Converting the SV for touring...
 

Ok, so I am mid-conversion and figured I'd post some progress here... I added a gel seat back in 2003 and that was about it until my body decided to force the issue when my back decided to completely give out with no warning and I couldn't even walk... at that point, I figured out that I need to make my bike more comfortable.

I love my SV and I can't drop the $ on a new bike at the moment so...

As of this past week:

• SVN triple clamp

• SVN risers (I'll add risers above and beyond the stock ones from Twisted Throttle over the winter)

I also ordered the Buell lower foot pegs since my knees have never been particularly happy with the riding position of the K3 SV.

How long can you ride before things just become too uncomfortable now?

in stock configuration I can only go for about 2-3 hours (with 5-6 minute breaks for gas etc) before my back and knees get so bad that I need to stop for several hours.

I would look into sending your old seat to Russell Day Long. They look goofy, but they are very very comfortable. They are also pretty pricey, but well worth it.

Bite the bullet, sell the SV and get a VSTROM.

Or a Bill Mayer Saddle

I had a corbin on the blackbird..it was 500 times better than stock, but this Bill Mayer saddle is the best seat I've ever sat on.

833 miles in 12 hours and I was pissed I had to stop at 245 mile intervals for gas

But of course, my travel bikes an RT :shrug:

Once we're secure in a larger place I'll consider a different bike.

Sell the sled.

It's not like you get lots of snow anyways.:tremble:

you've got a better chance if having a period than of me getting rid of my sled :lol:

If staying in the same brand Rider is correct!

eventually. :)

Actually, I'm saving my pennies for a BMW GS ;)

I'm about at the same point with the comfort deal. As in, I'm not, at all. Ever.

You are never in for comfort?

Not on my bike I'm not. Bout 10 minutes in to the ride my back will start to hurt.

OIC... yeah I dont have that problem... wonder why.... hmmmm

Yeah...wonder why? :lol

Might be this little tid bit
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...Comfort011.jpg

or maybe just the whole package!

Bitch, you know I can see PB shit at work.

My lumbar support/backrest. You'll see it later.

You'll see it later.

I walked into Oneida Suzuki today and looked at several bikes - I have to say I still like my SV better than almost anything there, just need to adjust the ergos. I have the SVN triple and bars on now (picked up new bar-ends while in Oneida Suzuki since the hardware was a bit oxidized on the old ones; comes in handy living about 15 minutes away :lol:) and it seems like 100 times better than with the clipons. Now I just have to wait for my other parts to come in at Oneida (brake fluid reservoir from my little "incident" the other day and new throttle cables from convertibars.com) so I can actually ride it.

I also ordered a higher windscreen while getting the other parts today and got notification yesterday that the Buell pegs shipped. Pics to follow as soon as I can.

bicycle shorts under your jeans will fix all your bum issue's.

guess it;s me, but i didn't have any real back pains w/ the busa, granted it had risers and heli bars. but i did do 17 hrs the first day and that was really the first time i had ridden that bike. and it has a stock seat, i contribute the no pain to biking shorts.

and i'm outta shape like a mofo.

my gel seat takes care of that for the most part but I may invest in something better soon (I don't like the rise of the gel seat)

thats kinda my point.........i have a fact. seat and was able to stand alot of hrs due to shorts......

What kind of luggage you got?

I have a Joe Rocket tailbag (old one) that I got from Tricktape a while back and a Nelson Rigg tank bag (non-magnetic). I'll eventually replace the tail bag with saddle bags and a new tail bag if I can find a set for the right price.

I've got the Nelson Rigg tail bag that I love. I'm looking to get the NR saddle bags to go with it. I've only got the Icon primer tank bag. I need a bigger one. Have you seen the SV tourer thread over at svrider.com? Lots of good ideas there

yep - I've been surfing there for ideas too using my original user name (PrtclMn001) :)

I was wondering if that was you. I mostly lurk over there.

Racer Whats this crazy theory you have on biker shorts???

I've been tossing around the idea of getting the Buell select seat. And I need the Buell touring pillon for my wife. She complains of the shitty padding on the stock pillon.

He stole it from Trace.

Tylenol and bicycle shorts. The gel padding in the shorts helps with the numb bum issue.

but the Tylenol leaves impressions on my ass cheeks when I sit on it...

:lmao:

closer to the hole. It is a supository

Yikes. michael jackson

ouch

exit only.

Pfff. Live a little. :whatwhat:

dunno if i stole it, i wore them 8-9yrs ago when i went cross country, but to san fran side.........:boobs:

btw, buy decent one's pearlizumi are nice.......

well, the Buell pegs arrived today - a little Demel action and they should fit fine. Pics to follow.

Old Peg:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...001/OldPeg.jpg

New Peg:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...01/NewPegs.jpg

I also got some new toys when I went to Oneida Suzuki:

New Windscreen (4 inches higher than stock):

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...Windscreen.jpg

Keyguard for the new triple clamp (converted from clip-ons to handle bars):

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/BrakeRes.jpg

Picture of the full handle bar conversion:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...01/NewBars.jpg

Nice, I like the ergos on the naked. I think you'll like the new bars

The whole thing:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/FullBike.jpg

Nice. Any long trips planned?

I WAS freakin' planning on going to the NE Rally but had to go into work instead.

I think I'll take a trip into the Adirodacks sometime in the next couple weeks.

Cool. I'm planning on a fall Gap trip by myself for a weekend. I hope I can free up some time for it.

What exactly do the Pegs do??

From the pics, it appears they drop down about an inch

Yep, that's exactly what they do. It may not seem like a lot but it's just enough to keep my knees from locking up.

Love that color on your SV. Nice work.

I wish I could take total credit but it came out of the crate that way :lol: (I did specifically request the copper color that year which hasn't been an available color since).

And thank you :D

As if its not going to be worse after enjoying the back seat of my couch!:skep:

No kidding. Thanks alot for that.

Yeah well now she wants you to have a cruiser... but I think she said "as well". That means 2 bikes!!! You're welcome!

She likes the XR1200X. I need to get that bad boy stateside.

F yea man... I got some connections over there... want to order one via England?

Yes. Of course I do.

I can ask my bud Lee

buy me one too while you're at it. :D

I'd like to get just a wee bit more upright. I have higher risers and stuff - just need bars that go slightly more back. Any thoughts?

make sure the cables reach at full lock...


also you may want a new screen if you end up with buffeting...

Already have longer cables and lines and a higher screen.

I'm still just a tad but too leaned over (I guess I have short arms) so I was wondering what bars would get me just a wee bit back more.

heli bars?

that's going backwards.:lol:

I yanked the clip-ons off and put N risers and bars on along with SW Motech risers. They're pretty upright but I want just a little more.

ahh I misunderstood what you were asking...

since you already have bars... what about the rox riser pivoting risers?

http://www.roxspeedfx.com/cgi-bin/ca...?subcat_id=268

hmmm, that's interesting.

Wonder if I can use that in conjunction with the existing risers...

you'd probably end up with a lot of "twist" if you were pushing it... I just wouldn't want to be as "disconnected" as I think you'd feel doubling up like that

True. Wonder if 'strom bars are higher..

I had renthal high "button" bars put on my DRZ... still not high enough for me when standing offroad... but you can look into those

or you could buy a more touring oriented bike :lol:

There's a novel idea. :lol:

Just throw some apes on it :lol:

check out different bends of bars, i have seen a few that look like they could fit your application

That's what I think I'll do.

When you can't find a bend or width you're happy with, just make your own!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lebarsteps.jpg
In addition to that, I had the triple-clamp welded up and re-drilled to accept bar-clamps with rubber bushings from (I think) a TDM850.

Well, I picked up some Bikemaster Daytona handlebars from Motorcycle Superstore (22 bucks). Since I already had the SVN bars and risers on the bike installation was pretty simple. Throttle cables were already longer than I needed before, as were the brake lines and clutch cables.

Hardest part was getting more slack from the wiring leading to the instrument pods on the bars. I ended up having to unplug the wiring and untangling it from the frame where Suzuki had wrapped it (wtf) and got another 5 inches of play or so from the wiring.

Old bars on top, Daytona bars on bottom:

http://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Other/...t7635868-L.jpg

There's just enough of a difference to make the ride a thousand times better. They're wider so I have to get used to the additional leverage (went around a curve on my test run and ground the pegs :lol:). This should allow me to sit further back on the saddle.

Sweet.

Nice. Gotta love the cheap Bikemasters. Great that they are affordable enough to try different setups