What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[pichulec]

I use grip puppies for about 5 years. Got to use to the increase in diameter but now it feels weird to hold the grip on the bikes without them :D I also have them over Oxford heated grips.

[Upt North]

Dicky, yes they are.
Because of circumstance we did a 200 mile + day ride with only the clutch side fitted. The difference was instant.
1. First noticed it just felt comfier.
2. It was instantly warmer than the other oem grip, but the heat doesn't build and equalised after a while. Note I have not got heated grips.
3. No difference in how the bike rode, inputs required etc.
4. The not too intrusive vibrations were lessened anyway. There was no buzzing in my fingers after a 2 hour stint. Again better than the other grip.
5. On the return journey my right hand fingers started to cramp up and there was pain in the knuckles, the grip puppy side was all day comfy. The cramp might be just me, I started with it on the Pan in Spain this year. Repeated long days also lead to trigger finger. There was some of this in my right hand on the day ride but none in my left.
So again, yes, I like them and wonder why I never fitted them before. Be aware the original grip may loosen if you need to wrestle them on, with the zip ties this wasn't an issue.
Good luck.
Upt'North.

[pieman53]

Have used grip puppies for the last decade, can't remember when I started but they do work for me. Have them fitted over heated grips and find that they pose no problem, they get rid of a bit of vibration and save me having sore hands at the end of the day. For what they cost it's a no brainer.

[Cartejo5]

Uptnorth, is that the grip puppies fitted over standard or oem heated grips?

[Dicky]

Thanks all for your advice and hints. The pups are now in place. Took about 20 mins with some soapy water and a pair of thin disposable rubber gloves. Left the handlebar weight on the clutch side and a bit of pushing and turning got the pup on. Took the handlebar weight off the throttle side, placed a couple of large zip ties, one at 12 0'clock the other at 6 O'clock, over the throttle grip and pushed, pulled and turned the pup a bit and on it went. I'll have a test ride when the weather brightens up a bit.

Cheers,

Dicky.

[Upt North]

Standard oem non heated grips. Why would we have heated grips in the lovely perpetual summer of the North East.
 
Upt'North.

[pichulec]

New exhaust clamps, they shouldn't be rusting as previous. 316 stainless steel Mikalor W5. I had Mikalor W2 previously and clamps were fine but bolts rusted shut.

[Rixington43]

I might be wrong and it may be hidden under the clamp but I can't see any evidence of the sleeve gasket for your rear downpipe connection.
Do you get any blow by at this joint as I have had exactly the same issue twice due to failed clamps allowing the exhaust to blow by and evaporate the gasket.

[UK_Vstrom650]

I turned both my heated grips and heated jacket on today on the way over the M62...

[pichulec]

Hello Rixington43. You are right. It is blowing there. This is next task to do. Remove whole exhaust and replace all the gaskets + new exhaust cement. Thanks for pointing this, now I know where it pops and bang on overrun

[Rixington43]

Well I see you've already tackled the worst part of that job which is the front header bolts so you're half way there. I'm about to do mine for the second time as I got the rear downpipe slightly misaligned and didn't use enough exhaust cement. Live and learn, it's not a bad job once you realise the front crush gasket doesn't just push in but needs to be pulled into place by the header pipe when you tighten the flange bolts .

[pichulec]

Yeah. I bought the seals just now + exhaust cement. They ask for £15 per seal but managed to find pair for £16, so bought all four. In my case shouldn't be a problem to remove full exhaust I will probably leave lambda in. How difficult is to unplug lambda? Does it require anything disassembled?

[Rixington43]

Unplugging the lambda is easy, it's on the clutch side behind the plastic belly pan if I remember rightly and then it's just a case of taking note of the cable routing for when you reassemble everything.
A couple of tips if they're any help (you may know already);
- Removing the front crush gasket is a destruction job with a screwdriver then just get the new one to hold in place before attaching the front down pipe.
- Assemble the whole system with all the fixings super loose at first.
- Have a second person or use a jack to lift the collector up against the link pipes to get the collector as far up on to the rear down pipe as possible and then tighten everything up.

If you have after market exhausts then the rear link pipes may not use sleeve gaskets, in which case just use assembly cement or an ultra high temperature silicone.

[pichulec]

Thanks for the tips. Bought crush gaskets as well so no problem. Tip with jack is a life saver!! I tried to push the midpipe up today when replacing clamps by using hammer and wooden block. It was barely going in.

I am thinking about leaving rear header pipe in place as the access to the bolts is terrible :/

[Rixington43]

Agreed, I wouldn't touch that one for all the tea in China unless it's actually leaking.


.... And I LOVE tea😉

[mrp192]

A 210 mile trip around the best B roads of South Norfolk and North Suffolk, with a large group of friends. Lovely weather and great company, on fantastic roads.
Beforehand thought my new Scottoiler X System was set a bit too high so turned it down a notch to dispense less oil, using the simple control panel. I’m obviously more simple as I turned it up, instead of down so chain now ‘really’ well lubricated along with a lot of the bike! Oh well, it was due a wash anyway...🤔

[Upt North]

It went a bit like this.......
That rear mudguard is just about useless.
Let's have a Google.
Why don't someone make universal rear mudguard extenders for the VSTrom.
Perhaps they do but I can't find em.
How much is plastic.
OK, what do I know about plastics......naff all, nowt, not a sausage.
Polypropylene sounds like the stuff you need.
Let's get cracking.
Including the longer number plate screws it was less than £14.00 plus quite a few man/woman/non binary hours.
All property and intellectual property rights are owned by myself and the patent is pending, unless you're in China, in which case just steal it.
I'd like your HONEST feelings please.
Upt'North.

[Rixington43]

Very smart recreation of the Gen 1 mudguard that worked fine until Suzuki got all stylish on it ;)

[Whiterose]

My neighbours are Chinese I'll let them know. 

Great job. 

[Brockett]

Mudguards that actually keep muck off the bike and rider eh? That'll never catch on.
However, I  your      I need to do something about the V7 so I am interested to find out where you sourced the plastic.