@lucabrasi944 Thanks! It's pretty comfortable for long hauls on pavement. It'll buzz along at 90 mph all day long if you want it to. I recommend raising the handlebars and adding highway pegs somewhere up front. Crash bars or the skid plate are good attachment points. The seat isn't amazing, but it works for me. A lot of the guys I ride with have Corbin or custom seats. Same with the stock windshield; if you're a speed demon, you'll want to replace it with a taller one.
Great video guys. I just test road a DL650 today here in upstate NY, and will be buying the first that comes into the dealer this coming March (2012). I was bit hesitant after riding 61,000 miles on my 2005 Suzuki C90T, this is a completely different bike. But seeing what you've done here, and hearing how one of you rode it to Alaska maintenance free, makes it sound like a plan.
As a follow up, I have 61,000 mi on my 2005 Suzuki C90T (I'll be keeping it as it is still like new), I hope the DL holds up as well! I have a ride planned this Sept 2012 I'll be riding the DL on a ride from Albany NY to Jacksonville FL,,hang a right to San Deigo, up thru Sequoia Natl Park, Yosemite, across Americas Loneliest Highway in Nevada, to Zion Nat park, north Rim of Grand Canyon, Dunes Nat monument in CO, over the rockies, up thru Ozarks over Smokies, up Blue Ridge Pkwy,Skyline to home.
@billysgeo Yeah, yeah...I have some now. I was putting nearly 400 paved miles a week on my bike around the time I took this trip, since it's my commuter too. Have a set of Shinkos now, super impressed by them.
@carlsonmn Most of it, probably. V-Stroms are pretty heavy, not true dual sports. And this was my first off-pavement ride ever, so we weren't pushing it too much.
@carlsonmn We actually bet up with a crew of FJRs once we were up in the Cascades. Thought we were crazy for taking our bikes through the sand. Pretty sure we were.
@pelkas87 It handles very well. Sand and mud are tough, but they're tough on any bike. I've taken my Strom off-road through the woods, on single-track, and on hundreds of miles of gravel fire roads. The 2nd rider in the video just rode his all the way to Alaska, almost completely off-pavement, and without any mechanical issues at all.
We mostly pick a direction and take off, and then figure out our route using GPS and maps as we go. And generally pick the more difficult-looking roads. You encounter way better riding this way. I've never made it up to Seattle, but I bet there's great roads up there.
Cool video. I also want a trip like this with my Vstrom... But I gotta a question: where u guys prepared in case of a flat tire? I'm not sure how to prepare for that... (would something like fix-a-flat work)? thanks.
@wdanda We do carry flat repair kits, and also additional tubes that will fit inside our tubeless tires. Tube replacement: spare tubes (front & rear), 2 synthetic tire spoons, oil or grease. There are a lot of quality flat repair kits for motorcycles. At minimum, it should include patches, plugs, a slicing tool, a plugging tool, and a pump. I put my own kit together using generic stuff and a bicycle pump. Fix-a-flat's site says not to use it on motorcycle tires. It doesn't seal well enough.
Hey great video. I'm thinking of getting a Vee and was just wondering how they work off-road some people say they are no good others say they are great.
@xrmatrix, it depends on your expectations and abilities. Is it comparable to an DRZ400? No. But you can take it on just about anything you would take a DR650 or KLR650 if you are a competent off-road rider and throw knobbies on it. It'll be a different ride, but the bike can do it. And then when you hit the tarmac, you're basically on a street bike.
It also helps to throw crash bars, handguards, and a bash plate on it so you won't be afraid to dump it like a dirt bike. :D
Incredibly, the same bikes my friend and I want to have, and we want a similar way to cross! Well done excellent ride!!
kolardg 1 week ago
Quit babying it, just ride it, if you drop it then it just gives it more character!
tonyinfinity 1 month ago
Awesome video! I ride an FZ6 now, but looking for a Strom for my next ride.
brandonmika74 1 month ago
Nice edit (and bikes). I'm thinking of trading my KLR for a Strom for longer distance touring. How comfortable is it for 500 mile days on the slab?
lucabrasi944 2 months ago
@lucabrasi944 Thanks! It's pretty comfortable for long hauls on pavement. It'll buzz along at 90 mph all day long if you want it to. I recommend raising the handlebars and adding highway pegs somewhere up front. Crash bars or the skid plate are good attachment points. The seat isn't amazing, but it works for me. A lot of the guys I ride with have Corbin or custom seats. Same with the stock windshield; if you're a speed demon, you'll want to replace it with a taller one.
TSWallacePhoto 2 months ago
Great video guys. I just test road a DL650 today here in upstate NY, and will be buying the first that comes into the dealer this coming March (2012). I was bit hesitant after riding 61,000 miles on my 2005 Suzuki C90T, this is a completely different bike. But seeing what you've done here, and hearing how one of you rode it to Alaska maintenance free, makes it sound like a plan.
petermotorcycle 3 months ago
As a follow up, I have 61,000 mi on my 2005 Suzuki C90T (I'll be keeping it as it is still like new), I hope the DL holds up as well! I have a ride planned this Sept 2012 I'll be riding the DL on a ride from Albany NY to Jacksonville FL,,hang a right to San Deigo, up thru Sequoia Natl Park, Yosemite, across Americas Loneliest Highway in Nevada, to Zion Nat park, north Rim of Grand Canyon, Dunes Nat monument in CO, over the rockies, up thru Ozarks over Smokies, up Blue Ridge Pkwy,Skyline to home.
petermotorcycle 3 months ago
@petermotorcycle How did the ride go? Some friends and I hit the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route about that same time...video to come!
TSWallacePhoto 2 months ago
@petermotorcycle Let me know how you like it! Don't be afraid to use those crash bars, they work...again and again.
TSWallacePhoto 2 months ago
Awesome watching this video! Kinda like watching dirt bike/road bike all-in-one adventure and great countryside too...
Tigadee00 4 months ago
You should think about a set of on-OFF tires...
billysgeo 4 months ago
@billysgeo Yeah, yeah...I have some now. I was putting nearly 400 paved miles a week on my bike around the time I took this trip, since it's my commuter too. Have a set of Shinkos now, super impressed by them.
TSWallacePhoto 2 months ago
@TSWallacePhoto Thats great. Keep it dirty!
billysgeo 2 months ago
I think I could have done that terrain on my FJR. But nice video! Looks like a lot of fun.
carlsonmn 4 months ago
@carlsonmn Most of it, probably. V-Stroms are pretty heavy, not true dual sports. And this was my first off-pavement ride ever, so we weren't pushing it too much.
TSWallacePhoto 4 months ago
@carlsonmn We actually bet up with a crew of FJRs once we were up in the Cascades. Thought we were crazy for taking our bikes through the sand. Pretty sure we were.
TSWallacePhoto 2 months ago
Great stuff, guys. Clearly, you were being careful in many places, but that sure beats breaking a leg and ruining your trip! (ask me how I know!)
Keep having fun, and thanks for sharing with us.
DrivingForceUSA 5 months ago
It seems quite agile even on rough trails for such a big and heavy bike.. or it might just be thanks to the rider
pelkas87 6 months ago
@pelkas87 This was my first off-pavement ride ever, so definitely not the rider! :D
TSWallacePhoto 6 months ago
What do you think of the DL650 in dirt/offroad/gravel roads, does it handle it passably at least?
pelkas87 6 months ago
@pelkas87 It handles very well. Sand and mud are tough, but they're tough on any bike. I've taken my Strom off-road through the woods, on single-track, and on hundreds of miles of gravel fire roads. The 2nd rider in the video just rode his all the way to Alaska, almost completely off-pavement, and without any mechanical issues at all.
TSWallacePhoto 6 months ago
We mostly pick a direction and take off, and then figure out our route using GPS and maps as we go. And generally pick the more difficult-looking roads. You encounter way better riding this way. I've never made it up to Seattle, but I bet there's great roads up there.
TSWallacePhoto 9 months ago
How did you find the back roads?Do you guys ever do any riding up in the Seattle area?
harrygutterballs 9 months ago
Cool video. I also want a trip like this with my Vstrom... But I gotta a question: where u guys prepared in case of a flat tire? I'm not sure how to prepare for that... (would something like fix-a-flat work)? thanks.
wdanda 10 months ago
@wdanda We do carry flat repair kits, and also additional tubes that will fit inside our tubeless tires. Tube replacement: spare tubes (front & rear), 2 synthetic tire spoons, oil or grease. There are a lot of quality flat repair kits for motorcycles. At minimum, it should include patches, plugs, a slicing tool, a plugging tool, and a pump. I put my own kit together using generic stuff and a bicycle pump. Fix-a-flat's site says not to use it on motorcycle tires. It doesn't seal well enough.
TSWallacePhoto 10 months ago
great vid!
VTV5ThoiSu 1 year ago
Hey great video. I'm thinking of getting a Vee and was just wondering how they work off-road some people say they are no good others say they are great.
xrmatrix 1 year ago
@xrmatrix, it depends on your expectations and abilities. Is it comparable to an DRZ400? No. But you can take it on just about anything you would take a DR650 or KLR650 if you are a competent off-road rider and throw knobbies on it. It'll be a different ride, but the bike can do it. And then when you hit the tarmac, you're basically on a street bike.
It also helps to throw crash bars, handguards, and a bash plate on it so you won't be afraid to dump it like a dirt bike. :D
TSWallacePhoto 1 year ago
I like the V-strom. This vid makes me want to buy one! You guys had an adventure!
VideoBox100 1 year ago
Awesome video guys!
z33tec 1 year ago
great trip
michaelblub 1 year ago