hello everybodi, just subscribed here
I am italian and live in Roma
I have this question keeping on my mind since few week
Since the day where my bike was stolen
It was a Honda Dominator
Great bike.
I made a few big trip with it
From Italy To turkey, then another trip to Armenia, and last trip to Iran
I had little problem with my bike but every time easily solved even in condition af difficult, just because that bike was easy to mantain!
Now i am to choose another one
And i am doubtfully between VStrom And Transalp(2002.2007 model)
I use the bike everyday in traffic of big town, for this they both similar i suppose
Often i do medium distance trip on the weekend, and for it probabily better Strom

My big doubt when thinking to big trip
Don't know when, may be in 2, or 3 year tiem i will want to ride to MOngolia
Now, there are point
The ability to face dirty road. I don't like to go to dirty road, but sometimes in big trip like this i MUST, no choice. And anyway i do that carefully and slow
LAst but not least. Reliability
I know TA much easier to fix in any circumstance and that would be a pro
I don't know much about Strom, for sure it is not so easy, but for what i read it look like a bike whi never break down!
To tell it all....i have a sensation that TA would be better for all, but in certain way Strom is more exciting to me and would like to have advice that i could do all with that....
anyway i must try to follow what is my need at time of choice!

So that is an overview of my doubt, i'd like to share with you suggestion, advice and whatever will be worthy to be considered!
Thanks a lot
Stefano

Hi Stefano,

Welcome first of all and always stay upright.

I would go for the Suzuki, got a much better range than the Honda.
Both bikes are very reliable, therefor you can't go wrong.Take them for a test ride and make up your mind.

Good luck.

Cheers

Rusty

Sorry, but what models do you mean exactly?

The good old Tranny´s been around for ages, in 600, 650 carb´d, and now as a 700 EFI-version. There are a few other differences between those models, too.

And Suzuki DL came out in 2002 (as a 1000cc version), while the 650 was introduced for 2004. And then the 650 had a few technical changes for 2007.

(All bikes/versions mentioned above, though they may not all be equal in every way, have been used for long trips and even RTW-tours).

ok..for ta i m looking for 650, something from 2004 to 2007
for the strom, actually i don't know the differences, but in the 2 hand market i am looking from 2005 and on models. don't know if one is bettere than other and why
i know that older model have carburator, and that for maintenance could be better?

DL650/1000 has always had injection.

Transalp 600/650 had carbs, and the newest 700 version is injected.

DL650 has always had a bit more punch than the Transalp, even if compared to the 700. But the Honda is a great bike, too.

Unless you are very familiar on maintenance & working on carbs, I´d say then go for EFI, it works really well these days, and has clear advantages over carbs, too.
(...But whether it is carbs or EFI, wouldn´t be my decisive factor, as you can make equally big trips on both).

ok i made confusion, itr was not injection-carburettor difference but the 1 ore 2 spark model, talking about strom.
The point is the answer to the classical question
would people go thru remote country with strom?
i know they woul do that with ta
Talking about fact, i am not skilled in doing maintennace, can do simple things, sometimes if with no other choiche try do do more but anyway no so skilled
So whern i talk about reliabity when travelling in remote country i ll always mean that i am supposed to find someone with skill to do those maintenance.
Again for what i know in remote country they may be able to do everything even without spare or special means when talking about pure mechanic
Don't know if they could do the same when it comes to electronic
On the other hand it is also true that bewer machine as strom is, may guarantee a long usage without any breakdown, or at least is what i am trying to understand and what i am expecting
Also one thing i consideder is how the bike would react to poor petrol you find in some remote country
Eventually i must consider that i will use he bike every fay of the year in normal condition, traffic city, short trip in weekend,..or even holiday but not always in diffcult country
a trip to a remote country would be once in 2,3 year i might say
so i also want to consider that these part for important that could be will not be the main of the whole question
i might say, i just need a little assurance that strom would let me try do do those trip if and when i will consider the whole question

Hi Stefano:
LAte for work so I haven't read all the responses!

I have a TA600: great bike and my Dad has the TA700: also great bike, but more for road. Can give reeeeallly good fuel economy if ridden reasonably (3.7 litres to the 100km for the 700 is possible, my best is about 4 litres to the 100km on the 600)

If you were choosing a TA600 or 700, it might have been a bit more complicated for me to advise, but here I say go for the Suzuki:
-Lighter (I think),
-better fuel economy,
-better power,
-good headlights
-and good comfort (I think, again!).

The only clear advantage the TA has over the DL is the 21 inch front wheel making the dreaded off-roading a bit easier to manage. But that doesn't mean the DL is bad off-road. Many say it is fine.

Also the TA600 manual says 8000miles (13000km) between oil changes!! Personally I change it every 4000 miles (6000km) but if the 650 is the same, it could give you more plexibility in reaching garages on your trip...

Either way, enjoy your trip!!

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

I would not ride 12-13 thousand kms on same engine oils, especially if it is mineral oil. Even with fully synthetic, I think I´d change at 10 thousand (for my own piece of mind, if not for anything else). Cost isn´t really the issue here – but getting proper type of oil may be in some regions of the world. And if using something that´s "close enough", I´d change even more regularly.

BTW, the V-Strom needs to have its valve clearances checked at 24 thousand kms, and the adjustment is with tappet shims (in fact they usually do not need to be adjusted, just checked)...... do I remember correctly, that the Transalp (at least 600&650) had screw-type adjustments, like the Africa twin certainly had, and they´ll be checked every 12 thousand kms?

I can't comment on long-distance reliability etc. - I simply do not have experience some great travelers here have. I never been to Mongolia, but similar places and not on bike.
But I can comment on "working on bikes" (I am "hobby mechanic" and my friends with their bikes abuse that )
I worked on 3 transalps (600, 600, 650) and 1 Vstrom 650 post-2007 model, can't recall exact year. I also did a bit of "bolt on" work on TA700 and test rode it.
I wouldn't say that Transalp is easier to work on than Vstrom. It's quite densely "stuffed" around engine, there is some questionable components locations, it's not light on amount of wiring, it has plenty of plastics (just like Vstrom)...
Vstrom are tad easier, because of fuel injection takes less place and cylinders are 90 degrees and overall it is a bit more...spacious and simpler built than TA.
TA engine thou is silky smooth and reliable, but Vstrom 90 degrees twin definitely packs more punch.
As for TA700 - I know some people will not like me for saying that but I hate it. For me it is symbol of Honda turning into different kind of bike maker. It's INCREDIBLY heavy for what it is, it does all average and it is nightmare to work on. I prefer old 600 for that matter.

However, for dirt run through Mongolia I would never take any of those but rather simple DR650 or Tenere 660 or (in my case) my modified DR800. Then Transalp 600 (because it's cheap) and then Vstrom 650 because it is brilliant all-rounder, thou heavy (partially can be fixed by ditching stock exhaust system).

I don´t hate the 700, in fact I actually do like it.

But it is heavy as you said...... and I must admit, I found it kinda surprising, that when it came out, it was already behind the DL650 in some key areas mentioned before. And nevermind the DL – now the buyers also have BMW 650/800GS and Triumph Tiger to choose from. At least in my country, the XL700V and 650GS (800cc) ABS-versions cost exactly the same.

Still, I´m even more baffled at Honda´s decision to not update the Africa Twin and just plain quit such a great bike!

well... if you ask me great art of monster trailies got lost after "speculate on dakar wave" ended after AT, S10, DR800, Elephant etc. I'd love to see my DR800 contemporary version (alike Tenere 660 2008 model) - with injection, better suspension and brakes etc.
So I build one for myself..except injection. I see no bike on market to change it to...unless Morini Granpasso/Granferro will be revived in big-scale manufacturer with good dealer network etc.