V-Strom-don't kill me if this has been asked but...

BobbySands · 03-10-2007, 11:36 PM

thinking of breaking into the V-Strom market. at this point i've only ever ridden street legal dirt bikes (currently an XR400, plated). so for my first road machine ever (and until i can afford a BMW) i'll take the V-strom. yes- i think it's ugly. yes- i've seen the fasteners rusted and other things on different sites. yes- i've done some reading. i've sat on one in the store and quite like the ergos (coming from a dirt machine) and i quite like the community and we've tons of dirt roads to ride here in michigan. plus, one day i'm going to alaska-- perhaps i'll have a BMW by then, perhaps not. the decision has been made for a V-strom, and let's face it, one could worse for his first street machine.

now....

for those of you who know or can point me in the right place...
i have a chance to buy an '03 v-strom. what considerations must be taken into account for an '03? any special issues this year had that were corrected in later years? something i should pay attention to aside from 'how does it start, how does it sound, how does it shift, does it burn oil,' etc.

keep in mind i'm a noob at this.

zed88 · 03-11-2007, 12:07 AM

You'll want to make sure the ECU is remapped to cure the lean condition, and you'll also want to make sure the clutch basket (shudder) has been fixed. I believe their might also be a rear spacer needed on the sprocket. I'm sure others will give you more.

K1W1 · 03-11-2007, 12:50 AM

Warning!

When you have owned the V-Strom for a short period any thoughts about purchasing a BMW will evaporate.

Mr. Fisherman · 03-11-2007, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zed88

You'll want to make sure the ECU is remapped to cure the lean condition, and you'll also want to make sure the clutch basket (shudder) has been fixed. I believe their might also be a rear spacer needed on the sprocket. I'm sure others will give you more.

The remapping was an issue on the liter bike (1000) bit not on the Wee (650).

Check the service records, give it a good test ride, make sure it has not been in a bad wreck and farkle the crap out of it with the money you save.

I thought I wanted a BMW too, and I still might... but my DL640 has been the most fun motorcycle I have ever owned and I have had quite a few.

All I have to do to get over my wants is to go for a ride.

ktm frank · 03-11-2007, 07:45 AM

i dont know how you feel about this but if youre on a budget.But personnally i've bought 2 used motorcycle in the past one was a klr and i just cant say something bad about this one.The othe was a ktm huge mistake.
My DL1000 out of the crate.i've learned that when its brand new its my own wear and tear on my bike also it takes away the doubts of course that come with a price!
Are you looking for a 650 or a 1000?

BBurton · 03-11-2007, 08:45 AM

Why not just buy a used or new Strom 650? The 1000 is awesome, but I think the smaller version would fit your needs and riding style better. Plus.....you'll get a newer model, instead of paying for an 03 1000. The 650's can be bought VERY cheaply, and then your bank account goes downhill from there!

Zapp22 · 03-11-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBurton

Why not just buy a used or new Strom 650? The 1000 is awesome, but I think the smaller version would fit your needs and riding style better. Plus.....you'll get a newer model, instead of paying for an 03 1000. The 650's can be bought VERY cheaply, and then your bank account goes downhill from there!

+1 !
Best advice you'll ever hear! and if you don't heed it now, you will after a year or so......

jagec · 03-13-2007, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Fisherman

I thought I wanted a BMW too, and I still might... but my DL640 has been the most fun motorcycle I have ever owned and I have had quite a few.

All I have to do to get over my wants is to go for a ride.

Dude, you might want to go back to your dealer, they shorted you 10 CCs!

YZman · 03-13-2007, 07:18 PM

Hey Bobby. Im kinda in the same boat as you. I want a strom. Except I already know Im getting the 1000. I want the strom for primarly comuting to work. I ride a Katana 600 right now and the #1 thing I hate is how the engine winds out down the highway at 70mph. I read that the 650 gets a little winded at those speads and I dont want that. I want low rpm with power to spare on the highway.

Im looking for a 04 or newer. Mainly because it seems that they have most of the bugs worked out in 04. That and the revised front end/ windscreen whatever that is.

But 1st I need to sell 2 bikes before I can afford my new/used strom.

Well have to get together this summer and do a bridge run once we get our stroms

BobbySands · 03-13-2007, 07:43 PM

I wondered how long it would take before you wandered into this thread!

thumper talkers are never far from the fold. i know you sold the YZ but what the hell else are you getting rid of? not the CRF, certainly? what are you going to terrorise the rest of michigan with if not a true dirt machine. and ice machine. and slushy much with a crust of frozen crap on top machine.

i'll buy this '03 if it all works out and you can ride it if you'd like. i trying to get the guy to let me on it this weekend. i'm out of state working and don't know what the weather is going to be like up there.

shit, if it all works out i'll toss some knobs on it and take it to Drummond!

or at least red bud!

p.s. i destroyed almost everything that makes my XR400 street legal (blame Brad-- HondaXR650R at TT) so parts are in route. i always wanted to do drummond and memorial day is my B-day-- i don't think i'll get to go this year again. work is crazy even if i do have to go out of state to get it.

minnjim · 03-11-2007, 05:56 PM

Check this post. For all practical purposes '02 & '03 are the same.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...94&postcount=4

BobbySands · 03-11-2007, 06:52 PM

i've thought of the wee-strom and reading (i.e. lurking) through many ride reports, i see the 650s do better when the roads get shittier (not surprisingly-- i mean, the weight alone). on the other hand, i'm having to 'persuade' the gf that this is a good idea. she has her own XR250 and took the MSF course with me and quite a good rider in the dirt. she's just not sure about the blacktop. so i NEED this thing to be 2-up capable. i'll need to drag her to someplace really groovy soon after buying it to convince her. someplace scenic and not too far away so she can enjoy not being 'caged'.

thanks for the input on the '02s and '03s and their issues. i didn't like what he said about windscreens changing in '04... that might make the after market screens harder to find. but i might LOVE the stock screen. although, doesn't seem like many do.

strom thingie · 03-11-2007, 08:09 PM

I'm a big guy myself and love my 03 DL1K. I bought mine used (5k miles on it) and farkled the heck out of it with the money I saved. The wee works great but I'm just a 1k kind of guy. I just replaced my stock screen with a 26.5" Cee-Bailey and it has alleviated the buffeting problem immensely.

eakins · 03-11-2007, 09:28 PM

04 on has the redisgned windshield with a madstat mount works great. 03 and older has some wicked buffeting problems.

BooneDog · 03-12-2007, 05:43 AM

I use MPCYCLEDESIGN windscreens on my 2004 DL1000. They are awesome. MUCH better than the stock screen (I just put on a MadStad bracket to experiment with also), but
on the website www.mpcycledesign.com it shows how to mount them on a 2002/2003 design.

03-11-2007, 07:45 AM	#5
ktm frank frenchy adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: sherbrooke,P of Q Oddometer: 102	v-stroms i dont know how you feel about this but if youre on a budget.But personnally i've bought 2 used motorcycle in the past one was a klr and i just cant say something bad about this one.The othe was a ktm huge mistake. My DL1000 out of the crate.i've learned that when its brand new its my own wear and tear on my bike also it takes away the doubts of course that come with a price! Are you looking for a 650 or a 1000? __________________ Beat the crap out of it!

03-11-2007, 08:45 AM	#6
BBurton Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2005 Location: WESTERVILLE,OH Oddometer: 501	Why not just buy a used or new Strom 650? The 1000 is awesome, but I think the smaller version would fit your needs and riding style better. Plus.....you'll get a newer model, instead of paying for an 03 1000. The 650's can be bought VERY cheaply, and then your bank account goes downhill from there! __________________ "BRIAN" BLACK 05 DL1000, YELLOW 05 DR650 "GO BUCKEYES" *It is easier to stay out than get out.* *Mark Twain*

03-11-2007, 05:56 PM	#11
minnjim Adventurer Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Minnesota Oddometer: 86	used 2003 dl1k Check this post. For all practical purposes '02 & '03 are the same. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...94&postcount=4

03-11-2007, 06:52 PM	#12
BobbySands ^OP JockeyfullofBourbon Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Your man of The Da Vinci Code. Oddometer: 5,647	more excellent input i've thought of the wee-strom and reading (i.e. lurking) through many ride reports, i see the 650s do better when the roads get shittier (not surprisingly-- i mean, the weight alone). on the other hand, i'm having to 'persuade' the gf that this is a good idea. she has her own XR250 and took the MSF course with me and quite a good rider in the dirt. she's just not sure about the blacktop. so i NEED this thing to be 2-up capable. i'll need to drag her to someplace really groovy soon after buying it to convince her. someplace scenic and not too far away so she can enjoy not being 'caged'. thanks for the input on the '02s and '03s and their issues. i didn't like what he said about windscreens changing in '04... that might make the after market screens harder to find. but i might LOVE the stock screen. although, doesn't seem like many do.

03-11-2007, 09:28 PM	#14
eakins Butler Maps Joined: May 2002 Location: Colorado - Fort Collins Oddometer: 14,443	04 on has the redisgned windshield with a madstat mount works great. 03 and older has some wicked buffeting problems. __________________ Butler Maps - motorcycle maps for riders by riders - Ozarks , Nor Cal , COBDR shipping, AZBDR scouting http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=598717 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/butlermaps

03-10-2007, 11:36 PM	#1
BobbySands ^OP JockeyfullofBourbon Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Your man of The Da Vinci Code. Oddometer: 5,647	V-Strom-don't kill me if this has been asked but... thinking of breaking into the V-Strom market. at this point i've only ever ridden street legal dirt bikes (currently an XR400, plated). so for my first road machine ever (and until i can afford a BMW) i'll take the V-strom. yes- i think it's ugly. yes- i've seen the fasteners rusted and other things on different sites. yes- i've done some reading. i've sat on one in the store and quite like the ergos (coming from a dirt machine) and i quite like the community and we've tons of dirt roads to ride here in michigan. plus, one day i'm going to alaska-- perhaps i'll have a BMW by then, perhaps not. the decision has been made for a V-strom, and let's face it, one could worse for his first street machine. now.... for those of you who know or can point me in the right place... i have a chance to buy an '03 v-strom. what considerations must be taken into account for an '03? any special issues this year had that were corrected in later years? something i should pay attention to aside from 'how does it start, how does it sound, how does it shift, does it burn oil,' etc. keep in mind i'm a noob at this.

03-11-2007, 12:07 AM	#2
zed88 n00bilicious Joined: May 2006 Location: Pingree grove il nw chicago Oddometer: 1,284	You'll want to make sure the ECU is remapped to cure the lean condition, and you'll also want to make sure the clutch basket (shudder) has been fixed. I believe their might also be a rear spacer needed on the sprocket. I'm sure others will give you more.

03-11-2007, 12:50 AM	#3
K1W1 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Dandenong Ranges, Australia Oddometer: 1,462	Warning! When you have owned the V-Strom for a short period any thoughts about purchasing a BMW will evaporate.

03-13-2007, 07:18 PM	#9
YZman Bouncing off Trees Joined: May 2006 Location: Meeeechigan Oddometer: 1,100	Hey Bobby. Im kinda in the same boat as you. I want a strom. Except I already know Im getting the 1000. I want the strom for primarly comuting to work. I ride a Katana 600 right now and the #1 thing I hate is how the engine winds out down the highway at 70mph. I read that the 650 gets a little winded at those speads and I dont want that. I want low rpm with power to spare on the highway. Im looking for a 04 or newer. Mainly because it seems that they have most of the bugs worked out in 04. That and the revised front end/ windscreen whatever that is. But 1st I need to sell 2 bikes before I can afford my new/used strom. Well have to get together this summer and do a bridge run once we get our stroms

03-13-2007, 07:43 PM	#10
BobbySands ^OP JockeyfullofBourbon Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Your man of The Da Vinci Code. Oddometer: 5,647	I wondered how long it would take before you wandered into this thread! thumper talkers are never far from the fold. i know you sold the YZ but what the hell else are you getting rid of? not the CRF, certainly? what are you going to terrorise the rest of michigan with if not a true dirt machine. and ice machine. and slushy much with a crust of frozen crap on top machine. i'll buy this '03 if it all works out and you can ride it if you'd like. i trying to get the guy to let me on it this weekend. i'm out of state working and don't know what the weather is going to be like up there. shit, if it all works out i'll toss some knobs on it and take it to Drummond! or at least red bud! p.s. i destroyed almost everything that makes my XR400 street legal (blame Brad-- HondaXR650R at TT) so parts are in route. i always wanted to do drummond and memorial day is my B-day-- i don't think i'll get to go this year again. work is crazy even if i do have to go out of state to get it.

03-11-2007, 08:09 PM	#13
strom thingie Lost and Proud! Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Plech, Germany Oddometer: 390	I'm a big guy myself and love my 03 DL1K. I bought mine used (5k miles on it) and farkled the heck out of it with the money I saved. The wee works great but I'm just a 1k kind of guy. I just replaced my stock screen with a 26.5" Cee-Bailey and it has alleviated the buffeting problem immensely.

03-12-2007, 05:43 AM	#15
BooneDog Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Oddometer: 297	I use MPCYCLEDESIGN windscreens on my 2004 DL1000. They are awesome. MUCH better than the stock screen (I just put on a MadStad bracket to experiment with also), but on the website www.mpcycledesign.com it shows how to mount them on a 2002/2003 design. __________________ BooneDog ------------------------------------- Yamaha FJR1300AE KTM 625 SXC

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