Thinking of Changing to a V-Strom

[keeponriding]

I've put in 34K miles on my Tenere and love it....but....been thinking of reducing weight...hence the thought behind a strom.

On roads, the ST is perfect...off road, it gets to be a bit too much of a handful and would think I might benefit from something a little lighter and lower (I'm height challenged....on crowned dirt roads, depending on where the balance is, I sometim3es can't get my foot low enough).

Who's got both? Or, ridden both? Who's got opinions based on experience with both bikes?

BTW: I don;t ride 2-up...always single.

 

[vapexpr]

I imagine there would be a pretty big stateside market for the Yamaha 660 Ténéré just for the reason you explained.

Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk

 

[eram310]

Vstrom is not a dirt bike. Actually the Tenere is more dirt worthy than the Vstrom. (I assume the new design 1000)
You want a light weight dual sport bike, get a WR250, DRZ400 etc….
I test road the Vstrom 1000 and it’s a sport touring bike in a disguise of an ADV bike. The Tenere , GS, KTM ADV feel like overgrown dual sport bikes, the Vstrom does not.

 

[Texasten]

I had a vstrom 650 briefly, a 2011 model for about 6 months. I found it pretty boring, as it was too "sewing machine like."
It was smooth, but no character like the S10.
Maybe you can find one to try out first???
I would not trade the S10 for one, but also I am 6' 2" so the heighth is not an issue.
Good luck.....

 

[limey]

Go for the Africa twin . It's around the same Weight as the V.

 

[TheHelios]

The VStrom 1000 isn't very good for moderate/heavy offroad since the headers run directly under the engine and pretty low until they start heading back upward. If you toss on a skid plate, you've got very little clearance to the ground. I ride with someone with a 1000 and we can only do mild terrain. He brings out the KLR for the rough stuff.

 

[Ryan G.]

I liked my VStrom 1000, I had an 08 and the new one looks good but its basically the same. It was a actually faster then the Tenere and got better mpg. It was very reliable but it seemed primitive compared to the Tenere. I agree that it is more of a street bike but many folks say that about the big Tenere

 

[keeponriding]

I was actually thinking of the strom 650...and yeah, I would jump on the Tenere 650. I like the T, but would like it a bit...smaller and lighter.

I know we talked about it coming to the States a couple of years ago...I guess the Yammy product managers weren't convinced.

If I was going to just stay on pavement, shoot..I'd keep the T....it works just fine as a long distance touring bikes, with occasional forays onto well-groomed dirt (hello Colorado!)....it was when I got onto more challenging terrain like the Alpine Loop that I felt like I could have shed 100 or more pounds.

 

[keeponriding]

Yeah, I like the Africa Twin....except the price.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

For about 5 years I owned both flavors of first generation V-Stroms. Also have a good number of miles on the newest generation of 650, and some limited time on the '14 DL1000. I love the V-Strom, in fact I'm happy a childhood friend still has my old DL1000 on which I did more than 48K miles. Great bike.

Wonderful street bikes for anyone who doesn't struggle with the top heavy nature of the Stroms. My wife rode the gen one 650 for three years. The first time she picked her lowered Tenere off the kickstand she said, "it's so light." The Stroms are lower weight on paper, but they are significantly top heavy.

That top heaviness makes them much less pleasant off pavement. I always took mine off pavement, but it was often awkward.

 

[keeponriding]

Another reason not to change; what would the guys at Romney say if I showed up on anything other than a Tenere?

 

[EricV]

I ride a '12 Super Ten and we have a '09 VStrom 650 ABS, (WeeStrom), in the garage that I've ridden maybe6k miles on over the last year or so. Our Wee is lowered, (came that way from the previous owner and is a perk when my wife rides it) As others have said, the Strom is not an ADV bike, though it mimics one in the overall feel. It lacks ground clearance and tire clearance. Compared to the Super Ten, I am always reminded how awesome the Super Ten's brakes and power are when I get back on after riding the Wee. And of the extra ground clearance when off pavement.

The Wee is a fine bike, but it's no where as capable as the Super Ten in all round conditions. Since you imply you want a lighter bike for off pavement riding, as opposed to street issues, have you considered picking up a light dual sport? The wife and I are looking to pick up something like XT250s for exploring the dirt more and forest roads, two track, etc. Not something we would travel on, but light, small day trip bikes to poke around on and explore off pavement more with.

There are a ton of older bikes for pretty cheap that are bullet proof like Suzuki DR350, DRZ400, etc too, if you're willing to accept carbs and sometimes kick start. Often with low seat heights too.

The Honda Africa Twin is lighter than the S10, but still on the tall side. Have you lowered your S10 or explored custom seats, or even the factory low seat? It's cheap to lower the S10. About $100 for lowering links and you can often find the factory low seat for a reasonable price on the forum or ebay. I have both and lowered my S10 so my wife could try it. At 5'4" and 140 she was able to ride it fine, but still felt it was a little top heavy. Her current bike is a BMW F650 twin, which starts out at something like 425 lbs, but her's is over 600 now with all the bags, fuel cell and other stuff she carries all the time. Those bike suck for repairs and maintenance costs. ::007:: But it fits her, so it stays in the garage for now. The Wee is our 'spare' for when the BMW is in the shop or we have a guest that needs to borrow a bike.

 

[keeponriding]

Thanks Eric,

I had an XT225 for a couple of years. Fine (and fun) bike...but top end limited what I could do with it. Even with higher sprocket on the primary, I could only ride roads within 100 miles...I traded in for a G650GS...also fine bike, and expanded my limits...so now I can go down to the Smokies, or further afield...without it taking all day just to get there..,..but not the bike I think I might want to ride to CO or Utah.

The 10 is a fine bike: and on long trips, works great. I'd like to find something with the COG and stability of the 10, with a bit less weight and a bit lower. I have a Russel day long sport seat (not as high as the true day long) which I can sit on for 12 hours or more, no sweat. Haven't thought about lowering..something I looked at when I first got the bike....and that might be the best answer of all as comments I've gotten thus far seem to be in the whole negative on the Strom as ADV bike.

 

[FrontRangeRider]

I've put in 34K miles on my Tenere and love it....but....been thinking of reducing weight...hence the thought behind a strom.

On roads, the ST is perfect...off road, it gets to be a bit too much of a handful and would think I might benefit from something a little lighter and lower (I'm height challenged....on crowned dirt roads, depending on where the balance is, I sometim3es can't get my foot low enough).

Who's got both? Or, ridden both? Who's got opinions based on experience with both bikes?

I had a Wee Strom (V-Strom 650) and the Tenere at the same time. The Tenere is a better dirt bike, at least on the variety of dirt roads we ride here in Colorado. It handles washboard, ruts, potholes and loose stuff better. I never noticed the weight difference; I could ride the same roads 15-20 mph faster on the S10 and feel more comfortable and "planted" than on the V-Strom. Bottom line: I sold the V-Strom and kept the Tenere.

 

[Taz1200]

I had a 2012 vstrom 650 put 33k on it, sold it then a 2013 Tenere put 24k on it then traded it for a 2014 vstrom put 24k on it and still own, this summer got a 2015 tenere which only has 4 k on it. Don't ask me explain this lol. I have and am keeping both bikes. The Tenere is my long distance and dirt road exploring bike (love the cruise control) and the Vstom is my daily commuter since great on gas and nimble for NY traffic. The Vstrom is set up for dirt but prefer the Tenere for the dirt roads I do. If you ride technical, rough, trail dirt there are better lighter option than both of these bikes. I would keep the Tenere and ADD either a vstrom or a more dirt oriented bike.

 

[FrontRangeRider]

I was actually thinking of the strom 650...and yeah, I would jump on the Tenere 650. I like the T, but would like it a bit...smaller and lighter.

I know we talked about it coming to the States a couple of years ago...I guess the Yammy product managers weren't convinced.

If I was going to just stay on pavement, shoot..I'd keep the T....it works just fine as a long distance touring bikes, with occasional forays onto well-groomed dirt (hello Colorado!)....it was when I got onto more challenging terrain like the Alpine Loop that I felt like I could have shed 100 or more pounds.

Keeponriding - I did the Alpine Loop this summer on the WR450 successfully after failing big time last summer trying it on the V-Strom. I don't know that I will ever think I have the right skill level to take on the Alpine Loop on the S10. Good on you for doing the loop on the Tenere.

 

[AlsoRan]

If your looking at an older V-Strom I wouldn't change. The fork flex is really bad even on mild dirt that it just creates more work trying to manage those wet noodles (fork brace or not). This goes away with the Super Tenere. Also the V-Stom is still heavy (and also top heavy) as others have suggested so it's not really going to be any different than what you are used to. It will sink just as fast as the Super T. Great reliable bike for the cost but going backwards in off road technology. I've never ridden the newer ones with the USD forks, but pricing is higher for not much newer tech other than the forks.

I would take a real look at the Africa Twin before buying a V-Strom for the reasons that you want. 21" front and 18" rear and more ground clearance without the pipes hanging down will help big time for your off road plans. I would think worth the extra investment for long term enjoyment.

 

[Ramseybella]

Tiger 800?
BMW 800?
Just saying with chain and sprockets as well!!

 

[limey]

Yeah, I like the Africa Twin....except the price.

It's less than the super T.

 

[dcstrom]

Had both the 1000 and 650 Stroms, Super Tenere is FAR better off road, until you have to pick it up. Just don't lay it down very often, is my best advice ;D