Welcome to the Adventure Motorcycle Traveller Reviews. Here’s a 30,000-mile review of the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 by round-the-world motorcycle traveller Daniel Cabrera.
Contents
By Daniel Cabrera
Colombian round-the-world motorcycle traveller
Quick info
- Bike: 2014 Suzuki DL V-Strom 1000
- Miles covered: 30,000+
- Years owned: since 2017
Suzuki DL V-Strom 1000 specs
- Engine: V-twin, liquid-cooled, 1037, FI
- Power: 99.2 bhp
- Torque: 76 ft-lbs
- Kerb weight: 228kg
- Seat height: 851mm
- Tank capacity: 20 litres
- Tyres: 19 and 17
- Front suspension: USD forks, 40mm,
- Rear suspension: Link type
Prep
Why this bike?
I went for the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 because it was such a good opportunity at the time. It was exceptionally well priced and looked capable of taking me round-the-world.
I didn’t make any modifications to the bike and everything on its is original. As for luggage, I use two big hard panniers and a hard top box. I have a jerry can strapped to the back of one of the panniers, a small tank bag for important things I need to take with me off the bike, a roll up duffel on the back seat and a small one on the top box. It’s a pretty standard luggage set-up but it works perfectly for me!
Travel
I’ve been really lucky with reliability. So far, the only problem I’ve had is the clutch broke. But it turned out to be a tiny little piece that simply rotated the clutch and was an easy enough fix.
The service intervals are every 6,000 miles, I change the oil and do basic checks often like brakes and tyre pressures. The Strom just keeps on going, build quality is very good and it’s a big improvement over the previous V-Strom line-up. Basic maintenance is easy to do, parts are easy to find through most of the world – but definitely not here where I’m currently stuck in Myanmar!
It’s let down by an uncomfortable and relatively hard seat though. I use a gel seat and that makes a huge difference. Otherwise the riding position is upright, natural and comfortable with high and bars and decent wind protection from the tall screen. That adds loads to its excellence as a road bike. And it’s particularly comfy when standing on the pegs too off-road.
After a few years of travel on the V-Strom 1000 I’ve found my favourite thing about it… and that’s how easy going everything is. The Suzuki is an underrated road bike that’s light, agile and incredibly easy to ride. I haven’t found any negatives yet, although it could do with a bigger tank and a comfier seat. It would also benefit from spoked wheels instead of these cast alloy ones, but I haven’t had any problems or cracks in the wheels yet after a lot of miles and many rough roads.
Verdict
I believe the perfect bike for riding round the world is the bike you like the most. And for me, I love the V-Strom. It was available at the time for a great price and it had great specs so I went for it. It’s proved to be excellent and I know I made the right choice. It’s been so reliable, which is very important for travellers. The Strom does everything I ask of it well, it may not be the fastest or the bike people immediately think of when someone says RTW motorcycle, but it does everything you need it too without any complaints.
Even off-roading is pretty easy on the V-Strom. I ride around 70% road and 30% off on my round-the-world tour and have found it handles the rough roads easily and is spectacular on asphalt – especially in countries like the USA where it was so much fun riding the Suzuki!
About the author
Daniel Cabrera
Daniel is from Colombia and currently on a mega round-the-world motorcycle journey. He’s so far ridden through 20 countries over one year and a half – until Covid hit the world and he got trapped in Myanmar.
Follow his awesome adventures here:
- Facebook: estaesmivuelta
- Instagram: estaesmivuelta
- YouTube: danielkbra
Read more about his trip here: 14 Travellers Trapped by Coronavirus
Read more on adventure motorcycles
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is it possible to fitv the 1000 v strom engine into the frame of a first generation sv 650 s frame and what vare the pros and cons regards brian
Hi Brian,
I’m afraid I have no idea. That’s a question better suited to the Suzuki V-Strom forum – this is just a review of the V-Strom 1000 as an adventure bike.
Cheers and best of luck,
Andy
cheers andy for your input i will certainly check them out and thanks BRIAN
What an amazing journey. I’m thinking about selling my BMW K75 and buying a used 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000.
I consider it a wonderful replacement for my beloved BMW. I used to really love Suzuki’s and you have given a great testimony to their reliability.
I had a Suzuki TC 125 J that was super reliable, both on the road, or off road.
I knew it would get me where I wanted to go.
I’m planning a trip with a friend this next summer to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and am wondering if I really want to trust my antique BMW.
The BMW is one of the best motorcycles you could ever ride. Very smooth, and I’ve obtained well over 55 meg’s.
The big fuel capacity gives it an awesome range and I have a comfortable Corbin custom seat.
Thanks for your story and review.
I hope you are recording a video of your ride. It would be awesome!
Hi Timothy, interesting to hear you’re swapping out your K75 for a Strom 1000! Sounds like you have a great trip planned too, have fun!
And Daniel is recording his trip, his YouTube link is above in the About the author section.
Cheers and all the best,
Andy