Modifying my bike for my

[solo1]

80 plus bod is an ongoing thing.

Due to many things including arthritis in my right wrist, knees that are not good, and general overall reduced physical condition, I've been going through some mods to my bike, a 2006 Vstrom 1000.

First, going from the 800 pound weight of the Valkyrie to the 525 pound weight of the Vstrom has kept my knees from protesting loudly when I move the bike about.  The increased distance of the seat to foot peg distance has also helped.  A throttle lock and a palm rest has helped my right wrist.  foam wraparounds over the grips has helped keep my hands from cramping up with their bigger diameter.

Engine guards (not shown in the pic) will help keep fallovers cheaper when, not if, I drop the bike.
Since the 'Strom is considered to be an 'adventure touring', it came with plastic hand guards which go a long way to keep my hands warm and less stiff.  Although I don't ride much at night, the double 60 watt headlights of the Strom light up the road far better than any bike that I've owned.  That makes it easier on my eyes (cataracts).

More mods will be on the way as I find the need to compensate for my reduced everything, LOL!

After all this, I'll probably find that I'll be limited in how long I can stay in the saddle but, hopefully, I'll be able to keep getting in the saddle for awhile yet.. 

The 'Strom is a joy to ride as it's fast, responsive, and reasonably comfortable, without having the weight of a Valk or GW.  I'm blessed that I can still ride and my riding instincts are still mostly intact.

Why did I post this? I don't know.  Maybe to give a few pointers on how to trick your bod into riding a little longer. At any rate, riding is still more fun when I can do it and not just read about it.

I'll probably do more mods next year.




 

[six2go #152]

Wayne:
I see that your Strom has a "generator plug" in the left sidecover. Some of those are a "bear" to remove. Let me know if you have any trouble with it. 

[PAVALKER]

I'm sure most of us might make it to where you are at in age (provided the whole 2012 thing doesn't happen).... and we would be curious about how to stay on two wheels.  So your info is helpful, and probably more so with others nearing that point now.  So for the rest of us that are not there yet... thanks for the info/tips.

I understand the bike weight difference being easier and comfortable, but I just can't imagine that seating position being so.  IMO that looks like it might cause more pressure on your arms/hands/wrists.

[six2go #152]

"but I just can't imagine that seating position being so.  IMO that looks like it might cause more pressure on your arms/hands/wrists."

I'm a friend of Solo's so I'll help address this as I also have a V-Strom. The pics are actually deceiving, you don't really apply any pressure on the wrists. You sit pretty much "straight up" which allows you to move around and change weight distribution unlike the "locked in, all the weight on your butt" position of cruisers. Don't get me wrong, my Valk is comfortable, but when it comes to taking one of my bikes on a long road trip, the Strom is the 1st choice. I'm not a kid either, just turned 66 and contemplating a trip from Indiana to Colorado via highway US 50 next year. If I do that, the V_Strom will be my ride.

[chip]

What ever it takes to keep on living the good life,and that doesn't look like a bad way to go. Like the idea of the Vstrom, rode a couple of KLR's just a little more off rode than I think I would like , for myself I think the Vstrom may do the job.

[Strider]

Mr. Wayne, whatever keeps you in the wind is an awesome thing.  We were looking at the Vstrom when we were thinking about doing a loop through Central America.  I wish Suzuki would have kept making them - it appears that they only make the 650 now.  It seems like they would have kept the 1000 to compete with the Beemers, KTM's and the other higher cc dual sport bikes.

That is a sweet ride! 

Keep us posted on how it works for you.

[solo1]

Warren, actually the 650 is more popular, it's lighter (better off road) and capable for any one up riding.  It was outselling the 1000 5 to 1 so Suzuki doesn't import the 1000 anymore.

I like the 1000 though for my use. I like the extra power even though it weighs about 40 pounds more than the 650.  From what I learned on the Strom forum, the 650 will do most everything, the 1000 is some better twoup especially in hilly country.  Both, IMHO, are great bikes with good fuel mileage.

As an added plus, the ride is easy on me. 6.3 inches of travel front and back really soaks up the bumps.
Flickability isn't bad either due to the high COG.

[RTaz]

  Sounds like you will be in the wind for a long time to come...you may not be able to ride as long or for as many miles but it really doesn't matter sometimes I'm happy just to go around the block ...good to hear from you...

[Popeye]

Solo1,

I always enjoy your motorcycle posts.  Your years of riding give you that extra edge of experience and wisdom to pass along.

I hope I am still riding at 80.

Popeye

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Solo1,

I always enjoy your motorcycle posts.  Your years of riding give you that extra edge of experience and wisdom to pass along.

I hope I am still riding at 80.

Popeye

I agree. It's great to read and learn from your posts. Sounds like a great bike too.
Mike

[Stude]

Nice looking Valkstorm Mr Solo1 
You are living proof that it's hard to keep a good man down 

[GreenLantern57]

Thanks for inspiring me!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I've said it before ...I'll say it again...I admire you and hope to be above ground at 80 ....Ridin' at 80 would be awesome  ....Ride On Wayne 

[wupster]

      Wayne, I hope I can still ride when I'm 80!  Thanks for the great posts you
      throw up on the board. keepem comin.  Hope to see ya around town on
      that slick new V 

[Mongo]

I picked up a 650 Wee this spring, and love it ! Light weight and quick. I use it around town most of the time. I put more miles on the Valk this summer (longer trips) but used the the V-Strom on more rides. I'm almost 350# and the bikes pulls me around with no problems. You have to shift more and if you are not in the right gear you know it, but the slow speed handling is almost effortless. I had a 600 Honda Transalp  it didn't handle as well or have as much power.

[Billy]

These kind of bikes can get you in to places that big cruisers fear to tread. Nothing beats taking a deserted trail back in the hills of New Mexico at least 10 miles from the nearest highway and camping out and watching curious coyotes circle your camp.

[Chiefy]

Good for you.  Your post reminds of the last chapter in Chuck Yeager's autobiography.  He was commenting on aging.  He said when he got too old to fly jets, he's switch to prop planes.  When he couldn't fly those, he'd switch to Piper single engine planes.  When he was too old for that, he's fly ultralights.  When he was too old for that, he'd fly kites.    Nothing was going to keep him from flying.

2 wheelers tend to be pretty rough on the idea of trikes.  Well, I have a trike and a 2 wheel Valk.  The Trike is a freaking blast.  Although I think I'll be selling the trike soon, if the day comes when I can't handle 2 wheels, I'll buy another trike and have one hell of a good time.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

These kind of bikes can get you in to places that big cruisers fear to tread. Nothing beats taking a deserted trail back in the hills of New Mexico at least 10 miles from the nearest highway and camping out and watching curious coyotes circle your camp.

Does sound like a good time. I don't know how many times I've stared down an iffy single lane dirt or gravel road from the seat of the Valk and thought about my dirt bike days long ago. And, about how expensive a busted exhaust or crankcase would be on the Valk.

Mines been down the gravel roads and the rutted dirt lane to our deer camp many times. But, I know those roads.

[PAVALKER]

"but I just can't imagine that seating position being so.  IMO that looks like it might cause more pressure on your arms/hands/wrists."

I'm a friend of Solo's so I'll help address this as I also have a V-Strom. The pics are actually deceiving, you don't really apply any pressure on the wrists. You sit pretty much "straight up" which allows you to move around and change weight distribution unlike the "locked in, all the weight on your butt" position of cruisers. Don't get me wrong, my Valk is comfortable, but when it comes to taking one of my bikes on a long road trip, the Strom is the 1st choice. I'm not a kid either, just turned 66 and contemplating a trip from Indiana to Colorado via highway US 50 next year. If I do that, the V_Strom will be my ride.

I think you might be right about the deceiving pics.... someone further down in this thread had a side shot face to face with a Valk for a better look.   I can really appreciate a bike being lighter and more agile (I'm not a youngster  but not quite where Wayne is at either).  I give Wayne a big  thumbs up for riding at 80.  And I think Smokin Joe said best....

 

[Mongo]

I think it's differant for everyone. But the Valk is hands down a more comfortable ride for me. The V-strom is harder on my wrist and hands.  I did have wrist surgery in 2008 so it might be just me but I have had my hand fall a sleep on the V-Strom and I don't have that problem with Valk. still the V-strom is lots of fun.

[Billy]

You keep riding Solo. Keep active, thats the clue to health and vitality. My brother and I had a compare going last summer between the two bikes we were on. A Valk and a BMW R1150GS. He's  been on cruisers so preferred the Valk. This is my 2nd year coming  since I bought the Valk and riding my first cruiser . Both give sorta neutral seating position. Biggest difference is wgt and mass.
I find myself riding more aggressively on the GS. I was more laid back and more relaxed on the Valk. Coming across country, the Valk won out on smooth fast freeway. Coming across Nevada and Utah and Wyoming east ward  it shown. Once over the Illinos line with traffic getting heavier and the roads chewed up, the GS shown.

[solo1]

I rode 550 miles non stop on the Valk when I was 75.  I seriously doubt that I could've done it with comfort on the Vstrom. 

Today, because of the weight difference, the Vstrom is better for me.  I tried sidecaring but it wasn't for me.  A trike, I think, would've been the same. 

I like two wheel riding. I like the banking and the acceleration.  That's why I'm modifying the Strom to best fit me.  Others would go a different route to keep riding and that's good.

On bad days, I would hope to drive my Miata with the top down.  That is the second best thing to riding for me.

I sincerely hope that all of you will be able to ride when you become an old geezer too.  Thanks for the undeserved compliments, everyone.

[Chiefy]

Sidecars and trikes are different animals.  But you gotta go with what you like.