V-Strom DL650 Thread

**Eddieb** · 13th November 2009, 11:13

Originally Posted by CRM

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/

I've taken a GSXR-250RR up 90 mile beach several times, my sister did it on her ZXR400 and brother in law on his '79 CB750. The Wee would do it just fine.

**CRM** · 14th November 2009, 15:23

I've just been looking at raising my bars and bringing them back a bit. There is no room just to pull them back without risers as they are already nearly touching the tank on lock. Looking on StromTroops someone recommended these

Anybody seen these sort in NZ or anything similar? Apparently the cables are fairly restricted so you can't go up too much. Anybody done this? Thanks

**Padmei** · 14th November 2009, 20:27

They look like a handy bit of engineering. With a block of ali, a holesaw & file you could make something similar.

The KLRs have the same problem with the wiring looms. How much would it cost them to make the wires 50mm longer!!

**CRM** · 16th November 2009, 08:13

Originally Posted by Padmei

They look like a handy bit of engineering. With a block of ali, a holesaw & file you could make something similar.

The KLRs have the same problem with the wiring looms. How much would it cost them to make the wires 50mm longer!!

I'm not that handy

. I may have to settle for some standard risers and tilt them a bit. Other option is some bars like this. Apparently they work quite well. This guy has them on his 'fully adventurised Wee-Strom'

.

**paturoa** · 19th November 2009, 18:41

Before heading off on the bikoi on Tuesday I adjusted the standard bars back even further, so that at full lock, they are just above the tank - about 20 mm clearance.

It was a lot more comfortable, I did about 850ks on Tuesday and my wrists were fine. That said I had to keep fighting old SV habits and "teach" myself to relax my arms and grip.

**CRM** · 20th November 2009, 08:06

Originally Posted by paturoa

Before heading off on the bikoi on Tuesday I adjusted the standard bars back even further, so that at full lock, they are just above the tank - about 20 mm clearance.

It was a lot more comfortable, I did about 850ks on Tuesday and my wrists were fine. That said I had to keep fighting old SV habits and "teach" myself to relax my arms and grip.

My bars are already back as far as they can but I rode to Auckland and back yesterday (about 350km) and I get pins and needles in my hands and sore arms from having them tensed up - just can't find a way to relax my arms as it is. I'm thinking about bars about 30mm higher and a bit more bend. Might have a look today at Shaws - they seem to have quite selection in stock.

I really need to do something about the sound too - I just need to hear that beautiful engine working. Its just all a little boring when it's so quiet. My daughter has a 2009 Ninja 250 with a Yoshi pipe that's really loud and even though it hasn't got nearly the performance on the Strom it's such a blast to ride because you can hear the engine working - every little over-run and splutter is music to the ears

. I don't want to be annoyingly loud just hear it when its wound out. Anybody tried the Cycleworks pipe?

**paturoa** · 20th November 2009, 09:43

Originally Posted by CRM

Anybody tried the Cycleworks pipe?

Nope. I've only seen one on a parked bike.

**dino3310** · 20th November 2009, 10:24

Originally Posted by CRM

I really need to do something about the sound too - I just need to hear that beautiful engine working. Its just all a little boring when it's so quiet. My daughter has a 2009 Ninja 250 with a Yoshi pipe that's really loud and even though it hasn't got nearly the performance on the Strom it's such a blast to ride because you can hear the engine working - every little over-run and splutter is music to the ears

. I don't want to be annoyingly loud just hear it when its wound out. Anybody tried the Cycleworks pipe?

your just to used to that XR cannon thumping out ya ear drums

**CRM** · 20th November 2009, 11:32

Originally Posted by dino3310

your just to used to that XR cannon thumping out ya ear drums

Yeah I know ... too many years of loud music and loud bikes

... but I like it

**dino3310** · 20th November 2009, 12:11

if its just the sound your after is there any way to mod the exhaust you got on there with out coughing up lots of $$$$, paturoas got a nice loud modified one on his DR

**CRM** · 20th November 2009, 14:19

Originally Posted by dino3310

if its just the sound your after is there any way to mod the exhaust you got on there with out coughing up lots of $$$$, paturoas got a nice loud modified one on his DR

Yeah I'm going to try taking out the baffle for starters.

Just did my first drop...

- down the end of our road - it's quite steep and I was going to go left uphill then decided to go downhill at the last moment

and stalled it in first - toppled over on low side

. Broken indicator

(I reckon Suzuki makes a fortune off V-Strom indicators), scratched crash-bars

, wounded pride

(the kids across the street were like

but thats about all - good old crash-bars, a bit of black spray paint and she'll be sweet

.

I think I'll get some LED flexible indicators - these Suzuki adornments are about $80 EACH apparently. Anyway my panniers just arrived by courier - glad I didn't have them on when I fell over...

**CRM** · 21st November 2009, 16:05

I got a Givi top-box and some OEM panniers off Trade Me. The topbox is fitting well but the mounts for the panniers haven't got anywhere to bolt into on the top fittings (see pics).

Anybody know if these might we for an earlier/later model or maybe a DL1000? I'm going to either have to make up some brackets that connect onto the rack or replace the rack with a different or unit or... any ideas?

Thanks.

**paturoa** · 21st November 2009, 18:45

Doesn't look like the right brackets to me.

There are a shite load of photos here - http://www.stromtrooper.com/showthread.php?t=21652

**CRM** · 21st November 2009, 20:04

Originally Posted by paturoa

Doesn't look like the right brackets to me.

There are a shite load of photos here - http://www.stromtrooper.com/showthread.php?t=21652

Yeah had a look through there - and they all look the same as mine so not sure what these racks I have are off.

They are the right shape and if I take off the standard alloy rack and make up some brackets to go into those holes it should be quite tidy and also reduce the weight of the alloy carrier which is quite heavy. The racks them selves will then become the grab-rails which should work okay. A bit of work but I think the end result will be quite okay. Just been playing with it now looking in the shed for something I can fabricate into brackets...