1988RedT2
1988RedT2 HalfDork
1/13/11 6:14 a.m.

Anybody got an opinion on this bike? I was browsing through my local Suzuki dealer yesterday, and I liked it. The Gladius was pretty cool too. Prolly looking to buy one in a few months.

mistanfo
mistanfo SuperDork
1/13/11 6:21 a.m.

Love mine. 30,000+ miles on it. I sit nice and high, so I can see well in traffic. Mine's an '06, so I don't have the nice new twin plug heads, but I don't know of any other differences. Gladius will beat you up more at highway speeds. I would recommend getting Continental tires. They ride nicely, wet or dry, and wear like iron. MUCH nicer than the factory rubber.

JeremyB
JeremyB New Reader
1/13/11 6:47 a.m.

Great bike. Probably one of the best all around bikes for the price. Comfy for long rides, good handling, smooth engine, 50+mpg, really good wind protection, lots of add on farkles available and tons of support at... http://www.stromtrooper.com/

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
1/13/11 6:55 a.m.

I believe it's the same drive train as the SV650, just on higher sitting suspension

wheelsmithy
wheelsmithy GRM+ Memberand Reader
1/13/11 7:26 a.m.

Had an '05, put about 20K on it. Fantastic bike. I saw 38-45 MPG, could pull a wheelie even with its L-O-N-G wheelbase, good wind protection, high 12 sec quarters, and would go north of 120 mph. All day comfort, too. Would recommend it to anyone.

mistanfo
mistanfo SuperDork
1/13/11 9:37 a.m.

Similar engine to the SV, and hence, the Gladius, but different cams, airbox, tuning, etc for more midrange. I consistantly got nearly 5MPG better than a friend's SV650 when we rode together. Also likely had somethign to do with the fact that the VStrom (nee WeeStrom) slipped through the air easier.

mistanfo
mistanfo SuperDork
1/13/11 9:41 a.m.

Oh, and I've never actually wheelied mine, though I certainly have taken all the weight off the front tire. I just plain weigh too much, and don't feel like wrestling her around. I'll jump on a friend's MXer if I want to wheelie. Still, she took the wife and I (nearly 500 lbs with luggage) to N GA and back on a long weekend, as well as a solo trip to Tampa FL by way of GRM HQ a couple of summers ago. Both from Charlottesville, VA.

Actually considering a 1000 VStrom.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
1/13/11 11:59 a.m.
mistanfo wrote: Actually considering a 1000 VStrom.

at 5'10 and a 32" inseam... I can't touch ground on both sides of my neighbors DL1000. Its a tall bike

mistanfo
mistanfo SuperDork
1/13/11 5:39 p.m.

I'm 5'10", with a slightly less than 29" inseam. Yeah, all torso. Grew up riding off road bikes, so I'm used to being my bike's own kickstand. The Vee sits about an inch taller than my Wee, and I think that I will be just fine if that's how I go. The wife currently thinks that the Triumph Rocket III Touring is the cat's meow...

pinchvalve
pinchvalve GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/14/11 1:07 p.m.

From what I have read, everyone who has ever owned one, loved it.

spicciani
spicciani
1/15/11 9:19 p.m.

I have had two sv650's love them and its disgusting what you can pick one up for

i dont much care for the gladius it looks ugly .

the vstrom is sexy all rounder that i would love to own, it is a little tall if this is your first bike,

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 HalfDork
1/16/11 7:22 p.m.
spicciani wrote: I have had two sv650's love them and its disgusting what you can pick one up for i dont much care for the gladius it looks ugly . the vstrom is sexy all rounder that i would love to own, it is a little tall if this is your first bike,

Not my first bike, but I'm a fairly new rider. My current bike is a '76 KZ400, so I'm looking for something a tad more modern.

spicciani
spicciani New Reader
1/17/11 1:02 p.m.

kz400 looks like a cool bike. i just got rid of a cafe project cb350 that i was too unskilled/motivated to finish.

My thoughts are ,if plan on taking many long trips the extra cost of the vstrom or full fairing bike might not be worth

another bike to consider is a ninja 650 full faired and good comfort . but if your going for cheap naked fun im voting for the sv

keep us posted red

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