bsacbob
Administrator (Retired)
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2012
- Location
- Chiang Rai
- Bikes
- Honda CRM-AR 250, Honda CRF 250-L, Suzuki V Strom XT 650 Honda XR250 Baja BMW F650GS
Just arrived home and managed to wipe the stupid grin off my face to write a few words:
After my initial brush off by Suzuki Chiang Mai they came up with the good's as promised and my new toy was dispatched into my eager hand's. Next choice was which way to go home bearing in mind the roads in the region are currently infested with Bangkok drivers with a death wish, 118 or 107. No brainer the 107 was the route of choice giving me as nice 280 ride home to test out my new baby.
So what's new with the XT V Strom i hear you ask, well nothing really, it now sports a rather blunt beak, but more interesting is the spoked tubeless rim's which shed's a Kg off your load for not needing tubes. What best describes the V Strom XT, well i would say it's the Volvo of the motorcycle world (and i've owned a lot of Volvo's) not exactly a pipe smoker but it gets the job done. The engine is not going to propel you to warp factor speed's but along with it's smoothness and the protection of the small adjustable screen your cosseted along in almost silence to whisk you to speeds over 140 KM (ensuring not to go beyond the 5000 rpm of course while running i) with ease, the stock Bridgestone Trail Wing's while not super sticky race tyres they do the job very well.
The front brake is awesome and the ABS works as it should (i checked), the gearbox is sweet as a nut and gear change is a delight, riding the twisty bit's on the 107 avoiding the ever determined Bangkok drivers was pure joy.
Arriving home after safely navigating through the standstill traffic heading into Chiang Rai due to the flower festival, my new bride thrust a cold beer in my hand and asked how was the bike, all i could do was smile.
You ask do i like the bike, shit yes i love the thing, ok it's not a GS and it's never going to cut the mustard with the like's of the Ducati Hypermotard but it not trying too, but bang for the buck it's hard to beat. Anything i don't like, sure the fucking horn's is pitiful, whatever was Suzuki thinking of to install such a worthless excuse for a horn
So will the love affair continue, well i'm going on a short loop to Khon Kaen, Mae Sot then home with a pal who rides a new Ducati Hyperstrada......So let's see.
After my initial brush off by Suzuki Chiang Mai they came up with the good's as promised and my new toy was dispatched into my eager hand's. Next choice was which way to go home bearing in mind the roads in the region are currently infested with Bangkok drivers with a death wish, 118 or 107. No brainer the 107 was the route of choice giving me as nice 280 ride home to test out my new baby.
So what's new with the XT V Strom i hear you ask, well nothing really, it now sports a rather blunt beak, but more interesting is the spoked tubeless rim's which shed's a Kg off your load for not needing tubes. What best describes the V Strom XT, well i would say it's the Volvo of the motorcycle world (and i've owned a lot of Volvo's) not exactly a pipe smoker but it gets the job done. The engine is not going to propel you to warp factor speed's but along with it's smoothness and the protection of the small adjustable screen your cosseted along in almost silence to whisk you to speeds over 140 KM (ensuring not to go beyond the 5000 rpm of course while running i) with ease, the stock Bridgestone Trail Wing's while not super sticky race tyres they do the job very well.
The front brake is awesome and the ABS works as it should (i checked), the gearbox is sweet as a nut and gear change is a delight, riding the twisty bit's on the 107 avoiding the ever determined Bangkok drivers was pure joy.
Arriving home after safely navigating through the standstill traffic heading into Chiang Rai due to the flower festival, my new bride thrust a cold beer in my hand and asked how was the bike, all i could do was smile.
You ask do i like the bike, shit yes i love the thing, ok it's not a GS and it's never going to cut the mustard with the like's of the Ducati Hypermotard but it not trying too, but bang for the buck it's hard to beat. Anything i don't like, sure the fucking horn's is pitiful, whatever was Suzuki thinking of to install such a worthless excuse for a horn
So will the love affair continue, well i'm going on a short loop to Khon Kaen, Mae Sot then home with a pal who rides a new Ducati Hyperstrada......So let's see.
Apologies for any transgressions guys. My bad....
