Opinions on V-Stroms

[Rossco]

Bike was $3200 with everything except for the Jesse sidebags and mounting brackets, which the guy sold to me for $600 (the whole kit is like twice that new).

Oh, and I put those Jesse bags on over the weekend and they fookin rock!



I have taken the topcase off for now, will probably only use it for long distance rides or carrying a pillion since it has a nice backrest on it.

[nhbubba]

Nice score.
Any suspension goodies? If not.. may I strongly recommend..

[Stromper]

Good deal most have at least replaced fork springs

I am band for life but recommend you look up

stromtroopers.com

[Rossco]

Anyone had any luck getting a front-end stand to fit these bikes? I bought a Venom stand on eBay and it dosen't even come close to lifting the bike. I actually have to lift the whole stand just to get the pin in.

[Stromper]

I ratchet strap it to ceiling joists

[Chippertheripper]

Cut a couple 2/4's to go under the legs of the stand.

[Garandman]

Hey-a Randy, how do you like your Caribou/Pelican setup?

What racks do you have? Which cases?

The Tusk ones I ordered still are in the land of backorders, so I cancelled them. All in, the cost is about $100 more for the Caribou system, and they seem a lot nicer. Didn't like that you had to remove the lid and put it down somewhere to get into the Tusk panniers.

I had Jesses. Light, strong, roomy. The Caribou cases are strong but their form factor sucks and they are heavy. If I could get them for the Tiger I'd have them, got rid of the OEM bags for Trax.


There is another option, the made-in-NH side-opening aluminum. They combine a lot of the best features of side and top opening bags.Micatechs.


I even experimented with some Zero/Haliburton aluminum bags, which are light, strong, secure, aerodynamic. But like Caribou they are clamshell and narrow which isn't great.

[nhbubba]

Cut a couple 2/4's to go under the legs of the stand.

This.

Generally I've found stands to be worthless on a V-Strom. Most don't lift the front even close enough to get the axle high enough so you can get the wheel out from under the fender. If you have the bike on the center stand and do the 2x4 thing, the rear wheel will now be on the ground. At least this is the case with my sw-motech center stand. I suppose you could use a full set of race stands. I've simply given up and gone back to the ratchet straps from the ceiling approach when I need to pull both wheels.

[Chippertheripper]

I assumed you'd only try and use a front stand if the bike was on a rear stand. To use the front stand with the center stand...well...I don't know if that should give me the willies or not.

[Rossco]

Tried the 2x4 trick, no dice. Ass end is on a HFT uni rear stand. Appears that the 19" front wheel just won't clear the actual stand. Got it on a hoist now.

So to get the front wheel off, looks like a 12 mm Allen key, and get the two 14mm retaining bolts off each caliper and get them off. That it?

[nhbubba]

Meh. Center stand works for me.

You can get the front off by removing just one caliper. But it isn't worth the effort on a street bike. Pull both calipers. There is an axle pinch bolt, then the axle itself.
Pretty straightforward, I think.

[RandyO]

my Eazy-Rizer was well worth the investment

[nhbubba]

Jack stands under the bottoms of the forks works too.
As does jack stands under the crash guard. (You do have crash guards, don't you?)

[Rossco]

Jack stands under the bottoms of the forks works too.
As does jack stands under the crash guard. (You do have crash guards, don't you?)

Have some Givi crash guards still in the box. I have the week off, so I'll probably put those on tomorrow. Also have a factory center-stand going on the bike as well.

EDIT: I think I found a solution.

[nhbubba]

I HIGHLY recommend the crash guards. Highly.

[TheIglu]

Caribou Cases on the way!

Took off the cheap knock-off top box. Mounted up a Dryspec 38L bag I got from a member here on the tail.

Went with the 35L side load Pelican cases with the case liners.



Still need to find some tie-downs for the cases. I figure 4 footman loops per side should allow me to strap sleeping pad or tent to the top of each case. That'll mean I can still open the case while they stay strapped on.

[tls25rs]

Caribou Cases on the way!

Took off the cheap knock-off top box. Mounted up a Dryspec 38L bag I got from a member here on the tail.

Went with the 35L side load Pelican cases with the case liners.



Still need to find some tie-downs for the cases. I figure 4 footman loops per side should allow me to strap sleeping pad or tent to the top of each case. That'll mean I can still open the case while they stay strapped on.

Wonder how much Caribou tacks on to the cost of a standard Pelican/Storm Case for the webbing between the cover and the body of the case? I am assuming there is also some mounting type hardware added too. Just struck me as odd that the case in the photo is a dead nuts ringer for the Pelican/Storm Cases we have here at work for various tasks.

[TheIglu]

It IS a Pelican case. What you are buying via Caribou is a Pelican case modified with a lock for the case opening, plus a lock/mounting/quick release system for mounting the case to the racks.

I can't stand the cases that make you open/empty them to remove them from the bike.


Being a Pelican case, it still carries the lifetime unconditional warranty on the case. You crash and it breaks? Send it back, they send you a brand new one. You just pay shipping.

They offer both the Storm and the Pelican 1550. The 1550 is thicker, so I went with that. Price difference is negligible, but the 1550 is heavier duty at the expense of 1lb extra weight.

[RandyO]

it is unfortunate that Roger no longer makes racks and outsources to Hepco Becker, the racks that Roger use to make were much sturdier

[TheIglu]

Ready for a long weekend up the Maine coast in a week and a half.

[Stromper]

Meeting Strommers near Rangeley Maine this weekend

[RandyO]

Meeting Strommers near Rangeley Maine this weekend

see ya tomorrow in Oquossoc

[MattR302]

So my 07 FZ6 has been my every day commuter bike for the past 3.5 years, with a few 2-up rides a year, and usually one weekend 2-up trip with luggage to Vermont. I've tried a few different seats and handlebars/risers, but it still gets uncomfortable after 2-3 hours or so. When 2-up, that becomes like 1-2 hours, and definitely feels cramped. Kinda sorta thinking about maybe getting something to replace it that's more longer-distance comfy, and more 2-up comfy. I don't want a big heavy sport-touring bike like a FJR. Combined, my wife and I are about 350 lbs plus gear and luggage, but I've never felt like I've needed more power than what the FZ6 has, plus when 2-up it's a more relaxed pace ride anyways.

Came across a pretty well set-up 2009 DL650 for about what I could get for my FZ6. Wondering how this might fit the bill.
I'll read through this thread tomorrow while I'm supposed to be working.

[Garandman]

Matt, he bought that bike from me a few years ago. Has Jesse bags and a top case. He is asking $4,300, probably flexible. No interest other than it was a solid bike. He only put 1,600 miles on it.

It would be a good bike for what you describe. I had an ELKA shock, but the stocker is adequate as little used.

2009 DL650 ABS | Adventure Rider

[feralchimp]

Had a 2004 for a number of rock-solid commuting / occasional distance years. I added heated grips and a front fender extender, but aside from that the only maintenance was adding gas and changing the oil. I think Clayton added cartridge emulators to the front forks and got around to doing a valve check after I sold it to him, but I assume more of the same: no-hassle miles, year after year.