Trying to make a cafe racer out of a Vstrom is about like polishing a turd. No matter how much you polish its still a turd.
If you want to go that route hunt up an SV1000, the motor had a bunch more power and it was already set up closer to a sport bike.

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Joe S.
'12 Concours
'11 DL650
'10 Tiger1050
'01 HD FXD
'09 HD XR1200
'79 BMW R100

I think Black Lab has modified his more than anyone else.

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report

i never rode a street glide or a goldwing but i bet the honda rides better for touring!

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81 yam xs1100
92 kaw klr 650
98 honda magna
00 suz 1400 intruder
04 suz 1600 muarader
07 suz wee
07 honda st1300/11 suz wee

The Wing has the most reliability, maneuverability and is a faster bike.

With that said...Harley's just feel more relaxing and it's like you are tapping into a collective riding soul when you ride one. Just watch the ergonomics of any bike you pick up. Harley's sometimes aren't farkled enough or are farkled too much...

I think that title might go to Glitch_Oz...

Glitch_Oz's latest creation - The Mongrel

Latest update on "trade rumors" as ESPN might say. With the Harley out of the picture for now I'm in contact with two other potential trade baits: A Kawasaki Nomad 1600 (bagger) and a Kaw 1400 Concours (beast). A few cars, too, but nothing in my sweet spot.

It's actually a lot of fun opening email to see what will come over the transom next. Especially when I consider that the very worst I can do is get stuck with a nice '94 Corvette convertible. The way it is raining right now that seems like a pretty good outcome.

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2007 DL650
"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" -- Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

Uhmm...air-cooled, push-rod, HUGE-oil-leaking-transmission cases, poor handling, soft braking ...WAY OVER PRICED motorcycle!!. Yep, I want one cuz I got me brain damage!! ........................But, that damn fine exhaust note!!

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'92 Honda Z50R
'94 Kawasaki KLX250 modded to 340cc's
'00 Yamaha YZ426F
'94 Yamaha 125 scooter
'05 Vespa E4 scooter
'68 Vespa VBB scooter (restored)
'06 Wee
'03 Honda S2000 roadster

LOOK AT ME! Goldwings suck!!! I had a a 2012 for one year exactly. it was a big couch. I could not ride it locally for many reasons. It had just under 8k miles when i sold it. i rode it to a 'darkside' rally to the deals gap area and the wife an i rode it for 19 days in July to new england area. i pulled a trailer and ran a car tire. there are good reasons for this that i won't get into but the answers are on the gl1800 forum. I came back off that 19day ride and sold it the next week. it was a great INTERSTATE ride. It does handle well for it's size, but then so does a pickup truck. my wife flew back from boston so i rode how i wanted coming home. i picked up the parkway at the beginning in front royal virgina. that's when i decide the goldwing had to go. it was not a twisty bike--FOR ME. it was always uncomfortable for me as it hurt my back withing a few miles. seating position improvements/handle bar adjustment are EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE and takes more than a full day to do it. my strom withd a corbin seat, 20mm risers bar risers, and highway bars is way more comfortable than the wing was. i bought the wing for my wife.
the wife and I agree that the miata convertible is the perfect ride for US vs riding two up. I will continue to take my bike trips alone, but when the wife comes we will be in a convertible. the miata will be replaced by a 2012
vette convertible in 2015 (that's the plan)

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2012 wee ADVENTURE, 2012 GOLDWING WITH TRAILER (TRADED FOR WEE STROM), 07 BANDIT 1250 (TRADED FOR 2012 GOLDWING), BANDIT 1200, NINJA 500, Z1000, ZX9R, MARAUDER 800, 650 SAVAGE, 750 KATANA, NINJA 900, '78 YAMAHA 750 SPECIAL, YAMAHA RD400

Didn't like the Goldwing but you want a Corvette convertible. It goes to show once again, there's no accounting for taste.

I realize that you will get a newer Corvette than my '94, but I don't think Chevy's concept has changed all that much since the early days when they went to a V8 in hopes of making a high-performance car out of existing parts, for which they could charge a premuim price. This was a page out of the Harley marketing manual if you ask me.

I ran the build sheet on mine and found that the MSRP in 1994 was a staggering $46,681! This computes to a price of of about $70K in today's dollars! This for a car with the venerable 350 cu in pushrod V8 that has been around since Moby Dick was a minnow, a fiberglass body and a few aluminum components to go with a lot of off-the-shelf parts that were probably designed for the Impala. Honestly, Chevy puts Harley to shame in the overpriced department with the Corvette line.

The only good reason I can think of to buy a Corvette is that they lose their value so quickly that used bargains can be found. The fact that so many are so anxious to dump them for a song ought to tell you something, which is KEEP THE MIATA.

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2007 DL650
"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" -- Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

lot's of truth there for sure. the vette i was dealing on was an 09 model with a $66k build sheet...i was getting it for $40k with 15k miles. fortunately, the miata showed up the day before. the only reason i got on the vette kick was i NEEDED a convertible that would pull a trailer with my bike on it. but, the miata appears to be poking big holes in that plan! i actually enjoy driving it with the wife along side me more than i do riding a bike with her on the back. the only problem with the miata is we can't ride it to willville and blue ridge mc campground...bikes only

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2012 wee ADVENTURE, 2012 GOLDWING WITH TRAILER (TRADED FOR WEE STROM), 07 BANDIT 1250 (TRADED FOR 2012 GOLDWING), BANDIT 1200, NINJA 500, Z1000, ZX9R, MARAUDER 800, 650 SAVAGE, 750 KATANA, NINJA 900, '78 YAMAHA 750 SPECIAL, YAMAHA RD400