Anyone ever taken a V-Strom off road?

cheers for the suggestions, i didn't know they were bringing out a F800GS - would have been a possiblity, but i think it will be out of my price range.

you're probably right about bigger being better. however, as was demonstrated by my inability to touch the floor when sitting on Supervox's bike, I need something a bit shorter & lighter for my er, dainty self to heave up off the floor if it goes over!

essentially i'm planning an overland trip through to Nepal and the original options were lighter/more dirt orientated stuff like the XT660 or TT600. However fuel injection + a bit more power seems a better option given the amount of tar riding and the altitude, hence the V-Strom idea. And in fact taking the fairings off would be a good plan, cos i was just wandering whether i really want to be riding in 40 degree temps with a faired bike...

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Fizzy Fish

why the SV over the V-Strom? (apart from the obvious looks issue!)

For offroad? It's lighter, fair bit in fact, and you can see what you're about to ride over, plus there's less stuff to break when you drop it. The ground clearance wouldn't be an issue on the sort of offroading most people will do on these anyway, so it's really only the big wheel and softer engine that'd benefit, and the riding position. Though those'd be very nice.

RandyO'd be a good man for this thread, he's taken his SV further offroad than most people would take a proper dirt bike, and now he owns a DL thou.

How did they arrive at thin-strom, Dr Rich? That's just awful...

Originally Posted by Fizzy Fish

essentially i'm planning an overland trip through to Nepal

I'd go on advrider and horizons unlimited HUBB (although I cant ever find my way around there) and ask there. No disrespect to anyone here but thats a kettle of fish a trip like that. I don't know what I would go for for a trip like that maybe KLR or a bigger DR or maybe an XT660 or possibly an F650GS. I'm not sure I would take an Aprillia, a later model GS, or a big twin KTM. Maybe the DL isnt such a bad choice. Or email Wildbill as he will have considered all these things.

I actually went to the Horizons annual meet recently, and picked up some really useful info. The DL's still a fairly new entity for overland travellers though, so not much info on them as yet, which is why the ADVrider site is looking useful

cheers for the ideas

Ness, look here http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...08&postcount=5 just take the Gixer!

Originally Posted by rigor

Ness, look here http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...08&postcount=5 just take the Gixer!

hey that looks suspiciously like my ride to work today!!