Strom Upgrades

[kcchief]

Anyone in Colorado upgraded their Strom 650? Wanting to tweak mine up a bit and haven't seen any great modifications yet.

[WIDE LOAD]

Define Mods? Do You Want To Change Tires Add Farkles Or Bling? What Kind Of Riding Are You Planning On Doing? On Road Off Road? Let's Define What You Want Or What You Are Looking For And Then We Can Figure Out What Mods Will Work. Good Luck.

[TommyTheKid]

I have the TKC-80 tires, and I LOVE them. They are FUN on the track and on the DIRT. (they are not going to be fun in a month or so when they wear out and I need new ones)

GET HAND GUARDS! They make a REALLY nice windguard for these chilly days :)

other than that, I like my Givi case, wish I had a larger one for longer trips.

Heh, I am looking for some flush-mount turn signals.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tommythekid/ABooBooOnMyWee

*cries*

Details: http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=11417

~tommy

[kcchief]

I just bought my 650 and have just past the 200 mile mark. This is my first bike and I am a first time rider, so I am still playing with it. Iv tried to look for photos of modifications that others have done to there V-Strom but have had know luck. I haven't noticed many of them on the road. I do love how forgiving it is I think that we are learning from each other how to get along. Will keep status of how we are doing.

Thanks kcchief

[TomStromie]

The three, best changes:
1. Givi topcase
2. Changed the front sprocket - 15 teeth to 16 teeth.
3. Taller windshield (Givi)

Check out this site for more information on enhancements. http://www.jackphelps.com/vstrom/vstrom.htm

[SCraig]

I just bought my 650 and have just past the 200 mile mark. This is my first bike and I am a first time rider, so I am still playing with it.
First bike .. my recommendations would be (in this order):

1) The best protective gear you can afford
2) MSF Beginning Rider Course
3) Crash bars
4) As many miles on it as you can scrape together.

The order of importance is rider and then bike. Protect yourself first, protect the bike next, make it look pretty last.

As it's your first bike odds are very, very good that you will drop it at some point. Maybe you'll be on it, maybe not. If you are you need to have good gear and WEAR IT! The BRC just might keep you from doing something wrong and really getting hurt, and the crash bars will help protect the plastic when it goes.

After that, a centerstand, handguards, luggage, and a better horn were my first additions (not necessarily in that order).

[kcchief]

Thanks for the information. I already took the MSF Course, Wanted to learn how to ride correctly before thinking of riding or buying a bike. It was so fun that I recommend it anyone. Just found crash bars and am going to get them installed. I plan to try to keep her scratch free as possible, I know that is going to be hard too accomplish but will try. Does the luggage rack make it harder to ride? I have a hard time shifting into first, Dealer told me to bring it back in and they will look at it. Have read some information about others having the same problem. If that is normal then i will learn to deal with it, Anyway if the weather turns good this weekend I know I will put some more miles on her.

Enjoying the ride
kcchief

[TommyTheKid]

Firstly, I also agree with protection gear for the rider first. Helmet, Jacket, Gloves and pants at a minimum. In the MSF class you rarely get over 10-15mph, so jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt can be mostly effective, on the road, denim will last only slightly longer than nothing. I suggest hitting up Performance Cycle in Denver (Santa Fe, just north of Evans), going to their clearance rack and trying stuff on till you come up with a combo that works for you. You may want to ask them if you can go sit on your bike with the gear on, I would think they would understand the request.

I second the luggage rack (top case) .. it doesn't make it any more difficult to ride. I suppose you could load it with lead (or something heavy) and make it more top heavy, but its really not bad. It might make it catch more wind if you are riding in a cross-wind, but the wee is already kindof "high profile" :) The top case can hold lots of things that are handy to bring along (water, food, warmer gloves (this time of year), maybe a neck gator. If you need to run to the store for something, its also quite handy for a gallon of milk or other small-ish sized things (you may want to avoid shopping at Sams/CostCo) :p

The top case does make mounting the bike harder for some people (who throw their leg over the back), didn't affect me, but it was on my bike when I got it :)

I second crash bars, and maybe sliders too (see the March monthly photo contest) ... also lots of photos of mods in there too :) I was trying to keep my wee scratch free, but a stupid parking lot trick put a nice scuff on my plastic (see previous post in this thread).

SHIFTING INTO FIRST...
What you *sometimes* have to do is let the clutch out part way and squeeze it again, then try shifting to first again. Note, its a good idea to shift into first as you are coming to a stop (MSF teaches that) .. and LEAVE it in first gear unless its a REALLY long light and there are already at least two cars stopped behind you. Always stay aware of the people coming up behind you and be ready to lurch forward (stay in first gear) just in case... that also solves the problem of shifting into first gear at a stop.

Thanks for the information. I already took the MSF Course, Wanted to learn how to ride correctly before thinking of riding or buying a bike. It was so fun that I recommend it anyone. Just found crash bars and am going to get them installed. I plan to try to keep her scratch free as possible, I know that is going to be hard too accomplish but will try. Does the luggage rack make it harder to ride? I have a hard time shifting into first, Dealer told me to bring it back in and they will look at it. Have read some information about others having the same problem. If that is normal then i will learn to deal with it, Anyway if the weather turns good this weekend I know I will put some more miles on her.

Enjoying the ride
kcchief

[VicStrom]

Obviously you are an intelligent and wise man for buying the Whee-Strom, just like all of us. A big YES for protective gear first and wear it every time, even if it makes you sweat - All the gear all the time - ATGAT. Or, just accept the idea of having your skin being torn away and gravel being imbedded in to it, and your head smacking something causing you to lose the precious balance you need to ride. Nuff said?
The topcase was the first upgrade for me and I have glad for that a hundred times at least. First, it's where I conveniently store my helmet when going to work or around town. A gallon of milk, a 12 pake of coke, bread, cereal, cookies can be coerced into it, and get a bungee net in case the top won't latch.
I dropped my whee, scratched it a little, and only then did I buy the crash bars. The next time I dropped it (gravel, dirt, slow speed turn on tight mountain road), no scratches. Centerstand is wonderful, and recently added the Windstrom Manta windscreen - very nice. Tomorrow morning I put on the Dan Vesel skid plate, oil cooler protector and radiator screen in preparation for a camping trip out on fire roads.
Have fun and be safe - it's possible to do both. Of course, I recently found out I can scrape peg on mountain roads. WHEEE!

[VicStrom]

Hope you Colorado guys don't mind me dropping in unannounced. I didn't realize I was in your Colorado posting thread. Hope to ride out your way soon.

[airacer]

Don't want to hijack the thread off of the topic of mods, but I wanted to get some input. I've been lurking on this site for a few weeks gathering info and reading about the Wee.

Next weekend I am taking the BRC, and I'm thinking about buying a bike in the next couple of months and I've all but convinced myself that the Wee is perfect for me. I used to ride 80cc dirt bikes as a kid growing up in Evergreen, but haven't ridden in probably 25 years and never on roads. Before buying a bike, I was planning on getting good protective gear and wearing it for any test rides of friends bikes or at the dealer,etc. It sounds like I am on the right track as far as the responses I've read above.

I'd like to know KCChief's opinion about the Wee as his first bike and everyone else's input on whether it really is the bike for me. I want to commute to work on good weather days and make weekend trips to the mountains for both on and off-road riding and camping trips. I think the Wee is almost ideal for that, but I'm wondering about just how much off-road capability it has (or can have with the right tires and suspension mods). I'd like to have the capability to ride on mild to moderate Jeep trails. I know it isn't a dirt bike, but how capable is it for this type of riding?

Is it simply a matter of putting TKC-80 tires on it, or do you need to do mods to increase the ground clearance and suspension travel? Is it possible to have a "commuting configuration" and switch it to "adventure configuration" with ease? If/when I buy the Wee, I plan on crash bars/skid plate and hand guards as immediate upgrades and then see how my wind protection is to determine if I need to do any windscreen mods.

[Ajaxthedog89]

If you intend to take it on dirt roads I'd recommend you don't go to a large front sprocket (16 tooth), if you have to cross a stream or go up a rough hill you'll need the lower gearing, which is barely adequate and could be lower if you had another gear on the top side.

Crash bars are a must. You are going to drop it and it will cost more than the bars do to get it fixed.

Engine pan protector if you can find a reasonably priced one. They are a ripoff at $250 for about what other bikes get for around $100. That said I did have a rock bounce up and cut the wire to the kickstand switch which stopped my journey till I figured it out and bypassed.

Maybe a better windwhield but it seems they all suck. I have an Vario with the little wing ding at the top. Looks cool but doesn't help much.

Stock seat is not bad but I got a Corbin anyway because it was 10% off and free shipping, $350. Better when doing over a couple of hundred miles on a single ride.

Some kind of thermometer is also helpful too, so you know when it is freezing. Harbor Freight has a digital one for $10, you figure out the mounting.

Heated grips help too. I have read that the Suzuki grips do not heat all over so maybe Symtecs (what I have) or similar are better.

Hard bags are a plus. I have Givi 36 side bags, but if I had it to do over again I might go with the single 45 liter top case. The 36's wont hold my helmet and they are wider than the handlebars. I scraped them the first day I had them.

Radar detector is useful to know when you need to be on your best behavior.

MP3 player with Etymotic earphones is also a winner. These plugs keep the road noise out.

Stock trailwing tires suck in mud (you'll feel like you are riding on ice), but boy do they stick to the road. I can keep up with way more powerful sportbikes and lay it over down to the pegs scraping. Freaks them out a little. They pull away on the straights but I win the twisties. I swear the thing is really a super moto in disguise.

Last, it'll go on dirt roads and some easier passes, but it ain't no dirt bike. Engineers pass is pretty easy on a real dirt bike but on theis thing I damn near killed myself. Too heavy, not enough clearance, not enough suspension, etc, etc. Try the easiest passes and work your way up.

It is a great little bike, really pretty good all around. Enjoy!

Bill in Highlands Ranch

[Ajaxthedog89]

Oh yeah, I didn't mention the gear because you'd have to be a moron not to buy the best you can. If you fall the doctor bills will easily be over $500, and you might never get fully better. Assuming you already have a decent full face helmet you should be able to get boots, pants, jacket, and gloves for something north of this amount depending on how good a shopper you are. It's a pain in the ass to suit up sometimes, but its the right thing to do. If your significant other really loves you they'll be OK with this expenditure, which will be good for several years. Unless of course you want summer and winter versions....

[StromMtn]

I have done a number of upgrades to mine, will do more when I can afford it.

-Suzuki Handguards and Suzuki Heated Grips-makes a big difference. I like the Suzuki Grips as they are infinitely variable. No problems with cold spots, these suckers will burn your hands up if you turn them up all the way.

-Suzuki Centerstand-makes oiling the chain much easier. I've heard the SW Motech stand works better, but bought mine before it ever left the dealer.

-Suzuki Gel Seat-much more comfortable than the stock seat, and less expensive than other alternatives. It's wider and I think a bit taller and firmer. Only downside is that it gets hot in the sun and can really warm your buns up more than you would like at times.

-SW Motech Crash bars -do this first, one drop of your bike will pay for them!

-Givi 50L Topcase and Givi 21L top loading sidecases (I like that you can load them without dumping everything out, plus I got the pair for $90, and the topcase for $110, that helped). I haven't needed the larger sidecases. Last year I went on a big camping trip and carried a big waterproof duffle bag as well, worked wonderfully.

-California Scientific Windscreen (fantastic-I always ride with my visor up now, no wind in my face, can't say enough good about it, designed by a V-Strom owner. I talked to him quite a bit, he sounded more intelligent than did the leading windscreen manufacturer, so I went with his product). I'm 6'1", with a 32 inch inseam and a long torso, so I got the tall model.

-Wolfman Explorer tankbag(wouldn't be without it, it's so handy).

-Slime Pump and tire repair kit (fits under the seat, real handy when you want to air down/up when you head offroad. Plugs into my Battery Tender cord sticking out the side.

I want to get a skid plate when I can afford it.