Opinions on V-Stroms

[nhbubba]

On the 'Strom forums, some folks have had good luck running Aprilia mirrors.

So have I.



Before that I had mirror extenders manufactured by some guy off one of the forums. Same guy that made my little dashboard bit.



The Ape mirrors rule. I would definitely do that again. The extenders were okay, but looked bad. The Ape mirrors both look better and work better. Plus, the ape mirrors are eleventy billion times better quality than the Suzuki mirrors. My OE mirrors are pretty much junk now after bumping into them a couple times over the winter months in the garage. The plastic on the ball sockets got very brittle in the cold and cracked. Now the mirrors flop down. The Ape mirrors neither vibrate as much nor crack as easily when bumped.

Easily a strong recommendation.

I'm not sure if the extenders would work on a gen-2. But I bet they would. If you want to try the extenders, PM me your info and I'll send 'em your way.

[TheIglu]

I have the Ape mirrors on mine. They work great. Good simple mod.

[Garandman]

I think I've posted this before. I made a point of filling up immediately before and immediately after the two track days I brought this thing to back in the day before buying the SV. Both were 40-42 MPG.//

I got down to 32!

[TheIglu]

Hit 285 miles on a tank before the light came on over the weekend.

[Stromper]

My Vee is 39 to 41 mpg

[gregp]

Do you guys happen to have the part numbers for those Ape mirrors? Or model/year info?

[nhbubba]

AP8104921 & AP8104922

Source.

I believe I asked for mirrors for a current model Tuono. Ordered mine from the counter at Seacoast. Although I probably just pointed at a machine on the sales floor and said "I want mirrors like that". Got an eye roll when I admitted I was putting them on a 'zuki.

[RandyO]

My Vee is 39 to 41 mpg

I was getting 42-44 till recently when I put the Mitas E-07s on, my mileage has dropped to about 41-42

[nhbubba]

How do you even measure that subtle of a MPG difference?
My mileage sways that much between two fillups just based on how much bacon I may or may not have been enjoying.

[RandyO]

been 7 tanks so far, I am pretty consistent at filling up when my last bar starts to flash and it takes about 4.5gal to fill, it dropped from 190-195 miles per fill up to 180 miles

the mileage I get with the DL1000 is much more consistent regardless if it is around town or highway, than my SV650 was especially with highway mileage, my SV that got 48± around town only about 40 on the highway and in winter even worse

I also notice that when I roll off the throttle with the Mitas, it slows faster, there is a lot more rolling resistance with the chevron tread pattern than the tread on the Tourances

[nhbubba]

Whuuuut.. It's almost like Suzuki has realized they can make money in this segment.

http://www.zigwheels.com/news-featur...nveiled/19904/

[Chippertheripper]

Adventure touring styling.

[jasnmar]

And in the mean time Honda creates possibly a great entry into the segment, and keeps it out of the US.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...otorcycle.com)

[nhbubba]

Awe. It's not entirely style over substance. Not sure what the pricing looks like, but I'd take that as an upgrade to my '11.

[nhbubba]

And in the mean time Honda creates possibly a great entry into the segment, and keeps it out of the US.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...otorcycle.com)

Meh. Too many cylinders. (Yes, I'm serious. Thumpers and twins for this man pretty much from here on out.)

[Chippertheripper]

Meh. Too many cylinders. (Yes, I'm serious. Thumpers and twins for this man pretty much from here on out.)

Yeah but it's a twin twin.
It also gets a big meh from me, as it's probably a great strom rival, but it's just another motorcycle suv.

[nhbubba]

I think the 17" front gives it away; more of an upright sport-tourer than even the V-Strom is. More like a mini-multi.

[nhbubba]

[RandyO]

I just hit 80,000 a week ago

been hearing an occasional weird clunk and now my charging system is not working, 4th failure for me

and this time I'm not sure that it's the stator again, was that clunk the magnets coming loose ?

If I could afford to start farkling another bike I would, too much into it now to not finish my projects, single exhaust, auxiliary charging system and larger fuel tank

[Stromper]

Randy do the series regulator mod research it buy from polaris

[RandyO]

Randy do the series regulator mod research it buy from polaris

I may, I tried a regular MOSFET, steadier voltage, but didn't help with stator life

this time I have a Rick's stator and it has lasted longer than the oem stators, this time I really think its the magnets and if it is, I might as well do my external auxiliary electrical system mod

[nhbubba]

Randy do the series regulator mod research it buy from polaris

Got a link or any more keywords to start the research? I was thinking/planning to upgrade to a MOSFET this winter.

[Stromper]

Series Regulators for Enhanced Stator Reliability

Down the thread and the polaris pn Eastern beaver has a plug kit if you have a mind

[RandyO]

Series Regulators for Enhanced Stator Reliability

Down the thread and the polaris pn Eastern beaver has a plug kit if you have a mind

hmmm... if there is an adaptor pigtail ..... My oem wire harness is unmolested and I plan on keeping it that way

[MHenry600]

So, I never actually thought I'd consider one, but alas, here I am. The Wee has caught my eye a little, more for practicality than appearance though.

At this point, it's still a bit of dreaming, but I'm really contemplating adding a new steed this year. For a few years now, I've lusted over something like the 800xc or f800gs (not really interested in the big ADV 1200s), but the more I look, the Wee is just so much cheaper and seems it would handle everything I have in mind. If I go used (a couple years) on either the BMW or Triumph, fall to be in what I think my price range is. I could get a brand new Wee for a couple grand under that even.

It would be used for usual New England sight-seeing touring, commuting, and I'd still have the CBR. I use my CBR to do all of that now and don't mind an occasional dirt road, but don't like doing that all the time, especially if I'm 2-up. I always feel like a flat is imminent. I'd like to do some more moto-camping (Northern NH/Maine/VT) too. I like to explore new areas on the map, and more and more lately I can't do that without running into dirt road(s).

I know all 3 options are capable of handling it, but am unsure if I go with the Wee if I will kick myself for not spending the little extra bit. I haven't really looked at the Vee too much.