The MAM Journals- Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT- A bike for the real world?

[@caroldave4037]

Had 1050xt for 2yrs 8000 miles big tours👌👌 ...sold for something lighter tracer7gt but too small riding postion ...sold and purchased 12yr old vstrom 650 ....do miss the big lad ....brillant bike and not on most peoples radar which is fine for me...atb dave

[@michaelmam]

Thanks Dave .. it does feel like an under the radar sort of bike ..👍

[@garryc8744]

I have owned 2 vstrom 650 and currently ride a 2016 vstrom 1000 and the reliability is flawless and this is something worth mentioning and also the cost of parts for the bike is cheaper then other brands, I can't think of a better all round bike available on the market the does everything well imo.

[@michaelwilmshurst74]

I agree on the servicing costs ! I was going to mention it but was too busy waffling on about the English civil war 😂

[@kyotosal]

A stunning bike Michael. I love the yellow and blue colors and the V-twin engine. Thanks for another good video.......Sal : )

[@michaelmam]

Always good to hear from you Sal

[@mrrmut57]

I had the BMW GS1250 Rallye. Sold it and bought a V-Strom 1050XT.I live in Western Australia and we travel big distances, often on dirt day-in day-out. We need simple and reliable bikes you can drop and slide down a gravel road hundreds of kilometres from help and be able to pick it up and ride on. We need no BS adventure bikes that are tuff as nails and don't cost a fortune to repair and maintain, dependable adventure bikes designed for our harsh and punishing riding conditions. I chose the V-Strom over the GS, not because I couldn't afford the BMW, but because the Suzuki is simply a better all-round adventure motorcycle for Australian conditions.

[@michaelmam]

I heard that the 650 XT is popular in Australia as well ? Thanks for taking the time to comment . 👍

[@mrrmut57]

@@michaelmam The DR650 sold here by the container load. However, now discontinued due to our ABS requirements. I took out the new V-Strom 800 for a test ride recently and believe this will be very popular for Australian buyers.

[@michaelmam]

@@mrrmut57 👍 my test on the new 800 comes out on the 30th . Be interesting to hear what you think !

[@ArunTripsNTalks]

Suzuki is great value for money than expensive bmw gs1250 investment recovery time, also less bulkier than bmw as want for long touring trips.. great video

[@chickenmanicmrt1705]

thanks for your comment being thinking about getting back on a motorbike and its a good point, Im planning on doing a lot of communting but want to be able to go off road camping around the place. do you find theres much engine/exhaust heat if your in slower traffic?

[@dibbledobbledodaday]

I have had my motorcycle licence for 11 months. My V-Strom 1050 XT the first and only bike I have owned, and therefore I have no idea what other bikes are like. What I can say, after 7,500 miles of enjoyment, is that this bike is a joy to own. I have quite long legs and have the seat in the high (870mm) positions. I get that this is not for everyone. The engine delivers lots of character and loads of torque, it's comfortable, reliable, fun, has more power than I need on the road. In the red and white paint looks good too (I'm not a huge fan of the yellow). I love it. I have thought about the GS, but the high cost of ownership puts me off. The V-Strom just delivers. I'll spend the difference on some better clothing, ferries and hotels, and I'll have a great time doing it.

[@michaelmam]

@@dibbledobbledodaday Great comment and thank you for sharing your experience .

[@julianroberts9757]

Brilliant video Michael Mam that I enjoyed fully. Great to see "riding" footage from a "local" perspective and the intricacies of the bike on different types of roads. Always liked the 1050 "Strom". 😀😀

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Taff . Hope the show on 3 B’s radio is going well 👍

[@danreich4320]

Nice to see a positive review. I have a 2014 v strom 1000 and it’s the only bike I’ve ever owned that did not have at least one thing that I did not like about it. It’s a fantastic all around motorcycle. Plenty of power, easy to ride, well balanced and very low ownership costs.

[@1990-t1j]

This is a good bike. Nice wheels. It's a great colour. I used to have a yellow DR250SH in Tokyo. I'd prefer a smaller screen than the 1050's. Having said that, it looks like it adjusts lower. I agree: Suzuki do the best gearboxes. I don't like the height and top-heavy feeling of most adventure bikes. You have a fair collection of bikes. Lower Slaughter: sounds delightful. Thorough, interesting review, Michael.

[@michaelmam]

Thank you . Glad you found it interesting . The screen has two positions . I preferred the lower of the two as I could “read”the road surface over the top . Longer runs , on good surfaces I might use the higher . You can’t move it whilst riding ..

[@manuelp6785]

This is a fair review. I have been riding this bike for approx one year now. I agree the weight is its culprit. I’ve had a few near misses on dropping it at low speed. The engine is not as forgiving at lower revs as the 650, that I previously owned. It vibes a bit up to 3k revs and then is smooth. Mine has the crash bar corroding away, with rust in several places - and we don’t have much rain where I live. Certainly scope for quality improvement here. In general it is a great bike for long journeys. Thanks for sharing your views.

[@tomg6284]

Always enjoy your reviews. San Diego, California.

[@michaelmam]

@@tomg6284 thank you Tom

[@passionandcommonsense]

Just finished your full video. Fabulous review. I love your even-keeled tone and measured words when it comes to giving your thoughts about the bike. In my part of the world, the 1050s aren’t even available. That is a shame. I would buy one without even a test ride, and I am not a tall bloke either. For 2023, they have retained the 1050 in two avatars. There is the “off-road” DE with spoke wheels and a 21 inch front tyre and the regular 1050 with alloys and a 19 inch front wheel. Personally I wish they had retained the spoke wheels even in the road version. Nothing like spoke wheels (and tubeless tyres) on a motorcycle in my humble opinion. I recently know of a Strom 650 that took a huge tumble in the slush. The bike did a full vertical somersault spinning 180 degrees in the air and landing in a grotesquely contorted position from a height of say 8 or 9 feet. Damage? A bent number plate bracket and a damaged side stand sensor. That’s it. No bent fork, no bent handlebar, no bent or damaged wheel, no dented tank, no broken pegs, no bodywork that came apart…. No nothing. The owner hosed down the bike, tied the damaged side stand sensor with two zip ties and calmly rode another 300 kms to get home. Once the bike got home it got washed and was put in full use with said zip ties in place. The parts were going to take a while to arrive. No point in letting the bike sit around. Really, Stroms are for people who can’t be bothered with frivolous and fluffy things. Reliability, longevity and functionality above all else. That’s what these bike are about.

[@nathanielsmith5443]

I love your commentary on your side of the world as you ride. Thank you for sharing a nice ride with your historical landmarks.

[@michaelmam]

It is definitely a relaxed bike to ride , so plenty of time to muse 😂

[@mikeglick3507]

Fuel consumption larger vs smaller displacement to your point. I had a job transporting dealership car exchanges. Years ago, I transported a full-sized Dodge Ram truck, and the buyer wanted the smaller 318cu engine thinking it would get better gas millage. The trip was just under 200 miles. A short time later I did a dealer trade driving a similar truck with a 360ci engine. The larger engine got better gas mileage. Both trips were exactly the same (405 north in so cal) I found the smaller engine needed more fuel to maintain a constant speed because of the weight of the truck. It all come down to driving/riding styles, conditions and the road traveled.

[@michaelmam]

Thanks Mike . I suspect my riding style on the 650 is largely to blame .. Trying the latest model 1050 soon . 21 inch front wheel and quick shifter . Be interesting to see how the V Twin likes the QS ..

[@Doughboy39]

Excellent video Michael,looking to purchase a new adventure bike ,so your video was very usefull

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Davey . Glad you found it useful !

[@denisg4288]

Hi Michael. Glad you also used metic early on. Although I grew up in the imperial age at 62 yrs, all of the dealer sites, MCN etc. use metric, so I can compare and contrast with metric. Not a scoobie when you use imperial. Regards Denis

[@michaelmam]

Seat height is the odd one .. they sell trousers in inches - waist and inside leg height .. as you know I often end up quoting one , the other or both .. so do you think in bhp or PS ?

[@denisg4288]

@@michaelmam 😄 don’t worry too much as the difference is nowt. You have confused me now, my inside leg is (Ideally) 29.5 inches and my Bonnie is 79cm. How will I sleep tonight!

[@michaelmam]

@@denisg4288 😂 Always good to catch up Denis 👍

[@paulocometti4317]

Still own a 06 Vstrom 650 30K miles , Lovet it , from Colorado moving to Florida!

[@michaelmam]

Very capable , understated bike . I like them .

[@jann.2387]

very nice review, english is my second language but very easy to follow from this guy . 👍

[@michaelmam]

Glad to hear that! Thank you ..

[@ratsausage]

Had mine for 2 years now it's a great bike. Rear wheel spoke corrosion has caught my eye. Not sure whether to renew spokes or go for the solid alloy wheels. BTW my bike has NEVER got wet just wiped over with a polishing cloth.

[@michaelmam]

That is a little disappointing . I like the spokes but need to be stainless really .

[@Oscar240z]

LIKE THE HISTORICAL RAMBLINGS> N

[@clivegoodman1149]

Seriously thinking of upgrading my 650XT (same as yours) to one of these - There are deals on 2022 models now the '23 version is in the shops, offers at £11k for the XT and pre reg with luggage and grips for more or less the same are very tempting. Unfortunately my budget isn't in GS territory which comfortably checks out as you mentioned at over £20k. Thanks for the video, you made some good points. It's a proper big bike and for the money I can't see anything else that can beat it.

[@michaelmam]

Great value and very capable 👍

[@michaelarchangel1163]

It's a bit too tall for me too Michael. I have an SV thou naked which I've owned for coming up to 18 years. It's a pretty decent compromise between an out and out sports bike and a flaccid sponge on wheels. Dynoed and Power Commandered it, TRE, straight flatter bars, stainless cans, flyscreen, resprung shock etc. I had been considering buying a GSXR 750 but don't have the space for another bike, alongside my car, and the cervical myelopathy I'm cursed with isn't much of an encouragement for an Igor riding position in any case. I'm almost 66 and, sadly, not getting any younger. These engines are pretty robust and mine will likely still be going when I'm mouldering in my grave.

[@michaelmam]

18 years is a good haul ! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍

[@markw4655]

Great review thankyou sir. I have this bike and I love it, though I'm over 6 feet tall. Though I do feel the weight when moving it about

[@andrewshore262]

I just sold my 18 VStrom 1000, self serviced (apart from the valve check) very economical, the later 1050’s (and I’ve ridden a few) address some of the problems from the earlier bike and the 2023 bikes have moved forward again with full TFT’s and QS etc. So I’m in the market for a BMW GSA /GS probably less than a year old with some warranty, there are however some fairly well document reliability issues (mainly electronics / battery failures). With complexity and sophistication comes additional headaches I guess, but this is where the VStrom scores - it really does have an invisibility about it, gives you confidence there’s nothing worse than a bike that continually lets you down. That said I’m going to take the plunge because the ride quality & performance are undeniably superior, let’s hope it checks out with few problems. Great review, I’ve been warned about Oxford being anti anything with an engine lol

[@michaelmam]

😂

[@alxx1378]

Still owning a 2002 dl1000 130000 klm never touched the motor only three times checked the valves bulletproof hi from Greece.

[@michaelmam]

Great to hear . Tough , comfortable bikes 👍

[@r5xtreme]

Hi everyone, I need help, im 6.6' tall, which advanture bike should you sugest for me? V Strom 1050, africa twin 20172018, or BMW R1200GS 2014/2015? Or maybe something else? Thanks in advance

[@michaelmam]

Sounds like you already have a shortlist . Personally I would go and try those and see how you get on ?

[@douglaspeterson7006]

Hi there, What would be your choice for a motorcycle in the mid-weight range with a comfortable riding position? Thank you, Doug

[@michaelmam]

On the basis that you ask on a Suzuki video I would say the the 800DE is a really comfortable mid weight bike with good performance , nice engine and versatility . Only proviso is that you would need to be at least average height or more as the seat height is 855 . Honda transalp is good as well but the power is higher up the rev range than some like ..👍

[@douglaspeterson7006]

Hi there, I enjoy your channel. I have owned dozens of motorcycles and a 2006 GS. I have been put off by the BMW's maintenance cost. Looking at a V-Strom 650xt but test rides are unavailable in the US. Your opinion on the 650 for touring? I have read the pros and cons. Thank you

[@michaelmam]

Hi Douglas , The 650 has a lot of fans and they do seem to cope with mileage well . Whether it would work for you, as a tourer , may depend on whether you plan to tour solo or two up and how big you are ? It will certainly cruise all day at 70mph .. it will hold higher but I find it drinks fuel if you push it for long at higher speeds . The 1050 is better for that . Hope this helps . Have fun ..👍

[@douglaspeterson7006]

Thank you for the detailed and quick response. Doug

[@Gdpr_compliant]

thanks for this review, fascinating channel indeed ;) anyway... may i ask you about the height of the low seated 800de and the low positionned seat on the 1050xt ? i am considering a swap of my 1050 (a bit too tall, and too much road oriented for me ) against a 800de low seat. the point is i am quite the same heigt as you and i do, from time to time ... rip the exhaust tubes of my 650 while offroading ..

[@michaelmam]

I found the DE a pretty tall bike , even with the lower seat as it is quite wide , effectively reducing the benefit of the lower position . Felt much more off road ready than the 650 though and the clearance and suspension travel significantly higher . Might be worth looking for an after market, low and narrow seat ? I suspect the off road guys make one ??

[@Gdpr_compliant]

@@michaelmam thanks a lot, same or taller or even a bit shorter than the 1050 in low position ? (sorry, silly questions ;)

[@bikenbush]

Luv the story and history ❤

[@CurtPottorff]

Is that you’ve ridden both, which do you like more for city commuting with the occasional freeway drive?

[@michaelmam]

Hi Curtis , if most of the mileage on the commute is “big’ , faster roads the 1050 , if in town , slow roads , personally I would go for the 650 unless you are a big guy ?

[@CurtPottorff]

@@michaelmam I guess a second question: if you had to choose between the 650, 1050, or GSX-S1000 GT as your only street bike (no dirt), which one would you go for?

[@michaelmam]

@@CurtPottorff For us , GT . A SPORTS tourer . Great fun but practical too . I have made 2 videos on it . Fabulous bike . My 2022 bike of the year ..

[@kwik2008]

😊👍🙏

[@gethyndavies8439]

Too tall for me for sure Michael - shame as I loved my 650, so al

[@michaelmam]

Would have suited you perfectly Geth - a lot faster than it looks like it is going to be. See you soon 👍

[@gethyndavies8439]

So always hankered after the ‘big one’. A really entertaining review - the riding footage from has really given the videos an added dimension. 👏

[@roadwarrior8560]

I'd prefer the cast wheel model.

[@ratsausage]

me too but I wanted the yellow colour and the extra XT gizmos. Cast wheels I might buy if I plan to keep the bike but they are dear.Looking at about approximately £1700 to change to cast but at least i wouldn't have to look at the rusting spokes.

[@robertjacobson1608]

I need a Yamaha Tenere 900ES ASAP

[@michaelmam]

😂 Thanks for sharing that with us ?

[@volvoheadgasket]

why would anyone need four adventure bikes

[@michaelmam]

😂 The 1050 was on loan for the review . The 1200 is for sale , replaced by the low chassis bmw and the 650 is my “ winter” bike although it is far more capable than just that .. That said some of the most boring stories I have ever heard started with “ So I did the sensible thing” 😂

[@bikenbush]

😂😂😂! Was wondering 💭 but nice to have at least to suss them out! I realised having 2 bikes at a point, a VStrom and modern triumph street twin that they so different / genres! But yet great in their own right! Can never have enough of em’ 😅

[@markjones464]

I am 62 Years old , thought to myself Time to down grade bike , tested the V - Strorm ok for a tractor motor , Not lot of power , Handling good at Low speed , the problem I have come From one Best bikes ever built KawasakiZxr14r , tons of power , Handles Like dream , tried the Adventure Ktm 1290 Power was good , handle good 👍 this Is the Bike more for me ,

[@michaelmam]

😂 Great choice . Go like a rocket .. you can always down grade when you are older 👍

[@markjones464]

Ever ridden a Maped KawasakiZxr14r This one has 208 Hp at the back Wheel Makes a V- Storm feel like a 250 cc The KTM 1290 was nothing special One the reason I want a adventure Bike is , I am rideing around Australia With a Mate , will be on unsealed roads At time , Decisions easy fix , I Keeping the KawasakiZxr14r , they give you no money for it , 2 bikes now , Ps Most people I meet make themselves Old in the Head , before there 60 years old I can feel Father time coming up , but you Know what , I have time to catch up with Sleep when I am Dead !!

[@michaelmam]

@@markjones464 no . Never ridden a mapped ZRX 14 - don’t suppose many have . I do have a BMW M1000R which is pretty brisk for the road . Have fun .. 👍

[@markjones464]

@@michaelmam Top bike all Best 👌

[@Fatcatztravel1250]

The frame welds look to " tacky" for me. Spoil the look..

[@michaelmam]

Not the best , I agree . Strong but not tidy ..

[@kevinbeilby1495]

I don’t care how good the bike is, they also have to look good and you should be proud to own it. This is ugly as sin, and I would honestly be embarrassed to be seen on it. Sorry V strommers.

[@michaelmam]

Whilst performance is comparable between bikes and objectively discussed , looks are definitely subjective . I had several people comment that they “liked the yellow “ whilst a few clearly didn’t . 👍

[@PissTakeProduction]

My VStrom 1050XT attracts many women when I go town to town touring. It's a great bike and wingman. As where my mate riding a GS always has old men chatting him up 🤣

[@markjones464]

@PissTakeProduction I have a White Limited Addition Kawasaki Zxr14r You should see the Picture , I have on My Phone of this Lady on the back She loved the seat , V -Storm they Look , GS your right old men look at My Kawasaki they love it Smooth Fast , Comfortable , the problem is I am to old, are well cannot hae it All