Long time - no post. I just upgraded my V-Strom 650 to a V-Strom 1000. Since I have been riding it I have been surprised how different it is from the 650. Improvements across the board besides a 45% increase in HP. It really feels like a different bike completely. Light and nimble but quick. I am just starting to FARKLE it up. lol Rather than buy the preloaded Adventure version I am doing it from scratch.
On the PCX I am adding a hitch to our new RV to haul the PCX with s camping.
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
Yes - here too for 2017. I got this new but leftover previous model 2nd gen 1000 for $7450 usd. They list at $13,000 usd. I picked my 650 up the same way at huge bargain. The 2017s are not yet available here and they will be high priced.
I test rode nine different bikes when i picked the 1000. Definitely a best bang for the buck and it fits my 95/5 style of riding.
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
But your 650 was so beautiful! Why trade it in?? How many of the FARKLES can you transfer over to the new one? Man, I would have been happy with the 650! Oh well, to each their own.
But I guess I don't have much room to talk. I traded in my dolled up Burgman 400 for a PCX 150, and when I was younger I traded in my Harley Sportster for something a little more tame. Still, your 650 was really nice. If I were younger I would love to have one. Maddiedog has one and loves it.
Currently own:
Red 2013 Honda PCX150 Givi tall windshield & tailbox - Lots of extra lights Custom seat from Thailand - Bad Boy Airhorn Takegawa Lowering Shocks - Michelin City Grip Tires Headlight assy upgraded to LEDs w/HS5 main bulbs NCY variator, drive face, and rollers
Both V-Stroms are very good but the 1000 is better. The brakes, suspension, seat, engine breaking, and power of course are superior on the 1000. It is extremely noticeable even on the test rides I took. When my wife rides here in the Ozarks a 1000 is necessary imo.
I am transferring all FARKLE's except seat, centerstand, skid, windshield, and highway pegs which are bike specific. I ordered up a Givi skid, Givi crash bars, Givi V47 mount, and Givi Airflow windshield direct from Italy for nearly half of the US price. I got a GPS mount from Ravetech in Thailand for $32. I moved the phone mounts, radar detector, two sets of LEDs, Eastern Beaver fuse box, tool tube, USB power outlets, MRC buffeting deflector, rear brake light adapter for the AdMore light in the V47, cramp buster, Zuma gps, camera, and some others I have forgotten to the new bike. I still spent about $750 on the missing FARKLEs.
I test rode:
BMW GS1200 Adventure
BMW GS800
Super Tenere 1200
Honda VFR 1200
Honda Africa Twin
Kawasaki Versys
Triumph Tiger XC800
KTM Adventure 1190
GSX R1000 lol
not counting the V-Strom 1000
I liked the shaft drives on the ST and VFR but they were over 100 lbs. heavier. The BMWs were outrageously priced and have high maintenance/repairs.
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
Oh - the V-Strom 650 needs a fork brace IMO and especially if you ever go above about 80 mph. The 1000 has stronger inverted forks and does not. THe 1000 also has electronic traction control.
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
Adding some FARKLES... I ordered all of the Givi stuff direct from Motorstorm in Italy and paid about 60% after shipping from the US prices. Givi skid, crash bars, V47 mount, and Airflow windshield.
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
I have been busy FARKLEing and just added a rear HD action camera to compliment the front one to capture the crazies and some OEM Euro decals from the UK. I found out Santa is bringing some handguards.
A very short video of the rear camera test if you like garages. lol It doesn't starting moving until about the half-way mark. YouTube pixelates the high bitrate badly but I normally don't upload these videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM6jAFC ... load_owner
Also picked up a new Canon T6i DSLR camera on sale for xmas
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
I been riding Vee Stroms since 2007 till a few weeks ago. Had a '05 1000cc and a '07 650cc. Both very excellent bikes but I sold out and bought two scooters . I did some long memorable trips. One trip all the way to St John's Newfoundland!
Markcap
2016 PCX--Dark Candy Red
2016 Forza--Pearl Red
I have a Honda PCX for camping as well. Sometimes my wife drives the RV and I ride the V-Strom instead. It depends on how far we might travel from the campgrounds. I had a 2014 Honda Forza but sold it after I got a V-Strom 650 first. I like everything on the 1000 just a little better than the 650. I can't go back because of the power advantage in the Ozarks here.
I am just approaching 6000 miles on my V-Strom 1000 in now six months. It keeps getting FARKLE's. I really like this one. I test rode nine different adventure bikes when I bought it.
2017 Kawasaki Versys X 300 ABS (Graphite) - 775 miles - Terry Adcox saddle, T-Rex skid, SW-Motech crash bars, Madstad windshield, Givi 30L top case, Ram X-Grip, thermometer, OEM center stand, OEM hand guards
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS Adventure (Candy Daring Red) - 8650 miles - too fast Givi Airflow WS, Givi V47 mount, Givi crash Bars, Givi skid plate, Ravetech GPS mount, USB power outlet, Easter Beaver Fuse box, Denali DR1 LEDs, MondoMoto LEDs, Tool Tube, Zumo 665 GPS, Cobra radar detector, Mobius HD camera
Hey those newer DL1000 sure are nice! That is certainly my choice if I were heading on a 1000+ mi trip.
How's the fuel mapping on that newer model? On the'05 the mapping was horrible and it'd buckle at 2400 rpm which by the way was highway cruising speed in 6th gear. Suzuki would never acknowledge it as a warranty issue till after I traded it in on the 650. Figures....
Markcap
2016 PCX--Dark Candy Red
2016 Forza--Pearl Red