V-Strom Dual Sport Ride

[@skannal]

Thanks for the great diversity in footage (gravel, rocky, sandy, slick roots, and water crossings). It really demonstrates the bikes (and riders) abilities.

[@Tigadee00]

Awesome watching this video! Kinda like watching dirt bike/road bike all-in-one adventure and great countryside too...

[@UncleWally3]

V-Strom's are wonderful bikes. I've been a rider for a tad over 40 years,rode lots of bikes. The Wee just did Baja (lots of off-and unpaved roads) and the Trans-Lab Highway (mud, rain and rocks). The Wee stood up fine. It's a leave-the-ego-at-the-door bike - just smile and have fun.

[@michaelibbotson1274]

Nice work, good to see some stroms tackling some offroad stuff.

[@ADVofMan]

All the locations are in Oregon, in the US. We started in Eugene, Oregon, took back roads west to the coast, rode south along the coast then east to the Cascade Mountains in central Oregon.

[@robertoamay]

Good video I am getting one after 15 years of no riding, This bike should be a good start up bike, hell it might be the only one for years to come

[@petermotorcycle]

Great video guys. I just test road a DL650 today here in upstate NY, and will be buying the first that comes into the dealer this coming March (2012). I was bit hesitant after riding 61,000 miles on my 2005 Suzuki C90T, this is a completely different bike. But seeing what you've done here, and hearing how one of you rode it to Alaska maintenance free, makes it sound like a plan.

[@kolardg]

Incredibly, the same bikes my friend and I want to have, and we want a similar way to cross! Well done excellent ride!!

[@ADVofMan]

@lucabrasi944 Thanks! It's pretty comfortable for long hauls on pavement. It'll buzz along at 90 mph all day long if you want it to. I recommend raising the handlebars and adding highway pegs somewhere up front. Crash bars or the skid plate are good attachment points. The seat isn't amazing, but it works for me. A lot of the guys I ride with have Corbin or custom seats. Same with the stock windshield; if you're a speed demon, you'll want to replace it with a taller one.

[@DrivingForceUSA]

Great stuff, guys. Clearly, you were being careful in many places, but that sure beats breaking a leg and ruining your trip! (ask me how I know!) Keep having fun, and thanks for sharing with us.

[@skannal]

"For what it's worth" says a lot!! I have a KLR 685 and wish I had more passing power on the super slab but that's the trade off for more technical dirt riding.

[@BrandonTurnerTravels]

Awesome video! I ride an FZ6 now, but looking for a Strom for my next ride.

[@s258298]

I have been rideing for years and love the post. I have a Vstrom 1000 . For what its worth dont put both feed down ever. Not sliding down hills into a creek or When you think it will keep you upwright. And allways keep R foot on brake. I could go on but no. It was great to watch..

[@ADVofMan]

We mostly pick a direction and take off, and then figure out our route using GPS and maps as we go. And generally pick the more difficult-looking roads. You encounter way better riding this way. I've never made it up to Seattle, but I bet there's great roads up there.

[@ADVofMan]

This is was the first dirt/gravel I had ever riden in my life, and I had only been riding motorcycles for about 3 years. If you're not afraid to lay your bike down, you'll learn quick. For what it's worth, I'm switching to a DR650. Not as fun on-pavement, but WAY more fun on the rough stuff.

[@osimnod]

Nice riding, fellas! And you give me much greater confidence of what the Strom can do off-road, even though it's not meant for that difficult terrain, I suspect.

[@deego237]

you guys are crazy!! haha that was a fun ride, I'm really jealous of the scenery of Oregon

[@carlsonmn]

I think I could have done that terrain on my FJR. But nice video! Looks like a lot of fun.

[@gartsfortin3285]

I have Continental TKC-80 Adventure tires on my Kawasaki 650 Versys. The Versys handles beautifully on gravel, mud, mud/snow, sand and wet or dry asphalt.

[@miguelstingray]

that is a well made bike. very tough and bullet proof engine. great video guys, txs.

[@ADVofMan]

@wdanda We do carry flat repair kits, and also additional tubes that will fit inside our tubeless tires. Tube replacement: spare tubes (front & rear), 2 synthetic tire spoons, oil or grease. There are a lot of quality flat repair kits for motorcycles. At minimum, it should include patches, plugs, a slicing tool, a plugging tool, and a pump. I put my own kit together using generic stuff and a bicycle pump. Fix-a-flat's site says not to use it on motorcycle tires. It doesn't seal well enough.

[@wdanda]

Cool video. I also want a trip like this with my Vstrom... But I gotta a question: where u guys prepared in case of a flat tire? I'm not sure how to prepare for that... (would something like fix-a-flat work)? thanks.

[@placidito]

Excelente paseo y técnica en una moto difícil para hacer Off road por el peso y tamaño. Excelentes paisajes lo importante es disfrutar de la naturaleza sin destruirla. Saludos desde Venezuela

[@007Gofer]

Nice vid guys, looked like loads of fun!

[@acsenyi]

I also have V-Strom (1000). Greetings from Hungary!

[@ADVofMan]

@petermotorcycle Let me know how you like it! Don't be afraid to use those crash bars, they work...again and again.

[@z33tec]

Awesome video guys!

[@ADVofMan]

@pelkas87 It handles very well. Sand and mud are tough, but they're tough on any bike. I've taken my Strom off-road through the woods, on single-track, and on hundreds of miles of gravel fire roads. The 2nd rider in the video just rode his all the way to Alaska, almost completely off-pavement, and without any mechanical issues at all.

[@UncleWally3]

It's a chicken and egg thing: Are these roads made for a 'Strom, or is the 'Strom made for these roads? After doing the Trans-Lab highway to Deal's Gap to Texas (Big Bend -wow) to SoCal to circumnavigate Baja my 2009 'Strom didn't give me a moment of trouble - 60 000 km's. On a 2012 'Strom now - best bike money can buy.

[@ADVofMan]

@carlsonmn Most of it, probably. V-Stroms are pretty heavy, not true dual sports. And this was my first off-pavement ride ever, so we weren't pushing it too much.

[@ADVofMan]

Oh, it's been dropped plenty of times, 6 on this trip alone. I didn't get photos, but at one point it was upside down, fuel leaking everywhere. This was my first off-pavement ride ever, so I was at the bottom of a very steep learning curve!

[@ADVofMan]

Not a stupid question! I run tubeless tires on my bike, and carry tubes for both front and rear (as well as a pump, small tire irons, etc.). So I get the advantage of tubeless on the road, but if I blow a tire or bend a rim I can easily throw a tube in. That said, I have never gotten a flat tire, nor has anyone I ride with. If you buy quality tires (Anakee 2s in this vid, I have Shinko 705s now) and replace them when they should be replaced, the chances of getting a flat are very low.

[@petermotorcycle]

As a follow up, I have 61,000 mi on my 2005 Suzuki C90T (I'll be keeping it as it is still like new), I hope the DL holds up as well! I have a ride planned this Sept 2012 I'll be riding the DL on a ride from Albany NY to Jacksonville FL,,hang a right to San Deigo, up thru Sequoia Natl Park, Yosemite, across Americas Loneliest Highway in Nevada, to Zion Nat park, north Rim of Grand Canyon, Dunes Nat monument in CO, over the rockies, up thru Ozarks over Smokies, up Blue Ridge Pkwy,Skyline to home.

[@ADVofMan]

@billysgeo Yeah, yeah...I have some now. I was putting nearly 400 paved miles a week on my bike around the time I took this trip, since it's my commuter too. Have a set of Shinkos now, super impressed by them.

[@ppger44]

Great video, but, I want to know what tires and protection for the oil filter the V-Strom had on. I have street/factory tires on my 2012 650 V-Strom I just bought recently.

[@ADVofMan]

I had an SW Motech skid plat and absolutely destroyed it. I switched to an Enduro Guardian skip plate (just google it), and loved the thing. I could bounce the whole bike off of rocks and it wouldn't even dent. Burliest V-Strom skid plate on the market. I had Anakee 2s for this ride, but switched to Shinko 705s for later rides for better off-pavement handling with about the same on-road handling. If I was going to spend more time on dirt than pavement, the Shinko 244 is a great option.

[@kingassaph5117]

Adventures of Man

[@ppger44]

Thx for reply!

[@warde3]

Great vid...I've been thinking about the Strom for a while now. My 07 Klr is fun but I'm thinking about a change....

[@Jimo368]

Looks like a great ride guys

[@gburke52]

How are the stock tires on dirt road/trails? Just got rid of my Vstar1100 and getting this or the Kawi KLR 650.

[@knightoftheabyss11]

haha I think I asked you for directions on the Todd Lake road...Remember a red nissan titan asking you which way to sisters and which way to Bend? lol

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

That looked like lots of fun.

[@ADVofMan]

@petermotorcycle How did the ride go? Some friends and I hit the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route about that same time...video to come!

[@NielsMF]

i loved your video, makes me wanna jump on my own vstrom man... where is this video filmed? looks like the belgian ardennes or france.. but i guess canada or something?

[@geneb2kool]

Some guys that I know are putting swimming pool noodles in their tires so they are flatproof. I am not sure how that is working out for them but seemed like a good idea

[@Soulbreeze]

That looks fun as hell!

[@ngoshasuzi]

This makes comfirm my quest gor a veest, thats the kind of off road i cross always

[@ADVofMan]

The stock tires will handle just about everything but mud and very loose sand. In those cases, just ride slow. The main shortfall of the stock tires from what I've seen is that they wear down quickly, meaning you'll need to replace them for off-pavement riding around 3,000 miles. I'd recommend switching to Shinko 705s if it's going to be your daily rider. They are awesome on-pavement, and do very well off-pavement.

[@TheOneAndOnlyNaiNai]

anakee 2 tyres are a kinda road/dirt tyre

[@tonyinfinity]

Quit babying it, just ride it, if you drop it then it just gives it more character!

[@jasonhall10]

Great vid, thanks for sharing. How much dirt experience did you guys have before using the V-Stroms off pavement? Those are the kinds of roads I'd like to explore, and I'm trying to decide between a V-Strom or DR/KLR 650.

[@adamlreiner]

Nice edit (and bikes). I'm thinking of trading my KLR for a Strom for longer distance touring. How comfortable is it for 500 mile days on the slab?

[@codenamenikky]

this might be a stupid question, but did you guys have a spare tire? i mean it looks like the tires were seeing some rough terrain

[@ADVofMan]

@xrmatrix, it depends on your expectations and abilities. Is it comparable to an DRZ400? No. But you can take it on just about anything you would take a DR650 or KLR650 if you are a competent off-road rider and throw knobbies on it. It'll be a different ride, but the bike can do it. And then when you hit the tarmac, you're basically on a street bike. It also helps to throw crash bars, handguards, and a bash plate on it so you won't be afraid to dump it like a dirt bike. :D

[@Bacigala666]

1:55 very nice picture beautiful

[@osimnod]

Great scenery and footage of your adventure. Considering the variety of roads/trails you covered, would you change your tire selection at all or leave them as-is? Looks like you had something along the lines of Anakees? Am impressed with the Wee for versatility.

[@ADVofMan]

I was impressed at how well the Anakee 2s handled what I threw at them, but I switched to Shinko 705s for later rides and had much better off-pavement handling with about the same on-pavement ride.

[@selophane43]

Adventures of Man what air pressure did you run?

[@ADVofMan]

Spokexx spokexx We hit a lot of pavement between the dirt on this ride, so I ran them at the full pressure indicated on the tire. Not super comfy, but allowed us to have more fun on the pavement.

[@zzxx33mh]

did u get Vstrom 1000..?!#hope so..

[@mikemacgregor5650]

osimnod I run anakee 3s an love them on my V 1000

[@ADVofMan]

@carlsonmn We actually bet up with a crew of FJRs once we were up in the Cascades. Thought we were crazy for taking our bikes through the sand. Pretty sure we were.

[@mecky1963]

Wear cross-tires! In my opinion it's a little bit tricky to ride with the road tires off-road. And you have more fun and need less strength with cross-tires. Greeting from Germany on a DL650AL2. :)

[@HumGuitar]

Are they v strom 1000s, or 650s? They look like 1000s. How was your gas mileage? I''m thinking about getting a motorcycle, can't decide whether to have the fuel economy of the 650 or the power of the 1000.

[@timwallace6579]

HumGuitar they are 650s. The added weight of the 1000 really cancels the extra power out unless you’re riding 2-up, only pavement, or pack way to much stuff. I think we were getting about 45 mpg riding fairly heavy on the throttle.

[@HumGuitar]

I might take a few long trips with my wife and pack some camping equipment, might have to go up and down some mountain roads (paved), but most of my riding will be short day trips into the mountains, paved, (Appalachians) 2-up. Do you think the 650 will be sufficient?

[@HumGuitar]

Great video by the way.

[@timwallace6579]

HumGuitar Thanks! The 650 would be sufficient, but if you’re sticking to mostly pavement and going to be 2-up a lot, the 1000 would probably be the better option.

[@lorenzolagarto0410]

no quieren deforestar unos cerros???

[@ADVofMan]

Ha - it was actually the other rider, but yeah. You guys looked at us like we were crazy!

[@ADVofMan]

Single-track is a bit much for the V-Strom, but anything else is fair game!

[@mycatisromeo]

I want to make a couple thousand mile journey on my vstrom but don't know shit about taking off a tire if it blows out. Then again, i'm scared shitless of a blowout at highway speeds.

[@ADVofMan]

@pelkas87 This was my first off-pavement ride ever, so definitely not the rider! :D

[@panchodragoes8]

muito bom é uma super terapia mental adoro isso...

[@michaelmorley331]

Yep you CAN do those things with a strom...BUT what would you? Strom be to heavy..too expensive to be fun. And furthermore...off road riding with your feet swinging unbalancing the bike...is not a good idea.. So you did it....camping is good but fun...maybe. in the retelling!

[@SlayerofFiction]

if you plan on riding lots of dirt/gravel get the KLR, 35 years motorcycle experience speaking

[@KE0ZCO]

Man, I'm jealous!

[@hakanhakan9932]

Water pump engine.

[@NielsMF]

Anakee tires

[@patrickchicoliberdad]

feio para nossa alegria

[@chevafootbrave7875]

Haha ha haha ha ha ha 🎟️ 🤪

[@nazareno12345]

v'sss