Brought home a new-to-me '05 Suzuki V-Strom DL650 - the "Wee Strom"

[Moedad]

Maybe for your 750 riders. For us 550 guys/gals, we make do with a 2.5 gallon tank. There's a price to be paid for that classy teardrop tank.

That's right, I forget the differences between the "older" and "newer" Hawks sometimes.

[green427]

If you'd like, when I get time, I can take some better shots of the set-up. Those pics don't show how it all goes together very well.

Thanks, that would be a big help. I have the itch to get another Wee back in my garage next year if things don't change too much.

I'm about 5'-9 1/2" and my inseam is right in there with yours. I can touch the balls of my feet when just sitting in the seat, but if I straddle it with my weight on my feet rather than the seat, I can flat foot it with my Red Wings on. Makes me wonder if it's been lowered. If I knew what to look for, I could tell you. The PO didn't mention anything about lowering though.

You are the same exact height as I am. The only way I can tell if a Wee has been lowered (properly) is to check the top of the forks. If they are level with the triple tree, then the bike is most likely stock. The dog bones on the rear suspension can be changed to make the bike lower.

Greywolf over at stromtroopers.com has discovered that if you leave the stock dog bones in place and raise the forks about 15mm above the triple tree, it will make a tremendous difference in the handling. Adding a fork brace is supposed to make it even better. All are saying the fork brace is worth the $110 or so. I don't think your bike has been lowered just by looking at the pics. Might not need to, since the bike will sag with all the stuff you are going to carry.

[mike884]

oh boy... beat me too a v-strom.. i havn't even had the chance to drive one yet...    and now I'm questioning 919 vs v-strom...  decisions decisions

[trlkdivers]

nice bike - i'm very interested in the wee strom - shout out periodic updates

[Moedad]

Sorry for not getting back to this sooner. Here are some comparison pics

To me, this is where you see the biggest difference. The pillion seat is way higher on the Wee.


From the front


Front at an angle


Different side views

[fishmeister]

How well do those little mirrors work? I have a pair but am weary of putting them on.

[Burgi]

So does the NH get anymore outings since the VStrom joined the family?

I added those mirrors to my NH, Fish. They helped some but no where near as much as the mirror extenders did.

[Moedad]

How well do those little mirrors work? I have a pair but am weary of putting them on.

I like them better than the NH mirrors but it might be the way they are configured more than the actual mirrors themselves.

[Moedad]

So does the NH get anymore outings since the VStrom joined the family?

Once a week, faithfully.

[fishmeister]

I added those mirrors to my NH, Fish. They helped some but no where near as much as the mirror extenders did.

I've added extenders, just wondered if it's worth sticking those little ones on.

BTW Mo, both those scooters look a little too clean.......

[mike884]

Nothing wrong with a clean scoot...    I ended up purchasing a blue 650 vstrom as well. Compared to a 750 it dosen't look a whole lot bigger, but it absolutely dwarfs my 650.

So far its been a blast, but stepping back to chain drive is kind of annoying... more noise, lubing, etc , but lots of passenger and luggage space, and it really hustles through the twisties

[Moedad]

I've added extenders, just wondered if it's worth sticking those little ones on.

Oh, I see. Yeah, it's totally worth it, but stick them towards the inside rather than the outside like mine. I think that would be better.

BTW Mo, both those scooters look a little too clean.......

It's the OC.  No rain, no snow, no mud. Everybody has a clean bike. 

[Laminar]

Maybe for your 750 riders. For us 550 guys/gals, we make do with a 2.5 gallon tank. There's a price to be paid for that classy teardrop tank.

+.7 gal reserve = 3.2 gallons total.

[Burgi]

BTW Mo, both those scooters look a little too clean.......

It's the OC.  No rain, no snow, no mud. Everybody has a clean bike. 

It's a SoCal thing, he can't understand. 

[green427]

Moedad: I hate you. Really hate you. 

 

Even though the Strom appears to be much taller, notice the seat height and bars/fairing are not that much taller. The rear end is what is really different. That's why pillion riders love the Strom, they've got a high platform and a bird's eye view of everything.

[Moedad]

Sold the NH. 'Course it decided to have starting issues when the guy came to look at it. I showed him what I did the few times it's done that to me and he was satisfied enough that he bought the bike. Sad to hear it ride away, but glad it went to somebody who seemed like he was really going to enjoy it.

[Moedad]

Logged my first 1,000 miles on the Wee this week. The more I ride this bike the more I like it, but there's one thing it doesn't have that I miss about the CB750, and that's the heel brackets above the exhaust pipes. It's be nice to have a place to rest my heels on long rides. I can hook my boot heels on the footpegs, but I'd rather have an actual rest or wider footpeg. Gotta look into that.

[isleofmanfan]

I also thought those wire loops on the exhaust cans were a good idea, and really helpful.  Mine were a bit slippery being they were chrome, so I broke out a small file and cut a series of grooves into the loops and that completely fixed the problem.  I hope the new owner appreciates what an excellent little scooter that CB is.

[green427]

Logged my first 1,000 miles on the Wee this week. The more I ride this bike the more I like it, but there's one thing it doesn't have that I miss about the CB750, and that's the heel brackets above the exhaust pipes. It's be nice to have a place to rest my heels on long rides. I can hook my boot heels on the footpegs, but I'd rather have an actual rest or wider footpeg. Gotta look into that.

I've seen pictures of a few Stroms with wide pegs and most of them have sharp teeth. They are referred to as "off road pegs" or something like that.

When I had my Wee, I was not bothered by the pegs, probably because my riding boots are not very flexible. We need the heel rests on the Strom due to the riding position and to prevent our boots from melting on the exhaust.

[ariwhiteboy]

You could probably fab up a heel rest and attatch it to the footpeg.

[Moedad]

You could probably fab up a heel rest and attatch it to the footpeg.

Yeah, I could use a pair of hose clamps on each peg to fasten a galvanized "T" strap with the leg of the "T" supporting my heel. Then I could post the pics on www.thereifixedit.com, lol.

[green427]

Hey Moedad: are you considering an aftermarket seat?

Russell makes this seat, it is very $$$$$, but look how comfortable it looks:

[Moedad]

Hey Moedad: are you considering an aftermarket seat?

Russell makes this seat, it is very $$$$$, but look how comfortable it looks:

Holy cow, that looks like it would cost as much as the bike! I bet it's pretty cushy.