jnor Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 After a few hundred miles in s.e. Ohio today on the Vstrom, I can say I like it a lot.....Kinda like a Versys with more power, although a "weird" power band I think....it has very little low end power for a litre bike (or maybe way tall gearing), when it hits 4K hang on. 6th gear is worthless under 65mph..That aside, it handles better than I can ride it, is very comfortable to me anyway, plenty of storage.....Looks like it will do a good job replacing 2 bikes !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swingset Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 (edited) It's a great bike, but the stock gearing fucking BLOWS. Hard. That motor wants to live in the 5krpm range and up, and dropping a tooth in the front and going up a couple in the back will make it seem like an entirely new (and better bike). I run 16/43, some guys like just the 16/41 combo, but definitely lose that airplane gear up front...you'll thank me later. If you do a lot of interstate, might wanna stick to the 41 in back, but the 16/43 will make it come alive and the 6th gear be downright fun instead of useless.I love mine, it's been the best motorcycle I've ever owned and proved to be incredibly tough because I ride it like an imbecile.Another thing I'd suggest is after you break it in and are doing your first batch of maintenance, balance the secondaries when you do your throttle body sync (and extensions on the vacuum ports for further ease of access to the carbs). I've done my secondaries and two friends and they were all out from the factory. It doesn't make a monster difference, but it smoothed the motor out. I can help ya do all that when the time comes, just up the road from ya.Congrats tho, I'm jealous I'd love to have a new one. Edited June 3, 2012 by swingset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadTrainDriver Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 Sometimes I really miss my V-Strom.After Pokey and I got her sorted, she was a fabulous bike...and we saw a lot of great places together!I had literally ever bolt on item on her that one could do to a V-Strom, so if you've got any questions, I'm more than happy to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buildit Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 I still love mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 Wouldnt surprise me if i had another in the garage someday, although I don't see the C14 going away anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.