Quck scene setter for context, newish rider with 6 months of restricted experience on a 250 scooter before buying. 193cm 105kg lump of 40's rider as ballast. Wanted a bike for touring, some weekend rides to enjoy the ride not compete to the most speeding tickets / first to the morgue, and to commute on - by that meaning trips from TGA to Hamilton and Akl with laptop, suits and gym kit.
I had a look at second hand and nothing that was LAMS looked too appealing, too 'roady', too cruisey, or too adventure. So I spent some time reading every review there was on the t'interweb, and what it boiled down to was that in NZ LAMS spec there was bugger all. So I was thinking of hanging on for another 6 months and then post full license having a lot more choice. However, I had time to kill over xmas (see other post - week to kill - north island tour), so I thought I'd try the wee-strom and see what I thought. I actually tried a couple of bikes, but the GSX650 wasn't comfortable for me (too tall, hurt hips after 5 mins) and sounded a bit revvy for long rides. So then in a total downpour then I tried the wee-strom. And it was great. Comfy, didn't kill me despite brand new tyres and semi-flooded roads, but had enough on the right grip to make it 'interesting'. Fast forward 4 days and it was back for it's 1000km service after trips round the coromandel and taupo. $250 service, and got the top box plate added to match the givi v35s I had titted from day 1 and I was ready to carry some loads.
So the north island trip I was riding 6hrs+ a day and the only discomfort was from my lower neck / top of shoulders, but that was after 2000km in 4.5 days. Plenty of space to carry tent, sleeping bag, camera and clothes. Fully loaded then you notice the weight, and being fair then overtaking uphill at 100kph+ wasn't going to happen. But I was touring on a fully laden LAMS bike and so I'd suggest that's pretty much th e point of the restrictions..... But I've never really felt that I needed more power - the bike is easily more capable than I am, and is still easily capable of getting to 100kph in second gear and goodness knows what at full whack.
So onto the bike review proper. I've really valued the ABS a few times, both in wet and dry. However the back brake is pretty pathetic which means that on gravel you're relying on the engine braking to slow you. And that's fine as this was the thing that took me the most to get used to, the 650 twin does provide a lot of engine braking if you've been used to a scooter without engine braking.... Ive found the screen fine, not as protective as the scooter, but even at my height it's 'fine'. Rest of the equipment ditto, with the twin trip computers really handy - one for recording the actual trip mileage for touring or expenses, and the other for distance since refuelling. And on that then I'm getting 22-24km per litre, and feel fine planning for over 350km before needing to look for a BP.
The standard tyres have been fine on both tarmac and gravel, and after 6500km have another 3-4k left in them according to the shop yeterday. Either a testament to their quality or my nanna riding. I suspect the latter. The suspension needed a few cranks to cope with my weight, and that of my clobber to reduce the nose diving and the rear bottoming out on fast compressions at the bottom of valleys / bridges.
The bike is really quiet. You still need plugs for day long rides, but even when leaving at 5am, then it's not going to annoy the neighbours unless you deliberately give it some twist.
What don't I like? Well bit nit picky, but:- The blue dash light for main beam is too bright and distracts when riding in the dark. The underseat storage gets wet. Occasionally the shift from 3>2 needs the clutch releasing a little and a second go - possily user error, but the rest are very positive. No power outlet, even my scooter had one - so added one under the seat at the 1k service and that meant I could charge my phone whilst riding. The bike is long. With the bags on then it's not one for lane spltting and where the scooter fitted in the corner of the car park with no problems, I've been asked to park elsewhere on the wee-strom as it was poking out into paid parking spaces. There's a bit of surging at 3750-4750rpm, and that wouldn't be a problem if that wasn't where you sit when cruising at 100kph. Not terribe, but initially unsettling and then just occasonally frustrating after several hours.
So in summary, if you want a LAMS bike that will carry loads of clobber and a bike guy in comfort then this is it. If you want to win at a track day, or skip between queues this won't be the right bike.
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