Suzuki OEM Centerstand...keep the longer footpeg feeler?

[markjenn]

Okay, so I installed the Suzuki OEM centerstand on my new DL650. (Nicely engineered and bolted up very slickly BTW - very stable also.) And I dutifully install the (much) longer left footpeg feeler as specified in the instructions.

Not surprisingly, first run out, I grind the left footpeg in the first hard left-hander. Wow, this new feeler eats up a fair amount of left-side cornering clearance! What I'm wondering is whether the longer feeler is ultra conservative or not. I'm okay with grounding the centerstand in left-handers as I do it on most of my bikes with a centerstand, but I wonder if Suzuki put the longer feeler on there because there is something on this bike that makes centerstand grinding particularly nasty.

Anybody running the short feeler with the Suzuki centerstand? I'd like to lose as little cornering clearance as possible. And is anyone making raising links for the rear of this bike? I heard someone was doing it at one time, but discontinued production - now all you can get is lowering links.

- Mark

[stromin'taylor]

Mark,

After reading your post, I think I've made up my mind about whether or not to get a centerstand. Have read other posts about the loss of ground clearance as well. One thing that attracted me to the V-Strom was the handling. Having to worry about scraping or having my back wheel pivoted up from a stand or peg feeler doesn't sound to appealing to me. And I'm sure loaded and 2-up it would be even worse. I'll endure the minor inconvenience of not having one and just get a Shermworks stand or something. :wink:

Jay

[markjenn]

It's definitely a tradeoff. And I don't have a handle yet on how serious the clearance loss is - perhaps it's mostly the longer feeler.

- Mark