Last year I bought a K5 DL650 from a friends brother, an avid Strom owner that took this very bike on a 10000 mile trip to Timbuktu with a group led by Nick Saunders. The Wee Strom had been laid up for SORN for over 4 years and was a well maintained bike before being laid up with 46K of foreign adventures but now a none runner. With the sale, came a nearly new K6 DL650 engine with very little mileage. I purchased the Wee as a general commuter and runabout after recently selling my Enfield Himalayan, a great bike in its own right, but not for the long haul daily 50 mile commutes I'd be doing. (Incidentally, I'll be seeking another Himalayan in the future). The first issue on the DL650, was the state of the fuel tank. It was like a forest growing in the tank, the fuel pump was u/s for sure. With the fuel pump replaced, new battery, some light electrical work a service on the original engine and the DL was a runner. It passed the MOT with no advisories and it rode very well. After a few months use, I noticed quite a high oil consumption and plenty of piston slap when the engine was cold. The DL rode very well and was nice a loose, but after a mate said he could smell the oil when he was behind, then the planning for that spare engine swap commenced. When the covid lockdown kicked in March, then the timing was perfect to start the swap. Over the next week, I will put together a photo commentary on the job in hand and find out the cause of the engines oil consumption.
Photos
The DL650 during its 10000 mile trip to Timbuktu with its original owner from new, Steve M. The DL650 never missed a beat and performed very well. The cleaner picture was taken in March 2019 after passing the MOT and following the light overhaul to get it back on the road. Hard to believe it is the same bike.
