What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[pieman53]

Had a ride out with my old mate on his BMW to CMC at Clay Cross for a cup of tea.
Was closed on a bank holiday seems strange, missing out on all the bikers having a ride out day. 

[Uchujin]

Winter is coming

[Rixington43]

Took her down her first Green Lane at the weekend. Started out as tarmac before becoming seriously rough hard pack with bombholes as deep as your wheels and a full width mud puddle almost up to the axles, some of which I've brought home with me.
She's never going to be an off roader but I had enormous fun and will definitely be seeking out unsealed roads and mild green lanes in future. The missus even joined on her shiny new GS. I know right, a GS off road, unheard of 🤣

[TLPower]

Houndkirk moor that goes from Ringinglow to Foxhouse is doable on a road bike.

http://www.freetalk.me.uk/houndkirk.php

[Champy72]

Refitted both wheels today having been shod with new Continental TrailAttack 3's. The front needed to be replaced but the rear had a fairly fast puncture. Didn't fancy the Spain/France trip on a repaired rear, hence the new boot.
BTW, the rear had a piece of broken glass in it. Eastern Tyres (brilliant company) repaired in anyway as they said it wasn't too bad, and I'll use it one day (maybe) if I have any issues with the replacement.
Felt very strange on a mini ride out today - had to check that they were black and round - felt like the bike wanted to turn in even quicker and easier than I had been used to! Soon settled into the new feel and loving every minute...

[Upt North]

Went for a day ride with Er'Indoors. Got out to St.Abbs and North Berwick. Blummin lovely ride and starting to gel with the Strom.
Upt'North.

[Jules-iow]

Oil and filter change, flushed the front brake fluid. She's done 25,000 miles and it seems the motor is finally loosening up after a recent 1000 miles of motorway trip (I'm based on the Isle of Wight, our "motorway" is about 500 yards of dual carriageway).

[stoatsngroats]

I brought it home!
Following a discussion with V-twin, of this parish, I have now in my possession a low miles L4 650, see m6 avatar.

From Sussex this morning by train, to North Devon, arriving just after lunch.
A lovely chat, albeit shortened due to my desire to get back to Sussex as dry as possible - the weather was changeable all day across the 182 miles distance.
So, wet weather gear on, a cheery Cheerio to V-Twin ( the greatest of thanks by the way for a decent and effortless transaction!), and my return journey commenced.
Despite the weather, the roadworks, and the traffic, I made it home.
My first ride after passing my full test just last week….. 😀🙏

[Bobmc]

Did 571 miles in 12 hours yesterday The combination of Ohlins suspension Airhawk seat some stretches on the bike and standing up through villages mean I can actually walk today.

Weather was absolutely horrendous for parts of the journey but the 650 never missed a beat and kept going.

[Upt North]

So Bob, we need to know, where did you ride.
Upt'North.

[Bobmc]

I rode from Aberdeen to Lowestoft to take my grandsons to BSB at Snetterton tomorrow

[pieman53]

Went for a ride out yesterday in the Dales as its on my doorstep. On route home went passed a quarry which had just decided to use a road sweeper to clean and wet the road hence all the crap on the bike, just spent most of the morning cleaning the lady.
picture 1 sunny dales
picture 2 all the crap
picture 3 nice and clean again ready for the next trip out.

[Upt North]

I remember the quarries in the Peaks and Dale's, they were a flaming nuisance.
Upt'North.

[Youngman]

My 650 is almost 1 year old this month, so here are the assembly faults the 'mechanics' at the dealership left me with. Hopefully it will be of some use to others who've purchased one as a check list.
1. Gear change linkage not greased. Caused a fair amount of work for my boot. Greased and inspected the linkage.
2. Rear wheel out of alignment. Showed up by 'clean/dirty' sides on rear sprocket. Measuring and inspection of alignment marks showed it was off by a division on the markers. Slacken rear axle and align correctly. Checked with the string method.
3. Front axle LHS spacer loose. 2-3 mm play on the spacer. Loosened pinch bolt and torqued up the axle bolt per spec (it was mighty loose) using a 12mm hex drive. No play now.

You would think 'out of the box' there would be no issues regarding quality control. However, the bikes arrive partially assembled at the dealers in crates. They complete the assembly. I'm sure most dealers are responsible and have diligent and experienced mechanics. Sadly, the one I bought from in Batley didn't.
I'd really like to be a fly on the wall when they do an assembly - or if anyone knows the actual work items involved, I'd welcome a list. This could go a long way to helping folks who buy  new bikes to quality check their bike. The front axle fiasco is probably going to cost me a front wheel bearing in the near future due to crap getting into the gap. I will have to strip, clean and check it one cold winters evening...

[Upt North]

Will this help Mr.Young.
Upt'North.

[Youngman]

Thank you so much for this!! 
Now to get checking the rest of the 'opportunities' the dealer had to mess up.

I note there's no mention of the gear selector linkage - but I guess that would be part of the servicing checks

[Brockett]

Back in the late sixties I was chatting to a South African Road Racer and he told me how shocked he was to find that anyone, no qualifications required could work on motor vehicles in the UK. I SA only trained and qualified people could do such work.
I have no idea if this is still the case but my experience of new bikes leads me to think the "new boy" is sometimes thrown in at the deep end.

[mr_diver]

In quite a few dealerships you'll find the apprentice with very little experience and after being "supervised" a few times is left to uncreate and build the new bikes.

[kwackboy]

I've got no qualifications, well,  none that are valid today.

What I do have is vast experience, I was tuning two strokes, stripping / rebuilding engines and doing valve clearances, timing belts on cars at 17.

I applied for a job somentime ago and was told I couldn't apply because I had no qualifications 

[graingerblaze]

I don't give qualifications (in certain subjects) much weight. If I go into hospital I want to know the doctor has all the medical degrees under the sun, but if I take my bike into a garage I don't care what qualifications they have, just that they have years of experience and are not using my bike to learn on.

I did my masters degree in engineering at Brunel University, and to be honest the degree is worthless as I have learnt so much more in the field over the past 20 years, that the degree was just to open initial doors, not actually make you an engineer. Its probably the same with apprentices in bikes shops, they can be good and careful but they need to be overseen by an experienced mechanic who knows right from wrong. If the mentor is poor or the apprentice is left to learn, it should be no surprise that some shops get it so wrong. Qualifications in my eyes won't change that, only good practices at the shop.