New Suzuki Vstrom 1000

[88millimeter]

Anybody seen the new Vstrom 1000? It looks sweet plus without a shaft drive or sophisticated electronics it may be aimed at the economical purchaser, if the pricing is right it could be a contender in the adventure motorcycle segment. Thoughts?

 

[RED CAT]

It looks great in the pics. Even looks more dirt worthy. Didn't think much of the current 1000 especially compared to an S10. ::001::

 

[HoebSTer]

Wouldn't even give it a thought as it doesn't have shaft drive. But I would pick it over the BMW.

 

[Koinz]

Just saw a posted Youtube video on it. Looks like they updated some stuff. I saw an ABS ring on the front wheel. Not sure about the low hanging single exhaust. That thing is going to get in the way of the luggage. Whats with the beak? Is it trying to be like a bmw? Overall I like it.
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 (prototype) - Nieuwsmotor.nl

 

[klunsford]

Much better looking that the past Vstrom 1000 I will say.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Good looking... I thought they might be going toward more of the KTM look, with the chain and such. But I see more 'street' parts on it for that. Wish it had drive shaft.. Its going after a price point in the segment and will probably do well...

 

[dcstrom]

Good looking... I thought they might be going toward more of the KTM look, with the chain and such. But I see more 'street' parts on it for that. Wish it had drive shaft.. Its going after a price point in the segment and will probably do well...

I think they will struggle if the price point is $10,999 or $11,499, when you can find a Super Tenere for $1000 or $1500 more. Unless dealers discount the strom. Under $10k would be a good buy.

It IS in a slightly different category to the S10 tho. If you're looking for something relatively light that can do a good impersonation of a sport bike, is a comfortable tourer that can handle some dirt roads when necessary, the Strom might be the bike for you. Bad luck about the chain but they are pretty long-wearing and reliable these days.

It would have been nice if they updated the engine tho - design is 15 yrs old now.

 

[GrahamD]

It would have been nice if they updated the engine tho - design is 15 yrs old now.

The engine is updated. Look at the side of the head you will see a spark plug sticking out the side and the casting isn't the same. Says new heads and block to me.

So we now have a twin spark V-Twin with new head casting. I'd say updated engine.

 

[greg the pole]

looks good, seen pics of it, but no video.

From what I read, ABS,TC, possible ride by wire, but that's doubtful.
The engine cases are identical to the current 1000. The second sparkplug is probably there to make combustion better.
Upside down forks are a nice touch, the conventional units on the vstrom were pretty poor, as well as having crap brakes.
I hope they bring it out, even if they peg it here in canada at $11-12 MSRP, it's still cheaper than Yamaha's MSPR of $16.5
It would give some choice to the guys that want a big dp bike, but don't want to spend the big bucks.
The v-strom is in a different league. Bullet proof motor, they didnt change much since first appearing in the TL, TLR's in 1997.
My only real complaint about my v-strom was maintenance access, and chain drive.
To get to the valves, air filter etc.. half the bike had to come apart (all front fairings, except the headlight), once in there though, it was easy to work on.
in 55xxxkm in never gave me any grief. would I trade in my ST for a new vstrom....No I would not.

 

[Roge]

Is that a 17"front wheel? No its a 19" see http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/10/19/2014-suzuki-v-strom-1000-first-look/

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm happy Suzuki didn't let the big Vee just fade away. I loved my '06 Vee. It's not an exaggeration to say it's a bike that changed my life. It took me from riding 1000 street miles a year to 1000 per month. I will always have a warm spot for the Vee and I'm pleased to see it get a new lease on life.

 

[Koinz]

I'm happy Suzuki didn't let the big Vee just fade away. I loved my '06 Vee. It's not an exaggeration to say it's a bike that changed my life. It took me from riding 1000 street miles a year to 1000 per month. I will always have a warm spot for the Vee and I'm pleased to see it get a new lease on life.

::026:: me too. I found my 06 surprisingly comfortable (with a Sargent seat) and I was able to ride 600 mile days pretty easily. Handled pretty good too.

 

[Rasher]

Bad luck about the chain but they are pretty long-wearing and reliable these days.

It will probably outlast a BMW shaft.

Looks another budget parts bin special ala Versys 1000, a load of pre-existing components and a few new ones to get an entry into the market. I am sure it will be very popular if priced right, the old one had a cult following and there are loads of 650's about and they may be able to get many of those owners to "upgrade"

It will almost certainly be far cheaper than the S10 in the UK, and my guess is compete with the Versys 1000 as a great allround motorcycle, with both BMW and KTM going more tarmac focussed and chasing power the S10 is becoming isolated in a class of its own as the "adventure bike" market seems to be shifting towards sporty-tourers.

This will work well in the UK where the average age of a motorcyclist is rapidly rising, a youngster now has to do two tests for a full licence for a 125, a two year wait and another two tests to get an upgrade to a 50BHP machine, and then another 5 year wait and another 2 tests to get a proper ful licence for a big bike, this is stopping new blood taking up motorcycling.

With most UK bikers now being in their 40's and 50's, our love of sportsbike is waning, partly due to us no longer being able to fit our ageing frames on ever smaller bikes, and partly due to our main roads becoming more congested, littered with speed camera's and covered in potholes.

Added to that modern sportsbikes capabilities are way beyond our skills, and even the S10 have the power and handling of a superbike from the mid 80's (i.e. more than most of us need) so all the current crop of adv bikes are fast enough and good enough handling for 99% of road riders.

We are almost entirely devoid of off-road areas so any fast, comfy adv bike will be appealing to our market, and those weening themselves of sportsbikes and sportstourers. If anything I think the sports-tourers are most under threat as these owners have already recognised they don't need the fastest / sharpest bike on the market and appreciatte the extra comfort and practicality of a less focussed machine.

Much as I would like to see more S10's on the road, I do quite like rarity of the beast.

 

[RED CAT]

I think you will see more S10s in N.A. than the UK due to our abundance of dirt/gravel roads. Don't see that many Sport Tourers here compared to Adventure bikes. If they gave more bottom end grunt to the VStrom it would help. Some of us arn't into high revs to get a bike moving. ::001::

 

[mitch96]

Any idea what the weight is?? Fuel tank size?? mpg's??

mitch

 

[dcstrom]

Any idea what the weight is?? Fuel tank size?? mpg's??

mitch

No specs yet that I've seen, but suspect it would be fairly close to the current model IIRC 470 lbs, 5.6 gal, 40mpg

 

[Rasher]

Is this a re-cycled TL1000S engine :question:

I had one of the first UK TL1000S models and remember it as being really quite a good motor with a very healthy mid-range and decent top end, although not the sort of Engine I would think suits an ADV bike - a common theme with many of todays offerings.

When I was a youngster every bike had its own engine & chassis specifically designed for the bikes intended purpose. The difference between an Africa Twin 750 and a VFR 750 was very striking and I guess well over 95% of parts owuld be different, fast forward 25 years and the VFR1200 and Crosstourer are 95% identical.

Of course they use the "retuned for more low down" bollox, but at the end of the day a short stroke motor is not gonna have a huge amount of low down grunt, you may be able to lop off a chunk of peak power and gain a smidge more mid-range but that's your lot, I remember getting a Fazer 600 loan bike one, this had a "detuned" R6 engine - absolutely no power below 9k, then it took off like a scalded cat, I guess the R6 has no power below 10k, either way the engine did not suit the bike at all.

I am very glad Yamaha developed this bike from the ground up for this bike rather than putting some long travel suspension on an FJR1300.

Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki have all gone down this re-dressed sportstourer route to varying degrees, but at a minimum they have used an existing engine and in Honda's case the entire bike is almost identical.

 

[GrahamD]

well yes.

Tl100R (101Kw@9500) --> slight changes --> TL100S (85Kw@8500) --> slight changes --> SV1000 (89Kw@9000) --> more changes --> DL1000 (75KW@7500) --> more changes --> New DL1000 (?Kw@?)

 

[greg the pole]

If it's well priced, it will sell well.
Nice second choice to the shaft driven trailies.
The versys 1000 does not count, so suzuki maybe on to something here.
Besides, lots of existing v-strom owners will want to trade in/ trade up to a new vstrom.

The 'motor' will not have much more power than the old one. Someone mentioned a second spark plug, not sure why they are putting it in, those motors were a peach.
The bike will sell well based on price, and options (abs, tc, upside down forks)

 

[Rasher]

Someone mentioned a second spark plug, not sure why they are putting it in

Big pot motors struggle with EU Emmisions laws, a few bikes (including the 650 strom) have had these added just to help reduce emmisions, of course the manufacturers will also blather on about smoother power delivery, extra mid range blah, blah, blah but they would have fitted them before if there was any real performance advantage.