Miles Ridden: 3200
Mods: Slip-on pipe, windscreen, swingarm spools, tank guard
When I first took delivery of the 675 I didn't have a long list of must-do mods, but as I've racked up the miles I've discovered various areas that could use improvement. Originally the project was to be for performance upgrades only-to hell with comfort or practicality. But after a couple thousand miles the one component that was screaming for an upgrade was the windscreen. If you're thinking that a windscreen is nothing to get excited about, well...so did I, initially. But after hooking up a taller screen, my daily rides have dramatically improved.
The stock screen was designed to channel wind over the rider's body-provided they came from Middle Earth and had hairy feet. But my stature is closer to one of those blue folks from Avatar, and the hobbit-sized screen wasn't cutting it. Zero Gravity's "Corsa" series windscreen doesn't have the dorky appearance of some sport touring screens on the market, and I think the taller profile actually makes the 675 look more aggressive instead of like an old man's bike.
Zero Gravity Corsa windscreen...
Two Brothers Racing slip-on...
R&G Racing
swingarm spools...
From the seat, the windblast is markedly reduced and the front end actually feels a little roomier. The 675 is one of the smallest 600s on the market, so anything to make it feel more spacious is welcome.
I haven't gone soft on you though, and there's more on my mind than just wind protection. It would be almost criminal to keep the gorgeous engine tone bottled-up any longer, so after getting a baseline dyno run with the stock pipe I swapped it for a Two Brothers slip-on. The exhaust kit came with the wrench needed to pull the tail section and rear fender off, and just five minutes after starting the installation I was already buttoning it back up.
Pro Grip tank pad
$17.95...
The stock set up was 13.28 pounds versus the aftermaket pipe's meager 3.8 pounds. And along with the big weight savings and fantastic growl comes a mild boost in power-1.5 HP and just over 1 LB-FT. OK, maybe not big power gains, but with the weight savings and amazing sound I consider the upgrade a success.
Finishing off my first batch of upgrades was a tank guard from Pro Grip. I'm surprised at how many nice rides I see at various spots that don't have one of these little gadgets. They work wonders for saving the tank from zippers and belts, and they come in so many flavors that it'd be impossible not to find one to match your bike.
Coming next month:
Rearsets, clip-ons and quickshifter