Low594's WeeStrom Build

So I just picked up this '08 DL650(nonABS) with 11k miles from Fator's in Redding, CA on 3/1/2014.


Here's how she looks, 11 months and 10,000 miles later!

1 owner bike, originally sold & maintained by Fators. It got a new rear tire and AGM battery before I picked it up. The only mod/farkle I have found on it is a BMW Cig plug in the dash & Lockhart/Phillips surface mount front turnsignals.

Current Farkles
Comfort/Ergonomics
-ProGrip Rallye 714 grips(3/9/14)
-AdventureTech Footpeg Lowering Brackets(3/22/14)
-Madstad Bracket(3/22/14)
-Pivot Pegz PP-33Mk3(3/28/14)
-NoName Short Billet Levers(7/1/14)
-CRG Hindsight Lanesplitter Mirrors(7/12/14)
-Suzuki Euro Windscreen(thanks gjcarving(3/12/15)
-Vstroma/Studebaker folding shift lever(5/2/15)
-Enduro Guardian Highway Pegs(5/2015)
-Saddleman Adventure Seat(5/14/15)
-Atlas Throttle Lock(9/23/15)
-DL1000 Upper Triple Tree (10/31/15)
-ProTaper 1-1/8" Risers(10/31/15)
-ProTaper 1-1/8" EVO Adventure High bars(10/31/15)

Engine Performance
-Touratech Oil Cooler Relocation Kit(2/14/15)
-Suzuki Air Filter(2/20/15)
-Akropovic slip-on/stock main pipe(3/28/15)
-Motul coolant(4/26/15)
-NGK Iridium spark plugs(4/26/15)
-smog canister delete(5/16)

Electrical
-Ram Mount X-Grip(3/14/14)
-Heat Demon grip heaters(3/23/14)
-BlueSea Dual USB Port(3/31/14)
-Eastern Beaver H4 Dual Relay Headlight Kit(4/20/14)
-PowerLet Tankbag Kit(4/20/14)
-(2)Cyclops H4 3800lumen LEDs (running yellow filters(2/16/16)
-ADVMonster Model 60 LED Flood, 3600lumen(10/26/16)
-ADVMonster Model 30 LED Spot, 1500lumen(10/26/16)

Luggage
-Wolfman Timberwolf Tankbag(3/9/14(thanks BiggerAl!)
-RokStraps(3/12/14)
-Husky/HomeDepot Dry Duffle(3/9/14)
-Jesse Odessey2 Boxs(3/18/14)
-Adv Alp Tailrack(4/22/14)
-Petco Dog Kennel(7/6/14)
-Storm Industries Crashbar Bags, Crye MultiCam(9/20/14)
-Tusk Tank Panniers(under seat)(4/1/15)
-Tool Tube 4" Drain Pipe(5/1/15)
-(2)Twisted Throttle Camp Fuel Bottle Holders(5/20/15)
-(2)Touratech 3L Jerry Can & Mount(5/20/15)

Suspension/Handling/Braking
-AdventureTech Fork Brace(3/22/14)
-Heidenau K60Scout front; 1st installed @ ~14,000miles(5/12/14); 2nd installed @ 29,200miles(7/2016)
-2001 GSXR600 Front Brake Master Cyl(2/10/15)
-Galfer Steel Braided front Brake Lines(2/10/15)
-Heidenau K60Scout rear(installed @ 22,450miles)(4/26/15)
-SVRacing right angle valve stems(4/26/15)
-EBC HH front brake pads(@29,200miles(7/2016)
-RaceTech Emulator cartridges(11/16/16)
-RaceTech Fork Springs(11/16/16)
-Ohlins SU823 rear shock(11/30/16)
-Tutoro Auto Chain Luber(5/22/18)

Protection
-Enduro Guardian Steel Skidplate(4/19/14)(thanks GuyFaux!)
-Spot Gen3(4/29/14)
-Enduro Guardian Oil Cooler Guard(5/14)
-Enduro Guardian Radiator Guard(12/19/14)
-Swing Arm Slider/Spools(2/17/15)
-AdventureTech Side Stand Foot(11/3/16)
-Cycra CRm Probend Handguards w/MadHouse Creations custom mounts(6/6/18)
-Outback Motortek Crashbars(6/15/18)

Other/Cosmetic
-MadHouse Creations Nav/USB Mount(3/31/14)
-Rustoleum Oregano paint(4/9/14)
-DL650VS Adventure decals(4/9/14)
-rear mudguard bob(6/15/14)
-smoked rear turnsignal lenses(7/1/14)
-Hi-Mount Beak/fender(kTm 950SE part #5030801030030)(7/20/14)
-Suzuki Centerstand (11/15/14)
-smoked LED Taillight & integrated turnsignals(7/2016)
-kickstand switch delete(5/14/18)

Planned Farkles
-Eastern Beaver aux harness(ready)


Current Pics
3 week LoadOut 5/2014

Puppy Time

2/18/2015

I finally got it to my place here in Oakland on Saturday(3/8/14) and took it out first chance I got!
Yesterday, Sunday, I swapped the bars out for a set of ProTaper MetalMulisha bars that I got on sale at CycleGear, along with 7/8"->1-1/8" x 2" Bar Adapter/Risers and ProGrip Rallye grips.

I then took it down to San Jose to meet up with a few buddies and to check how she feels! Great all around, tho the bars are still too far forward and the pegs are a bit tucked, even for my short(5'7" & 30" inseem) legs! The peg lowering brackets will be ordered soon along with a set of PivotPegz!

My new Jesse boxes will be arriving on Tues or Wed!

I'm in a bit of a rush to get the luggage situation fixed(almost ready!) and ergonomics solved, since I leave for a 2 week trip on May 3rd, about 6 weeks away!

Congrats!!

Looks good in yellow. Are you planning on lowering it?

Be safe and post pics

I wasn't happy with the seat as original, so I had it modified, with more padding. This slightly changed the seat/peg relationship.
I wouldn't wait too long to update the h/light harness.

Im not keen on the yellow. Ive been a all black bike guy for years, then it got popular, so I cant do that either! I am planning a color change, probably after my trip in May.
Im hoping to not lower it, Im coming off the 640A, which I had to stretch to touch 1 foot. But I now have a torn Achilles, which has made slow progress in the last 6 months. I can just barely touch flat footed.

The seat is like a giant cushy sofa, when comparing to the hardwood 2x4 that my 640 had stock, I changed that for a Seat Concepts which was nice, but was like a soft 2x4. The factory strom seat is super nice! I will probably throw my sheep skin on for the long hauls.
Ive got a few lighting ideas, the ADVMonster lights will be fine for a long time. But I am considering a complete nose-sectomy or maybe just a pair of Morimoto projectors with HID.

Put black stripes on the tail and call it the BeeStrom!

Where ya going in May? If you're going to the V-Strom rally at Deals Gap and you still don't like the yellow, we could swap your yellow parts for my red parts!

I'm only going as far as Utah or Arizona on this run, somewhere between 9 & 12 days out and then 4-5 back. My Dad is making another crosscountry run on his FrankenHonda ('79 CM400 w/parts from CB900, BMW, Ducati, KTM & more?) and I'm going to give him an escourt out of Cali, hoping a few friends join me! Here's a link to his 2011 Con-US Border Run

As for color, I'm going non-factory... more detail when I pull the trigger!

I have a pair of older Givi crash bars (purchased summer of 2010 I think). They took one good thwack in the dirt and pushed all the way in far enough to dent the tank; the plastics somehow didn't break, but I wasn't impressed. The tubes bent at the mounting plate.

I don't know if they have changed their design, or how much of a concern that is to you, but I thought I'd chime in...

Also, if you're new to dirt or want a refresher, someone's throwing a training north of Sacramento this weekend...check our the Regional forum

Thank you! It's definitely a concern! I have been planning on looking for comparisons on the different crashbars, before I shell out the money for one.

Glad you bought that,every time I went into Fators and saw that bike it made me question buying a new one,I like my new Strom and wish you many happy miles on yours,now I just have to hope they sell the 950 KTM they have cause it's calling my name too.Bikes like women always have me wishing for the 1 I don't have.

No problem, glad i could help you out!
I was eyeing that one as well, but a friends nighmare is a 950 and my 640 has been a love/hate/love..... relationship for too long!

That's why there's a 650 Strom in my shed,too many good reports on them,and it's got such a following endless info and aftermarket,a Katoom will reside in my shed someday just not now,I wanna ride not tinker.

I got some stuff done on her last night!
-Swapped out the ProTaper SX bars for a taller set of FatBars from my KTM
-Mounted the Handguards from the KTM
-Remounted the 2 heatshields that I had painted Satin Black 2 nights ago

I tried to mount up my new Jesse's, but they sent the wrong frame?! Seems they boxed up a KLR650 kit, not a DL650! Waiting for the call back to see how we can get this resolved.

Well, Jesse's has sent the correct mounting kit and return postage for the KLR kit. I should see it on Monday!

I stopped by Scuderia West in SF, near where I work. Picked up a few items:
-Brake master perch clamp (I audibly heard cracking last night when I tried to unscrew the mirror!)
-DOT4 fluid
-MotionPro 8mm Brake Bleeder(awesome tool!)
-RokStraps(mine were getting old)
-2spd Heated Grips(dual element not resistored!)
-Battery Tender Batt. Lead

So once home, I bled the front brakes cause they feel mushy. That didnt go away, but I can nearly 2finger a stoppy!
Then I got the KTM mirrors mounted, adjusted controls and such.

Hey the Moose foot pegs that I stole off my KLR fit nice on the Strom,same size mounting as DR650,makes a nice flat grated place for my small feet

I heard those fit and considered going that route! Im going to drop the coin on th PivotPegz after finally having tried them. I spent alot of time riding upright and with still trying to get this Achilles to heal, after 6 months of not riding, I need to spend money that will help it out. I tried to get them yesterday befor work, but AdvDesigns forgot to tell me that they sell quick and I should reserve them. They are now on order and should be in this week!

I'm not sure if Cory was there when you picked your bike up in Redding but his Strom is set up nice and he uses it,I believe he went with pivot pegs,had I not already had the Moose pegs I too would have gone pivot.

Cory was there, cool dude! It was his bike that I sat on to check them out. I was a lil worried I was getting caught up in the bling, but my uncle also thouht they were a good idea. Hes been riding street, dirt and hare scramble for 2 millenium and hes a bare bones guy who doesnt do bling. Once he sadi theyd be good, I didnt feel so silly!

Not a bling guy either,but those slippery pegs the bike comes with are just that,slippery,and pivot pegs don't scream"look at me" but will be a grand safety addition to the bike.Funny Im so anti bling I don't even wash the bike,Stroms are made to ride not stare at

Here here!
Whats the scene like up there? Is there a coffee or dinner gathering near you? What town are you in?
My sis lives outside of Cottonwood and the rest (dad, uncle, mom & grandpa) live in Redding. I usually only make it for holidays and 1 late summer trip, but I am going to try and change that this year!