Latest Farkles on the Dark Shadow (Wee Strom)

[Strider]

I know that this is not Valk related, but the rider sitting on top of her is a Valk pilot - so now it is (plus the Wee is the stablemate to a Valkyrie).  Getting the little Vee strom ready for some adventure riding.  Got the engine guards mounted (hate to call them CRASH bars), skid plate, highway pegs, GPS, RAM GPS express mount and Alaskan Leather sheepskin on.



Finally got past the 500 mile break in period, so I was able to push it up into the middle RPM band and she is a fun little bike.  DEFINITELY not a Valkyrie, but I picked her up for a different kind of riding than I would take the Valk on.  Like I said, a fun little bike......

Leaving out for Africa on Monday and when I get back, my aluminum panniers should be in so I can mount those and then taking her for a little couple of thousand mile "break in" run somewhere.  Whooooooo-Hooooooo! (Or should I say, Weeeeeeeeee Heeeeeeeeeee).  PS:  The reason for the angle and the sidestand still down is I was trying out a new tripod for the camera.




Man, sometime this year, I gotta work on coloring in those last remaining white states below....  

Oh yeah, also paid a little extra and got the limited edition GPS waterproof cover for the GPS.



I am a cheap redneck....what can I say......

Suspenders should prove my redneckness......

[CajunRider]

Cool!!!  Enjoy!!!

Where did you get the Alaskan Leather sheepskin from?  I'm debating whether it's worth getting one for the Valk. 

[Strider]

Ordered direct from Alaskan Leathers.  The one I got was the medium and MAN, WHAT A DIFFERENCE it made on the little Suzuki - a WORLD of difference.

$54.95 and $7 shipping.

alaskaleatheronline.com

Took about a week from order to arrival at my doorstep.

[3fan4life]

Oh yeah, also paid a little extra and got the limited edition GPS waterproof cover for the GPS.



I am a cheap redneck....what can I say......

          LMAO         


I thought of it as "Cajun"  Ingenuity. 

Man, sometime this year, I gotta work on coloring in those last remaining white states below.... 

When you fill in California check this spot out:



This is Highway 180 in Kings Canyon National Park, CA.

PIC was posted by Jim N in another thread, it is now on my "Bucket List".

[Strider]

Saw that shot last night - and it is on mine as well - what a shot! 

[John Schmidt]

Hey, you used the HIGH priced GPS cover. I'm cheaper than you are....mine are plain wrappers like some of my mail.    I even carry them in my saddlebag along with some rubber bands in case they want to blow off. I'm wondering how your "beyond middle-age" carcass will handle a 2k mile trip on that bike. I wouldn't be able to walk for a week after 500 miles on it. Looks like fun though....and have a safe trip over yonder.

[DDT (12)]

Striderman,

I gotta go with John on this one... serioulsy doubt the ability of my rumpus to hold up to them kinda miles on an 'Adventure' bike. I have a pal here, however, and he and his wife both ride VStroms... and they both do just fine. In fact, they LOVE 'em! I've been listenin' to tales of 'adventures', and I do admit I'm mighty tempted... On the otherhand, not sure my 'behind' would be behind me on that call... My best to ya, amigo... over yonder and back here... See ya down the road someplace.

DDT

[solo1]

I feel better.  I thought it was just my old age that made my 2006 VStrom 1000 less comfortable for me than the Valk.   

It is working out ok for me though.  The lesser weight of the Strom helps my knees.  I'll not take it 'adventure touring ' .......... oh wait, even road riding is adventure touring for me now.

Wayne, solo1

[Scott in Ok]

Warren,

What aluminum panniers did you order?  Just curious...

-Scott

[Strider]

The Happy Trails Cascade.  They were on sale a couple of weeks ago.  I got the panniers, mounting system, hammertone powdercoating (Black) and pre drilled and mounted to rack for a little over $600 - actually $635 at that time.  The frame system is at the powdercoaters and they won't ship until the 15th.  When I called them, they also threw in the matching key locks on them as well.  Most of my stuff (skid plate (motostuff), crash bars (Givi) and highway bars) came from them.  Also ordered a Cee Baily Aircraft Plastics windshield - they say it really knocks out the buffeting and a center stand coming with the Panniers - should make chain maintenance a lot easier when on the road.  That should do the farkles for now I think.

38.5l capacity - no, the decals do not come on the product.

[Scott in Ok]

Very nice, Warren!

I've got the Cee Bailey's windshield on my V-Strom and really like it.

-Scott

[mhallock]

3fan & Jim N,
Had to post this pic of Hawks Nest (New Jersey) when I saw the photo in California

CORRECTION----Actually in New York.....

Oh yeah, also paid a little extra and got the limited edition GPS waterproof cover for the GPS.



I am a cheap redneck....what can I say......

          LMAO          


I thought of it as "Cajun"  Ingenuity.  

Man, sometime this year, I gotta work on coloring in those last remaining white states below....  

When you fill in California check this spot out:



This is Highway 180 in Kings Canyon National Park, CA.

PIC was posted by Jim N in another thread, it is now on my "Bucket List".

Mark

[3fan4life]

3fan & Jim N,
Had to post this pic of Hawks Nest (New Jersey) when I saw the photo in California




Mark

I Never would've believed that New Jersey had any roads like that.

[Big IV]

I like your limited edition GPS ziplock case.

[mhallock]

Back to the top with correction on my Hawks Nest reply......

The Hawks nest is where New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York meet, but that road is in New York, not New Jersey....

Mark