Hopefully the new 1000 V-Strom won't, so far those who finally have one in their hands are very impressed.
Hope not too. I like the new V Strom and as far as the biggest ADV bang for the buck its the one.
But the critics note the negatives too. Some of the comments I've been seeing:
This one is
HUGE, one has to be able to drag the back brake for control when off-roading with the flick of a switch: Always On ABS: There is no way to switch the ABS off for off-road riding unless you remove a fuse manually.
No Top-End Power: Max horsepower is achieved at 8,000 RPM but the bike feels flat after 6,000 RPM. Short-shifting provides the best acceleration.
Cornering Ground Clearance: The long footpeg feelers and the low muffler will begin to touch pavement early during aggressive cornering.
Excessive Crash Damage: During an off-road test, several journalists fell in the dirt. The damage was excessive for a small tip over.
Exposed Underbelly: The V-Strom has low ground clearance (6.5 inches) for an Adventure Bike.
Lacks Off-Road Intent: The V-Strom was clearly not meant to be a serious off-road tool with only 6.3 inches of suspension travel. However, its low weight and quality suspension should allow it to explore maintained dirt roads confidently.
Wind Protection: Some reviewers complain that the standard windscreen did not provide enough coverage from the wind.