Big Strom Vs. Little Strom....

[disconnected]

How would you compare the two?? I owned a 650strom in the past and am kind of tied up on what bike to buy. Gramps suggested a 1000 strom and it may be a good idea...

If you have owned both, what do you prefer about each..
what are the direct comparisons.??
what is the approximate fuel economy of the LiterStrom???
What is the range...
Do you think the Big strom is too heavy...

Just a wondering..??..

I will mainly be doing twisty rides in West Virginia with Dirt roads in the Mix. Hopefully I will even be able to convince the wife to go on some two up camping trips with me. I never felt the 650 was lacking in power but just wanted some "real life" info on the big strom... I camp often off the bike too,

I know what I paid for the 650, but what have some of you liter Strom owners paid out the door...

greg

[Moving Pictures]

Originally Posted by disconnected

How would you compare the two?? I owned a 650strom in the past and am kind of tied up on what bike to buy. Gramps suggested a 1000 strom and it may be a good idea...

From whta I've seen, most of the DL1000 crowd are either superslab haulers or two-up tourers that have kinda bought into the myth you can't tour with less than 90 horses.

650 is more than enough. (And, for the touring types, recall the original Honda Silverwing - the prototypical two-up tourng bike - was a normally aspirated 500cc engine wiht about as much horsepower as a KLR.)

[Superstar]

No one ever said "I wish I had less horsepower".

Answers:
- I have not owned both, but I have ridden both quite a bit. I like the torque-everywhere of the Vee and the sound the engine makes.
- I'm a big guy (6'4" ~235) so the extra 35-40ish pounds of the Vee doesn't bother me.
- I start looking for gas @ ~ 180 miles.
- I average 40-42 commuting MPG on nearly every tank, but then again I don't ride it like a hooligan.

I don't know if it matters, but around here Wee's and Vee's are about the same price. New '07 Vee's are available for ~6700USD.

[Wingspan]

Originally Posted by Moving Pictures

From whta I've seen, most of the DL1000 crowd are either superslab haulers or two-up tourers that have kinda bought into the myth you can't tour with less than 90 horses.

Not quite correct...we know you can tour with less than 90 hp but some of us just prefer to tour on a bike with more Hp than a wee. There's nothing wrong with that, no matter how much the wee-faithful want to belive otherwise.


disconnected- I've got a '08 DL1000 on order right now. $8800 out the door, including Indiana's 6% sales tax. I had another quote from a dealer in OH that was ~$300 cheaper, but I would have had to travel much farther to get it which would have made the actual difference closer to $150.

[bikeslut]

I have the V... My gas light starts flashing at about 160, and takes almost 5 gallons from that point. I know that is worse than most people, but I like the acceleration of the bike, and I cruise around at 80, with the windshield all the way up.

I got the V, rather than the wee, for two up with my wife. But My last 4 street bikes were a zx-11, vtr1000, cbr 1000 and fzr1000; I didn't think the wee would "do it" for me. I have the V and DO wish for more power. I re-geared (since I rarely go over 100) and it almost keeps me happy in the acceleration department.

It's not too heavy on the street...ever... well... except when I put my foot down in a pile of kitty litter, and dropped it in a parking lot. it is top heavy in the dirt, and the front end seems to push with the stock tires, and the more street oriented tires I replaced them with. And I have ridden some fairly gnarly trails on it. (Kearnan Cycle trail in San Diego) Never run with tkc's or anything.

[Kawidad]

I've owned both. I currently own a vee. I had the wee, but got rid of it because I traded it for a KTM 950 Adventure, which was a major disappointment. I then traded the 950 for the vee. Since the dealer offered me a smoking deal including a trade-in, I can't comment on final costs.

So to answer some of your questions:

How would you compare the two??
Real close to one another. The wee is more of a finished product, where the vee needs a little tweeking to get there. However, I think the vee has more potential than the wee. A better starting point with the bigger motor and better components.


what are the direct comparisons.??
Like I said, they really are very similar bikes. To me, the biggest difference is the lack of power in the 650 mill. I had an SV650 and loved the motor in that bike, but when they retuned it and stuffed it in the DL; to me it lost something in the translation. The extra weight and the loss of snap was very noticeable. I felt the 650 was rather asthmatic, which was especially noticeable from a stop or at freeway speeds. Droning on the highway or passing at 80+MPH I felt the 650 was working too hard and spinning too high to acheive those ends. (And, yes, I did change out the sprocket.)


what is the approximate fuel economy of the LiterStrom???
I get about 41-42 or so on the highway. However, I did the Yosh box heal on it, which cut my mileage by about one or two MPG. My wee got a high of 50 MPG, but that was low speed steady back country touring with no luggage. I haven't done that with the vee yet, so it's not really a fair comparison. The wee usually averaged about 45 MPG, so the mileage figures are really very similar.


What is the range...
I never take it to "E".

Do you think the Big strom is too heavy...
I don't and didn't notice the weight difference at all.

[Reposado1800]

There was a big hoopla that the Vee was done after '07. Low and behold there is a 08 Vee on the way. I have a 07 Wee and love it. That being said... if '08 is the last year for the Vee, I am going to get one of the last ones. Its too good of a bike to watch it go down in history. If you are so inclined someone even makes a killer side car for it!!!

[Boon Booni]

Originally Posted by Superstar

- I start looking for gas @ ~ 180 miles.

That's the main thing that kills me about the 1000.. On my Wee, I never start looking for gas until 225-250 miles. (usually fill up 5 gallons at 250 miles, with 0.8 gallons to spare..)

I get a consistent 50 mpg commuting, and above that when fully loaded for camping and touring or just out in the country twisting up and down the mountains. I never drone away on the interstate for longer than 40-60 miles, but run 70-75 mph when I do. Of course I usually run at least 60 mph on the back roads.

In my mind, range reigns supreme, over and above the other differences between the bikes.

[Reposado1800]

I must be riding wrong. My Wee has everything blinking at the bottom of the gauge at 190 miles. 1 gallon to spare. Maybe because I am 2up most of the time.

[Boon Booni]

Originally Posted by rdnakx250

I must be riding wrong. My Wee has everything blinking at the bottom of the gauge at 190 miles. 1 gallon to spare. Maybe because I am 2up most of the time.

What year is it? I have been noticing that the '07's seem to be getting better mileage than the older bikes. Could also be location.. California typically has poorer quality gas.

[GordMounce]

I sold my second KLR to get a Vee because I wanted a bike capable of two-up touring, plus a small amount of off-road ability. The weight of the thing really limits where you can take it, and that's fine by me. I imagine the Wee would be that much better off road, but to me it's still pretty heavy to get into really rough stuff. (I know I'm going to get swamped with pics of Wees doing doubles on motocross tracks now...). I'm going to add a more dirt-capable mount in the future as well - maybe the new WR250.

Biggest difference that I love - when you crack the throttle on the Wee it accelerates. My Vee f*cks off! I'll take 100hp over a bigger touring range any day.

[disconnected]

Wow, thanks for the great replys...




Greg

[eakins]

Originally Posted by Moving Pictures

From whta I've seen, most of the DL1000 crowd are either superslab haulers or two-up tourers that have kinda bought into the myth you can't tour with less than 90 horses.

650 is more than enough. (And, for the touring types, recall the original Honda Silverwing - the prototypical two-up tourng bike - was a normally aspirated 500cc engine wiht about as much horsepower as a KLR.)

which is NOT true of course! i'm in colorado so i've been to 14K ft loaded 2 up and the wee does just fine!!!! it's geared very well in stock (15 tooth front) form for 2 up. flat landers go for a 16 tooth front however.

[minkyhead]

i run both the vee has the better motor no doubt and for two up long distance is really the only choice ...more room for some reason although the seats interchange ???
the wee is great one up but above 90mph u get the feeling u are abusing the bike a little [which make me unconfortable ]

suspension and ride are better on the vee ...no doubt ..copes much better two up but still isnt the best
the wee is mor agile and the engine punches above its weight but you do have to rev the nuts off it to keep with the vee [understanderble ] it is a really nice bike to ride ...that sv engine make you think your cheating

fual for the vee is around 45 riding the torque 200 miles
the wee is around 53 without going silly 80 ish top speeds mixed riding
its a hard one ....if you are happy chugging along up to 90 the wee will give u all you need and a lot of fun in the bends
above that ...goota be the vee

best points vee ..lovely torque nice ride quality ...eats distance needs road tyres /raising links
if you drop the forks you will produce many sparks ..??
the wee smashing willing engine fun agile ...let down by budget suspension when worked hard

i would go away for a weekend on the wee na bother but further and longer its no contest for me anyway

good luck with your choice

[Big_John]

Originally Posted by Moving Pictures

From whta I've seen, most of the DL1000 crowd are either superslab haulers or two-up tourers that have kinda bought into the myth you can't tour with less than 90 horses.

650 is more than enough. (And, for the touring types, recall the original Honda Silverwing - the prototypical two-up tourng bike - was a normally aspirated 500cc engine wiht about as much horsepower as a KLR.)

Amen Brother!!!!! I totally agree.

If I owned the liter bike, I am sure I would be very pleased, but I don't think it is worth the extra $2,500.

I am 6'4", 250lbs and my wife is 5'9", 140 lbs. We overload the Wee with 100lbs of Givi bags and stuff.....and run all around Colorado. We fly up 10,000-12,000 ft passes with no power issues at all.

Now, if I were running the American Interstate roads....cruising 70-80 mph, 2-up with heavy loads......I am sure I would appreciate the Vee and it's abilitly to toodle at those speeds for hours on end, turning 4k rpm's. But the wife and I don't do that. We ride for 60-90 minutes, stop and shoot photos, get a coffee, get lunch, etc....and ride a bit further.....and stop.

For us....the DL650 is all the bike we need......(that is until, we decide to go coast to coast....and then, I will buy a 1200LT.)

We did this ride....2-Up!!