Farkles

[Double D]

To my fellow Canuck Stromtroopers,

I'm looking to pick up some 'necessary' :-D farkles for my '07 650 which I'm getting in April. Some of the MUST have items are I've identified are
: Stebel horn
: Heated Grips - DualStar (?)
: Fenda Extenda
: and a headlight guard. (I’ve seen a Plexiglas one on some of the bikes but I can’t find one in any of the online catalogues. Can anyone help me with that?)

I am wondering if there is anywhere here in the great white north that will have these items or would I be better to do some cross border shopping?

Thanks!

[Heavy]

You can find heated grips pretty easily around here but the rest will likely have to come from across the border.

Might as well order the whole lot at once and save shipping.

[rider-geek]

I ordered my Stebel horn from a guy in Seattle, he take paypal and does Canadian shipping.
http://erston.com/stebel.htm

It arrived about 5 days after ordering and was delivered by Canada post, I had to pay 5$ in duty/tax but that was it.

:)

[IslandStrom]

A few farkles I love

Hand guards: keeps wind off your hands add heated grips with a rheostat type controller. Killer combo.

MP Cycles wind screen: love it, works great and replaces the whole mounting system which gives lots of options on placement.
http://www.mpcycledesign.com/

Seat: I tried to order a Suk gel seat last March but was told there was a 6 month wait so I bought a sheep skin cover instead, for 50 bucks it worked quite well. http://www.alaskaleather.com/

I have a Sargent seat on the way.
http://www.sargentcycle.com/suzwsvstrom.htm

Heated vest: I have one but found with the MP Cycle screen I don't need it because it keeps the wind off my body. I will look at a heated liner if I still find the need, I do find at times my arms get cold.

Center stand: I want one http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/310/180/

Rear top case: I never take it off and use it all the time, for trips under 4 days I find the top case, a small tank bag and water proof bags from MEC work great.
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=25343743 02700521&currentPage=2&bmUID=1170632034960

Things on my buy list:

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/MotoFizz-Camping-Seat-Bags-Small-Medium--Large-p-16405.html

http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo/

http://www.proline-sports.co.uk/acatalog/UK_Wind_jammer_21.html

[larolco]

To my fellow Canuck Stromtroopers,

I'm looking to pick up some 'necessary' :-D farkles for my '07 650 which I'm getting in April.
What sort of riding are you planning on?

I ride year round, mix of commuting, touring, on and off pavement.

I find the OEM heated grips great and, together with a heated vest, they keep me toasty warm.

A centre-stand of some sort is pretty much necessary for maintenance. Mine's OEM. No complaints.

I've got a little Givi top box that holds my lunch and a couple of bags of groceries. Not the best, but I couldn't live without it. I plan on upgrading to a full luggage system some day.

The crash bars and skid plate (Pat Walsh) make me less nervous off-pavement - haven't actually dropped it on the bars yet.

A fender extender of some sort is in the works. The front wheel throws up all kinds of water, dirt, and stone.

Then, I think I'm done.

Except for maybe aftermarket pipes.

[K1W1]

and a headlight guard. (I’ve seen a Plexiglas one on some of the bikes but I can’t find one in any of the online catalogues. Can anyone help me with that?)

Why a headlight guard?
The plastic lenses on most bikes / cars these days are so strong that if something hits you hard enough to break the lens you will probably end up beside the bike rather than on it anyway.

[Rain Rider]

Throttle locker

Aftermarket slip on exhaust

Rear fender hugger

Lowering links (if needed)

Tank bra (protector)

Cut down rear fender (its ugly)

Adjust preload to your body weight (not really a farkle)

Better headlight bulbs (I have a higher watt unit in the left side and an amber one in the right side)

Clear turn signal lenses (I put red bulbs in back and amber bulbs in front)

Seat alteration ( added more foam in seating area, remove foam from sides, recover)

Engine guards

Givi luggage

Cruise pegs on engine guards (on my list of to do items )

GPS

[Double D]

Thanks for all the responses!

What sort of riding are you planning on?
Like you, a mix of different roads. I have a DRZ now and I want something I can get a few more miles under me before the dreaded monkey butt sets in.
I find the OEM heated grips great and, together with a heated vest, they keep me toasty warm
I was not sure about the factory heated grips because all the posts I’ve seen about the lack of ‘farkle power’ put out by the DL’s Why get something with a resistor that dumps the excess power to heat? That is the only reason I was looking elsewhere, for a dual element heater to save a little power.
A centre-stand of some sort is pretty much necessary for maintenance. Mine's OEM. No complaints.
I agree, I’ve got the factory one coming with the bike.
Givi top box.
I’m watching the forums and ads
The crash bars and skid plate.
I’m still undecided as to which brand to choose but I really want something there in front of that filter and cooler – OH YA!
Then, I think I'm done.
I will have to disagree with you on this point – are we ever done? :D

Another item that was mentioned: Sargent Seat, it's on my list but coming from the DRZ it will feel like I'm riding a lazyboy for a while.

Thanks again all!

[Double D]

Why a headlight guard?
The plastic lenses on most bikes / cars these days are so strong that if something hits you hard enough to break the lens you will probably end up beside the bike rather than on it anyway.

K1W1,

Yes the plastic they use is strong but being out in front it is constantly 'sandblasted' for lack of a better term and will eventually become pitted and possibly get a little cloudy. Going down a gravel road who knows whats going to get kicked up by the guy or gal in front. I've had some pretty big asteroids launched at me when I haven't been the lead DRZ :shock: It's amazing how far those suckers fly.

It's just cheap insurance:mrgreen:

[greywolf]

It's not that hard to polish a cloudy plastic lens. Pollution does more clouding than tiny missiles.

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings fellow Stromtroopers – and in particular fellow Canadian Troopers!

While I await the arrival of Spring to pickup my new Wee-stromK7, I shop for both the required and the desired farkles that the V-Strom web community has made me aware of. Since I’ve done a lot of research – though still made no purchases… hey, an unbeatable deal could come along before Spring, I thought I’d share my findings with my fellow Stromtroopers… and try my hand at my first forum posting J


Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this posting are strictly IMHO -- but feel free to respond IYHO ;)


Lower Fairing

Okay, so a large number of us seem to agree that the Strom needs some help… down there, be it to protect the life blood of that wonderful (SV/DL650) power plant or simply to literally fill-in where Suzuki designers seem to have left off. Like many of you, I found the eye candy effect of JMV’s lower fairing very appealing. Here in Canada, this fairing is sold by Clary Sports in Saint Donat, Quebec. Unfortunately, as beautiful as this fairing is, the stock version is not compatible with any frame sliders – that I’m aware of (DL1000 owners read on). So, on to my next search…a JMV-slider solution.

…With Sliders

I first looked at the Motovation sliders which, because they mount via the main engine thru-bolt and have a large base, would appear to be able to withstand both large compression and shear forces – like good sliders should. Suzuki’s and Puig’s also mount here and would also appear to be quite robust. Of course, from what I’ve learned, the critical factor is the slider’s ability to self-destructively isolate the frame from these impact forces so its material make-up is paramount. I’ve also read that the discontinued “super sliders” were quite popular with V-Strom riders since their extra extension allowed them to clear engine guards while protecting the fairing protuberances.


However, I determined that all these sliders on a Wee would pass through the JMV fairing at the “main rib”. I then found Bike Design’s sliders on the web (below R) which mount at the upper engine mount via BD’s own offset flange.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles1/fig1.jpg

Fig. 1: Suzuki/Puig/BikeDesign Frame Sliders

The BD sliders looked promising so I borrowed a forum photo of a Wee – thanks for the use of your photo Jim Burke -- which was taken at almost the same angle as BD’s photo then superimposed and faded them as shown below.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles1/fig2.jpg

Fig. 2: Frame Slider Exit Locations On JMV Fairing


As you can see, the Motovation/Suzuki/Puig slider would appear to emerge approximately at the rib while the BD slider would appear to emerge near the upper corner.


Clary Sports was very supportive in my effort to find a JMV-slider solution. They informed me that JMV offered to work with them to fabricate a painted fairing with frame slider mounting holes – for the same price as the stock fairing -- and that Clary could provide a BD slider bracket which was compatible with these holes. However, as it turned out, this JMV-slider solution is only available to DL1000 owners and mine is a Wee.

While perusing BD’s web site, I came across a JMV alternative from Espace Tuning. As you can see from the comparison image below, unlike JMV’s fairing, ET’s is open on the sides so it doesn’t interfere with sliders. However, I personally prefer the finished appearance of the JMV fairing.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles1/fig3.jpg

Fig. 3: JMV vs Espace-Tuning Fairing

Since I couldn’t find the fairing-slider solution I desired -- and since I reconsidered the high $C790 purchase price of the JMV fairing, I’ve moved on to engine guards – but I’ll save that shopping process for a future posting.

Reference Links

Clary Sports (Quebec, Canada - Cdn retailer for JMV)
http://www.clarysports.com/main.cfm?p=12&l=en&item_ID=1106&categorie_ID=16 (http://www.clarysports.com/main.cfm?p=12&l=en&item_ID=1106&categorie_ID=16)

2WheelJunkie (Ontario, Canada - Cdn retailer for Motovation Sliders)
http://www.2wheeljunkie.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=88825 (http://www.2wheeljunkie.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=88825)

JMV Concepts (France)
http://www.jmvconcept.fr/TempSite/17172.asp (http://www.jmvconcept.fr/TempSite/17172.asp)

Espace Tuning (France)
http://www.espace-tuning.com/fr/product.asp?id_item=634 (http://www.espace-tuning.com/fr/product.asp?id_item=634)

Moto Design (France)
http://www.automotodesign.com/motodesign/topline.html (http://www.automotodesign.com/motodesign/topline.html)

Puig (USA)
http://www.puigusa.com/ (http://www.puigusa.com/)

Bike Design (Belgium)
http://www.bike-design.com/detail.php?p=35677&page=1&shp_category=0&shp_make=7&shp_model=5676&shp_year=2007 (http://www.bike-design.com/detail.php?p=35677&page=1&shp_category=0&shp_make=7&shp_model=5676&shp_year=2007)

Bike Design article on their “crash protectors”
http://www.bike-design.com/article.php?id=99 (http://www.bike-design.com/article.php?id=99)

[larolco]

Very thorough, Cdn2Weelr. I can see you will be an asset to the forum.
Welcome, welcome.

[Rider-2000]

The question is why Clarysport posts a price of some790CAD for something that is 500US. Let's do the math. 500x1.15=575CAD (Forex conversion) add an extra 10% for their markup 635CAD. Does anybody pay that price?
Canandian shops got to come up with better deals...

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings Rider-2000

True enough. We do pay a hefty markup over our US compadres. I'll share some more numbers and specifics in my next posting but from what I've learned, while imported m/c parts are duty exempt, we do get dinged for Shipping plus GST. UPS... fagetaboutit... the "hands in your pocket" commercial comes to mind. Stick with USPS/Canada Post.

So, based on my research, the math I've come up with for Cdn prices is:
$US x Postal Shipping x conversion x markup x GST

Using the JMV fairing as an example, todays BoC conv. rate, and a 10% markup, I'd calculate:
$500 x 1.12 x 1.16 x 1.10 x 1.06 = $757Cdn

Actually, since the conv. rate fluctuates, I use 1.18 ;)

But that's just my math :)

[tophski]

The question is why Clarysport posts a price of some790CAD for something that is 500US. Let's do the math. 500x1.15=575CAD (Forex conversion) add an extra 10% for their markup 635CAD. Does anybody pay that price?
Canandian shops got to come up with better deals...

I whole heartedly agree...

[Rider-2000]

Greetings Rider-2000

True enough. We do pay a hefty markup over our US compadres. I'll share some more numbers and specifics in my next posting but from what I've learned, while imported m/c parts are duty exempt, we do get dinged for Shipping plus GST. UPS... fagetaboutit... the "hands in your pocket" commercial comes to mind. Stick with USPS/Canada Post.

So, based on my research, the math I've come up with for Cdn prices is:
$US x Postal Shipping x conversion x markup x GST

Using the JMV fairing as an example, todays BoC conv. rate, and a 10% markup, I'd calculate:
$500 x 1.12 x 1.16 x 1.10 x 1.06 = $757Cdn

Actually, since the conv. rate fluctuates, I use 1.18 ;)

But that's just my math :)


2wheerlr, we could back calculate from their price to the original price and see how much profit they get but remember if you buy from Clary you still have to pay for the shipping that is over and above 757..
Anyway, all in all we get screwed up here up North... even Suzuki bike is the same.. the guys pay about 7500CAD and we know how much we have to pay...
Ahh well what to do...

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings again fellow Stromtroopers – and in particular fellow Canadian Troopers!

Part IIa of my Farkles shopping project… actually a shopping process since a “project” by PMI definition has a finite duration whereas farkle shopping never really ends ;)

Note that all of this material is either posted on the web or can be gathered by phone and email but since I’ve already gone to the effort to consolidate it for myself, I figured I’d share with my new community… plus putting it in writing helps me make these really important decisions J

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this posting are strictly IMHO -- but feel free to respond IYHO ;)


Engine Guards

The 4 most popular engine guards are:
1) Hepco&Becker (Germany),
2) Givi (Italy)
3) SW-Motech (Germany)
4) Pat Walsh (USA)

As can be seen in the side-by-side comparison below, both the H&B and Givi guards extend up and around the fairing to protect it in the unfortunate event of a tip-over on soft ground. On the other hand, both the SWM and PW guards sit almost flush with the lower edge of the fairing. All can be combined with skid plates but since the PW design only uses one upper anchor bolt on each side of the frame, it actually uses its integrated skid plate as a supporting member of the guard.


Since the V-Strom’s engine is suspended below its frame, any engine guard can only be of a side shield design with the crossbar forming a type of parallelogram with 2 of its vertices anchored to the frame. Hence, any side force would likely push the impacted side in and the opposite side out – the effect likely more pronounced with higher crossbars. The greater the engine guard’s bar strength, the less the distortion but the more difficult to remove the distortion after the incident. However, if the engine guard is supplemented with frame sliders, then on solid ground at least, the sliders should minimize the distortion – and therefore the likelihood that the guard will be pressed against the fairing.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig1.jpg

Fig. 1: H&B vs Givi vs SWM vs PW DL650 Engine Guards

An excellent side-by-side photo comparison of Givi vs SWM crash guards- is posted at this French site: http://dl650.free.fr/photos/accessoires/protection/comparo-crash-bars.html (http://dl650.free.fr/photos/accessoires/protection/comparo-crash-bars.html) and includes the SWM ground clearance shot shown below - for those of us who don’t want to lie our bikes down in the name of science ;). Note that the hand guard and bar end appear to be contributing to (if not providing) the protection here – and likely saving the stock front turn signals from breaking off as they apparently tend to do. Hmmm, think I’ll add reinforced hand guards and flush turn signals to my farkle list.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig2.jpg

Fig. 2: DL650’s Tip-over Clearance With SWM Guard


Twisted Throttle tells me the H&B, Givi, and SWM guards all weigh “around 8.5 to 9 lbs”. However, given the reported superior rigidness of the H&B guard, I’d expect it to weigh the most – or at least the same as the Givi but more than the SWM which is physically smaller than both. Forum issues have been reported with some early versions of the Givi guard cracking at the mounting points and with some suffering premature rust and vibrations. The PW design with integrated skid plate is the most cost conscious solution. As with the V-Strom itself, the aesthetic appeal of the various guards – or lack thereof -- is in the eye of the beholder J


I myself am leaning toward the PW design since:
a) The combo cost for guard with skid plate is attractive,
b) The vertical bars provide good mounting points for auxillary lights – I don’t use the highway pegs shown in Fig. 1,
c) An integrated metal mesh is available from PW – or can be fab’d – to protect the oil cooler,
d) The engine thru-bolt remains open for installing frame sliders,
e) Customer Service has been reported as excellent
f) Pat has been reported as “good people” – and don’t we all feel good supporting good people ;)
g) I figure a hard dump will distort any engine guard – as any good energy absorbing device should do. So, adding extra weight and moving the CofG higher – on a bike with an already high CofG -- are exactly the opposite of what I personally want to do.

This Wee-Strom engine guard from Meca Services in France is interesting since it appears to use a single upper anchor bolt (like the PW design) with a 3rd branch anchored to the bottom of the engine (rather than an integrated skid plate as in the PW design) plus it extends up and around the fairing (like the H&B and Givi guards).

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig3.jpg

Fig. 3: Meca Services DL650 Engine Guard

Luggage

Soft and hard saddlebags are available. Up to now, I’ve used soft saddlebags and learned to live with wrapping my clothes in plastic to keep them dry during heavy rain. However, it’s time for another change so I’m shopping for hard saddlebags. The most popular brand here in Canada seems to be Givi. However, Shad’s cheaper (??) clone luggage (see below) is also popular.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig4.jpg

Fig. 4: Givi (E41side+E52top) vs Shad (SH43side+SH48top) Luggage

Twisted Throttle’s site has an article on Shad luggage compatibility with SW-Motech’s racks (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/article/view/120/1/18 (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/article/view/120/1/18)). Motovan is the Canadian distributor (not retailer) for Shad luggage.

The most popular side racks seem to be by SW-Motech and Givi. Hepco&Becker also make side racks but Twisted Throttle’s site page for H&B’s side racks (https://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/627/203/ (https://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/627/203/)) makes a convincing case for choosing the superior SWM system (https://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/272 (https://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/272))

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig5.jpg

Fig. 5: SWM vs Givi vs H&B DL650 Side Racks

I’ve decided on the Givi E36N’s (not NJ which lacks internal document strap and reflector) but since they come with an integrated red pinstripe – did I mention I ordered the blue Wee? – I’ll have to add ColorRite’s touch-up pen/jar to my farkle list. Mounted to SW-Motech’s quick lock side racks (via required Givi adapter kit) and secured – along with the racks -- with SWM’s optional locks, they should serve me well for years.


<Oooops, exceeded my 10K char posting limit… to be cont’d in Part IIb>

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings again fellow Stromtroopers – and in particular fellow Canadian Troopers!

Part IIb of my Farkles shopping project… actually a shopping process since a “project” by PMI definition has a finite duration whereas farkle shopping never really ends ;)

Note that all of this material is either posted on the web or can be gathered by phone and email but since I’ve already gone to the effort to consolidate it for myself, I figured I’d share with my new community… plus putting it in writing helps me make these really important decisions J

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this posting are strictly IMHO -- but feel free to respond IYHO ;)


Buy from a Canadian or US Retailer?

I submitted the following subset of my growing farkles list to both Twisted Throttle’s website and their local Ontario dealer (PowerSports). Since TT ships UPS by default, they replied with the indicated USPS shipping estimates (which work out to be 13% of the order value). Pat Walsh replied with USPS shipping for his engine guard combo. It works out to be 11% of the item value. So, my rough estimate for USPS shipping on US orders is 12%. Fortunately, I can pickup my order from PowerSports in Toronto so additional shipping from them is not required. BTW… TT’s estimate for UPS Standard shipping on this order is $US71. Add to that UPS’s $C50 Canadian brokerage fee for an order of this value and their $C4 COD fee (http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html (http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html)) and the S&H goes from $C107 to $C136. I say UPS… fagedaboutit!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Table1.jpg

Table 1: US Import vs Cdn Retail Costs


My example shows that ordering on-line from TT vs picking up from their local dealer I’d effectively save the PST -- maybe. However, I place significant value on having my order delivered the next week rather than potentially having it linger in Canada Customs for, oh, maybe a long time (I can’t relocate the posting from a fellow Cdn stromtrooper who waited several months for Customs to release his order). BTW… Canada Customs confirmed what others have posted regarding import duty ie. motorcycle parts imported from the US – regardless of country of origin – are duty free. Translation: if your Cdn dealer charges duty (on top of PST and GST), they’re increasing their profit margin.


TIP: When I asked what paperwork would expedite an imported US order, Canada Customs replied a copy of the invoice showing description, country of origin, and cost is recommended to accompany the order.


We can’t do anything about the exchange rate but if you can find a better Shipping rate than USPS, you can close the difference between US and Canadian prices. Sounds like Night_Wolf got a very good deal on Givi luggage from his Calgary, Alberta dealer who appears to only charge the 16% exchange rate – the type of Cdn dealer we’re all looking for (http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9013 (http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9013&highlight=customs)). So, as with any purchase, it pays to shop around.


TIP: If shipping of on-line orders from another province is less than Ontario’s PST, you may save a few more bucks.


Hope this helps my fellow Canadian farkle shoppers J

Reference Links

Motovan (Quebec, Canada – Cdn distributor for Shad luggage etc.)
http://www.motovan.com/catalogs_en.html (http://www.motovan.com/catalogs_en.html)

BestBuy Auto Parts (Quebec, Canada – Cdn retailer for ColorRite paint products)
http://www.dpars.com/colorrite_options.aspx?man_ID=862 (http://www.dpars.com/colorrite_options.aspx?man_ID=862)

Parker Bros. Powersports KTM (Ontario, Canada – Twisted Throttle dealer)
http://www.powersports.ca/html/contactUs.html (http://www.powersports.ca/html/contactUs.html)
(Twisted Throttle Canadian Dealer List)
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/link/dealerlist/Canada#list (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/link/dealerlist/Canada#list)

SW-Motech (Germany - DL650 accessories)
http://www.mo-tech.de/hersteller/suzuki_DL650_V_Strom_81.html (http://www.mo-tech.de/hersteller/suzuki_DL650_V_Strom_81.html)

Pat Walsh (USA - V-Strom engine guards)
http://patwalshdesigns.com/guard.html (http://patwalshdesigns.com/guard.html)

Meca Services (France – engine guard)
http://moto.mecaservices.fr/ (http://moto.mecaservices.fr/)

Twisted Throttle (USA – DL650 accessories)
https://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/203/ (https://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/203/)

Givi (USA – DL650 accessories)
http://www.giviusa.com/per_la_tua_moto.asp?co_id=17432&lang=en (http://www.giviusa.com/per_la_tua_moto.asp?co_id=17432&lang=en)

American Motorcycle Acc. Warehouse (USA – retailer of Lockhart flush-mount 2/3 wire signals)
http://www.accwhse.com/lockhart.htm#Turn%20signals (http://www.accwhse.com/lockhart.htm#Turn%20signals)

ColorRite (USA - Suzuki Pearl Vigor Blue)
http://www.colorrite.com/product_info.php?products_id=1110 (http://www.colorrite.com/product_info.php?products_id=1110)

[larolco]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig1.jpg

Fig. 1: H&B vs Givi vs SWM vs PW DL650 Engine Guards

An excellent side-by-side photo comparison of Givi vs SWM crash guards- is posted at this French site: http://dl650.free.fr/photos/accessoires/protection/comparo-crash-bars.html (http://dl650.free.fr/photos/accessoires/protection/comparo-crash-bars.html) and includes the SWM ground clearance shot shown below - for those of us who don’t want to lie our bikes down in the name of science ;). Note that the hand guard and bar end appear to be contributing to (if not providing) the protection here – and likely saving the stock front turn signals from breaking off as they apparently tend to do. Hmmm, think I’ll add reinforced hand guards and flush turn signals to my farkle list.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles2/Fig2.jpg

Fig. 2: DL650’s Tip-over Clearance With SWM Guard

First, let me say: :eek:

Second: Trust me, the hand guard and bar are doing nothing in the above photo, except resting where gravity dictates. That turn signal is toast w/o the crash bar. The handlebars are nowhere near full lock.

Third: I'm happy with the Pat Walsh setup on the 1000. It's quite beefy, but probaby won't save the turn signal in a serious drop. It will, however, save the fairing and engine from all sorts of grief. Likewise, your wallet.

Fourth: When do you find time to ride?

[water warrior]

Regarding Shad luggage. Have a 46L topbox and 43L sides. I did want the 42L side cases but they were not available so upgraded to the 43's at an unrealistic price increase because I already had the racks installed. The topbox alone is a nice farkle but adding the side cases is an exercise to try anyones patience. If I had to do it again Givi would be the choice and not that much more expensive in the end.

[Rider-2000]

2wheeler, thanks for posting the comparison and the details, links, etc.
At the end of the day comparing the prices locally and from US helps to find the best prices.
I got a Nolan helmet for 200$US including shipping. It was close out sale this and that, and I regret that did not buy two of them. The guy even throw in an extra shield for 10 bucks. Nobody could match this deal.

On another note, have you guys seen fender extender in a Canadian site? Suzuki says they don't know what I am talking about!!! and it seems that south of the border it sells for 30$ or something. Any ideas?

[Cdn2Weelr]

First, let me say: :eek:

Second: Trust me, the hand guard and bar are doing nothing in the above photo, except resting where gravity dictates. That turn signal is toast w/o the crash bar. The handlebars are nowhere near full lock.

Third: I'm happy with the Pat Walsh setup on the 1000. It's quite beefy, but probaby won't save the turn signal in a serious drop. It will, however, save the fairing and engine from all sorts of grief. Likewise, your wallet.

Fourth: When do you find time to ride?

Thanks for this and your earlier supportive feedback Larolco. Ahhh, optical illusion eh... okay, so maybe I'll reconsider the hand guards but you've reinforced my choice of PW's engine guard. Rest assured my postings will become much less elaborate once riding season starts -- counting the days ;)

[Cdn2Weelr]

On another note, have you guys seen fender extender in a Canadian site? Suzuki says they don't know what I am talking about!!! and it seems that south of the border it sells for 30$ or something. Any ideas?

You're welcome Rider -- glad to help.

Fenda Extenda is mfd by Pyramid Plastics in the UK. Here's their page of worldwide dealers. They list one for Quebec -- Quebec seems to have all the farkle distributors -- so call 'em up and see if they're also a retailer, else, try the US dealers since I know some of them are also retailers.
http://www.pyramid-plastics.co.uk/catalog/dealerships.php

Adventure MotoStuff also sells them if you want to import
http://www.amotostuff.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=05025&Category_Code=dl650_body_wind

[V1Vr]

[QUOTE=Cdn2Weelr;83028. The PW design with integrated skid plate is the most cost conscious solution. As with the V-Strom itself, the aesthetic appeal of the various guards – or lack thereof -- is in the eye of the beholder [/FONT]J

I myself am leaning toward the PW design since:
a) The combo cost for guard with skid plate is attractive,
b) The vertical bars provide good mounting points for auxillary lights – I don’t use the highway pegs shown in Fig. 1,
c) An integrated metal mesh is available from PW – or can be fab’d – to protect the oil cooler,
d) The engine thru-bolt remains open for installing frame sliders,
e) Customer Service has been reported as excellent
f) Pat has been reported as “good people” – and don’t we all feel good supporting good people ;)
g) I figure a hard dump will distort any engine guard – as any good energy absorbing device should do. So, adding extra weight and moving the CofG higher – on a bike with an already high CofG -- are exactly the opposite of what I personally want to do.

/QUOTE]

Cdn2wheelr, FWIW my Wee came with the Pat Walsh setup installed. Prior to seeing the setup for real I was not too impressed with the aesthetics of the PW design, and considered changing the guard once I got bike. Pictures are misleading, on seeing the design in real life I changed my mind completely. I don't find it hard to look at, it gives the bottom of the bike a very finished appearance, protection seems adequate, and the added oil cooler guard is a real bonus (although IMHO an overpriced one). Considering function vs. cost I consider it a winner. Farkle on!

[Calstrom]

I have been doing some research and have decided that I like the look of the Hepco & Becker junior side cases. I can't find anyone who sells them here (Calgary) though. Anyone have suggestions? I would like to mount them on SW Motech Quicklock sideracks also ... so i will need to find a distributor that handles that as well. Please help.

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings Calstrom

Can't make any personal reco's but Night_Wolf's experience in the Givi thread (http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9013&highlight=customs) indicates GW Cycles has very good prices.

Well I don't know about all dealers, but my dealer in Ontario Cycle City in Burlington and now GW Cycles in Calgary are very competive price wise on accessories. GIVI E41 are $469.00USD and I'm paying $545.00cdn. Figure in the exchange rate and the lack of a shipping charge and I'd say it's very competive. The E52 Maxia is $295 USD and I'm paying $345. Granted I'm getting a bit of a discount since I also purchased my bike there, but overall, I'd say I'm happy with the pricing. Now some things I ordered from the USA as they are simply not available locally.

Alternatively, call the Cdn distributor in Montreal listed on H&B's WW Distributor list
http://www.hepco-becker.de/_eng/worldwide.html

[Cdn2Weelr]

Cdn2wheelr, FWIW my Wee came with the Pat Walsh setup installed. Prior to seeing the setup for real I was not too impressed with the aesthetics of the PW design, and considered changing the guard once I got bike. Pictures are misleading, on seeing the design in real life I changed my mind completely. I don't find it hard to look at, it gives the bottom of the bike a very finished appearance, protection seems adequate, and the added oil cooler guard is a real bonus (although IMHO an overpriced one). Considering function vs. cost I consider it a winner. Farkle on!

Thanks V1Vr... Worth Something To Me;)

I think the PW looks pretty good too. I'd put the PW and SWM in the "form over function" category while the H&B and Givi would go in my "function over form" category.

[Cdn2Weelr]

Alternatively, call the Cdn distributor in Montreal listed on H&B's WW Distributor list
http://www.hepco-becker.de/_eng/worldwide.html

Unfortunately, SMW's WW distributor page (http://www.mo-tech.de/importeure/?PHPSESSID=8640d0a6ad2a31db1eced362af145c19#aUS) shows no Cdn entry -- I was sure Quebec would have one ;) -- so you'll have to import from our southern neighbour... just not via UPS!

[V1Vr]

Cdn2Whlr;

I installed some frame sliders to go along with the Pat Walsh bars on my Wee. The Motoslider sliders come from SV Racing Parts. Blair is a great guy and can easily and quickly accomodate Cdn orders. The sliders are just very slightly wider than the bars (Blair is researching machining the sliders another 1/2 inch longer specifically for the DLs) so they will help absorb any impact. They are built on an aluminum core, for rigidity next to the frame. The slider tubes are similar to Delrin, but are apparently less likely to grab in a slide. I also installed swingarm sliders. They too are built on top of an aluminum spool. The outer portion is easily replaceable. The inside aluminum core is perfect for use with an axle stand. All in all I am very happy with the setup.

[Cdn2Weelr]

Cdn2Whlr;

I installed some frame sliders to go along with the Pat Walsh bars on my Wee. The Motoslider sliders come from SV Racing Parts. Blair is a great guy and can easily and quickly accomodate Cdn orders. The sliders are just very slightly wider than the bars (Blair is researching machining the sliders another 1/2 inch longer specifically for the DLs) so they will help absorb any impact. They are built on an aluminum core, for rigidity next to the frame. The slider tubes are similar to Delrin, but are apparently less likely to grab in a slide. I also installed swingarm sliders. They too are built on top of an aluminum spool. The outer portion is easily replaceable. The inside aluminum core is perfect for use with an axle stand. All in all I am very happy with the setup.

Thanks much for the info and photos V1Vr – now I know exactly how my blue Wee will look by Summer!

Tracing back from SV Racing Parts, I see they’re a US dealer for Motosliders… ah, ya, just like you said ;) I also see that I incorrectly listed 2WheelJunkie (http://www.2wheeljunkie.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=88825) in my previous posting as a Cdn dealer for Motovation (http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=138) (Austin, TX) rather than Motosliders (http://www.motosliders.com/SV1000_MSP-12.html) (Milwaukee, WI) – ooops.


From their respective website photos and descriptions, aside from apparent differences in fastener coatings and slider compound, I can’t tell the difference between Motovation sliders and Motosliders. However, I like the fact that Motosliders: offers the combo frame/swingarm kit you installed, may be receptive to modifying their product for guarded V-Stroms, and has a cheaper selling price.


Motovation:
· thru-bolt: double-threaded rod, 12mm dia., SS hex locknuts,
· slider: plastic compound over Al insert
· cost: $US85

Motosliders:
· thru-bolt: double-threaded rod, 12mm dia., Zn plate hex nuts,
· slider: plastic compound over Al insert
· cost: $US68

1 Motosliders combo kit has now been added to my farkles list J

Reference Links:

Motoslider
Why Motosliders?
http://www.motosliders.com/faq.html (http://www.motosliders.com/faq.html)
DL650/1000
http://www.motosliders.com/SV1000_MS-1.html (http://www.motosliders.com/SV1000_MS-1.html)
Dealers
http://www.motosliders.com/index.html (http://www.motosliders.com/index.html)

Motovation
The difference
http://www.motovationusa.com/index_MVdiff.htm (http://www.motovationusa.com/index_MVdiff.htm)
DL650/1000
http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=138 (http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=138)
Dealers
http://www.motovationusa.com/contact.htm (http://www.motovationusa.com/contact.htm)

[chris swann]

hey dave im waiting for spring pick up 2007 650 none abs ,can i ask how much you are getting it for,my dealership droped 500 with out much haggle,so im paying 8499,so with taxes its 8830 canadian

[chris swann]

opps make that 9830 canadian

[twisty]

got one at bike show in Toronto for under 8800--

[R'Oli]

There seems to be a rather large OTD price difference from various dealers here in Ontario. I bought from my 'new' local dealer. New to me, that is because I just moved. My old dealer offered a slightly better price but not really worth the time/travel to make the difference. There are a couple, or were a couple of dealers in TO that were offering very good prices, or so it seemed, many dealers with good service records come close to these in price....I suggest shopping around as some dealers I tried to deal with didn't budge on price while other potential deals differed greatly in end or OTD price.....again SHOP AROUND...and remember after purchase service.....

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings again fellow Stromtroopers – and in particular fellow Canadian Troopers!

The long anticipated follow-up to my earlier pre-delivery farkles postings… well okay, so maybe it’s just me that’s been waiting in anticipation ;)

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this posting are strictly IMHO -- but feel free to respond IYHO ;)

Picked her up April ‘07 and ended last season with 9600km on the odo. Curently have 12,800km on the odo and still think she’s a fine ride. Here she is in her touring/camping configuration at a lookout in Lake Superior Provincial Park mid-August ’07 – Note: the sheep skin is a highly recommended butt saver for long distance touring.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig1.jpg
Fig. 1: Wee posing in Lake Superior Provincial Park

And for those of you that may be touring through the park – ya, okay, a plug for Parks Canada, here’s the location of said lookout:

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig2.jpg
Fig. 2: Scenic lookout in Lake Superior PP

Farkles Installed To Date


Pat Walsh Designs engine guard/skid plate combo
SW-Motech centre stand
SW-Motech detachable luggage racks
Givi E36N side luggage… with custom blue pin-striping, of course J
Motosliders frame sliders + swingarm spools
Scottoiler Mk7 Universal Kit chain lubricator (Fig. 3)
GIPro gear indicator – blue, of course… goes well with the Wee’s paint… oh, and with her hi-beam indicator (Fig. 4). The only time I want to be seeing red indicators in my instrumentation is when something’s about to go wrong :rolleyes:
Suzuki hand guards
Signal Dynamics BackOFF brake light modulator
Stebel Nautilus compact air horn
Givi V-Strom windscreenhttp://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig3.jpg
Fig. 3: Swingarm with Scottoiler, Motoslider spool, custom chain spray guard

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig4.jpg
Fig. 4: Custom GIPro mount

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig5.jpg
Fig. 5: Side extent of PWD engine guard and Motosliders

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig6.jpg
Fig. 6: Width with SWM racks + Givi E36N bags

Installation Notes

Disclaimer: These installation notes are provided solely to share my experience. Use at your own risk.

1) Pat Walsh Designs engine guard/skid plate combo
No issues here -- functional and good looking.

2) SW-Motech centre stand
The Wee is very stable on this stand. I can pop her up on it while straddling the seat thereby allowing me to pack her tightly in between my other vehicles during winter storage. Anyway, as for installation:
a) Suspended bike from forklift using ratchet straps wrapped around the handlebar,
b) Added extra washers to shift left mounting bracket further out in order to eliminate excessive axle gap that was allowing the bike to yaw more than I liked,
c) Used following technique to install stand’s expansion springs (To quote Archimedes, “Give me a lever…”):
- Placed suspended bike on centre stand,
- Inserted small spring into large spring and hooked both over stand’s upper spring attachment point,
- Laid 5’ pry bar on floor in front of centre stand,
- Placed counterweight on far end of pry bar to stabilize it,
- Using heavy-duty boot lace, tied a small loop around the near end of the pry bar and the lower spring hooks,
- Stepped on pry bar to expand springs until lower hooks were below stand’s lower spring attachment point,
- Gave springs slight turn to loop hooks over lower attachment point,
- Released pry bar and cut-off boot lace,
- Voila! Quick, no pain, no strain, and no damage to the springs.
d) Loctite Blue all bolts

3) SW-Motech detachable luggage racks
I found that the stock standoffs used to engage the lower portions of the Givi E36N bags were too short thereby necessitating the use of excessive closing force to snap the bags into place. As a result, the bags were impossible to remove via their release button. My fix was to install a “high collar” washer (~1mm thick) under each of the standoffs which reduced the latching force significantly without compromising stability of the bags.

4) Givi E36N side luggage
a) Covered the stock red pinstripe with blue pinstripe (available from Canadian Tire if you live in Canada).
b) Added a strap to the document compartment so I could keep liquid containers upright.
c) For those of you considering the E36N’s, Fig. 7 shows an interior photo (since I couldn’t find any on the web)

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig7.jpg
Fig. 7: Givi E36N interior

5) Motosliders frame sliders + swingarm spools
I found that the supplied standoff washer was redundant for my DL650K7.

6) Scottoiler Mk7 Universal Kit chain lubricator (Fig. 3)
a) No problems with installation:
- Drilled nipple clearance hole through front wall of under-seat tool bin,
- Secured oiler with supplied zip ties,
- Routed lube tube along frame and around swingarm pivot as shown,
- Mk7 has semi-rigid white tube with steel insert that allows it to be bent into desired shape to position lube tip in desired location on rear sprocket,
- Secured lube tip with supplied zip ties,
b) Found that oil spray from chain (on oiler’s “5” setting) was coating left side of rear fender, rear bar of luggage rack, and that some drops were collecting on the wheel rim. My solution was to fabricate the aluminum chain guard extension as shown. Then I noticed that oil spray was accumulating at the bottom outside edge of the extension (as expected) and in right turns appeared to drop onto the tire sidewall. Fortunately, the extension is short enough that these occasional drops appeared to fall between the tire bead and the tread line but didn’t appear to migrate onto the tread – and since I’m not a sidewall burner, didn’t prove otherwise. However, my “final” design revision added a disposable rectangle of rag to the inside surface secured with 2 extra long “bobby pins”. I just replace the absorption cloth once a month – small price for otherwise maintenance free lube :cool:


posting limit reached. To be continued...

[Cdn2Weelr]

Greetings again fellow Stromtroopers – and in particular fellow Canadian Troopers!

continuing from where I left off...

Installation Notes

Disclaimer: These installation notes are provided solely to share my experience. Use at your own risk.


7) GIPro gear indicator (Fig. 4)
a) I wanted a more secure/permanent mounting scheme than the supplied Velcro so I fabricated the indicated housing from an aluminum plate, u-bolt, plastic utility box, and tamper-resistant screws. This also prevents unauthorized access to the programming button… maybe just my paranoia ;)
b) Out-of-the-box, my GIPro indicated 1,N,1,2,3,4,5. However, a quick adjustment via its “Learn” mode fixed the problem.
c) I’m running the ATRE with the recommended 6th gear map and believe that the engine is now much more responsive in the lower gears than it was before the GIPro.

7i) Suzuki hand guards
Contrary to Suzuki’s Installation Instructions, I recommend you do not remove the handlebar balancers themselves by completely removing the end screws. Instead, simply loosen the end screws until you can pull out the complete handlebar balancer assembly. Why? Fig. 8 shows the complete balancer assembly (2). Item 8 is a rectangular steel nut which loosely inserts into the rubber expansion washer 7. Removing screw 3 and pulling the balancer leaves items 6-8 inside the handlebar which then have to be fished out with a rigid hook – not supplied. Alternatively, leaving 6-8 inside the handlebar then inserting the longer replacement screw that comes with the handlebar kit could possibly push nut 8 by itself farther into the handlebar which – if one were to continue naively futzing about – may migrate past the handlebar bend and be forever lost… don’t ask how I know this
:mod2_stupid:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig8.jpg
Fig. 8: V-Strom handlebar balancer assembly

9) Signal Dynamics BackOFF brake light modulator
No problems but I suggest you test operation before installing since a fellow rider reported in one of the forums:
“I called Signal Dynamics and explained the install snafu with the XP flasher. The gent immediately identified the problem -- he said a new employee had mixed up the wires on some units during the manufacturing process. He explained that I could feed the input signal in thru the yellow wire (emergency flasher hookup) and the unit would work normally”.

10) Stebel Nautilus compact air horn
Like others, I wanted the horn to be inconspicuous so I chose to install it in the fairing. However, since the K7’s fairing is very cramped, I separated the horn assembly from its compressor. This offered many advantages:
· I could install the horn at any angle I desired while the compressor remained vertical per Stebel’s instructions
· I could minimize the volume of the horn by removing the molded compressor bracket
· I could hide the compressor from the elements and supply it with clean, dry, intake air
McMaster-Carr offers a variety of barbed fittings but I had spares left over from my car’s air horn installation. These plus some Festo pneumatic tubing and quick-disconnect fittings worked very nicely. The most tedious part was drilling all those blast holes in the fairing chin:sad1: The Nautilus provides 2 tones but since I wired its relay in parallel with the stock horn, I have 3 tones.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig9.jpg
Fig. 9: Horn mounted to Wee’s fairing chin

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig10.jpg
Fig. 10: Ready for the road

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig11.jpg
Fig. 11: Stealth horn – what a blast!

11) Givi windscreen
After reading numerous forum opinions on windscreen solutions to the Strom’s annoying bobble-head issue, I went with Givi’s screen from Twisted Throttle (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/623/203/). I liked the fact that this screen:
· had the cutouts to accommodate my Suzuki handguards
· had the black tinting
· only cost $112

??) Tank bag
This is the only case where my extensive pre-delivery research didn’t pan out:sad1: I concluded that because of the Wee’s steep tank angle, wide tank profile, and non-magnetic fairing panels, that a large magnetic tank bag would not adhere properly and so I purchased the “Tour Master Cortech Super Mini Magnetic Tank Bag” that other V-strom riders appeared to favour. However, once I got the bike, I found that my trusty, 15 year old, large capacity, magnetic tank bag worked just fine due to the large quantity of large magnets within its wrap-around base – the safety belt around the handlebar is for piece of mind:rolleyes:. So, the Super Mini sits in the closet.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s7/radw001/Cdn2Weelr/Farkles4/Fig12.jpg
Fig. 12: A magnetic tank bag with a large, wrap-around, base works great

PS…
I think I’ve got all the standard farkles I need for now so now I’m shopping for the touring toys. Though I’m not a big video fan, I figured I’d try recording some of my road trips. After the usual extensive research, I’ve chosen V.I.O’s POV.1 solid state “camcorder” for this purpose. For those of you just shopping around, you’ll find that very few of the latest personal camcorders have a video input jack for a helmet camera. Also, for extreme sports, only the DV tape and flash card models are suitable but, as we all know, if it moves, it can break so flash memory is preferred. My research reveals the POV.1 is almost bullet proof. I figure if it can stand up to F16 G forces and the Iraqi battlefield, it’s the one I want on my road trips. Ooops, ‘nuf said on this… I don’t want to get flamed for pseudo-farkle postings:rolleyes: Oh, and did I mention I’m also waiting for a good price on TomTom’s Rider2 GPS ;)

Later Stromtroopers!


Reference Links

McMaster-Carr
http://www.mcmaster.com/ (http://www.mcmaster.com/)

[Colin]

On another note, have you guys seen fender extender in a Canadian site? Suzuki says they don't know what I am talking about!!! and it seems that south of the border it sells for 30$ or something. Any ideas?You can try what I did. Make a cardboard template to get the size and shape right then get a piece of crazy carpet in the colour of your choice(this is Canada eh). Trace the template onto the crazy carpet piece, cut and glue the extender to the inside of the fender using Goop. Note* clean and lightly sand both surfaces first. If you stuff some rags between the wheel and the extender until the Goop dries it will fit and seal better.
My cost was $0 since I had a crazy carpet none of my kids used anymore.

Note 2* For you non-Canadians, crazy carpet (http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/officialgallery/?p=1) is a sheet of very tough flexible plastic used to slide down snow covered hills in the wintertime.

[Vinoveritas]

Hey Cdn2Weelr... thanks for all the amazing tips and photos... I hope I'm not asking a dumb question, but when I bought my 2007 DL650 from Blackfoot Sports in Calgary, they messed up a bunch of things. One of them was that I ordered the Suzuki Heated Hand Grips, which after waiting for 6 months, they finally told me that Suzuki had discontinued the grips as for some strange reason, they would only fit on 2006 and earlier Weestroms. Since most of what Blackfoot told me has turned out not to be true, I thought I would ask a "2007" expert... What would you recommend as the best solution to install heated hand grips on a 2007 DL650 (non ABS model). I would prefer the heated elements inside the grips (as opposed to wrap-arounds), and I am hoping for a variable heating control, or at least 3 settings to get the "Not too hot, not too cold... awwwwww, just right" feeling! Any advice?

[Cdn2Weelr]

What would you recommend as the best solution to install heated hand grips on a 2007 DL650 (non ABS model). I would prefer the heated elements inside the grips (as opposed to wrap-arounds), and I am hoping for a variable heating control, or at least 3 settings to get the "Not too hot, not too cold... awwwwww, just right" feeling! Any advice?

Always happy to help. Unfortunately, I can't offer any wisdom on heating accessories... When I was considering auxiliary lighting, my forum research indicated that the Wee's alternator was under-powered for that task. Hence, I can only recommend doing your power consumption homework when shopping for heated grips -- which may only achieve a "I can still feel my fingers comfort level" ;)

Having said that, Twisted Throttle has these listed on their page of DL650 compatible accessories -- though one should always be cautious of generic compatibilities
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/2218/203/

[Cdn2Weelr]

Okay, just tried Googling "DL650 hot grips" and the search results indicate several Wee-strom riders have installed them. Closer to home, Stromtrooper's own Search shows several riders have them listed in their farkles signature.

[V-Tom]

I don't know specifically about the 2007 as I have a 2006, but I have been quite happily using "Hot Grips" with an infinitely variable controller. Normal (Hi-Low) controllers just use a resister to control the temperature but this means that the grips draw full current any time they are on. A variable controller actually draws less current as you turn it down so that saves some current draw.

If you haven't already, you might want to ask in the DL650 forum as you will get a much larger pool of knowledge to work with.

..Tom


Hey Cdn2Weelr... thanks for all the amazing tips and photos... I hope I'm not asking a dumb question, but when I bought my 2007 DL650 from Blackfoot Sports in Calgary, they messed up a bunch of things. One of them was that I ordered the Suzuki Heated Hand Grips, which after waiting for 6 months, they finally told me that Suzuki had discontinued the grips as for some strange reason, they would only fit on 2006 and earlier Weestroms. Since most of what Blackfoot told me has turned out not to be true, I thought I would ask a "2007" expert... What would you recommend as the best solution to install heated hand grips on a 2007 DL650 (non ABS model). I would prefer the heated elements inside the grips (as opposed to wrap-arounds), and I am hoping for a variable heating control, or at least 3 settings to get the "Not too hot, not too cold... awwwwww, just right" feeling! Any advice?