Suzuki has announced pricing for the 2014 V-Strom 1000 ABS. The U.S. MSRP will be $12,699, while the “Adventure” version (delivered with integrated saddlebags) will be priced at $13,999. Suzuki says the standard version will be available at U.S. dealers in April of next year, while the Adventure version will follow a month later.
As you know from previous reports here on MD, Suzuki is expected to emphasize a lower price and a lighter weight than the 1200cc competition. As the following table illustrates, it looks like Suzuki can legitimately make these claims. Only the much more exotic, and much more expensive, Ducati Multistrada claims to be lighter. In fairness, the Suzuki has a 19″ front wheel, while the Multistrada has a 17 incher, making the Suzuki potentially more off-road worthy and versatile. Follow this link to Suzuki’s web site for additional details and specifications.
|
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS |
2013 Yamaha Super Tenere |
2013 BMW R1200GS |
2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200
|
|
| Price |
$12,699 |
$14,790 |
$16,100 |
$16,995
|
| Weight (claimed wet in pounds)
|
502 |
578 |
525 |
494 |
I tend to agree with other posters that buying used is often better, of course presuming that the bike is well looked after. I just bought a very low mileage DL 1000 which had brand new running gear for 5 grand (Canadian). Fantastic bike and despite all above owners dissing the looks, I have had more positive comments from non riders than any other bike I have owned. New is nice but always way more expensive, let the original owner add the farkles, take the hit on depreciation. Yes, I have been on dirt roads with my Anakee tires, was perfect, but coming from road riding I am not planning on trails. I think riding is about skill and experience combined with the bike. Also don’t diss cruise until you have had it, my previous RT 1200 had cruise and it was great. Saves the right wrist and is very relaxing not always having to look down at the speed, esp with the Beemer cause it always ended up going very fast (had to sell, too fast for my own good!!). V Strom 1000 hits the sweet spot, and very comfortable seat for my wife.
My point exactly. It almost doesn’t matter what the starting price is. There (hopefully) will be used ones in good working order in a few years…until then, there are great DLs available…my used DL 650 is all I need
Glad to see the DL 1000 back and up dated. I had a 2003 that I sold
recently with 35,000 miles on it. It was in great condition and was
a very trouble free bike.
Peak torque of 76 ft/lbs at 4000 RPM, 99 HP at 8000 RPM and a weight of about 500 lbs?
Those numbers sound like a Bandit, but this one has long legs and an extra dash of electronic goodies baked in.
Looking forward to the MD ride report.
Oh look…another bike with a beak…Yay!
At least it does not look like it crashed into a wall like the old V-Strom, Varadero (in my opinion the best looking one of this group, just a pity it is such a fuel hog and heavy) or Yamaha Super Tenere to mention just a few. I really do not know what your guys issue is with a beak. The bikes that have them looks a lot more finished than the ones mentioned above. Some of us likes beaks.
When we’re put in a ‘room’ with a group of choices, it’s natural to narrow our focus and begin to compare spec’s, opinions on appearance, function, and price, and loose sight of something that’s more fundamental to adventure than whatever bike check’s off more of your personal boxes.
The way I see it, you can have an adventure on just about any bike…depends completely on your mind set. Where you go, routes you choose, and the things that happen along the way are what make up the adventure, not the bike you’re on. Getting caught in some weather, seeing new things, maybe even sliding off road in a corner or breaking down, and that conversation you had with that cute waitress you met along the way are all part of the adventure you can have once you hit the road. You don’t need to spend between $14,000 and $20,000 to have an adventure on a motorcycle either on road or off. And not that I think it’s wrong to do that if you really like a particular bike. But what makes the adventure are the experiences you have, many of which are the unplanned things that happen along the way, and have very little to do with what kind of bike you’re riding.
And ps…the new Suzuki is a clean, good looking bike.
Such wise counsel will never sell. I mean how can we possibly market that? 😉
Having had the opportunity to see this bike up close in the flesh this past weekend, I must recant my opinion about it being a bit on the ugly side. The new V looks very good in person, especially in black. It looks like a quality piece of kit as well with good components and being more nicely finished than the bike it replaces.
Some bikes are just not photogenic-thanks for the update
Don’t Triumph and KTM have models that should go into that chart? It’s a interesting chart, it needs to be filled out a little.
Don’t know, But I will compare it with the Versys 1000 ABS instead of the BMW GS because both are more supermotard style than adventure style.
After spending a lot of time researching to decide what adventure bike to buy, I settled on a new KTM 990 Adventure. I like the new 1190 and BMW 1250, but found for myself, the 990 is the best all around choice for adventure riding. I do a lot of fire roads and trails here in So Cal and in Arizona. Fantastic bike
How much time did you spend researching? There is no BMW 1250….
I meant 1200 GS. Sorry for mistake. I have 12 bikes in my garage and have spent the better part of 20 years in the motorcycle business and grew up around them. So my brain is fried
Your brain’s not fried, just lightly sauted, and tossed with some age. Your choice of KTM is proof of that. ;=)
Nice enough, but at almost $13,000, and likely no discounting until next fall, I’ll just get a 650 and be done with it.
When I got the S10, a large part of the reasoning was that I could get it, AND a wr250r, for the OTD cost of a new GS. The S10 is just too darned big and unwieldly for around town use, so out it went. I’m sure this new ‘Strom is much better predominantly paved surface allrounder, but now I can get pretty much a 650 AND the aforementioned wr for the cost of the 1000. Not giving up all that much of anything, since I rarely ride twoUp anyway. And for anything more challenging than a well maintained gravel road in the dry, the wr is just in a whole different league than any big adv bike.
fwiw, i’ve had both DL650 and DL1000 and my 650 does very well at freeway accelerative bursts, with a passenger (she was only 120lbs.) and luggage. 1000 definitely more grunty but the wee’s got a great little mill. the big difference is that gravel logging roads are much easier with the wee. pretty damn multi-purpose, that bike. (by myself, barring any freeway hauling, i’d go with my DRZ400 or DR650). i just don’t think the bigness is warranted or desirable anymore.
I would say this is one of the cleaner looking designs I’ve seen in the ADV category. Some nice bits on it, too.
I just wish the manufacture’s could make the front fender height above the tire just a bit more generous to allow for riding over the occasional muddy patch. That tire will become a ski very quickly in sticky conditions. Maybe an adjustable height fender to keep everyone happy.
+1 on both. I like it.
+2
yes. the madness of all this is that the decorative (?) beak is like a remnant of a high fender, while the actual fender is too low for actual adventuring. it’s been said before: MDDR = motorcycle designers don’t ride
Just doesn’t do it for me. I could get the new MV Agusta Turismo Veloce. Or find a used Multistrada 1200 for that price. Much more exciting options in this category.
And I haven’t even tried the affordable FZ9 yet. My triumph 1050 is going to have a hard time keeping residence with so many options I can trade up to.
Bikes are alot like women, the better looking it is, the higher the maintenance. The Zook starts to look alot better when your broke down beside the road on your hot to trot bike.
But young man, if you don’t believe me, then go get those hottie bikes, ride’em for at least 5 years, and you’ll find out. Go marry a hottie and put up with her for at least 5 years, and you’ll also find out.
Word of advice which all the other old geezers will agree with: If you want to save money and add 10 years to your life, take the bike over the wife. Hot bikes still cheaper and less aggravating than hot chicks.
Or better yet, just get the Zook and avoid all of the above. Don’t let lust get the better of you, young man.
Signed – Old man who knows.
+1
Whoa! I’m with you Jake!
but i (it) can’t (yet) help myself (itself)
You’re the reason old age is venerated in many cultures. In fact you should write a book and call it “Bikes are a lot like women…” Be sure to include lots of semi misogynistic blanket statements. I do have a question though WTF is a Zook?
SuZOOKi
Damper or Cartridge forks?
In this day and age, and for over $12k, got to be cartridge.
I’ve never seen damper rod USD forks
The adventure at $13999 looks like the deal for me. You get the skid plate, hand guards and hard bags. Or do I go for the GSX-R1000 for $100 less. If Suzuki had put a 125 hp motor in this, it would be a no-brainer. I wonder if anyone at Suzuki has any passion. The play it safe, this will be good enough attitude of the last 5 years is driving me away. Maybe the 2015 GSX-R will be worth a look. I seriously hope so, my 92 GSX=R is getting a bit old.
I was told at the San Mateo show you also get a center stand, heated grips and tip over protection. But the ‘bags are pretty small (26 liter/ 29 liter) for adventure touring (I assume camping, no hotels in the fun adventure touring paths) so whether or not is a good deal or not depends on how you use the bike. On the plus side, the bags are pretty narrow, that is important in California and most of the rest of the world. But if you wind up replacing the bags with something larger it isn’t such a good deal.
Goose
Leave the bags at the dealer. Save weight and width with a Giant Loop Great Basin.
yup. have one. easy to deal with, light, weight’s well-balanced. inconspicuous, too. don’t know why they’re not more popular.
oh, and narrow. narrower than the driver. nice.
Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, and all that, but as an adventure bike owner, I have to say that they’re all pretty much butt ugly in looks, but beautiful in function. But I use mine as a (mostly) street touring bike. Outfitted right, they’re comfortable, fast, and have pretty good range. An added plus, for me, is I don’t have to worry about the aesthetics of the bike’s looks after a couple of days on the road, since a little road grime isn’t as noticeable on my bike as it would be on a Goldwing, Harley or whatever. And when I get home, I don’t have to spend much time cleaning it up, just a little soap and a good hosing pretty much does it.
Incidentally, anyone else get a gander at that chick’s teeth at the end of the video? Good golly, Miss Molly, did they hire those people for their looks?
How apropos, after all it is a V-Strom. Looks?….But she can preform…..:)
point taken, all cats are grey in the dark ; – )
I like how you think
Japanese lady. Probably employee drafted into the project. Japanese (as Britts and other countries) have a different oppinion on teeth cosmetics….still, given the audience is NA they should have done better.
The 800 Tiger looks decent, not great, but not bad, the new KTM isn’t bad either.. The rest are definitely butt ugly. There is nothing more comfortable to ride though.
That commercial looks like it was shot in California, in the Bay Area. It opened on Mission Peak then transitioned to the area between Alice’s Restaurant and Pacifica. Reminds me why California is the perfect place to motorcycle.
Regarding the bike … I’m still kicking myself for selling my 96 VStrom. Fantastic bike. This one looks great, too. The only thing standing between it and the perfect all-around bike is cruise control.
You really have to wonder what they are advertising. Associations….?
Wonder how long before radar cruise becomes a “necessity” on MCs………
I am quite sure that commercial was not shot ANYWHERE in the US. Certainly not in the Bay Area. The landscape was green.
the price is right. you’re the next contestant, c’mon down.
The newly revised Super Tenere will be tough for this bike to beat, with new electronic cruise control, the reworked motor, and shaft drive. The Suzuki is lighter, but that’a about the only real advantage, other than maybe a slight price advantage.
I’d be very surprised if the ‘Strom doesn’t handle significantly lighter and better on road. The S10 is a long distance Adventure TOURER in the truest sense of the word. At least the Wee is a full on motard in comparison.
Looks like a nice value on an adventure bike. A full dress Triumph 1200 adventure bike, dressed out will run $18k. I hope they have a nice electronics package with the bike and cruise control. Wonder if they will offer the nice accessories Triumph or BMW does?
Nice beak. They’re not going to go too far off-road with those street tires.
It’s such a shame you can’t mount a different tire on those rims (snarky comment)…A set of Metzelers will take you where ever you want to go. I’m sure you’ld b!t(# about street performance if they mounted knobbies. Yust say you don’t like it and move on…
The real threat to this bike’s success is the very real possibility that Yamaha is going to make an adventure version of the new MT-09 115hp triple, a bike that is significantly lighter and has even more power than this one. If someone thinks this possibility is farfetched, consider how easy it was for Honda to make three separate versions of their new 500cc twin model one of which is (faux) CB500X “adventure” model.
The naked street version of the Yamaha new MT-09 is going to retail in the $8K+ range. Add factory saddlebags and about other other known adventure doodad and the bike will still be only in the $10 or $11K range max.
Suzuki simply waited too long to introduce this bike. Yamaha crept up behind and bit its rivals in the butt. The entry of an an adventure styled MT-09 will probably make the new Strom instantly obsolete. It also has the real possibility of doing the same to the Triumph XC which is less powerful, heavier, and more expensive.
You nailed it John,
The MT 09 is the only bike that excites me this year, mostly because of it’s light weight and high torque down low.
Also because of it’s low price and simplified engine (one cam chain, two cams instead of four etc.)
Yamaha has set a new standard. An adventure version would be intriguing. And for Gaia’s sake, no beak please?
What he said. Adventure MT-09, no beak and at least 5 gallons of fuel, please. If you could get it set up for $11K it would be awesome and my XR would be for sale.
Goose
They’re still betting on this market being big spenders (in the US). An MT09 Adventure bike probably won’t come here unless this Vstrom kills the Super Tenere’s sales.
The S10’s sales are already killed. No Suzuki required. Harakiri I believe they call it in Japan.
Agree to all, but think even nimbler….say MT-07. All of that and less filling, that would make a great “Adventure” bike light enuff for off-road and smooth and powerful enough for on. Might I have one please.
Could Yammie blow the Zook out of the water? Probably, but will they? Probably not. The Adventure Tourer market isn’t quite like the Supersport market where the Big 4 compete with each other directly tooth and nail. In this category, they like to create their own special niches and stick to them and avoid absolute direct competition with one another.
If Yammie does release such a bike, then I expect it to be smaller and less of a tourer than the Zook. Also, it will be without cruise control, while the Zook by that time will have one.
But should Yammie really blow the Zook out of the water, then the Zook can always lower its price, so the Zook will be fine regardless. Maybe a little less profitable, but it ain’t going anywhere.
I think we have a better shot at a downsized MT-07 in an “Adventure platform”, as it would keep the twin cylinder theme in play along with the Super Ten. As it is, I’m glad Zook built a striped down version so aftermarket goodies can be added at a whim. I like that they kept the cast wheels, for ease of cleaning and the front brakes look trick. All is looking pretty nice indeed.
+1, now where is Kawasaki in all of this?
That’s a good question
Versys 1000. Available everywhere except the USA.
http://www.kawasaki.ca/product/versys-1000-abs
Great idea. The only thing remaining is what’s gonna happen if you put the engine into dual purpose frame plus d-p suspension. It will likely add weight and cost. Beak notwithstanding.
Love the new V-strom, but an MT/FZ-09 based Adv bike would be the cat’s ass!
Kagato says:
November 9, 2013 at 6:10 pm
point taken, all cats are grey in the dark ; – )
My r1150GS is already too tall for me. And, now that I have a prosthetic right leg, it is not comfortible to stop and go. so, these tall adventure bikes are not in my future. what I would like from Suzuki is a scramble. Just like I learned to ride on, way back in the day. Except with this engine, a low seat, and ugly as dirt.
That should do it.
Cruise control please?
Why, is there something wrong with your right hand?
with $2,000.00 or more in savings, you could buy some serious gear
Maybe even an aftermarket nondescript black beak
The look just isn’t growing on me. They went overboard. The price is fine, IMO, and if it looked good would make a good choice over the Tiger 800 which I find to be a bit bland.
But it is just so damn ugly.
The ugly grows on you. Think of it as an ugly baby bird or even an ugly baby. It’s adorable in its own ugly way. A face only a mother could love.
Really? You think it’s ugly? Interesting. It looks great to me, better than all the other “adventure” bikes, except the KTM Adventure and the Multistrada. And it’s in a whole another league from the old V-Strom that looked super plasticky and flimsy.
It’s the derivative factor. If the bike was the first of its kind, then it could be considered cutting edge and ahead of its time. But alas, it plays on what has already been done and BMW does it so much better with better attention to details and proportions.
So that negative comparison is what’s causing an already ugly bike to look even uglier. But, yea, I think this bike is more of a looker than the past V-Strom and I think it will be major hit for Suzuki. Lord knows, they need it to be.
I think it looks miles better than the new GS. That thing is the flimsiest looking excuse for a motorcycle I have seen since the original ‘Strom.
The 1150 was the last GS to have that Panzer Rad look. Of the current crop, the S10 comes the closest. And both of them weigh accordingly…….
?I think it looks miles better than the new GS.”
Really?
First, I have to say I was one of the people who was pretty hard on the looks of this bike when the first pictures came out. After seeing the bike in San Mateo I have to withdraw much of what I said. The bike is ugly but, much like the BMW GS, it somehow pulls it off. I came home very interested in the bike and very curious about the price of what I thought was supposed to be a value priced bike.
At $12,699 my interest is much lower. I find the comparisons to premium bikes (BMW and Ducati) and the 1200 CC, shaft drive Yamaha to be unimpressive, I can’t see anybody thinking “I don’t know, do I want a chain drive Japanese 1000 street oriented V-Twin or a 1200 CC, shaft drive BMW GS boxer?’. Like somebody else said, why aren’t the similar Triumph 800 twins in the price table? I can see a buyer saying “800 Tiger or V-Strom 1000?”.
This bike may be great and sell like $1 beer at $12,699 but that seems unlikely to me. If you love bike and think it is priced right I understand, I just disagree.
Goose
Duh, make that “Why aren’t the Triumph 800 Triples in the price table”.
Goose
Like the styling, the pricing seems to say Suzuki would be happy to sell this bike in moderate amounts. They can probably do so at that price. Also, Europe is in a bad recession, when they recover which could be soon, I expect the price of their bikes will go up significantly due to increased demand overseas.
So in a year or two, the Suzuki might be priced just right relative to the competition.
Also, isn’t this bike designed to appeal to shorter riders? So right off the bat, the Zook might have a captive group with no other choice but to buy it or look silly with their legs dangly in air trying to touch firm ground.
Great point about seat height. This is why my dual sport musings always end up with an Yamaha XT250, or DR650 to be fair, since it is designed to drop down–Zuk will even give you a shorter kickstand
I can’t speak for anybody else but at 6′ 4″ with a 34″ inseam the bike fit me very well. That is part of why I was interested, I really, really liked the riding position.
Goose
Go Goose! I’m 5’7 so a bit different down here ; – ) lots of bikes out there for tall folks, not so many pure sport bikes though–seems like they are as small as they can make them
Yeah, I was at the show with a friend who is a little shorter than you. His options in the adventure bike category are pretty limited. The guy rides very well but stop signs really spoil the fun for him. ;^)
Goose
back in the day–was in a dealership looking at the really cool GS 650’s, GPZ’s, they also had some Husky’s—I was totally humiliated to realize I could never ride one of those bad boys : – ( XT250 for me if I want what we used to call a street trail bike. a few years later I picked up a CSR 305 Kawasaki because it had belt drive, passed on the KE 250 a row over : – ( I really need a big warehouse and boocoodles of money!
More importantly, does this bike represent $2,800 premium over the previous model? Or the countless barely used, farkled-out versions of the old bike available on Craigslist for under $8K? I’m thinking….no. Like the fella said, this thing is $1000 or more overpriced
Just on looks alone, this bike is worth 2x more than the previous model. On top of that you get USD forks, radial brakes, and well-designed luggage that doesn’t make the bike too wide. I think it’s a great deal.
The reason I’d consider this bike (or the WeeStrom, or the 1000 Versys if it ever gets to the USA) is because I’m looking for a standard street bike with alloy wheels that easily fits a tall person. Every other street standard is too short right out of the box and is usually too hard to raise the seat/handlebars that I would need (and it looks too stupid). Too bad cycle manufacturers don’t offer different-sized frames for the same model – wait, every bicycle manufacturer does! Too bad cycle manufacturers don’t offer adjustable ergonomics so the bike would fit a wide variety of rider sizes – wait, every car/truck manufacturer does!
just another reason so may tall dudes ride adv bikes
DCE, yes to your comments about different size frames and adjustable ergonomics. It’s scandalous, really, in this age for manufacturers not to offer adjustability at least.
FWIW, Suzuki shows this bike being ridden on paved roads and unpaved roads, but not off-road. The tires aren’t knobbies and the front wheel is 19″ not 21″. It’s not a dirt bike and they’re not pitching it as one. It’s an all-arounder, much like an SUV with two wheels, and I expect it will excel in that role. It will probably also excel in giving poseurs a mount to look tough and adventuresome on, but so what? Riding a Ducati (er, Yamaha) replica racer doesn’t make you Valentino Rossi. Riding a Harley doesn’t make you Sonny Barger.
Riding a motorcycle is about having fun, for me anyway. A 500-pound sport-touring machine that’s good for blacktop or gravel or dirt would fit nicely into my stable. I’ll take a look at the new Strom when it arrives.
re: “It will probably also excel in giving poseurs a mount to look tough and adventuresome on”
nobody can look tough with that beak. everywhere you go, you will be greeted with…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7wtNOkuHo
++1 About a year ago I had 5 bikes in the garage now I’m down to two, KTM 530 dirt bike and the before mentioned butt ugly Strominator. I’ve really grown to like that bike for the reasons you mentioned plus the ease of ownership with the Suzuki. Now my wive can get her SUV in to the garage, sooo were both happy if you know what I mean.
Cuz…you know what’s less expensive, more capable and lighter weight than the V-strom? Tiger 800.
Still don’t see a Tiger 800 or XC on that table.
Personally I think its priced about $1000 to high. When the other manufacturers are starting to move towards ‘bang for the buck pricing’ (think FZ09)I just think its too high. I had an SV1000, have a 650 Vstrom and I like Suzuki Vtwins a lot.
Having said that, I think after the initial flurry of sales, this one will languish in the showroom and they will be discounting them in three months.
Yup. The two DL1000s i’ve owned were purchased well under MSRP. Besides the 1000s i’ve also had a DL650 and i absolutely agree: These Suzuki v-twins motors are very likeable. There’s almost nothing the weestrom can’t do. Super comfy and it’s cheap to run.
I would take a hard look at this bike. IF… I could bring myself to buy another 500+ pound bike. The Yamaha FZ-09 looks like a much better choice for me, but I won’t make up my mind with a spec sheet, I’ll ride them first.
I’m just sure that with all the comments on MCdaily, that Yamaha will in fact build an ADV version of the FZ-09 for you and your like minded buddies…
and the FJR-09 that I want.
Makes perfect sense,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, to me
#sarcasm (for the haters)
My guess is that the FZ-09 is probably better off-road than ALL of the current adventure bikes. It’s just a set of tires away from showing them all how it’s done when the pavement stops and the dirt begins.
i really want to like the FZ-09 but the first test rides of the FZ-09 indicate that the fueling is a mess–which was also an issue with the now discontinued FZ6. i owned an FZ6 and it wasn’t a sorted ride.
The Japanese manufacturers are taking advantage of the high priced European competitors and charging WAY to much for their “Adventure” bikes. What single part of the V-Strom cost more to manufacture than the same part on a Ninja 1000 that retails for $700 less?
Almost $13K for this and $15K for the Tenere? I’d say the BMW and Ducati are actually better values (did I really say that?).
“What single part of the V-Strom cost more to manufacture than the same part on a Ninja 1000 that retails for $700 less?”
The engine. Two heads, two sets of valve gear, twice as many cams. Another consideration is volume. Are the N1000 or any of its major components shared platforms? If so, costs go down with copies made. The V-strom used to benefit from shared parts with it’s littler sibling, does it still?
It all comes out in the wash. There’s no way to know what all the components cost and what the quality/cost of parts you can’t see is(valving in suspension?). In the end, they build as efficiently as they can and sell the product for what they believe it will bring, and accept the margin that yields.
This is lighter weight and $3k less than the Euro bikes. Do they offer that much more value?
You mean the same engine that has been around since 1997? I think the TLS TLR SV1000 and DL1000 paid off the tooling on those two heads a long time ago. Need for speed brah is right there is no other reason to charge so much other than the market will bear it. At least it’s not a dozen year old bandit dressed up with cheap plastic on a steel tube frame and shit suspension for $12K, oh wait they already did that.
There is no paying off parts count. More pieces = more money. Tooling also doesn’t last forever and needs to be replaced periodically. Nothing is free.
I never cease to be amazed by the consumers who take it upon themselves to defend multinational billion dollar corporations. That’s cool if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, but most people would rather not spend $13K where they could spend lets say $11K. Isn’t it our job to demand top quality at bottom prices? Or should we just go around making excuses for why a BMW bike costs more than a lot of cars?
Not defending any company, just answering a question. Do what you want with it. I would not pay $12k for it either.
I’m not trying to get on your case, I realize this is a nuanced issue. Where’s just a few things I don’t get and one is people making excuses for big corporations.
Remember when all the journos were blaming high prices on a strong Yen? Well, now that the Yen is at 2009 levels (low) why aren’t all the prices going down? But try and tell people back in 2011/12 that the Yen has nothing to do with it and the price won’t go down when the Yen does, they treat you like an a hole for contradicting f____ shill journos.
Now they have to sell the price another way. It’s almost fun to sit back and see how creative they can get. F’n Yen lol.
I wouldn’t be too concerned about MSRP. If history is anything to go on, unless the demand is high and/or steady the bikes will be discounted by dealers. And if demand IS strong it means that word of mouth regarding the bike’s inherent virtue is what will be selling these bikes–and that’s a good thing, no? That’s what drives the healthy used market for V and Wee Stroms now.
I’d be VERY surprised if it costs more to make the the Suzuki V2 than it does the Ninja I-4. More machining and material go into the Ninja head than the two Zook heads. There are more camshafts, but less valves and therefore less machine time and materials than the Ninja camshafts. You are not going to offset the cost of two additional pistons and a big crank with the extra cam drives, either.
this is a problem with V mills, I would really rather pull one valve cover to adjust valves than two
Inventory is the keyword here. It becomes a buyers market when the EVIL corporations overprice their goods. I’m still kicking myself for not picking up that black and blue 700 Nighthawk years ago
Oil Filter & front header will notdo well off road.
A good bash plate will take care of those issues. The old DLs make great all road travel bikes. Some have had issues with the clutchs. I supect that if the bike was geared down some it would do just fine.
really!? do you REALLY beleive that anybody who plans to get serious enough off-road to worry about hitting the front header on something solid would buy any one of these four bikes? really!? on any bike like this, a stout skid plate is a good idea, but in the real world of 98% of riders who buy a litre calss adventure bike, the most likely test would be a curb. the company promo video only shows a gravel road. they are great for that, and i have a wee strom for that, but building them for going over logs is no different than the guy who buys a gel seat and highway pegs for his sportser and its three mile ride to the bar.
There are parts of the world with extensive networks of gravel road. Luckily, where I live too. I used to have motox bikes, but the cost of driving the truck to the mountain got too great. The big dual sports are gravel road capable. None of them are good for trails since even an easy trail can turn into a difficult trail. Go around a corner and a log is across the path etc. The one issue I had with the dl was lack of 21″ front wheel, which is needed for dirt roads. I got a good ol klr instead.
My KTM 950 went over a fallen log just fine yesterday. At one point the whole weight of the bike was riding on the (stock) bash plate as the log was larger in diameter than the bike’s ground clearance. Yes, some of these bikes can be ridden on trails just fine even in stock condition.
You are correct guuu. Me and various buddies have been riding these big bikes on trails for more than a decade, but you can’t tell that to the know-it-alls with their cute little 250s. Even when you meet them on the trail they start looking for the truck or helicopter that you MUST have just used to get your bike and yourself there.
It just totally deflates their ego, and that is fairly amusing to witness.
I don’t see too many 950s at enduro-cross. You might have to google it as they don’t have them in India.
Of course you CAN take a 600 lb whale down a “trail” if you want to, and have the requisite skills, experience and wallet. But why?
I mean, you CAN take an 18 wheeler to a gymkhana too….. Or fish from the back of a cruise ship…..
Yeah, just came from the AMA Dual Sport ride in Prescott a couple weeks back (excellent event BTW) and three of us helped pick up a looped out 990, happy happy joy joy. My hats off to the ‘ole boy he has bigger stones er wallet than I, but it can be done but why?
“Of course you CAN take a 600 lb whale down a “trail” if you want to, and have the requisite skills, experience and wallet. But why?”
Because its fun and these trails have been hundreds or thousands of miles away from home (but nowhere near India…). To compare KTM 950 (WAY under 600 lbs) to 18 wheeler is just ridiculous. I don’t have champiship level skills, if you can ride any bike over a log you can ride a 950, if you can’t, you can’t, simple as that. Riding the 950 certainly isn’t expensive, “real” dirt bikes cost much more to run.
But its always nice to hear from people, even ones with limited to no experience about the subject mater but are endurocross experts etc.