Gulp -- put a deposit on new bike [Archive]

RedAnt

05-10-2007, 06:15 PM

I went in for a state inspection sticker and put a hold on a 2007 DL650ABS. If the loan goes through, it's mine.

I guess I'm safe. I got my inspection sticker BEFORE the dealer got any new Stroms! :)

That sure is one expensive inspection. I hope the deal was really good.

VtSTROM-K5

05-10-2007, 08:00 PM

I guess I'm safe. I got my inspection sticker BEFORE the dealer got any new Stroms! :)

That sure is one expensive inspection. I hope the deal was really good.
way to go Tom, I almost traded mine yesterday on a Connie:rolleyes: (06 leftover)
OK ;) Not really ( but it is a sweet bike)

tmcgee

05-10-2007, 08:13 PM

No great deal, it's fully priced, but these things are hard to find and with 21,000+ miles on my '05 I'm not gonna get a better trade. Seems like I just turned over 19,000 miles two weeks ago....uhhhh, because I did.

I'd do better to sell the '05 on my own, but I hate doing that, so I'll take today's nickel rather than tomorrow's dime.

Financing is approved and the war department didn't even flinch when I told her.

RedAnt

05-10-2007, 09:51 PM

BHazz

05-10-2007, 10:14 PM

I went in for a state inspection sticker and put a hold on a 2007 DL650ABS. If the loan goes through, it's mine.

Congrats on the new ride Tom.
I'll be interested on your opinion about ABS.
I'm hoping that the Vee gets it for 2008

tmcgee

05-11-2007, 06:37 AM

I guess I see the logic in that. Great news that it's all going smoothly. It will be nice to hear the opinion of somebody with so many miles on an older Wee. I'm still curious about the new engine. I'm interested in your first impressions.

In case you're on the borderline I'm 100% happy with my quick breakin acording to the calsci site. I went with synth in my first oil change at 70miles. I have no regrets. The other good news with a quick breakin is that there's no babying it for months! Although I did find that first 70 miles to be quite hard on me, as I didn't know the bike well enough to be taking it to redline! At least you wouldn't have that problem.

I don't worry about break-in. It's not as big a deal as it used to be when machining tolerances were quite rough. These days, there are CRC woodworking machines that hold tolerances approaching those you get with metal. I had 700 miles on the '05 in the first 48 hours. A new bike is always a great opportunity to take a long ride. :-)

As for redline, I've only been there a few times in two years, and I've got plenty of oil filters and Rotella synthetic on hand.

I suppose the hard part is deciding on new farkles. I'm keeping the old Pelican cases, Givi topbox, GPS and mount, Sargeant seat, and Kisan charging system monitor, but the rest will go with the old bike.

tmcgee

05-11-2007, 07:50 AM

Congrats on the new ride Tom.
I'll be interested on your opinion about ABS.
I'm hoping that the Vee gets it for 2008

In the first month with the '05, I locked up the front several times and went down twice. I was coming off a '78 Honda CB750 with a single disc upfront and a drum in the rear and just wasn't used to the stopping power of modern brakes. I forced myself to get a lot better at braking with both wheels and haven't locked either of them on the street since that first month.

When I took the ERC last month, I did lock them a couple of times in the emergency braking drills, while the guys with ABS clearly had a significant advantage and stopped several feet shorter than those of us without. That was the point I decided to go for ABS as soon as possible.

I'm also very curious about the difference with the changes to the cylinder head of the engine.

I do want a litre bike in the paddock, but unless the DL-1000 gets ABS, it will be adding a BMW as a second bike, and I've always got my eye out for a good deal on a used one.

tmcgee

05-11-2007, 07:52 AM

way to go Tom, I almost traded mine yesterday on a Connie:rolleyes: (06 leftover)
OK ;) Not really ( but it is a sweet bike)

Yeah, I almost bought an '05 Connie in '05 but opted for fuel injection rather than carburators.

jackpiner57

05-11-2007, 09:41 AM

Congrats Tom! I can't wait for a report on how you like it. The ABS is a great option.

tmcgee

05-11-2007, 12:20 PM

Okay, the deal is done. I'll pick it up tomorrow morning (Saturday).

One of the first improvements is gonna be a set of those mega-output grip heaters.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/222

VtSTROM-K5

05-11-2007, 03:50 PM

Nope, I didn't trade..;) ,But Great to hear you were able to get a deal !!
Are you switching the cases & Mounts or is the dealer doing them??? :???:
Are you having the sump guard swaped over too? :???:
will you have the new springs installed prior to delivery?? :???:
:mad: Why does everyone say things taste "Just like Chicken" :mad:( that was to see how many people just skim whern reading );)..:mrgreen::mrgreen:

tmcgee

05-12-2007, 12:04 PM

Why does everyone say things taste "Just like Chicken" :mad:( that was to see how many people just skim whern reading );)..:mrgreen::mrgreen:

The guy who wrote "Investment Biker" ate snake several times on his round the world trips just so he could say "tastes like snake".

First impressions after the first 3 miles between dealer and home:

I just picked up the new ride. It sounds slightly different than the old 650, feels a little ballsier, and is quite a bit smoother with shifting and throttle.

More later...

VtSTROM-K5

05-12-2007, 05:50 PM

I just picked up the new ride. It sounds slightly different than the old 650, feels a little ballsier, and is quite a bit smoother with shifting and throttle.

More later...
Tom glad to shear you picked it up!:)
I'm interested in the ABS as applied to the bike it relates to the bike and Your opinion of it in your real life experience.....I, like BHazz am hoping to see it offered on the Next generation of the litre Strom.. I don't know if I would like it myself But I would like to see it offered
:rolleyes:

tmcgee

05-12-2007, 06:20 PM

Got all the dreaded stickers off, and only one came off without much effort. The others delaminated in the process of peeling them. I used a hair dryer and cleaned up the adhesive with some citrus-based solvent.

GPS windshield-mount bracket installed, Kisan Charge Guard and brake-modulator bulbs are in place, Superbrace (of dubious value) installed, and that's it so far.

I ordered a new set of H-B crashbars and have an inquiry in to the Twisted guys about the high-output CLS heated grips. The Givi 52 litre top box will go back on, but I'm reconsidering the side cases. I'd really like the Jesse bags that give the bike a 36" ass-end, but they're $1100. It might be time to sell some of the high end audio gear I'm not using...

jackpiner57

05-12-2007, 06:28 PM

OK Tom, It's later.:mrgreen:

tmcgee

05-12-2007, 06:34 PM

OK Tom, It's later.:mrgreen:

HA! Okay, I meant later later. :rolleyes:

I'm going to Sandwich on Cape Scrod in the morning to ride with my brother. That should give it a minor workout.

jackpiner57

05-13-2007, 12:04 PM

Tom,

How's the shift from 5th to 6th? Any false neutrals? I've heard that some people have had that problem.

tmcgee

05-13-2007, 01:47 PM

Tom,

How's the shift from 5th to 6th? Any false neutrals? I've heard that some people have had that problem.

I did about 100 miles this morning and shifting is smooth as silk. No false neutrals. I'm also very glad to be back to the stock 15 tooth countersprocket. That's gotta be the reason why the bike feels ballsier than the old bike with the 16.

The exhaust note is a bit deeper than the K5 and with the front and rear preload cranked up all the way, the stock screen feels fine up to 80mph -- at which point the airstream wants to lift my helmet. The screen is in the second from the lowest position.

Yeah, yeah, 6000rpm isn't part of the initial break-in schedule, but I take those recommendations as suggestions rather than direct orders. I've had it up to 7,000.

I've only experienced one activation of the ABS during hard braking and it was a slight sensation in the handbrake.

jackpiner57

05-14-2007, 10:29 PM

That's great Tom. Sounds like you got a good one!

I noticed a drop in power with just ONE less tooth on the REAR sprocket. It dropped my RPM's by about 200 in 6th. When I put the 47 tooth back on, I noticed an increase in acceleration through the gears.

tmcgee

05-15-2007, 08:53 PM

I decided to use a different power distribution scheme this time around. There will be two of these, one under the seat, and one in the fairing.

It's a stripped down version of the common AP-1 model that comes with an additional circuit and a cover, but it's half the money. $20 each, plus shipping from PA.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8751/fs4bm8.jpg

CENTECH (http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/panels/fs4.shtml)

RedAnt

05-16-2007, 09:47 AM

That looks nice, someday I should make a plan to work this out too.

tmcgee

05-16-2007, 10:12 AM

I just ordered a set of these. It's time to start taxing that new electrical system...

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/222/482/

tmcgee

05-21-2007, 08:36 PM

Let's see...

Kept my old Sargeant seat and gave the dealer the new seat with my trade.
Kept my MRA windscreen.
Kept the Givi 52 litre top box.
Kept the Zumo with mount.
Kept the bash plate.
Kept the brake light modulator.

New Givi mounting plate.
Suzuki centerstand.
Acerbis rally handguards.
Napoleon mirrors -- dunno if these will stay.

CLS heated grips -- not installed yet.
Centech power blocks -- not installed yet.

I've been agonizing over the luggage for a week. On Sunday, I ordered a set of the factory panniers with mounts. The mounts are backordered until the end of June. Grumble grumble.

MAXSTROMBERG

05-24-2007, 12:45 AM

I am due to get a leftover '06 for 7000.00.
Good price or what?

Had a Vmax and sold that >>>left the club, too much speed ALL THE TIME with those guys. My face was always windburned.
Had a KLR650 but not too good for the open road. The 650's power wasn't up for it. It was better on the trails....
Then to the SV650 N. Great bike, great engine, lotsa power for a 650. Not very comfortable for longer trips. I LOVED THE CORNERS with it! I might have been too big for it (6'2 290). So now its going to be the 06 DL 1000 in red (brown?)
Cannot wait.
Jim

tmcgee

05-24-2007, 06:53 AM

$7k is a good price for a DL1000.

RedAnt

05-27-2007, 07:04 AM

I put the new bars on the Strom Thursday night. I had hoped to take off early on Friday to get a long ride in, but that didn't happen. I'm heading out today with Anne for a days ride someplace.

First impression of the new bars? Good height and width. My wrists seem to be angled about the way I wanted them to be, so the sweep is good. The bad part is that the seem to be turn up a little too high on the ends. They almost appear to be straight across. I'm not sure what that will feel like after a day of riding, but I'll know tonight. My guess is that it could even be worse than the original bend on my shoulders.

My step brother sat on it for a few minutes and then ordered a set for his bike. I'm not sure I'm that convinced myself. I would almost like to see the difference between the Pro Tapers. Perhaps it's really a slightly better bend in the dimension that they don't seem to give you the measurements on.

I was worried it would take too long to install but it was just over 2 hours and that included 30-40 minutes of taking pictures. I took two pictures of every combination of bars and risers I had. I'll post them all and a review once I get some seat time in.

RedAnt

05-28-2007, 01:01 PM

Well after a day of riding a little over 300 miles, the bars are surprisingly OK. They still feel like they put my hands at an odd angle, but they don't seem to be causing the pain the my shoulder blades like the stock ones seemed to. So far I've not done a full test, I'm hoping to put some more miles on today once Anne gets home. But they do seem to change things enough. I feel a little sore in my mid-back area, but I've also done some lawn work on Saturday before riding on Sunday.

I'll have to start a review thread and put some pictures up soon.

VtSTROM-K5

05-28-2007, 10:20 PM

Boy Rob, I sure hope the new bars work for you!;) Yeah, that would be awsome!!:twisted:

RedAnt

05-31-2007, 08:28 AM

Boy Rob, I sure hope the new bars work for you!;) Yeah, that would be awsome!!:twisted:

I get the idea :rolleyes: . I was posting it here not to hijack the thread but because I started down the riser new bar route after Tom's suggestions. He also is interested and so far I don't believe he's put risers on the new bike yet.

Anyway I finally posted/appended my review of the new bars, installation and pictures. See the thread here if interested:
http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4863

tmcgee

05-31-2007, 07:51 PM

[QUOTE=RedAnt;110498]I get the idea :rolleyes: . I was posting it here not to hijack the thread but because I started down the riser new bar route after Tom's suggestions. He also is interested and so far I don't believe he's put risers on the new bike yet.
[QUOTE]

I put one inch risers on. It's all the height you can get with the ABS bike because the brake hose is too short.

I did 758 miles since yesterday at 1PM. The 1" risers help, but I need more.