2005 Suzuki V-Strom

[maddiedog]

I sold all my bikes but the PCX before we had our son, Noah. The PCX is AWESOME and I still love it, but I need something bigger too. Despite my mods and efforts, the PCX just doesn't have the power to do what I need it to do 100% of the time.

To fill in the gap, I got a 2005 V-Strom 650.



Now to figure out how Maddie can ride on it; sitting on a tank isn't as straightforward as sitting on a tunnel bag.

I spent $3100 on it and will likely recoup $500 or so of that cost from selling all the aftermarket stuff it came with. It came with full Givi luggage, a Givi screen with a custom laminar lip, a Sargent seat, riser bars, factory handguards, factory heated grips, a SW-Motech centerstand, and a SW-Motech set of crashbars. It has 30k miles and is flawless, with the exception of one tiny nick on the tank. One heck of a deal.

I removed all the luggage already (it looked like this before):


I was originally going to get an NC700X, but my best buddy Freeman got a Strom (his is black) and I immediately changed my mind. The NC700 is nice, has an awesome frunk, and a way lower center of gravity than the Strom... But you can't find a decent used one for under $6000, it's a bit cheap in fit and finish, and is way less durable than the V-Strom.

[wei2go]

Looks awesome. It however raises a few questions;

1) all that after market stuff looks useful. Are you really going to sell to save a few bucks? It will cost you further down the line to replace again.
2) have you tried putting maddie in the frunk of a nc700x?
3) if you ever sold the pcx, would you shut down this forum?
4) any ideas yet about where maddie can sit?

[gn2]

Despite my mods and efforts, the PCX just doesn't have the power to do what I need it to do 100% of the time.

If only someone could have told you that before you splashed the cash on the modifications.....

V-strom is a nice bike, good choice.

[sendler2112]

Rare find. Most people with a built V-Strom never sell them.

[maddiedog]

Looks awesome. It however raises a few questions;

1) all that after market stuff looks useful. Are you really going to sell to save a few bucks? It will cost you further down the line to replace again.
2) have you tried putting maddie in the frunk of a nc700x?
3) if you ever sold the pcx, would you shut down this forum?
4) any ideas yet about where maddie can sit?

1) Not all of it -- just the panniers. I'll keep the rest of it.
2) Yes, she HATED it. Plus, with the way it opens, riding would be awkward at best.
3) Hells no. From donations to the site, our hosting and domain is paid for at least for the next 5 years. I love my PCX too much to sell it anyways, it's by far the most fun I've ever had on a bike.
4) Maybe in a tank bag, not sure. She's a bit big to ride tank.

If only someone could have told you that before you splashed the cash on the modifications.....

If only someone had been the voice of reason in a sticky at the top of performance... I must say though, the PCX is a fair bit more fun with that additional power. I think I'm going to take the Kitaco gear out (leave the Yumi one in) for more torque. It'll do wheelies that way.

[GeezyRider]

Great looking bike! I think the Panty Liners (my wife's name for panniers) actually look right at home on the V-strom. Combined with the top box, you have a ton of secure, dry storage. How much space between the side case and the muffler?

And to top things off, is that plate on top of the top box a mounting plate for ANOTHER top box on top of the top box?

[sendler2112]

And to top things off, is that plate on top of the top box a mounting plate for ANOTHER top box on top of the top box?

These guys that ride V-Stroms to Argentina and back usually carry a fuel can.

[Mel46]

Wow, what a ride! If I could have kept the Burgman and still have been able to afford the pcx, that would have been my dirction too. Unfortunately, the wife rules. She was enjoying her pcx while I was wrestling my Burgman in town. On the highway she was running her pcx wide open while I was just enjoying the ride. The obvious compromise was to downsize to a pcx. I would love to have a V-Strom 650, and my wife loves the smaller V-Strom 250. But....realistically the pcx is more fun in town, and we can't afford one of each. To those who can afford both, like Dave, we have to enjoy the through your stories. Great buy Dave!

[Ratster]

Great choice for a motorcycle. I have to admit though,since I bought the Pcx,my Strom has only left the garage once.

[WhiteNoise]

Super nice low mile bike! Great Price! My opinion on the gear... I love the "dressed look" on this bike. Yeah, All THAT extra Stuff! Don't you "like" the side cases Dave? Anything wrong with them?
Aw...Look at maddie lying there, she looks so small...a little lost in fact. Remedy: She needs a few rides with Dad to get acquainted. But how?? This is a Puzzlement!! Got to put on those Thinking Caps folks. Ideas help.
A baby harness? Got one Dad?

[Mel46]

We stopped by Dave's today to see the new bike. It is a great catch. Even though he has already sold the sidebags the Givi windscreen with the adjustable Laminar Lip makes up for it in so many ways. It is a big bike, meant for long trips, and it is tall. I had a time getting my leg over it to sit on it....of course 5 back surgeries didn't help much either. It looks like with some mods to the handlebar it would be ideal for not only facing Atlanta traffic, but also the Dragon's Tail. It is a heavy bike but I would love to own one, if I could still sit on them. Dave not only got a great deal on it, he got a sweet ride too!

[Free-Dog]

That is a very SWEET BIKE!!!!

Dave did get one heck of a deal, its a nice bike and now we just need to plan a camping trip with the Stroms!!

Below is mine before (on top) and after (bottom) I took off the 2.5in lowering links and then added some orange accents.....

[maddiedog]

WN, I sold the sidecases because it was too big to fit in the garage with the PCX!

Me and Freedog figured out how to get Maddie to ride, we modified a backpack to act as a tankbag and she just hangs out on the tank. She has more room than on the PCX and can stretch out, lay down, etc. We haven't gone on a long ride yet, so we'll see how Maddie likes it after a trip. We also replaced the bars with something more swept back, the stock bars were a stretch for me.

I'm taking the lowering links from Freedog's bike and lowering mine, I only have a 30" insteam and can hardly tippietoe both sides at the same time.

[Mel46]

Dave, we have a small cloth and frame dog travel crate that you can have if you want it. We had purchased it for Miss Pearl but never had a chance to use it. She died shortly after we got it. It has screens on the sides.

[maddiedog]

Mel -- Thanks, but Maddie loves the backpack. A crate would be too bulky.

Work's been super chaotic lately, so I took some time this weekend and went with Maddie on a 2-day trip up through the mountains. We did 350 miles on Friday, a bit over 500 miles on Saturday, and just under 300 miles on Sunday.

Gravel roads are fun!

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[maddiedog]

A couple more pictures from this weekend... I had a smudge on my lens, so all the pictures I took turned out blurry.

Camp set up:

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Maddie looks so little on the big Strom!

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[JoshM]

Yay, Maddie has her own spot again!

My wife really wants a bike that's easy for 2-up. I was very surprised to hear that she was comfy on the back of a Vstrom. Her only complain was that there was nothing to lean back on... but that could be fixed with a trunk.

[Mel46]

Maddie looks comfy on the bike. Of course, she can't jump off and on like she did on the pcx, but riding is what it is all about, so she can now relax and enjoy her ride. :-)

[Duggle]

Ha! Looks awesome.

[you you]

Ha! Looks awesome.

It will.

What are you referring to?

Is there an opposite of on awesome?