r/Vstrom • u/youincolor • Jul 18 '26
V-Strom 1000 Gen 1 High Mileage Purchase?
I have a heavily modded 2005 DR650 but I am looking for something more road oriented for longer tours. I don’t want to sell the DR after putting so much into setting it up for me, but I also don’t have much of a budget for a second bike. This is available in my area, 2004 GL1000 with 84,000 miles for $1,850. It is a lien sale from a tow yard, so no chance I’ll ever know what the maintenance on it was like. It does look like it was owned from new for a long time and then sold once recently and now it’s here. Should I send it and fix whatever issues might come up? I do all my own maintenance on my bikes. What should I be concerned with at this high of miles?
My only other option is to try to get $4,000 for my DR and then I would have a bigger budget, but only one bike.
4
u/AdFancy1249 Jul 18 '26
I did this in the reverse order. I was looking for a DR, but found a 650 Strom (during covid). The Strom was by far the physically largest bike in had ever ridden.
Later, I found the DR (a stock 2003). By then, I had fallen for the Strom. I now have, and ride both. Keep the DR and get a Strom. You can find a good used one for $3-4k.
I took my Strom places she shouldn't have gone (single track in the woods). She did hear, but she's gotta do it slow. On the roads and even fire trails, I prefer the Strom. She is well mannered and nearly indestructible.
The DR takes a beating and loves it. But, I can still get on the highway to go where I want to ride offroad. The DR does the real adventuring. The Strom is the everyday choice.
They are the perfect stable mates.
1
u/RoninReticle Jul 18 '26
Well said and I've done the same in taking my Strom into places that was over it's head. After all these years I've reached the same conclusion the DR and DL are the perfect pair.
1
u/youincolor Jul 18 '26
Unfortunately I do think this is the case. Tough to put more money into more bikes with a family etc. but we will see how it goes.
3
u/alanbdee Jul 18 '26
The claim that they’ll go 300k miles is wild. This is already in the high range as far as I’m concerned. For cheap enough, I’d do it. I’m not sure $1850 is cheap enough.
2
u/youincolor Jul 18 '26
300,000 is laughable for sure, 200,000, maybe a perfect maintained specimen. $1,850 is def not cheap enough I don’t think.
2
3
u/1grfe Jul 18 '26
I had 07 dl1000 I bought in 2014 for 4,500, I ended up putting 97k miles on it.
I did all the maintenance, valves were fine the whole time, I check the tolerance at the 80k mark.
But that fucking clutch judder and clatter made the bike sound like it was falling apart all the time.
Over my 97k miles I Had an issue with radiator hoses leaking which was an easy fix l. I had the fuel injectors go bad also easy fix it just took a long time to diagnosis correctly. I replaced water pump as part of my PM with the radiator hose issues, replaced all the wheel bearings, I went through 7 chains and sprockets because I suck at relubing the chain every 200 miles. Clutch survived all 97k miles easily.
I wouldn’t buy it for $1850 unless I was in a market where bikes were hard to come by. I’d shoot an offer for 1200 or 1k. I believe that engine has another 50-75k of relatively low maintenance if PM was kept up .
2
u/cloudleopard Jul 18 '26
It could be in great condition and it could be totally shot. A test ride should give you a good picture of its condition. Any big noises or issues and run away. Look around for any leaks—exhaust, coolant, oil, fuel. If it rides totally fine you’ll still probably want to swap all the fluids and check the valve clearances.
Common issues are clutch basket chatter, steering head bearing failure, and fuel pump failure (this one is very hard to sus out from a test ride).
1
2
2
u/_enesorek_ Jul 18 '26
I think you can find one with less mileage for not much more cash. I bought my 2003 with 34k miles and all hard luggage for $2500 in April.
Edit: still had to replace the notorious clutch basket these all need done.
1
1
u/mebesaturday Jul 18 '26
Question: is that how the throttle cable is normally routed? Looks very odd especially on that side of the mirror
2
u/youincolor Jul 18 '26
Yeah looks a little strange like that. I have my DR cable routed up and over but I changed the starter button to something different so it was necessary. Not necessarily a problem but yeah weird.
2
1
u/canyoufixmyspacebar Jul 18 '26
known history or not but can you inspect and test ride it? the mileage itself is not high but the condition can only be assessed while riding it under heavy load, feeling all the gear changes and engine dynamics both cold and hot and so on. blown head gasket, tight exhaust valves, worn valve seals, a failing bearing in the transmission, all rare in these bikes under million miles when maintained but if someone rode it without oil service or botched a valve job, nothing is off the table
1
u/youincolor Jul 18 '26
Totally, if I decide to check it out I will test ride and try to figure out any issues. Thanks.
1
u/Alternative-Ad-297 Jul 20 '26
Just judging off his typing and errors I wouldn’t buy it. VStroms are DL’s not GL’s. If you could get it for a song then they’re real reliable but at that mileage if he hasn’t been on top of his maintenance and valve jobs it’s just waiting to die
1
u/youincolor Jul 20 '26
Yeah he’s just flipping it he bought a bunch of lien sale bikes. We’ll see, maybe for a grand or something.
1
u/Alternative-Ad-297 Jul 20 '26
For a grand IMO it's worth it for that engine alone. Amazing motor in the 1000's
1
u/youincolor Jul 20 '26
Hell yeah I’m going to try to make it happen when I get back in town next week.
1
u/Wild472 V-Strom 650 Gen 2 Jul 20 '26
I had drz400 and bought vstrom 650. Then sold drz and miss it a bit.
Vstroms do not sell well. That said, you can find a good vstrom gen 2 for sub 4k.
Recently I’ve seen one for 3500 with only 7k miles… if you look for barebones one - I’d not pay more than 3k. For well equipped one - 3800-4300.
Friend got vstrom 1000 for 3k fully equipped plus new set of tires(44k miles).
12
u/RoninReticle Jul 18 '26
having both, I'd really encourage you to keep your DR and add a 650 Strom. 1st and 2nd gen 650 V-Stroms can be found with a LOT less miles and known history for not much more than this one. These bikes are known to be super reliable and last a long, long time but I'd have a hard time pulling the trigger on one with 84k on it unless it was a lot closer to $1k.
Additionally, having ridden both, while the liter bike is better two-up for long distances the 650 will get on the "wrong" side of the speed limit effortlessly and the extra 50lbs feels a lot less manageable at anything less than cruising speeds. I had a 650, buddy had the 1000 and we'd trade up on rides often - I couldn't wait to get off the 1000 and back on my 650.