SV 1000 & DL 1000 Vs B-12

[Bazza]

I was bale to take a SV 1000 & a DL 1000 out for a ride today during demo days.

I have alsways eyed the SV-1000 as a future replacement for the Bandit, but that was till I rode it.

Things I liked.

I am not a huge V twin fan but must admit it was entertaining. I still feel however that my moded B-12 has much more mid range punch.

The SV is much more fun to throw around. I felt very confident in the corners on this thing. (And I should add, it was a very well done demo ride where the hosts actually let us crack the throttle on occasion).


Things I hated.

Ok I just turned over 46 yesterday, but this thing has brutal ergo's. My wrists screamed in pain after 20 minutes, and I was begining to feel very cramped in the legs. I could not imagine taking one on any of the rides I have had my B-12 on. Gasp, has old age affected my riding ability?

Would not trade the Bandito for one ever.

Now on to the V-strom.

Things I liked.

This baby is a big comfy couch. I spent just as much time in the saddle with this one as the SV 1000, and really I just wanted to ride it more. Loads of leg room, and I was suprised how well the throttle resonded. (I have always thought of these as slow lumbering beasts, but not anymore) A set of luggage on this baby, and you could go anywhere.

Things I disliked

Understandably, not as much fun to throw around as the B-12.

Ugly as hell. Even I could not drink this bike pretty.

I would certainly consider one of these for serious touring. In fact I liked it better than Honda's ST 1300 I test rode last year. A possible bike sometime down the road.

Also rode a naked SV 650. Great little starter bike, and much fun. A bit to small for me.


On a sour note, one of the test riders totalled off a Bergman 650 on the ride before mine. As the story goes, he was a bit inexperianced, and went into a corner a little hot. He pulled in what his brain said was the clutch, but of course the bergman is automatic. The lever he pulled was the rear brake. This manouver caused him to highside, sending the Bergman 25 feet into the air onto a golf course, along with all the associated Bergman shrapnel that was knocked loose while it carwheeled down the highway before it came to grief on the golf course. A whitness said it was very funny watching the nicely dressed 4 some scatter for their lives.

The test rider was only bruised up, and not seriously hurt, thanks to the dealers insistance that everyone be equiped with proper gear.

Best demo ever thanks to Riverside Suzuki, in St. Albert, Canada.

[B6mick]

I tend to argee whole heartedly about the sv thou, bucket loads of fun, but also being on the up side of 45, the shoulders and wrists did cop a beating. The DL like the Yamaha TDM both excellent long distance bikes, both have been hit many many times with the ugly stick, and no amount of drinking could possibly make it look good.

[Desolation Angel]

...Now on to the V-strom.

Things I liked.

This baby is a big comfy couch. I spent just as much time in the saddle with this one as the SV 1000, and really I just wanted to ride it more. Loads of leg room, and I was suprised how well the throttle resonded. (I have always thought of these as slow lumbering beasts, but not anymore) A set of luggage on this baby, and you could go anywhere.

Things I disliked

Understandably, not as much fun to throw around as the B-12.

Ugly as hell. Even I could not drink this bike pretty.

I would certainly consider one of these for serious touring. In fact I liked it better than Honda's ST 1300 I test rode last year. A possible bike sometime down the road.

Hi!  I've owned a 2001 B12S for about six months or so.  Never been real happy with the riding position and feel even with Helibars and higher ZeroGravity touring windscreen.  Before I bought the Bandit I'd been eyeballing the V-Strom pretty seriously due to that riding position, but eventually picked the Bandit I guess due to certain similarities to my GS750E and that awesome inline 4.

I'd like to hear more of your riding impressions on the V-Strom if you can compare it's performance a bit more to the Bandit.  I may switch to a V-Strom at some point; how much performance am I giving up dropping 200cc's and going to 2 cylinders?  I mean, am I gonna feel like I'm back to a 750 again?

Thanks for anything else you might want to share.

[Slider]

Thanks for posting.
The Dealers in the area arange demos but always seem to post a ride leader who limits speed suitable for outrageously civilized little old ladies.
I lucked into the only Hayabusa demo in the area a while back. The guy said the bike was totally booked up at 9am which didn't wash. When I pointed out that there weren't 5 riders there yet he asked & was satisfied with the Bandit I was riding as OK for signup. He said some guys were winding them up and dumping them before they even left the parking lot. I assume he was includeing the GSXR's, which strangely are still demoed.  

Anyhowway, Slo Mo Morty lead the group. Trying to get a feel for ANY sport bike was like trying to square dance in a closet. I found my legs cramped, (worse than the Bandit),  but not bad otherwise. Awesome bike! Some claim it is not too bad a tourer and some have added Heli bars to relieve the slump but I'm not sure if this is really practical.

My point here is that you refered to the VStrom as having lots of leg room. Would you please let us know how tall you are as this is important.

By the by. 46 ain't so bad. I'm 61 and still middleish of the age group at the local bike nite. You ain't dead yet.      

Thanks again for your post.