He cant see the catalogue, its on back order

Sooner or later I am going to get a set of Wolfman Rocky Mountain soft bags. But for around town and travel in less secure areas I like hard panniers. I will be adding them quite soon and some barkbusters and some bar risers.

 
He can borrow mine, I use it as wheel chock on the 18 wheeler.

Actually, it is good to stick under the rear wheel when getting a loaded GS on the center stand

Nice choice. SW-Motech panniers look pretty solid for the money. I would imagine there is an adapter for the racks. I know the factory BMW cases on my buddies are made by Touratech...and YES, you need that catalog

 
Yup, don't get caught out there without your toilet paper dispenser.


https://shop.touratech.com/t-pack-incl-toilet-paper-yellow-black-by-touratech-waterproof.html

V-Strom 1000 too much for a beginner? Might go look this weekend.

 
It's a tall, heavy bike...a lot of motorcycle if you're truly inexperienced. Not to say you can't learn on one, but the goal of a new rider should be getting proficient and safe and quickly and painlessly as possible. I'd for damned sure never tell a new rider to go for a 550lb, high COG bike for his first scoot.




Buy a few year old dual sport like a DRZ400, ride the piss out of it, make all your mistakes on a light, agile, cheap to buy/insure bike that's meant to fall over. It'll be fun as hell, you'll learn faster and with more confidence, and those skills will translate upwards much much faster than waddling around on a Vstrom fearing an expensive drop.




You'll probably even find (like I did) that having a DL1k and a lighter dual sport is the perfect combination and you'll never want to get rid of the smaller bike. And, if you do? It'll be worth close to what you bought it for. You will have gained a lot of experience nearly for free.


 

SCHWING!
Nice bike.
My last was a 2000 R1100RT. Love the boxers.

I wouldn't think so necessarily. It is always probably best to start on something really small like a 250 but honestly I didn't  and I bet most don't. I think part of it comes down to you as an individual. I took to riding with an understanding that there are skills that can be learned and improved on. I also am the guy who has never done a wheelie and always rides responsibly.

The Vstrom is a well loved bike. It has a respectable amount of power which though it isn't a sport bike it can still get you in trouble. The seat height is not too high for an adv style bike.

Maybe a better first bike would be the wee-strom but a 1000 V-strom is probably a better first bike than say a CBR 600. And of course there is always the possibility you might have some parking lot drops as you learn, though again, I don't think many do. Just my opinions.


ETA: Swingset does make a good point about the high center of gravity. Though like I said 33" seat height could be worse. Many adv bikes are around 35"

I'll just echo what swingset and canoeguy said. I had been riding for close to 40 years before I got the V-Strom 1000. I've owned a LOT of bikes over the years, fast bikes, HD's and scads of off-road bikes...
A DRZ 400 would be a great starter bike. I think even the wee-strom would be good too, just make sure you put the crash bars on it

After riding a friends 2016 wee, I can say it's a great bike. I can use every bit of power it makes, riding in the Ozarks...I can't use all the power of the 1000, however, it's handy when passing logging trucks

I learned to ride on a 1900 Yamaha Roadliner that a neighbor had.  Then "started" on a 500 Honda and worked up to a couple 650s (KLR & Versys..still one of my favorite bikes).  Next one will likely be the F800GS and/or a Thruxton 900.  I will say, that 500 Honda had all I needed at the time and allowed me to learn to ride out over my feet and really understand motorcycle physics, if you will.  I didn't go that route on purpose but because the 500 was all I had available to me at the time and I'm glad I did it.  I've learned a lot from every bike I've owned, regardless of size.  

Take the lessons to heart and you'll be fine.

I just traded a very well sorted Thruxton in on this GS. I wanted a Thruxton for a long time. Then I got it and it sat as I always chose other bikes. Why? Well it is fun for messing around on once in awhile but for everyday riding it just didn't fit the bill. And it was not very comfortable.

I sat on an F800 yesterday and it seems like a very nice bike that is more congruent for someone who rides a lot.

I agree on all points.  There was a year where I only put 100 miles on my car; living in Arizona helps with year-round riding, and the cold and super hot doesn't stop me.  That said, it'd be nice to have a cafe bike for evenings dicking around town and don't want to look like a mountain man rolling up.  I can ride my duals all day and night without so much as a gripe.

The dealer sold you worn out tires? They're so smooth

Don't get the BMW panniers, hate mine and you can unlock them with a screw driver

Love my Vstrom been riding since 2006 with  over 50 thousand miles on it! its a beast.  My riding buddy has a KTM 950 Adventure bike.  We have made a couple 3k+ trips on them.

 

I know right? What's worse is they still make as much noise as if they were knobbies.

My GSA is supper sensitive to speed.  Noisy as hell on a road until you get to about 60 then it get's really quite and stays that way up to...highway speed

But who gets one for the road

Completely agree.  Start on a dual sport.  Buy the big bike you want, and you still have a dual sport too.  Get both.





To the OP - congrats on the GS, it looks great!  Now go pick a continent to ride around.