2000 SUZUKI V-STROM 1000
I
purchased this 2000 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
secondhand in 2007 for $9000. It was the
bargain of the century given all the other
viable adventure bike options at the time
were $20,000 or more. What I wanted was a
reliable, adaptable bike which I could use for
gravel road riding, two-up touring and even
the occasional photo-shoot mission. The
V-Strom looked like it would be able to do all
of that easily, so I snapped it up. Turns out it
could do all that and more, but I had to make
some tweaks to make it perfect for the job.
When I got the bike it had already been
fitted with all the extra Suzuki fruit. It sported
the OEM panniers and top Box, centre-stand,
screen with adjustable extension, engine bars
and hand guards. But it soon became clear
that some modifications would really help
make this bike more enjoyable to ride and
even more capable.
SUSPENSION
I stared with the suspension. Crown Kiwi
supplied Racetech Springs and shim-stack
valving, which Tjebbe Bruin installed. This got
the most possible out of the standard forks.
There was much less dive under braking
(which was pretty bad to start with) and it
rode much higher in the stroke. Richard
Taylor at KSS supplied an Ohlins shock,
which he sprung for my riding requirements
and then customised the valving to suit.
This Voodoo transformed the bike, giving
it a much more controlled ride yet with
compliance on all surfaces.
KIWI RIDER 35