Picked it up this afternoon, 2007 AK7 weestrom, silver
First impressions, bearing in mind I have only ridden around 100 miles so far. Coming off of an FJ1200 which I have ridden hard for the past 9 years, so I am used to torque/grunt/label as you will.
Lets start with the negatives shall we, and build up to the good bits...
I've never felt so beaten up by a bike in all my days, did around 30 motorway miles at 'around' the national speed limit. Hells teeth, I've been on naked bikes that don't buffet you like that. That screen has to go or get moved. I ended up with my visor up (which I like) at nsl (and a wee bit) , which made it quieter.
Suzuki top box has to go, it's plastickie lock and such is just not going to last at all. I might just put a new lock on it or something.
Sounds a bit too quiet, I like to be able to blat the exhaust at dozy car drivers (the horn is for when I am angry ;)
It is covered in warning and information stickers, nanny britain/nanny bikes.
The bridgestone trailwings that are on it feel a bit vague, I'll wait till I've more miles under my belt on the bike before passing judgement.
Somebody keeps stealing the back brake pedal. I ride in motocross boots, and sometimes I pressed the brake, sometimes I pressed fresh air.
NOW
The good bits.
I enjoyed almost every second I was on it. All fears of wierdy handling and gutless engine that I have had have all gone now. It handles really beautifully, in just the way I like, you get feedback. It goes plenty quick enough to sit over the nsl all day.
When you get it on a B road, it comes into it's own. It turns from mild mannered Clark Kent into a giant supermoto, and I was peein myself laughing a couple of times. Definitely was making overtakes I couldn't have dared to on the FJ.
Brakes are great, again, I was slightly worried they'd be puny, but in fact they are brilliantly progressive (well the front, I rarely found the back brake pedal.
Visibility, ability to be seen is really excellent, I forgot how nice it is on a tall bike to be able to look over the cars and hedges.
Standard seat, well only been on it for 2 hours, but not a problem, tons of room to move around as well.
It's better than I hoped , and I can see it getting a lot of miles stacked on it very quickly.
Insurance was pennies, but I'm an old git with a million years no claims.
In summary, the faults are all trivial wee things that can be fixed by fiddling or spending a few quid (screen/brake pedal)
My fears of gutlessness are gone forever.
My overwhelming sensation at the moment is , why the hell are more people not riding these, it's bloody brilliant. Goes great, stops great, turns great, looks (I think, brilliant) and costs buttons to run.
RESULT!
One happy Strom rider , it may be called a weestrom, but on a back road it'll kick your Donkey
Woohoo, roll on later, going out to play with it on the back roads in the dark, best headlights I've ever come across on a bike.
Photos are on my phone at the mo, will post later, but with the list of bits I've ordered for it, it'll be unrecognisable in a fortnight.
