Opinions on V-Stroms

[jasnmar]

And the traxxion brace is 5 pieces (I think). If you Listen to traxxion they specifically state that 2 piece design will cause additional stiction http://www.traxxion.com/forkbracepro...ynamics-1.aspx. I do know I'm not smart enough to prove Max, Murphy, or PK wrong in this. I'm just reporting what I've heard.

[Stromper]

I was still on Vstroms not wings

The Murphs kit one is at least 4 pcs counting the tube clamps and has the slots so the center distance is adjustable to real world

Others are cnc to size and can't adjust

[RandyO]

I don't believe fork braces do all that much in a properly setup fork. I'd welcome proof otherwise.

I would say that upgrading suspension is a priority over a fork brace, however, cause a fork brace is cheaper, it's more often the first upgrade

I spent $1400 on suspension first, a fork brace is on my list, but I have other priorities, spare wheels, a Russel saddle, expanded fuel tank,

[TheIglu]

Just ordered a set of the Aprilia mirrors. Still have a bit of wind noise at 70mph even with the Madstad. No buffeting though!

Gunna take a short ride to PA and back next weekend to try them out.

[nhbubba]

I just got back from a quick ride for some errands and some lunch. I was thinking the same thing about the mirrors; "Maybe I can sneak in a new set of mirrors this year, they aren't too much".

I don't have buffeting issues. I have the mirrors mounted on extenders. But they are cracking around the swivel mount off the stalks. One bump into the mirror while walking around the garage seems to be enough to crack them. One of my two is so bad it won't stay put on bumpy back roads anymore.

[RandyO]

One of my two is so bad it won't stay put on bumpy back roads anymore.

are you still under warranty? I had one of my mirrors replaced under warranty cause it would drift out of adjustment over 60mph

[Garandman]

Just ordered a set of the Aprilia mirrors. Still have a bit of wind noise at 70mph even with the Madstad. No buffeting though!
/

I have the "mirror wideners" which seems to help as well. I like the stock mirrors because they are huge.

Anybody go reverse direction from an sv as a platform?

What do you mean? Turn an SV into an "Adventure" bike with windshield, bags, etc?




A V-Strom isn't much more than an SV650 with some tupperware, a 19" front wheel and larger fuel tank - that's the good and the bad!

[nhbubba]

are you still under warranty?

Not even close. I bought my bike used with something like 3-4 months of the factory warranty already chewed up. That was at least 18 mo ago.

[Chippertheripper]

Sort of, Dana. Take an sv, bolt on strom tank and fairing.
For the ultimate naked sport tourer, right bubba?
Unpossible?

[Garandman]

Most V-Strom owners hate the fairing. The add-on windshield as shown above is pretty popular for SV's. Because they weigh less and move less wind, they get better mileage so the difference between the 4.5 gallon tank on the SV and the 5.8 on the DL - which adds a lot of weight up high.

It is common for people to put the V-Strom hand guards on for cold weather commuting.

[Stromper]

I have Kawi mean streak mirrors that are low and wide

[nhbubba]

I have never seen that Givi screen pictured on the blue SV above.

I wish I had. I would ride the living shit out of that SV, as pictured. Sweet lookin' scooter!

My thing going DL over SV was that I wanted some plastic in front of me, but wasn't willing to crouch over like on an SV-S. Basically I wanted bars and a quarter fairing.

I had very bad experiences trying to put an aftermarket screen on my old Bandit 1200. Really, I should have bought a 1200-S with the quarter fairing, I'd probably still be riding it today. But I was young and dumb and thought naked => cool, or some such.

I wonder if that Givi screen is any good? I'm going to unsub from this thread and hope I don't see the answer as it sounds like I could have saved a few bucks, bought an SV, and been quite content.

Ah well. I do like the depth of the V-Strom/ADV farkle market. Anything you want, and then some, with three or four manufactures to pick from.

[Chippertheripper]

Well the sv farkle market is just as plethoric.
I have one of these lil guys enroute:
http://japan.webike.net/products/20270149.html
I don't know how well it will actually work, but it looks neat, and it was cheap.
I have little hope of it deflecting much wind at all, to be truthful.

[nhbubba]

"MadMax" ... awesome.

As I said, I was mortified by the screen I had on the Bandit. I bought what everyone on the interwebz insisted was the "best" aftermarket screen available. And it sucked. .. But then that was for the Bandit and it was circa early/mid 2000's. My perception is that the SV's aftermarket is deeper and that the aftermarket has matured a lot.

For example, when I first looked for hard luggage for the Bandit, nobody made anything. The only thing I could find were some massively expensive and rumored to be not-so-great bags made by Corbin. Now Givi has support and I think Twisted Throttle/SW-Motech has some support for that bike too.

Although the DL650 takes to hard bags like a duck to water. The Bandit implementation isn't so slick. I don't know how the SV kits work. I imagine it is somewhere in between.


So yeah, I still think the DL is the better platform for what I wanted. How much better? Incrementally, I am sure.

[RandyO]

imho, the nekid SV650 is a better off road bike, it's only a guinea pig. Before the V-strom made debut, I was using KLR handguards

[TheIglu]

I have both, DL is the better all around bike for sure.

[Garandman]

Chipper, you haz SV?

[Chippertheripper]

Yup. Out with the old, in with the older,
I picked up an 03, in the process of building myself a sweet lil street/track bike.

[TheIglu]

Rode down to PA and back this weekend, long way on both rides. Left at 9:30-10:00am Saturday, dodged the remaining snow, and got there around 7:00pm. First real ride on the Russel Day Long seat I had custom made.

Amazing. My ass couldn't tell I had ridden all day. No discomfort during the ride for my posterior AT ALL. I had my doubts about how much a custom seat can do, but man, this is unreal. My dad was of the same state of mind with his new seat on his FJR1300. Ride back was no different. I can't stress enough how worth it this seat is for anyone who does more than a few hours on two wheels at a time.

Blew a fork seal on a pothole on the highway. It was starting to get the fork tube wet anyways, this just finished it off.

Ordered RT emulators to put in with the new fork seals.

Still need a different windshield, I get a good amount of noise on the highway. Swapped the mirrors for Aprilia Tuono mirrors and it helped a bit, but not enough.

Next up? Shock!

[RandyO]

Clay, what options/pattern/material did you get with your Russell saddle ?

[TheIglu]

I went with the standard rectangular stitching, in vinyl. No options other than it being a dual, not solo. I'm very happy with how it looks and feels.

[nhbubba]

I'm doing a seat next season, unless I find a real reason to dump the 'strom. Which I probably won't.

I need to learn how to dial in a shock. But I can definitely tell the difference already. The thing carves.

[feralchimp]

My 2004 DL650 did everything I ever asked it to, without complaint, until for some damned fool reason (Eddie's sweet 600 actually) I sold it to Clayton.

Saw an orange 2012 out in western NH and wanted it.

[jasnmar]

I need to learn how to dial in a shock.

1. Go to a track day.
2. Hand PK some money.
3. Do what ever he says.

[Garandman]

I don't believe fork braces do all that much in a properly setup fork. I'd welcome proof otherwise.

I have Ricor Intiminator front inserts, springs, and ELKA rear shock. And ride over the Tobin bridge to work. Being 250 feet above the harbor, the cross winds are fierce.

Before the fork brace I'd often get blown most of the way across a lane. Much more stable with the fork brace and I don't move more than a foot or two unless it's really crazy.

Paul set up the suspension on my SV and Tiger. Both those bikes have shorter and/or larger fork legs and don't need the crutch of a fork brace.