Slaying The Dragon With an Old Friend

[kaosbandit]

We had a great early spring ride up in Deal's Gap. Check it out and let me know what you think about the video.




http://www.spiritstrike.com/blog/2014/3/9/slaying-the-dragon-with-an-old-friend

[Nick Bell]

Super. All the V-Strom scrapes reminded of when I did the Dragon with my Harley. Ride on!

[Herricane]

This was great!  I only got to watch a portion of the video but loved it.  The Dragon remains on my bucket list!
 
Thanks for sharing 

[kaosbandit]

Super. All the V-Strom scrapes reminded of when I did the Dragon with my Harley. Ride on!

My friend recently got a wee strom to add to his stable. His other bike is a vstar and we run comms when we ride. I can always tell when he is having a good time because I will hear teh metal scraping coming through the headset.

[kaosbandit]

This was great!  I only got to watch a portion of the video but loved it.  The Dragon remains on my bucket list!
 
Thanks for sharing 

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. That was my first video with multiple camera angles.


When you get to the Dragon make sure you plan some time to check out that whole area. There is some awesome riding around there.

[TK]

Nice video and read. Thanks for sharing!

[Brick]

Wow, that was excellent!
However I think that if I were scraping that much I would work on my suspension before I got tossed in the weeds. At least crank on some more preload. Just my $.02 worth. YMMV
You should do more video... you are good!


Brick

[OldButNotDead]

Wow, that was excellent!
However I think that if I were scraping that much I would work on my suspension before I got tossed in the weeds. At least crank on some more preload. Just my $.02 worth. YMMV
You should do more video... you are good!


Brick

Excellent point Brick.

[kaosbandit]

Wow, that was excellent!
However I think that if I were scraping that much I would work on my suspension before I got tossed in the weeds. At least crank on some more preload. Just my $.02 worth. YMMV
You should do more video... you are good!


Brick

Excellent point Brick.

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.


My buddy hasn't had that strom very long and he is still getting it sorted to his liking. He has mentioned a stiffer spring and I have a feeling he will be removing the center stand. That's what keeps touching down.

[OldButNotDead]

Adam,
 Although I have ridden with more Wee Strom riders than its big brother, I had always thought under normal conditions it had LOTS of clearance.  I had an 06 FJR, which I think you are very familiar with, which I would occasionally scrape pegs on.  A lot more than I thought it should.  I weigh 240lbs nekked, and would always put way more than I needed in my bags.  I spent about $280 on a set up HyperPro springs, front and rear.  Best bang for the money I ever spent.  Spring compression in twisties was drastically reduced and scraping just about eliminated.  I would highly recommend that your friend look into a set.
Rod

[TN2Wheeler]

I have occasionally scraped pegs on my Wee. However, I think it has a lot to do with cornering style. Leaning a bit to the inside i.e. using the K.T.M. (kiss the mirror) body position reduces the lean angle of the bike and keeping some light throttle dialed in all the way through the turn minimizes suspension compression. Those techniques make a difference on any bike but I think have a dramatic effect on the tall, high center of gravity VStrom.

[kaosbandit]

Adam,
 Although I have ridden with more Wee Strom riders than its big brother, I had always thought under normal conditions it had LOTS of clearance.  I had an 06 FJR, which I think you are very familiar with, which I would occasionally scrape pegs on.  A lot more than I thought it should.  I weigh 240lbs nekked, and would always put way more than I needed in my bags.  I spent about $280 on a set up HyperPro springs, front and rear.  Best bang for the money I ever spent.  Spring compression in twisties was drastically reduced and scraping just about eliminated.  I would highly recommend that your friend look into a set.
Rod

Thanks. I will pass the info along to him. He is just getting settled into the Strom so I am sure he will be working up a list of farkles.

[kaosbandit]

I have occasionally scraped pegs on my Wee. However, I think it has a lot to do with cornering style. Leaning a bit to the inside i.e. using the K.T.M. (kiss the mirror) body position reduces the lean angle of the bike and keeping some light throttle dialed in all the way through the turn minimizes suspension compression. Those techniques make a difference on any bike but I think have a dramatic effect on the tall, high center of gravity VStrom.

I agree with you. In the video you may notice that he has an odd riding posture. His top 4 vertebrae are fused from an old motorcycle accident years ago. Because of that he has to stay more vertical and let the bike move more. That probably has something to do with it as well.

[Cook]

Actually, I thought your friend might have been a dirt bike rider in an earlier life.  I find myself falling into this mode in successive tight twisties.  Rather than doing speedy  transitions to the inside of the bike, if the turns are not too tight I will fall into going upright and flicking he bike under me ; not good, but happens.

[kaosbandit]

Actually, I thought your friend might have been a dirt bike rider in an earlier life.  I find myself falling into this mode in successive tight twisties.  Rather than doing speedy  transitions to the inside of the bike, if the turns are not too tight I will fall into going upright and flicking he bike under me ; not good, but happens.

He definitely was a dirt bike rider and I think it was a dirt bike he hurt his bike on. Maybe that's what it is.