Mighty windy out there

[drdean]

I've watched this forum for several months now, and must say - you guys seem pretty satisfied with your rides overall. Having said that, the greatest undercurrent of dissatisfaction seems to be with wind management.

I haven't seen many posts lately. so I've gotta ask - has the aftermarket cought up with the need? has suzuki stepped up? or are you guys just getting tired of beating a dead horse?

Please don't get the wrong idea - I love the strom concept (especially the 650) but at 10,000+ miles per year, 46 years old and 6'-1" - comfort IS an issue for me. Any new breakthroughs?

Dean

[Pauljo]

Suzuki did change the windscreen this year to an adjustable model. It's an improvement, but still not ideal for everyone. Cee Bailey makes some pretty effective aftermarket screens.

To put things in perspective, I am 6'6" tall, 57 years old, and my prior bike was a Kawasaki Concours.

On my '03 DL1000, I use a Cee Bailey tall windscreen for cold weather riding. It isn't very attractive, but it works. The Cee Bailey screens for the '04 are much better looking, and utilize the new adjustable mounting system.

For Summer riding, I use the short stock screen. The key to living with it was to buy a better helmet. I now wear a Shoei Z-Two helmet which is quieter and more stable (resistant to buffeting) than my other helmets. I actually enjoy riding with the short screen in the Summer now.

The V-Strom cannot be modified to provide the same level of wind protection that you get with a full dress motorcycle (Honda Gold Wing) - or even a good sport touring motorcycle (Kawi Concours, Honda ST series, etc.). That is not the mission of this machine. It's mission is being a lot more fun to ride than those machines. But you can definitely get wind management to an acceptable level for this type of bike.

If comfort is your number one priority, you'd be better off with a touring or sport touring bike. If you'd like a big grin everytime you twist the throttle - and can live with a little bit less pampering in the comfort department, then the V-Stroms are very hard to beat.

[sempervee]

Hey Dean just buy yourself a GeezerGlide Harley or OldWing and be done with it. This is a real motorcycle.

[drdean]

SemperVee- thats the same response I got from the snooty Triumph Tiger crowd. Apparently to be a "real bike" its gotta have some real issues. Didn't mean to push the macho button. Try some Levitra.

Pauljo - thanks for a thoughtful response. Clearly your masculinity is in order.

[drdean]

SemperVee- thats the same response I got from the snooty Triumph Tiger crowd. Apparently to be a "real bike" its gotta have some real issues. Didn't mean to push the macho button. Try some Levitra.

Pauljo - thanks for a thoughtful response. Clearly your masculinity is in order.

[sempervee]

Gosh darn Dean maybe it's you and not me/us, since you have received the EXACT same response from another motorcycle board!! You are indicative of todays rider who wants to own a bike yet not ride it "outside in the mean old weather"

Stay on the porch with your broken masculinity comfort level problem.

It has nothing to do with testosterone and everything to do with reality.
*PS >Learn how to spell.

[drdean]

SemperVee-

I should have rephrased the "snooty Triumph Tiger crowd" as: 3 nice, helpful people and 1 poor guy who really gets out of sorts when somebody dares question his choice of bikes. So you are correct - I did get EXACTLY the same result. Must be me.

I ride 7 months of the year here in Maine - including a month's worth of snow on each end. My desire isn't to avoid the weather, but rather to minimize frostbite and hypothermia. I don't know where you live - maybe those are of no concern to you.

As for the spelling - consult Mr Webster.

Enjoy your day

Dean