Good evening guys and gals,
I’m Johnny and I just purchased my first strommmm today. I’m a 31 year old retired veteran living up north in NH. The bike is a 2014 vstrom 1000 in like New condition, and I just drove it 100 miles home in forty degree weather brrrrrrr. It’s completely stock aside from some guards and bar risers. Forgive me if I ask a lot of questions there is an overwhelming amount of knowledge to sort through on this forum and I’ve not yet mastered navigation.
With only a hundred miles in the saddle a few things stuck out to me. The stock windshield height throws fists of wind right at my face, the stock exhaust Is a little Turdy, and the bike in neutral at idle sounds a bit sketchy. the seat while comfy enough for short rides I can see aggravating my back injuries.
I figure a taller windshield Will be priority one, then some rear luggage, then the seat, and then exhaust and all other little things.
#1) any advise on the best windshield option? 5’11 but I ride very vertical. Would prefer one that retains the stock mounts if possible.
#2) Google searches for the past hour have turned up not one winner for a phone Mount. They all seem cheap and cheesy. Any recommendations for one that is metal and doesn’t use rubber bands to hold the phone on? I’m not a fan at all of the ram ones. Can be bar mount or I suppose one of those mirror tab mounts or perhaps something you strom gobblers have perfected specific to these bikes? 🤔
#3) I suspect there is the usual Corbin options for a seat, but is there anything offering rider backrest? Not a necessity but I find my boney ass doesn’t appreciate most Corbin seats I’ve had. Maybe there’s something comfier out there you guys can recommend?
#4) I’ve been browsing luggage but it’s awfully confusing what brackets fit what side bags and tail bags. I’m hoping there’s a cheaper alternative to the name brand expensive stuff I’ve been seeing? I know you sometimes get what you pay for but for the short term a cheaper set up would work better for me and allow me to do some cross country cruising.
#5) for prior sport bikes I’ve generally used yoshi pipes, I see a bunch of different options and so far it sounds (according to terrible microphone recordings on YouTube) that the two brothers slip on sounds the best. Maybe you guys have a better recommendation?
#6) this one might make me seem lunatic, but do any of you ever take your dog riding with you? My pocket sized pitty Ella snowboards and snowmobiles and cliff jumps with me, she’s my little 40lb adventure buddy (emotional support pet as well) I have a few brain quirks and it’s hard for me to be without her for long periods so I’ve been trying to think of a solution to take her with me. She’s probably just a tad too big for a chest or backpack option, but considering the real estate available on the tail I was thinking some kind of tail bag or crate set up... maybe there’s someone on here who’s done something similar? Worth a shot, if I can’t figure out a way to bring her with me I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay overnight camping and whatnot on the bike.
thanks for taking the time to read this and for letting me introduce myself. I’m excited to go on adventures and learn more about the vstrom community.
I appreciate any advise you all have to offer!!
🥂
Johnny
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![7ADE6F5C-D8BF-4F44-93B4-5B7DA6CA1C4B.jpeg]()
I’m Johnny and I just purchased my first strommmm today. I’m a 31 year old retired veteran living up north in NH. The bike is a 2014 vstrom 1000 in like New condition, and I just drove it 100 miles home in forty degree weather brrrrrrr. It’s completely stock aside from some guards and bar risers. Forgive me if I ask a lot of questions there is an overwhelming amount of knowledge to sort through on this forum and I’ve not yet mastered navigation.
With only a hundred miles in the saddle a few things stuck out to me. The stock windshield height throws fists of wind right at my face, the stock exhaust Is a little Turdy, and the bike in neutral at idle sounds a bit sketchy. the seat while comfy enough for short rides I can see aggravating my back injuries.
I figure a taller windshield Will be priority one, then some rear luggage, then the seat, and then exhaust and all other little things.
#1) any advise on the best windshield option? 5’11 but I ride very vertical. Would prefer one that retains the stock mounts if possible.
#2) Google searches for the past hour have turned up not one winner for a phone Mount. They all seem cheap and cheesy. Any recommendations for one that is metal and doesn’t use rubber bands to hold the phone on? I’m not a fan at all of the ram ones. Can be bar mount or I suppose one of those mirror tab mounts or perhaps something you strom gobblers have perfected specific to these bikes? 🤔
#3) I suspect there is the usual Corbin options for a seat, but is there anything offering rider backrest? Not a necessity but I find my boney ass doesn’t appreciate most Corbin seats I’ve had. Maybe there’s something comfier out there you guys can recommend?
#4) I’ve been browsing luggage but it’s awfully confusing what brackets fit what side bags and tail bags. I’m hoping there’s a cheaper alternative to the name brand expensive stuff I’ve been seeing? I know you sometimes get what you pay for but for the short term a cheaper set up would work better for me and allow me to do some cross country cruising.
#5) for prior sport bikes I’ve generally used yoshi pipes, I see a bunch of different options and so far it sounds (according to terrible microphone recordings on YouTube) that the two brothers slip on sounds the best. Maybe you guys have a better recommendation?
#6) this one might make me seem lunatic, but do any of you ever take your dog riding with you? My pocket sized pitty Ella snowboards and snowmobiles and cliff jumps with me, she’s my little 40lb adventure buddy (emotional support pet as well) I have a few brain quirks and it’s hard for me to be without her for long periods so I’ve been trying to think of a solution to take her with me. She’s probably just a tad too big for a chest or backpack option, but considering the real estate available on the tail I was thinking some kind of tail bag or crate set up... maybe there’s someone on here who’s done something similar? Worth a shot, if I can’t figure out a way to bring her with me I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay overnight camping and whatnot on the bike.
thanks for taking the time to read this and for letting me introduce myself. I’m excited to go on adventures and learn more about the vstrom community.
I appreciate any advise you all have to offer!!
🥂
Johnny
