V-Strom a dual sport?

[markk53]

Originally Posted by JLA

Those are some fine pics guys. Alaska looks awesome, but two wheels in snow and ice freaks me just thinking about it.

I have a friend who has had just about every kind of bike and the Wee Strom he got lately has him raving about it.

Dual Purpose, Adv. Tourer whatever, they seem to like or tolerate "bad" roads real well and are comfy on the long haul handling very well all the while.

Some of the issue comes from descriptive terminology that causes arguments. When taken to the term, dual sport is on and off road in a near pure off-road manner. On the other hand the big adventure bikes seem to define a streetbike that has been modified to work well, for a street bike, on rougher dirt/gravel roads with the occasional excursion on groomed trails PLUS the ability to be a comfortable touring ride too. This would be a good place for a term like MULTI SPORT since those big twins seem to really cover a very broad spectrum, after all the Ducati adventure bike is appropriately named the Multi Strada.

As much as I like dual sports, they're like a very basic Swiss army knife that has maybe a file, scissors, and a few other minor tools. The adventure bikes are like the full tilt Swiss Army knife with every bell and whistle, maybe even a mini GPS built in (are they doing that yet?). I think you get the point.

The Adventure tourer may be a bit iffy to some, but when someone says it I know exactly what they're talking about, as I do when they say dual sport, enduro, MX, sportbike, tourer, custom, chopper, classic, etc. Still, I do like the Multi Sport label... very descriptive of the V Stroms, GSs, and others.

[Gravehunter]

Its not true dual sport that your going to go take out on dirtbike trails or anything, but with a set of DOT legal knobbies its quite impressive where it will go!



You'll need a high fender for mud though.

[Foot dragger]

Originally Posted by Skippii

Now THAT is funny! I like it.Good effort!

Originally Posted by Skippii

skippi was flushed downstream never to be seen again

[Gravehunter]

At least there was some rocks in there so your kickstand worked!

[pluric]

Must have thought he had one of these...

[Off the grid]

Ride a sub-300lb dual sport on singletrack or mildly technical quad trails, etc and then try the same trail on a 450+ lb bike with half the suspension and 3x the plastic.

Then get back to us.

Not knocking the "big" bikes and certainly not the Wee/V, which is a an awesome, proven bike, but to compare it to a "true" dual sport is, well....silly.

That's the reason I got the XRR. I wanted a "barely street legal dirt bike", not a "barely dirt worthy road bike".

I've got the Beemer for the road.

It's all about preferences and what your priorities are.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but you cannot change basic laws of physics.

[KarlMalone]

Originally Posted by Cat0020

Any motorcycle can be a dual sport, it's up to the rider to take it through the courses.

There is higher probability that a dual sport moto would get dumpped more often then say a 400cc enduro, if you like picking up a heavier moto like a V-strom or GS, they can be taken anywhere a 400cc enduro could.

Oh, and it is likely that V-Strom would cost more to repair after a dump.

If you ask me, I'd ride a more nimble machine with better/more suspension for dual sport type riding than a V-Strom. I like to ride (not pick up) a bike.

Simply not true at all.

[Cat0020]

Originally Posted by KarlMalone

Simply not true at all.

What about it? what's not true? have you got experience to share?

[pluric]

Originally Posted by Cat0020

Any motorcycle can be a dual sport, it's up to the rider to take it through the courses.

There is higher probability that a dual sport moto would get dumpped more often then say a 400cc enduro, if you like picking up a heavier moto like a V-strom or GS, they can be taken anywhere a 400cc enduro could.

Oh, and it is likely that V-Strom would cost more to repair after a dump.

If you ask me, I'd ride a more nimble machine with better/more suspension for dual sport type riding than a V-Strom. I like to ride (not pick up) a bike.

I do all the time.

It's just that then I wake up and have to go to work.

[KarlMalone]

Originally Posted by Cat0020

What about it? what's not true? have you got experience to share?

Look we've seen that you can take it on dirt roads, but come on a Vstrom on tight nasty single track, give me a break.

[Cat0020]

Originally Posted by KarlMalone

Look we've seen that you can take it on dirt roads, but come on a Vstrom on tight nasty single track, give me a break.

Oooo ride a V-Strom on dirt roads.. BFD. Give you a break for what? have you got experience to share of riding a V-Storm off-road vs a lightweight dual sport?

Like I said before, any moto can be a dual sport, whether it be any good it up to the rider.

[mr. matteeanne]

Originally Posted by KarlMalone

Look we've seen that you can take it on dirt roads, but come on a Vstrom on tight nasty single track, give me a break.

Are you sure you understand the term "adventure"?

[pluric]

Originally Posted by Cat0020

Oooo ride a V-Strom on dirt roads.. BFD. Give you a break for what? have you got experience to share of riding a V-Storm off-road vs a lightweight dual sport?

Like I said before, any moto can be a dual sport, whether it be any good it up to the rider.

I have a DR400 and a DL 1000. There is no way the Strom will go where
the DR will. Pure physics. The DL will dig a hole, it doesn't have the turning
radius for tight switch backs it's just a big tank off road. That being
said I did take it to Prudhoe Bay on that slimey God forsaken mud bath.
It made it. Still it was a groomed road that's just fine for semis too.

To compare it to doing small bore trails is just plain stupid. Rider ability
or not the bike has limitations that exceed even the best rider.

[gtackett]

I started this tread just wondering what the difference between the V-stroms and pure "street bikes" were.

I didn't hear they have twice the suspension of street bikes, or they are geared different, or anything concrete. Just that they are "capable".

And that is fine. I wasn't trying to classify it........ just curious.