[Venca82]

Hi Guys,
I have just found this great forum and I want to ask if anyone here has a experience with new Suzuki V-Strom 1000. I'm planning to buy a new bike mainly for road touring and I would really appreciate some comparison of these two bikes, which are from my point of view very similar. I like the design of KTM more but simultaneously have a bigger trust in suzuki's build quality and durability. Thank you.

 

[Adventurer]

My best advice is to ask the local dealerships that stock the models if they're willing to let you test ride them. Only so much reviews can tell you without actually riding one.

 

[dirtrack]

Shows are coming up and you might have a chance to organize something or even reach out to KTM to see what events they might have going on. Ducati already does rides, KTM should do them as well.

 

[Johannes]

By now you will probably have made your choice. For the forum: I rode the Honda at, the Suzuli vstrom 1000 and the ktm 1090 adv.r.
The Suzuki has also a vtwin like the 1090 and is by far the cheapest and a good bike. But the looks of a Honda at are better and the looks and spcs of a 1090 adv.r are superior to anything else in the market. To be honest: the Suzuki looks outdated, such a the steering wheel.

 

[mad_mardigen]

Hi Guys,
I have just found this great forum and I want to ask if anyone here has a experience with new Suzuki V-Strom 1000. I'm planning to buy a new bike mainly for road touring and I would really appreciate some comparison of these two bikes, which are from my point of view very similar. I like the design of KTM more but simultaneously have a bigger trust in suzuki's build quality and durability. Thank you.

I have ridden both and can say that if your only looking for a bike for road touring you should go with the V-Strom. It has more torque down low. Not to say the KTM has no torque just that the V-Strom pulls nice from 2500 while the KTM from 3000. It is also more comfortable but in this case not by much but its worth noting.



Also the V-Strom is much cheaper and probably more reliable, It's also more than capable on gravel roads if that is going to be the extent of your off road riding.


The end game is if you intend to go mainly for street touring you can get the V-Strom fitted with panniers so it's ready to tour for less than the price of the KTM


Hope this helps

 

[Walton18]

Hi Venca82,

I have just in the past 2 weeks traded my 2014 Suzuki VStrom 1000 for the KTM 1090 Adventure R. I rode the VStrom from new for 3.5 years clocking up just under 11,000 miles, all on asphalt.
Although I have only done 600 miles on the 1090R so far, I think I'm in a good position to offer some comparisons.
The main difference for me is the way the KTM delivers it's power, mainly from higher revs compared to the VStrom. Between 3.5 and 4K revs saw the VStrom at its happiest, it would sit planted on the road and munch up those miles. The KTM will do the same but at a higher more urgent revving engine, nothing wrong with that, its just the way the bike is designed.
The VStrom was very reliable apart from one instance when it went into limp mode during a trip to Scotland in a torrential down pour. This was quickly rectified by switching off the engine and starting it up again, fault gone.
On build quality, the KTM wins hands down. Better styling, better plastics and metal parts all round. As for reliability, my only comparison is my friend who owns a 2014 KTM 1190 R with 15K on the clock, he has had no issues what so ever in the rain, snow or heat, it just keeps going so hopefully so will the 1090R
The VStrom was much heavier than the KTM which was instantly recognizable. The KTM will flick around corners and tight spots easier than the VStrom which suits me being, shall we say, a mature rider.
On long runs, I did almost 300 miles on my first run out on the KTM and didn't feel much difference to the VStrom. The KTM sits nicely on the road and does exactly what you want it to. I changed the tyres to full on road going ones as I will never take the bike seriously off road and I couldn't see the need of running knobbly tires on asphalt, waste of time and the vibes would have done my head in. Speaking of vibes, the KTM is MUCH smoother than the VStrom, after 100 miles or so my throttle hand was numb riding the VStrom but nothing with the KTM, must just be better balanced.

To sum up, the VStrom was a great bike and loved it but the KTM has me hooked, if you fancy touring it will do it, if you want to be a hooligan it'll do that as well or if you want to go off road, well I think you know the answer to that one.

Happy hunting, Walton18

 

[Matenktm]

I was looking at the Vstrom, but the weight did the choice, this 1090 is a great bike with a rare balance between power and wheight, I was waiting for such a pure and smart bike, pure for the engine and the light frame, smart for the simplicity of each component, the school of “enduro” seems to be a good way for the efficiency, in opposition to the complexity of heavy and sophisticated trails, I ran a BMW GSA for 2 years and tried a TRIUMPH adventure, and unconsciously was dreaming of my first trail a KLE 500; and I must admit I found back the lightness and the versatility, even if I mounted 2 bigs side cases and a big Madstad screen, the bike is easy to hand on.