick stand, or in the garage. Over time you get used to it, but with a full tank of gas, you need to be careful at very low speeds.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
4 out of 5 DL1000 GT
06 May 2008 by beany25

after 5 years of riding a bandit600, when it came to upgrade, this was the only bike that fit the budget, me (6'4"), my requirements. the engine is stunning, and pulls effortlessly. the looks - although not to everyones taste, are suitable "rugged" i think, its not a panzer wagon, and its 'off road' ability is definately a second priority. if you are looking for an excellant all round fun to use, eurotourer, commuter, workhorse, this is the bike that gets constantly over looked, its like the new tiger, but less, its like the varadero, but less (and less ugly), its way less than the sports tourers, less than the panzer......allround excellant.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
4 out of 5 Born again Biker
30 April 2008 by Alandj

My last bike was a Kawasaki kh250 in 1978 so not fair to compare - Bought the V Strom as Im 6'5" and it seemed to be the biggest bike on the market - Its turned out made to measure - love it - Doing high mileage and everything other than the alarm is brilliant

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 vstrom is the best
26 April 2008 by septicwart

best bike i ever bought

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 It Has It All
21 March 2008 by crustyle

I rode the BMW R1200GS - good, but pricey. I thrashed the KTM990 - great fun, but the riding position wasn't comfortable, and it didn't like pottering through villages at 30mph. I rode the V-Strom and it became welded to my backside. It does the lot for 3k less than the BMW. The dog's....

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 v-strom a storming surprise
15 October 2007 by enduro rider

Having hired BMW enduro bikes I was looking for a cheaper alternative. I tried the Honda Valadero, looked at the Triumph Tiger but once I had once seen the V-strom for the first time I went for it. It only needed a very short test ride to confirm my initial good feeling about it. The V-strom has phantastic, honest, non discript (some may say boring) looks. It's symmetrical, (dials, headlamps, exhausts), non aggressive down to earth and supptle. Mine was fitted with the paniers which I ended up using much more than I thought I would. since bying it in June I covered 2.500 miles, with and without my girl, traveling, urban fun, mountain roads and even a little off road. The latter is the only area it can not match the BMW! Else it is much more comfy, easy to control, powerful enough and great fun. And the sound is again fitting the caracter: relaxed, understated yet powerful, underlining the great character of this bike. Let's hope durabilty on my 2 year old bike will never be an issue (until now I had zero troubles) Highly recommended bike!!

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
4 out of 5 Sambo
29 September 2007 by sampson1

Back to biking after several years i bought a GS500 to see if its still there, i then got the want's, I tried a few tourers from the showroom including the Honda Varadero?, but the V strom kept winking at me! One good ride and I was hooked I've had her 5 months and just got back from a 1100 mile trip around scotland, two up with her in doors and all the bags and boxes. Avr 44mpg, no problem with the bike, the front screen did the job but when dirty and raining, visibility was hard work, blow 60mph I had to drop out of overdrive (6th) to pull away quickly but as you know its not a problem, all round great bike. Lean forward for fun or arms stretched for crusing.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
4 out of 5 Great all rounder
28 August 2007 by cabbrown

Went to this from a GSXF750 - not the most extreme seating position, but still not comfy for 6' me! Test rode a Bandit 1250 at Crescent and didn't like it, they threw me the keys of a V-Strom and the test ride was a revalation! The handling was execellent - wide bars mean you can flick it around, seating postion just right, screen good etc. Love the v-twin, can't wait to get through the running in now I've bought one!

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Better than a Tiger!!
26 May 2007 by barnvelder

Swapped by Tiger for a VStrom last year. Love it! Better handling,especially high-speed cruising on m-ways! Engine bit lumpy at first but now much smoother with plenty of torque. Great for 2-up touring and fantastic value for money.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 I bought my Yellow Wasp in December 2005 for 4,700 s/h with 484 miles on the clock.
02 November 2006 by WHIZZA

When the other half decided that WE needed a new bike she chose the Strom over all the others. because she said it was comfy. Almost a year later she still says that even after a trip of several hundred miles in one go. I cant fault the bike really other in that she does have a tendancy to cut out when braking with the clutch in (apparently Cagiva Raptors do this as well - same engine). Have done over 7000 miles since getting the bike a lot of it abroad and usually get around 185 miles before panicing. Although I have got over 202 miles to a tank. However this drops to around 130 when commuting. I put the touring screen on the bike and think that the wind buffeting is now worse. Added full Givi luggage and a centre stand. The brakes are more than good enough to haul such a lump to a halt even from Autobahn speeds. Lovely strong motor that loves motorways and some twisties. Comfy position with a great view over most London cages, even the black cabs. Strengths: Both Pilot and Pillion comfort, sound of the Engine, all round view. Weaknesses: Wind buffeting. Tendancy to cut out when slowing down.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 Moved to OZ from UK, Brought the DL1000 new for $13.000 (5.900 GBP) Incl Sat- Nav, & 41L Top Box.
24 June 2006 by cruiser4880

Just done my 1st ride on it.(150kms)What a bike! Far exceeds my bikes I had in the UK (Triumph Sprint & Blackbird) in terms of comfort. Riding position is 100%. Bit wary at first taking sharp bends (plenty here) not a worry, went through with ease with not a hint of trouble. Having no trouble with wind buffering head on or side. Adjustable screen on 06 models here. Same in UK? Strengths: Comfort is suberb. Handling is brilliant.bullet proof engine. Mid range power. 6th gear (overdrive). Handy here where most roads are straight. Weaknesses: Brand new bike. Not run in yet so not found any. Watch this space though!

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 Update on buffeting
26 May 2006 by beerbelly

Tired of the buffeting from the windshield on my bike I decided to swap the higher flip up touring screen which came with the bike to a standard lower screen. Result; A definite reduction in buffeting but more wind noise (as you would expect), I think it's a worthwhile trade off as I use ear plugs anyway. I can now actually read roadsigns at higher motorway speeds! I've also stuck a Scottoiler on it which seems to work very well. Overall I'm still very satisfied with the Strom and have had no other problems with it. Strengths: Comfort, strong engine, real world ability. Weaknesses: Bad wind buffeting at high speed. Poor rear brake.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 What a great bike for doing just about anything
10 January 2005 by wilscott1

Bought this in early 03 to get off sportier machinery and it fit the bill beautifully. Last summer I took it off to Italy, spending 10 days all over the Alps with Givi 52l. Top box, bedding roll, tent and Streetpilot 3 to show me the way. It handled everything from 650 mile autoroute days (London to the far side of Lake Geneva) to the twistiest hairpin roads with amazing composure. Strengths: Flexibility, midrange grunt, view. Weaknesses: Saggy back end needs raising and firming.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
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