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Is the Wee right for me?

2K views 19 replies 15 participants last post by  Al Griss 
#1 ·
Hello friends!

I'm coming from a Roadliner S 1900 but there are some things that bother me enough to start looking for two wheeled solutions:

1. Handlebars are longhorns and are very uncomfortable after a couple hours on the bike. There is no aftermarket anymore for this bike...I've looked for a new set for months now and no stock exists.

2. No 6th gear, and 5th is all pull. Not great for the highway unless you want to roar like an angry lion to pass someone.

3. My back isn't great and I have diverticulitis pretty bad so sitting folded (like in a car) is not good for me. It's why I ride a motorcycle actually; it doesn't make me as sick. I feel like an upright bike would be better here.

I did some research and fell in love with the Wee, at least on paper--upright riding position (Comfort for long rides is #1 for me), decent wind coverage, tackle light trails (where I live this would be handy), good power, and built tough. Plus it is so ugly unlike my Roadliner which I feel guilty if I don't polish every Sunday (and I HATE cleaning...would rather ride!)

So I found a 2014 Wee Adventure with 20k miles locally that has been for sale since November (price is 5k). The owner was nice enough to let me take it for a ride, but after 30 minutes on her I feel torn. I want the bike, but it is totally uncomfortable which is the primary reason I am looking at it.

1. I'm 6' 2" with long legs and weigh 155lbs. Sitting on the Wee my feet are flat on the ground and my knees are bent. I feel like I have to reach for the handlebars just as much as my Roadliner. I can sit back upright if I hold the bars with one arm.

2. It feels like I am sitting on my crotch. Like literally. Super uncomfortable even after 5 mins. I tried moving around the bike, but the bars being where they are, and the stock seat really didn't seem to have a good sweet spot.

3. Although the bike was super smooth, the handlebars were chock full of vibration. I'm not going to be cute here, but it really was noticeable. 10 mins on the highway and my hands were starting to go numb, and were by the time I finished my ride. It seemed especially bad at 60 through 80. The way to describe it is the bars felt like they were buzzing like an orbital sander on a low setting.

4. The foot pegs didn't seem to be right below me, but slightly angled back, which I thought was odd as I expected it to be a very upright riding position. I read on these forums that people like the pegs better than floor boards and highway pegs because they can move around better on the bike, but I need some tips here. My legs didn't feel super comfortable as my knees had to be bent quite a bit on them.

5. I have a Shoei Quest and the windscreen seemed OK, which was nice, though I did get some minor helmet buffeting. Not too big of a deal compared to other bikes with bad buffeting that makes you dizzy. However it was a windy day and I felt ASSAULTED by the wind. The bike was blowing all over my lane, and even sedans passing me or me passing them had me fighting the bike. Again, I'm tall, and it was windy for sure, but holy cow, this is one of the main things that has me scared away from the Wee. How do you deal with this? Is there seating positions that work? I rode my Roadliner home at the same speed and it wasn't even in the same category. I could feel the wind (and I have no wind screen) but was totally stable.

I really want this bike, but my body is telling me no. I realize there is a hopping aftermarket, but what scares me about aftermarket is you can spend alot of money which may or may not fix your problems. I want to give the bike another shot, but want to go into a second test ride with some body positioning tips and other bits of advice you guys have for getting a comfortable ride of out a Wee.

Thanks so much for your time. I really dig the culture on this forum. Peace!
 
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#2 · (Edited)
You can switch seats.
You can get foot-peg lowering kits.
You can get handle-bar up and back risers, or bars with more height and different sweep.

My Harley became painful for me to ride long distances in my lower back and shoulders. Feet out front just did not work for long saddle time with my body.

I am on a Tenere now which fits me better right out of the box than my Vee (1000) did. The Tenere has rubber handle-bar dampers, which keeps my hands from going numb. This was a big problem on my older Tenere, that had rigid mounted bars. I thought the wee already had rubber dampers. Maybe some gel gloves could help you.

The ergos on most ADV bikes puts your feet under your hips which is a huge benefit in comfort for me.
 
#3 ·
The WEE handlebars are solid mount, the VEE and V2 are rubber mount. BUT you can mount a VEE upper tripple tree onto the WEE and get the dampening effect (I did for the same reason). The fork tubes are the same diameter.

I wonder if the 2014 WEE has aftermarket aluminum bars without the bar end dampeners?? I had a set of Al bars and did not like them because they had significant more vibration Those went away by switching to steel bars with the bar end weights, further helped by the rubber mounts I have now. I can ride 10 hours no issues with these bars.
 
#5 ·
Sounds like something is not quite right with your vibrations issue.
I don't think I ever heard that complaint before, where hands became numb.

I have owned 4 V-Stroms, 2 650s and 2 1000s and never had any vibration issues with the stock bike. On my 2005 DL650, my Give crash guards caused a little more vibration, but nothing serious.

Just a thought. If you want a smooth riding V-Strom, maybe take a look at the V2 DL1000. What a super-smooth ride.
 
#6 ·
May I ask what's your inseam?
Hey that's my line ....;).

OP

I have to put risers on all my bikes to get the bars so they work with my reach and back .

An easy and effective item for the vibration is Grip Buddies or Grip Puppies....the Wee is pretty smooth compared to my KLR 650 and the Grip Buddies damp it right out. Grip Buddies are easy to wrap on even with handguards in place and give immediate comfort....glove choice of course has some play.

I use cramp busters on both sides of the bars plus a GoCruise -

As you say there are many many farkles and I would say that very few here are comfortable on the bike as it comes in the box.

For the windscreen, a Madstad bracket immediately gives you control over airflow and you have many windscreen options.

For the seat ...again there are lots but with your height a Russell-Daylong will give you a bit extra height, amazing comfortable and reduce your knee angle. You will be in a totally different seat shape....and very very comfortable.

Once you sort the seat ...then do the risers and footpeg kit. In addition of course it will take a little time for your body to get used to the bike as well.

When you get on a Wee you move to nimble, light and point it off the pavement with confidence. It's a good choice, excellent value and very reliable. It's so cost effective you can afford the extras to fit it to you.
 
#8 ·
Thanks for the responses!

I have a 34.5" inseam--I should have included that with my height (6' 2") so other riders who successfully modded their bikes would know what to recommend.

The seat was stock, there was an adjustable lip on the winscreen. I didn't know it at the time, but it did have some aftermarket weights bolted on the end of the bars (I realized this after doing some research on the buzzing issue). I think the bars were stock as they were champagne in color--same as the crash bars that came with the Adventure model.
@Macdoc, I really appreciate the upgrade strategy, and it is nice to know that upgrading.
@Big B -- Right?? That is one of the things that put me onto this bike. You have to have big bucks and wait a long time to do anything to it.

I'm excited about the bike, I'm just chicken knowing that so many aspects I found uncomfortable out the gate.

The biggest concern though was getting thrown around on the highway. That part just I wasn't used to and took alot of physical effort. Maybe I'll try again on a less windy day.
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the responses!

I have a 34.5" inseam--I should have included that with my height (6' 2") so other riders who successfully modded their bikes would know what to recommend.
For comparison, I'm 5'10", 30" inseam. To get comfortable I had to lower the footpegs and buy an aftermarket seat foam in order to reduce the knee bend angle. The vario windscreen just works, if I was an inch taller I would be in turbulence. I can ride 1000 km days easy, 1300-1400km pushing it.

My previous bike was a KLX250s (taller, more leg room) and a Shadow 1100 Sabre (much less comfortable on long highway drives, too much weight on tail bone).

My suggestion would be to look for a taller bike if you are after 100% comfort.
 
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#11 ·
I've known some who went from a cruiser style to the Strom style of bike and loved it. Didn't know how it could take so long to find the advantages, and then again others who could just never embrace the riding position and went back. Try to ride more, you don't say where you are, but there are lots of them out there for sale everywhere. Maybe you could find one to ride that already has some of those farkles on it. And concentrate on what Macdoc says, not only in the wind but at all times relax your grip and arms.
 
#13 ·
The handlebar vibration problem just does not sound right. There may be something wrong with that particular bike. With all your other complaints, it is possible that the wee isn't for you. You could probably modify the bike to fit your needs, but at some level, why buy a bike that isn't comfortable? I would certainly try another wee because of the handlebars, but you might also want to try some other adventure bikes. I love the wee, but there is no reason everyone should.
 
#14 ·
I'm coming from a DR650 thumper so it's smooth as silk... I've​ only ridden my Wee2 once and loved it... I have a couple of things to sort out before the weather / temperature hits double digits so I'm good but I can hardly wait to ride... I have Rox risers and am looking at pivotpegz and a peg relocation kit as well - 5'11" here... I have taller puig screen on as well



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#15 · (Edited)
Farkle Madness!!!

The beauty off these bikes is that there is a plethora, yes I said it, of aftermarket mods available for these bikes. You may need, with your long legs to have someone, like Fischer seats, build you a tall one. I have a friend who is 6'3 with a long inseam and he had them raise his 3 ". Its now flat from the tank to the back-no hump and wider too. That with the risers for the bars from Rox, foot peg lowering kit form Adventuretech he is now comfy. Total cost about $450.you can also raise the suspension up 1&1/2 rear and 1 & 1/4 front, like I did and make it a tall storm.
P.S. all bikes can benefit from personalization and we here CAN get farkle crazy. Thats the fun of it!
 
#16 · (Edited)
interesting how often people ask: "I'm 6 feet tall. is V Strom good for me?" Ok. My inseam is 33" and with lowering kit I have enough room for my legs. in your case you might need taller seat as well. the stock windscreen on Adventure works pretty good. that small lip on the top of it can do wonders. if not there is quite few aftermarket taller and/or wider windscreens. sometimes the shape of the helmet might be the reason of buffeting too. vibration. never had a problem with it on my V Strom (10 so far). in your case it might be the handlebars weights. maybe not heavy enough? have you asked why the owner replaced the OEM set? Maybe he dropped the bike?quite few people have reported extra vibration after installing either Givi or OEM crash bars. easy fix. Body position - risers up and pull back should help.
 
#17 ·
Yeah, the handle bar vibration sounds like a problem with that particular bike. You're test ride doesn't sound like it went well on a few levels. You may be able to fix them, maybe not, but truthfully I'd keep looking for a bike that is a better fit out of the box. With you're inseam you may have an issue with every bike, which means more fixing. If that's the case, then consider revisiting the V Strom.
 
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#19 ·
I have a Raider 1900 and a Goldwing. A fork brace helps the wee significantly with stability in the wind but it still doesn't feel as solid as a 700 pound cruiser. That said, the Wee is getting more use than any of my bikes. It is so easy to maneuver I love it. You will need to improve the ergonomics for your size but that should be fairly easy with some research. Try to find another Wee to test ride and see if the vibration is still a problem.


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#20 ·
Totally Customizable

I have 2011 Wee and have not had any vibrations in the handle bars. Added the front fork brace and the Rox to raise bars and bring them back one inch. Also added the Vsteam windshield with the adjustable bracket and now have comfortable touring bike. But just got transferred so need to sell a creampuff 2011 with 8,000 miles and $2500 worth of accessories. Rats.
 
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