If you are going to be riding all day, and for multiple days in a row, you better be comfortable. If not, the discomfort will build over time and add exponentially to your levels of fatigue. Essentially there are two categories of "upgrades" that either contribute or detract from long distance comfort - air management and contact points (hands, feet, butt). I have now modified or replaced pretty much all the parts on my V-Strom related to both of these categories and believe that I now have the most comfortable touring setup of any bike I have owned.
A couple seasons ago I dealt with the air management issues by adding a taller touring windshield, a spoiler and side deflectors. There was a lot of wind noise and buffeting with the stock setup that I needed to fix and this combination has worked well, even though it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing. With the taller and wider shield, I also had to use mirror extenders so that they would clear the sides when the handlebars are at full lock. The extenders, along with some aftermarket mirrors further refined and smoothed the airflow.
Now to start packing!
A couple seasons ago I dealt with the air management issues by adding a taller touring windshield, a spoiler and side deflectors. There was a lot of wind noise and buffeting with the stock setup that I needed to fix and this combination has worked well, even though it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing. With the taller and wider shield, I also had to use mirror extenders so that they would clear the sides when the handlebars are at full lock. The extenders, along with some aftermarket mirrors further refined and smoothed the airflow.
The stock seat is also long gone, replaced with a used Corbin that I purchased from a V-Strom forum. I've had Corbin seats before and like them because of their bucket shape and firmness (you don't sink in). Even though it is a much better seat than what came stock, there were still some issues I needed to address. Long days in the saddle mean hot spots, pressure points and sweat. I've tried sheepskin and beads and neither of those really made a huge difference. Recently, I found a product called Sit-N-Fly and found think it may be the best solution yet. It is a vented cover that you stretch over the seat and eliminates all of the above concerns. My longest ride with the Sit-N-Fly was the 700 mile Memorial Day Weekend shakedown ride. It worked like a charm so I have high hopes for the trip!
For this season, I added Oxford heated grips. I also have heated gloves but they only warm the backs of your hands, whereas heated grips take care of your palms. I also put Grip Buddies wraps on as both a way to enlarge the grips and also dampen some minor vibrations.
I also recently added Zeta offset bar risers to move the handlebars up and back. On previous trips, I found that over the course of several days I would end up with muscle knots in the area between my shoulder blades. I found that the slight reach forward and lower position of my hands was the potential culprit. Although the shift in the bars looks minimal, it has made a huge difference.
On my 2015 trip to Colorado, I found the stock footpegs didn't offer enough support for my feet. Because of their narrow profile, I was feeling a narrow pressure point that over the course of the trip would become a major irritant and source of fatigue. I replaced the stock pegs later that year with these from SW-Motech and couldn't be happier. They are wide enough to spread out pressure, angled forward for comfort and they also mount lower so my knee angle on the bike is now a bit more relaxed.
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