Ok, just to say I played... I have a 2003 DL1000 Vstrom. Likes: Affordable, for what you get there's not much else in the adventure-touring market that even comes close. It's cheap to maintain, cheap to insure, and without sacrificing much. Versatile. There's very very little I can't do with it. From 2-up touring to fire-roads, cruising with my Hardley-Able brother to blasting through twisties, I can hit every kind of road. Reliable, simple. Easy bike to own, maintain and very little issues. Vtwin torque, love it love it love it. It has decent power, but it puts it all right down where I want it to be. Comfortable. Dislikes: People think it's ugly. I love its utilitarian looks, but it's a bike famous for being ungainly. Plastic where there shouldn't be plastic. It could use less fairing and less stuff to snap, break or be in the way. Idle hammer, makes a disconcerting racket when sitting still, but not an issue. My few gripes are nothing to the likes, I love the bike and will ride the piss out of it until I can't keep it running any longer, however long that is. There's lots of bikes out there I like, but none I want to own in its place.