2014 V Strom 1000

[5ohmustang]

I fitted some sw motech 1" bar risers and back backs. Combined with the mirror extenders they have significantly reduced wind turbulence. There is a night and day difference in terms of comfort with the bar risers and bar backs. It is so much more comfortable. I had to undo some of the wire guides to create more slack.

The front brake hose is right at the limit on full left lock, like RIGHT at the limit but it is just enough.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Tuesday 14th June 04:14

No idea why thumsnap rotated the picture.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Tuesday 14th June 04:51

[5ohmustang]

1 inch lower mounting plates for the footpegs. These have relieved stress from the knees. Ergonomics wise, the vstrom is finally comfortable. This is how it should feel from the factory.

I sat on a new Africa Twin and the comfort is very similar.

Time to explore the mountains.

[5ohmustang]

Good point, I will recheck it. I am pretty certain I checked on and off the bike. However not when there is no weight on the front wheel. It is pretty hard to do without a centerstand.

[5ohmustang]

I had a look at the clearance and tried to stand over the bike to rock it. It is hard to say. If there is a chance it will do damage it will, be at full left lock with the front wheel off the ground. I do not pull wheelies and see that riding situation arise.


This weekend I will put it on a maintainance stand and see if I can get the wheel unloaded. Failing that I will use a rachet strap over a big tree branch and under the frame.

[5ohmustang]

Absolutely. I'll be hitting the Tail of the Dragon and routes in the Smokies (as long as it does not rain).

Edited by 5ohmustang on Wednesday 8th March 03:12

[5ohmustang]

Sorry, that's all I got mate. It's a very technical and intense road when ridden at speed. I was focused on the ride and did not want to stop, hence the total lack of photos. There is a ton of footage on youtube however if your interested in having a look.

However there are photographers on a lot of the corners that are there all day, everyday. You can order your photos, have them made as tshirts etc.

Killboy.com is the most well known. I just ended up cropping the photo.

A lot of bikes and performance cars run the dragon so it's best to get there at first light to avoid speed traps.

The bike had no problems going airborne with regards to the front brake hose being extended to the limit.

The brakes started squealing towards the end, no glaze was left on the discs.

I noticed my mirrors view were different from when I started off. The handlebars were not torqued down enough and was rotating within the risers. An allen key fixed that issue.

I am getting back pain in the mid region. All I can do now is try another seat. The cheapest option is the tall suzuki seat. The problem is I cannot try one at the dealer. It's buy without trying.

[5ohmustang]

That is reassuring to know.

As you can see from the below pics, it's a dangerous road, however it is rewarding when you get it right.

I would rather drive my mustang than ride it due to other road users potientially hitting you.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Monday 27th June 08:18

[5ohmustang]

[5ohmustang]

Back in the day, this region produced a lot of illegal (at the time) moonshine. Moonshine runners would delivershipments on these very roads.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Monday 27th June 07:16

[5ohmustang]

I'm probably going to order the desert tan tall seat. Then plasti dip the beak and tank. The beak is $190, while the tank is $190. I would use regular desert tan plasti dip and then a clearcoat gloss plasti dip.

[5ohmustang]

PIGINAWIG said:

My taller seat is light grey and charcoal - bit of a shame as the bike is the desert edition!

Colour coordination - who needs it? My orange gloves go well with the kernit boots!

How did you mount your rotopax to your rear rack? Your boots are bright green? Dis you own a ninja once?

[5ohmustang]

How come you sold the v strom if you don't mind me asking. I have a 1.75 rotopax, I just never got the quick release mount. I'm planning on mounting it to the top box.

Thanks rizzo.

[5ohmustang]

Time for an update. I just fitted adventure tech's adjustable shifter. Easy to fit, it should help somewhat as once the lowered peg mounting brackets were installed, the shifter was in an odd position.

I'm unable to ride right now due to broken fingers, however once fully healed I'll be riding the pants of the vstrom.

I'll upload some pics in the meantime of my adventures.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Monday 10th October 20:09

[5ohmustang]

It can definitely be just as you described. Stay off the interstates, hit the back roads or off road, the only people you will see are at the petrol stations.

There is a lot more freedom to ride off road here. As long as it's not marked private and open to access you can go most places.

I would say other road users in the U.S. are worse drivers than the U.K. You can forget driving etiquette. However the roads are safer, as the layout of roads and properties are not as squashed together so you have a good field of vision to react to a cager pulling out on you.

Obviously petrol is cheap but I would prefer if the Strom took regular instead of premium. (Unleaded/super unleaded)

When I lived in Colorado, it has the best adventure riding you could dream of. I'd be in the middle of nowhere, surrounded 360 degrees of mountains, no one else but me and the bike.

I always carry spare petrol, water, a survival kit and a pistol. Bikers have been attacked by bears or mountain lions in the back country.

Look up on YouTube cobdr and other bdr's (back country discovery routes).

The pics below are from different adventures in Colorado when I had my Buell Ulysses.

I was trying to link up with town called Salida, I went down this isolated dirt road for 50 miles. The snow was not plowed all the way so I had to turn back, very close to running out of petrol. I also dropped the bike in the snow and could not get the footing to push it back up. Lost my temper with it and managed eventually to get it back on the kickstand.



Cripple creak, found an abandoned gold mine.

Near John Wayne's truth grit filming location.





Old stage road, above Norad.















































If I was you, take a holiday to Colorado and rent a motorcycle, spend a few weeks exploring, it's like nowhere else I have been.

There's a blogger on YouTube called Coloradodualsport. Also check out everride. Amazing scenery.

It's a shame I never rode when I grew up in the UK. There a lot of places I wish I had explored. I also think you have a better choice of motorcycles there. I'd love a DR big, 660 tender or an old Africa twin.

My brother rides a bandit, I keep telling him to get an old Africa twin but he won't part with the bandit.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Tuesday 11th October 02:33

Edited by 5ohmustang on Wednesday 12th October 06:22

[5ohmustang]

Back to the Appalachian mountains.

Found a garage with some cool stuff.

Tribal chestnut, here is the camaro zt28 lt1 you posted about. You're right, the prefacelift f body camaro does look better than the ls1 version. Didn't the Lotus Carlton have a similar exhaust.

[5ohmustang]

I've decided to leave the Strom in red. This photoshopped pic of the 2014 with the new XT tubeless spoked rims look amazing. I hope them are not too expensive.

The mag wheels retail for around $500 each.

[5ohmustang]

http://www.advpulse.com/adv-videos/colorado-motorc...

These videos sum up better than anything I can type in words.

https://youtu.be/fnIbXmRn0Wg

https://youtu.be/XMz9eEZ3LTs

https://youtu.be/jP50pvIqHKY

https://youtu.be/xnGOA2aYcos

https://youtu.be/5bT4o0gHh84

[5ohmustang]

SW Motech brake reservoir and rear brake cylinder guard fitted. The factory brake cylinder guard is thicker than the SW Motech howevever the new one covers the full linkage.

[5ohmustang]

U.S. V Strom 1000s never came with fairing graphics. It was also not offered as an official accessory in the U.S. Ordered the set from Suzuki UK.

It was pretty difficult to seat it right, with patience and lots of laminate fluid it worked a treat.

[5ohmustang]

Switched from the standard medium seat to the tall seat. There is no noticeable back pain for the short period I testes it. I got cold before I was fatigued.

Right time, right place, 50% off.