V-Strom DL650 Thread

[upshift]

Hey anybody know where is a good spot to leave your bike at Auckland Airport? I'll be leaving it overnight when I go to Wellington. Not too keen just leaving it in the carpark .

If me I'd leave it in the short term covered park by the domestic terminal.
Motorbikes can park anywhere in the Airport parking areas if they use a car parking space.

I have seen motorbikes parked in the uncovered areas too and you should be OK, Auckland airport is pretty much a 24hr operation and there is a lot of security about all the time. Park close to, and in view of the road or terminal and you should be fine. Map and other info here.

There are a few off site parking places that run a shuttle service to the airport, don't know if they take bikes but are cheaper. For one night it's probably not a biggie. Try www.aeroparks.co.nz, www.flypark.co.nz, www.skyway.co.nz

I have often left my car in the long term covered park and been very happy with the security.

[CRM]

If me I'd leave it in the short term covered park by the domestic terminal.
Motorbikes can park anywhere in the Airport parking areas if they use a car parking space.

I have seen motorbikes parked in the uncovered areas too and you should be OK, Auckland airport is pretty much a 24hr operation and there is a lot of security about all the time. Park close to, and in view of the road or terminal and you should be fine. Map and other info here.

There are a few off site parking places that run a shuttle service to the airport, don't know if they take bikes but are cheaper. For one night it's probably not a biggie. Try www.aeroparks.co.nz, www.flypark.co.nz, www.skyway.co.nz

I have often left my car in the long term covered park and been very happy with the security.

Okay thanks for that. I might try Aeroparks (if I'm not running too late ) otherwise just see how it goes at the terminal.

[glitch_oz]

- They are quite a big bike for a 650. The weight isn't huge but the tallness and bulk just feels big.

Might as well chime in here
I did something about that weight and bulk.











YES, IT IS A WEE!!....a K6.



Front:
Standard forks with Intiminators/Tapered Roller bearings /2.5W fork oil/home-made alum forkbrace/ modded TL1000 lower guard/ modded YZ250 high guard/ modded Kwaka Z750 tail-piece as front mask/ KTM950 headlight/ Goodridge braided lines/ GSXR750 calipers on homemade adapter plates/ homemade dash panel and homemade alum hanger brackets for the whole top-end/ LED indicators allround/heated grips with digital controller/homemade screen/ all top-end components rubber mounted collectively and individually/


Ctr:
Modded OEM sidepanels as base for tankpods (finished in diamond-pattern marine-vinyl)/Quicklock tankbag/modded KLR650 crashbars/stock engine/stock headers/TBS extension tubes/modded fuel pump to bypass internal HP filter and external re-usable inline-filter/modded VEE seat, shortened and foam re-shaped to suit/HD alum-flymesh as rad-guard/Hide Racing belly pan/



Rear:
1" rise dogbones
Subframe shortened by ~5"/ subframe de-lugged/ removed pillion footpegs incl. brackets/ crossbraces repositioned/seat-release lock re-positioned/ Honda CBR600RR tail-plastics and LED tail-light/LED indicators/ LED-button plate lights/ Stainless heat and dirt-shielding in wheel-arch and battery-box/ modded battery box/homemade Stainless 304 lead-pipe to modified and shortened aftermarket Staintune exhaust can originally manufactured for Yamaha TT600/
homemade 1.8mm (3/32th) rear alum checkerplate cover, powdercoated, hinged on S/S hinges to allow access to rear compartment and toolbox (integrated)

Tyres:
Heidenau K76 and spare set of wheels (with discs, ready to pop in) with Conti TKC80s/ Heidenau K60s
Luggage:
Hepco TC50 topcase
Hepco Gobi panniers (3liter/ quarts waterjackets)
Home-made racks (copies of Quicklock), based on modded DL1000 Hepco racks

Other:
Homemade bracketry and bits everywhere.


Weights: (without panniers/ topbox/crashbars....but FULL TANK, ALL FLUIDS, READY TO RIDE).

171kg WET
In the old money: 377lbs, wet, ride-away weight.

157kg dry (~346lbs) (all fluids but empty tank)



Time to built:
~18mths, on and off

I'm sure I forgot a few bits...having too much fun riding to remember the nitty-gritty

[CRM]

Might as well chime in here
I did something about that weight an bulk.


Weights: (without panniers/ topbox/crashbars....but FULL TANK, ALL FLUIDS, READY TO RIDE).

171kg WET
In the old money: 377lbs, wet, ride-away weight.

157kg dry (~346lbs) (all fluids but empty tank)

Wow - impressive - looks fantastic too .

Thats about a 40kg reduction . The pipe probably saved 5 or so, the tail-piece maybe a couple, fairing another couple - where did the rest go?

[CRM]

Okay thanks for that. I might try Aeroparks (if I'm not running too late ) otherwise just see how it goes at the terminal.

Here I am at Auckland Airport, bike parked at Aeroparks. They were very good, even put my gear inside out of harms way and it's a locked secure park as well - $9/day is pretty good.

I've been running consistently late today and actually missed my plane getting caught in Auckland traffic - not even the VStrom could get me there in time...

I had a quick trip up SH16 to Henderson to get to my exam on time (the clock on the Strom is 10 minutes slow which I didn't realise until Wellsford). I'm getting more familiar with the handling now so winding her out a bit

Only had one moment when I nearly missed a turn-off. Hit the brakes a tad too hard and locked up the rear a couple of times slowing down around the turn. She handed beautifully predictably with perfect manners (not sure if the guy in the 4x4 I was going towards sideways would agree though) .

She's a good machine...

I just need some panniers and a topbox now - it's a major pain having to put stuff in the San Remo bag, tie it down and lock it on etc.

[glitch_oz]

Wow - impressive - looks fantastic too .

Thats about a 40kg reduction . The pipe probably saved 5 or so, the tail-piece maybe a couple, fairing another couple - where did the rest go?

It's 28kg....the documentation is here Full thread

most of it also here.

The exhaust wasn't even 5kg from memory...but there's about 2.5kg in the fairing frame, 1kg in the rear footpegs (each? can't remember), ~3kg net in the rear subframe de-lugging and shortening, 2.5kg in the OEM packrack and and and.
There's even 0.5kg in a set of indicators!! Net, too!


Here's the whole WTF- fleet
K2 and K6 1000's each end, the 650 in the ctr.
Both thou's are down 21.5/ 22.5kg and at the weight of a 650stocker

[Eddieb]

You're such a tease Glitch.

When are you bringing those reprobates from your forum over for some proper adventure riding, JunkManJoe and I will scare them silly on some decent tracks, with hills and corners even!

[glitch_oz]

You're such a tease Glitch.

When are you bringing those reprobates from your forum over for some proper adventure riding, JunkManJoe and I will scare them silly on some decent tracks, with hills and corners even!

Oh shit!!!
Caught out

Hills and corners??
Wozzat?

[paturoa]

Got me a new orange K9 wee abs a few weeks back and its almost run in now. I traded a SV1000s on it and really miss the noise and any gear grunt of the SV.

However I'm really happy with the wee as its by a BIG margin the most comfortable bike I've ridden.

I had some buffetting issues with it initially but raised the standard screen to its highest setting (had to use different bolts though!) and it has eliminated that.

Gotta do something at some stage about the zorst as it sounds very much like Mrs P's sewing machine!

The bars feel too far forward for me. Anybody experimented with other bars?

Nope - but adjusting the bars back in the clamps has made a big difference.

Edit: added pics. And I also made up a front guard extension to stop the road shite flicking up all over the front of the motor - best farkle so far.

[junkmanjoe]

Oh shit!!!
Caught out

Hills and corners??
Wozzat?

whats with these aussy sniffing around in here.........

[Waihou Thumper]

whats with these aussy sniffing around in here.........

in the Aussie forums, haha..... Nice bikes though....

[glitch_oz]

whats with these aussy sniffing around in here.........

Yeah !! Disgusting !

[CRM]

Got me a new orange K9 wee abs a few weeks back and its almost run in now. I traded a SV1000s on it and really miss the noise and any gear grunt of the SV.

However I'm really happy with the wee as its by a BIG margin the most comfortable bike I've ridden.

I had some buffetting issues with it initially but raised the standard screen to its highest setting (had to use different bolts though!) and it has eliminated that.

Gotta do something at some stage about the zorst as it sounds very much like Mrs P's sewing machine!

Nope - but adjusting the bars back in the clamps has made a big difference.

Edit: added pics. And I also made up a front guard extension to stop the road shite flicking up all over the front of the motor - best farkle so far.

Nice colour! How does it go the beach?

The madstad screen brackets are very cool - they give masses of adjustment and very quick to change.

I want to try adjusting the bars - maybe if pulling it back isn't enough get some risers. Wondering about some highway bars on the crashbars and some cruiser style bars like I had on the Magna ... Don't laugh it could work

Also my mate has taken the baffles out on his and it helps the sound a lot. I'll try that I think.

[paturoa]

Nice colour! How does it go the beach?

The madstad screen brackets are very cool - they give masses of adjustment and very quick to change.

I want to try adjusting the bars - maybe if pulling it back isn't enough get some risers. Wondering about some highway bars on the crashbars and some cruiser style bars like I had on the Magna ... Don't laugh it could work

Also my mate has taken the baffles out on his and it helps the sound a lot. I'll try that I think.

Not planning on taking it on the beach, thats what the dirties are for.

There is an extensive thread on stromtroopers about buffetting, screens etc and most go for the madstad.

I've seen a pic somwhere of a vee with highway pegs that hang down from the crash bars, but not cruiser style bars!

[CRM]

Not planning on taking it on the beach, thats what the dirties are for.

There is an extensive thread on stromtroopers about buffetting, screens etc and most go for the madstad.

I've seen a pic somwhere of a vee with highway pegs that hang down from the crash bars, but not cruiser style bars!

Yeah nice to have extra bikes... sold my XR600 this morning - never did get to do 90 mile beach on it. I think that the Strom should handle it okay as long as I stay out of the dunes and keep on the hard sand. It's got Shinko trail tyres on it which have quite a lot of meat on them. So one of these days...

I bought some hard panniers for mine on TradeMe for $300 - so can't wait to get them and put them on.

StromTrooper is a great site - its here for anyone else who is interested: http://www.stromtrooper.com/