Greggs Suzuki V-Strom 650

[Smithers]

This is what a brand new Yellow V-Strom 650 looks like... or should look like anyways. Well it's close because the yellow panels on the sides didn't match up with the rest of the bike when a so called "professional" tried to paint them.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/greggs650_02.jpg

Here is a road that is not for beginners as there are too many turns and too many RV's and Trailers being towed back and forth. A few motorcyclists have died on these roads because of oncoming traffic veering into their lane.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/greggs650_05.jpg

[Smithers]

Here is what happens when you dump it in the dirt at low speed on the right hand side.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/greggs650_04.jpg

[Smithers]

Here is what happens when you apply too much front brake in the middle of a left hand turns, thus, dropping the bike at a decent speed on the left side.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/greggs650_03.jpg

I don't know if the owner is smiling anymore. :o

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/greggs650_06.jpg :o

[Smithers]

So I've been doing some work on the Vstrom for Greg in order to get it back in shape and make some adjustments to the suspension. He was kind enough to let me ride it around while until he comes and picks it up. I tell you what, you get really lazy riding around a bike like this. It just runs and runs. 60mpg ain't too bad either! The only pain in the a$$ is that you have to adjust the chain and lube it every now and then. The stock chain is also a real POS too. Greg needs to buy a new one someday.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_snow_yellow01.jpg

Another thing that's really nice about this bike is that the windshield actually deflects wind out of your way very well. I say very well because I'm used to NO wind deflecting action at all some the sport bikes I've always ridden. :lol:

[Smithers]

Tribute to new motorcycle enthusiast and V-strom rider Gregg
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/stunt_masta.jpg

[Smithers]

So Sunday I didn't hear from anyone about a ride so I jumped on the ol Vstrom and cruised down through town then on over to the coffee shop. Usually this is a strictly sport bike crowd and they give me a hard time if I show up on one of my old Hondas instead of ready to go on my Aprilia. So today I decided to just kick back and ride the Vstrom down to see if anyone was hanging out at the shop. So I get there and a couple guys were getting ready to ride up to Monterey on some back roads. So I just bought some Joe and hung out for a while. Then all the sport bike dudes start pulling in one after the other. Oh boy now it looks like everyone had riding on their mind! Luckily a buddy pulled up on his BMW GS so I had a fellow dual sport touring bike to ride with out of the crowd.

Anyhow it turned out to be more of a spirited ride and the Vstrom was definitely impressing some sport bikes that day. I really put the bike through it's paces and I can now report on it's traits after a long day of riding in different conditions.



The brakes WILL fade on you after 3-4 corners at speed
When go off the road as a result of this DO NOT lean the Vstrom over as it is too top-heavy
The stock tires suck and there are many alternatives that are better
The engine really revvs good and mid to high RPMS are ideal to keep up the pace
Everyone will be begging for fuel at noon and the 650 Vstrom will run one whole day on 1 tank :D
NEVER USE THE FRONT BRAKE IN A TURN for any reason unless you have super skills at recovering low-side type front end slides
If the front end does start sliding let off any brakes immediately and give the bike throttle ASAP to take weight off the front end so the tire can have a chance to regain traction
Lots of people will admire your strange looking bike and ask questions
Tires must be at a minimum of 35 rear and 36 front
More pressure for a 185+lb rider but not much because your traction will decrease and I wouldn't recommend more than 38 / 40psi

Notice the skid marks on the outside edge of the front tire. That was a half second fight to keep the front end from sliding out as I was fighting a GSXR750 through a turn. I lost that corner but I won the fight against the pavement! ;)
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_dec08_01.jpg

[Smithers]

The rear brake actually has a lot of stopping power and you can use it most anywhere you want with confidence. Of course I don't recommend slamming on the rear brake in the middle of a turn but the balloon tire will actually hold on to the road a lot better than one would believe. I really did have a few corners where the tire was dancing around from left to right under max braking and this is how you will know that you ARE on the edge. But just under that thresh hold you should feel nice and confident. Keep up that pace and you'll find out how fast the brakes will fade so be very careful - the predictability of the handling really drops off at speed. Anyhow the rear tire has a lot of grip under braking for how hard the compound is. Under acceleration in the dirty corners I expected it to have a more grip and that's the only complaint besides the sidewall flex. Metzeler supplies a much better Adventure tire that is the next tire that this bike will receive.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_dec08_03.jpg

Now the rear suspension was set pretty damn hard from the factory. After my back started hurting from the bumps I started fiddling with the knob and ooooh yeah the suspension softened up quite well! The rear shock does a great job on the Vstrom. I was really surprised how well it worked at speed all day long. We hit a big variety of back roads and I had a great time going over all sorts of potholes, curbs, dirt culverts, up embankments and peeling out in the dirt after overshooting a couple of turns... damn brakes!! If you back off the damepening to go easier on your back the bike handles a lot betteer over rough terrain without suffering much consequence on the street at all. They did a great job on the rear... the front completely blows though.

[Smithers]

You start riding the Vstrom at a sport bike pace and here is what you get:
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_dec08_02.jpg


Don't be shocked when your toes start scraping the ground. The pegs are just low enough that when you start using the sides of your tires a 170lb rider can easily get some scrapage on his shoes. It got to a point to where I would hold out my boots to keep from scraping em... they aren't that old!! When the front started pushing in the one turn I swore my foot was caught under the damn bike. :D I wish I could have seen the sparks from the rear. I was just content not to be on my back looking at the sky.

If you are starting to scrape your toes please be SUPER careful if you are on the stock tires. I highly recommend some new tires as modification #1 to the Vstrom. New front end springs and maybe a heavier oil is #2. These mods could easily save your life someday.

[Smithers]

I thought this was a very informative article explaining some of the elements and idea behind wind deflection and ventilation. I always wondered exactly what was the reason behind some of the styling around the Vstroms front windscreen.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/airManagement.aspx

[Smithers]

The Strom is looking better than ever. Here it is at the Load 'n Shoot yesterday afternoon while stopped for lunch.

Now you can actually see that nice big rear tire!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_M_ebNyNrvFw/SV14s8gPUlI/AAAAAAAABcE/oDaJ5Lm72Ks/newyear_03.jpg

[Smithers]

The Strom is looking better than ever. She flies through the twisties too. Have a look at the latest upgrade. What a difference.... it's like adding 10hp.

http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_fender.jpg

Now doesn't that look better? :D

[Smithers]

Here's a fellow Vstrom rider from Santa Margarita. This fine gent is rolling on a heavily modified 650cc that is lightened for competition. It has a custom one-off front end and even though that looks like a factory racing fuel tank it's actually stock!!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_M_ebNyNrvFw/SV14u9Yo_tI/AAAAAAAABcU/7TCf4v2ZWfM/newyear_01.jpg

[Smithers]

Another local Central Coast V-strom. This thing has all the goodies!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_M_ebNyNrvFw/STxKXWTmQ8I/AAAAAAAABEw/PO2Uc6fOon4/s640/vstrom_black1000_01.jpg

[Smithers]

Out playing with the fast boyz. BMW HP2 and a pair of street fighting CBR600's. It was wheelie contest day.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_M_ebNyNrvFw/STxKfCWem5I/AAAAAAAABIE/qc0YyC0PGy4/s640/11_07_08_vstrom_02.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_M_ebNyNrvFw/STw9yIn2mxI/AAAAAAAABDw/M41EnOnmGiE/11_07_08_ride01.jpg

[Smithers]

Just for reference. I cut the fender off really quickly. This was a simple and very cost effective modification for the Vstrom that I wish I did long ago. To cut the plastic I simply lined up my trusty plastic saw to mark the fender plastic at the bottom of the license plate. Then I cut the slime side part of the fender parallel with the very bottom edge of the fender. Then I simply took the saw and cut a line to connect the outer edge with the middle point mark that I made under the license plate. This made for a perfect symmetrical cut. Phew all done.

Click for tips on cutting plastic really nicely here: Watch as I cut parts off of my Aprilia! (http://www.fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=182)

The cutting edges:
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_fender.jpg

The finished product:
http://www.fourwheelperformance.com/streetbikestuff/vstrom_fender_01.jpg