Hi guys. I got The Golden Monkey's PM so I came to check out this thread. As far as the instrument connectors, they are definitely the same and they definitely won't plug 'n play. I researched GSXR, SV and even Triumph triple instrument sets, (they also use the same connector), and wiring diagrams. The FI SV's would be the best candidates because they have a redline that is close to that of the DL's and there would be no issues making the tach work, (2 cylinders vs. 3 or 4 on the others), and there are only a few wires that have to be relocated withing the bike's harness connector. I looked for a supplier for the mating connector so that I could just build an adapter sub-harness to mate the gauges to the bike - no joy on that plan. The real problem I had was that these units are narrower but just as tall as the stock DL instrument assy. Plus, you lose the temp and fuel gauges in favor of warning lights. In the end, I decided to try and make the stock gauges work - plus my odo stays the same that way.
I had a Dan Vesel dash panel - about 2/3 down the page here.....
V-Strom Accessories
- that I cut down to make a mounting bracket for my instruments. You could use some angle aluminum if you have access to some that is around 110 degrees instead of the common 90. I then made a surround panel out of sheet aluminum to hold the gauges and screwed this panel to the Vesel piece. Hopefully, you can see this in the pics below...
Luckily, I already had the face apart again to remake the headlight mounting. I rebent the gauge panel to create a better sight angle from the riding position which allowed me to move the light assy. up about an inch and back nearly an inch.
Side view, (oops - looks like I need to back off on the lower screws a bit).
Here's the panel from the gauge side.....
It's not pretty but it is solid and works very well.
If any of you want a different shot, now is the time to ask while everything's apart and I'm waiting on a buddy who's bending up my replacement light bracket. The first one was the thickest sheet aluminum I could bend with the brake press I have access to and it was a bit flimsy. The new one will be more than twice as thick.
The bracket is a simple U-shape that mounts to a pair of Bandit 1200 headlight ear brackets and accepts the back of the Buell light assembly....
Here it is mounted to the bike. If the bike were just a bit wider, I could have used a piece of 8" AL channel instead. That would have made this a bit easier.
Here it is temporarily mounted to the Uly light mount.
As far as the lighting, pso is right on. Even with the HID low beam conversion it is nowhere near as good of light as the stock V-Strom and not even as good as the naked SV headlight I had on there when I first stripped the bike down. This is a trade I don't mind making because I seldom ride this bike any distance after dark anymore. Most of my long distance riding, (when I'm most likely to ride through the night), is now done on the ST1300 which has excellent lighting. All of that being said, I have been monkeying around with some 4" halogen driving lights on the Strom but I haven't found a mounting location that I really like yet.