I'm quite new to riding, having got my Ls in September 2010, licence in April 2011 and full licence in April 2012 (no Ps as I'm an oldie) - I survived a 14 000 ft skydive so I thought I could survive riding.
I started off on a (used) Kawasaki Ninja 250 (which I'm now selling) and did just under 17 000 km on it (it now has 21500). I'm now onto a Wee Strom (new, 25 July, 0 km) and it's up to 2200 km (I've been busy and not too much time to ride).
I'm a retired teacher and drive in a car quite a bit (HJ Holden - 670 000 km; XC Barina - 166 000 km; Commodore VZ SV6 - 340 000 km) touring around Oz when I can and in the US and Europe in 2008 on a world trip.
I'm looking at travelling cheaply by bike as I save up to get a motorhome to put SUZI on the back of. That (I hope) will give me comfort and travel ability together. At the moment I'm looking at consolidating road skills and building up skills on surfaces other than sealed roads.
SUZI's been lowered (I have duck's disease) so I'm looking at ways of limiting the rear suspension travel - but I can put both feet on the ground when I'm stopped. I want to hang some soft panniers to carry gear while I camp out (reading ADventurers has given me the bug) and will need to carry extra fuel as I intend to do some rides where it'll be over 600 km without fuel (not saying where, but it's pretty obvious).
I am in Werribee (outer south-west of Melbourne) and would like to catch up on a ride with others on Wee Stroms near me for rides (if I can fit it in - weekdays are better than weekends, when I'm home) to slowly gain knowledge of different aspects (I'm a practical and theoretical learner).

I've been reading through this forum for over a few months now, so thought I should put my toe into the water.

Doug

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"There's nothing I can't do, but there's a lot I won't do."

SUZI - I'm in love with her, but I'm afraid she's taking me for a ride.

Welcome to the fun factory Dougie, you will not be disappointed in your new Strom and you will have plenty of fun on it.
Re your desire for soft luggage, I got this Wolfman kit for my 07Wee from Steve at Adventure Moto. I believe they also have racks for the new 2012 Wee. I am extremely happy with this set up.







Enjoy the journey.
Cheers...Tony

G'day, Douggie. I have you have many happy trips on the Strom.

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Steve C
Gold Coast Riders (Rides & events SE QLD, plus stuff about camping etc)
Gravel Riders Club Old farts off-road
Yer ears & yer teef They're the only ones yer got

G'day Tony, I seen that pannier set up from Blackwolfe a couple of Months ago as a local bloke I rode with for the day was testing a set out on his strom and they reminded me of the Ortleib bags that i used on my pushy.

I'm considering these or the Expedition bags from Andy Strapz and haven't decided which way I'll go yet...I think the prices with the pannier racks are fairly similar I think.

I quite like the yellow on these as they stand out pretty well for cagers to see (if they get their eyes off their mobile long enough)

Like to know how you go with using them and their practicality and robustness on a trip.

Cheers

wobbly_boot

(Dave)

Thanks for your kind words - Steve, Tony, Dave.
I've already had some fun, a longish ride to Cobram to visit friends and some short metropolitan jaunts. I'm surprised that although SUZI is far heavier moving around in the drive, once she's moving she seems far more agile than my (soon to be ex) Ninja 250.
Tony - can you specify the description for each piece of the luggage you've got? I'm tossing up between that and Andy's panniers, so opinions either way would be appreciated. The yellow colour attracts me because of the visibility.
My little Aldi SatNav which I got for $99 seems to be a bargain given other discussions, and helps me in unfamiliar areas (just on the direction/distance display, no sound, as I listen to an iPod to stop exterior noise).http://www.stromtrooper.com/images/s...ew/thumbup.gif

One thing I have noticed is a slight vibration around 5000 revshttp://www.stromtrooper.com/images/moresmilies/new_confused2.gif - plus a satisfying throaty roar as I open the throttle in the lower gears!

Doug

__________________
"There's nothing I can't do, but there's a lot I won't do."

SUZI - I'm in love with her, but I'm afraid she's taking me for a ride.

Welcome Douggie ,VStrom 650 = ticket to fun
Ozzy Strom

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Learnt to ride on - Suzuki 80 -1969
Bikes I have owned * CZ 175 * Yamaha DT250a * Honda CB450 * Kawa KL250 * Honda CB750F2 * Honda CR250m2 * Suzuki DR250 * Yamaha TX650a * Honda SL350 And Kawa KE175 * Honda CX500ec (Had it 16 Yrs, Wrecked by car turning in front of me) * BMW K100rs 1991
Grey 2011 Wee-current bike

I visited some friends in a new house, surrounded by houses being built. Within a few minutes, a few tradies were over, drooling over SUZI (my Wee Strom). A unique experience to this point, but it may become more common.
I didn't realize this was one of the hazards of owning a Wee Strom!

__________________
"There's nothing I can't do, but there's a lot I won't do."

SUZI - I'm in love with her, but I'm afraid she's taking me for a ride.

Welcome Douggie
Congrats on the bike, you'll love the wee.
Hope you have many happy adventures on her.

Now I have Andy Straps soft panniers on (fixed them the correct way - Andy did it!) and have a duffle bag to keep all my camping gear (tent, ground sheet, self-inflating mattress, sleeping bag) together. It fits across the top of the panniers. I got a JetBoil for hot drinks and small cooking and a cheap gas stove for cooking bigger things. One pannier for clothing (clean and dirty) and one pannier for cooking gear, food and water. Still working out where to store camera, laptop and other odd stuff. Small petrol container to fit in a still-to-be-determind space.

SUZI will have a B&B bashplate on soon (when I get around to fitting it) and now has a GIVI screen. Surprisingly, I find more turbulence with it than the original screen. In a week or so she will also get a 12V accessory socket. The ALDI GoCruise SatNav is running okay.

I'll do a trip to see how it works out - recorded in detail if it works well, hazy details if it doesn't.

Emergency equipment - EPIRB, mobile, credit card (hotel/motel if it goes pear-shaped).

Any comments welcome - the trial will be mid-late November. The verdict (guilty or innocent) will be reflected in a report (see above).

__________________
"There's nothing I can't do, but there's a lot I won't do."

SUZI - I'm in love with her, but I'm afraid she's taking me for a ride.

Sounds like you are kitting the Strom out with all the good bits there Douggie and I only live in Sunbury so when time permits me for a ride I might let you know and maybe we could meet up for a coffee and ride out this side of town, continue to enjoy the Strom.

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Tassie, heaven on 2 wheels!