What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[Dark-Strom]

May the force be with you.

As for beaks, they're pointless no? 

[purplebikeunicorn]

Fitted my new heated grips after the throttle tube fiasco. Thanks again to endintears for sorting me out in the mean time with some grips and a tube! Went for the Oxford Advance Touring, so a) I could hopefully get away with not running a new supply cable and just use the existing one, and b) they appeared to be the correct length at 120mm. Plus got a fiver off with an eBay discount code from SBS.

120mm is the perfect length from the inner raised section of the throttle to the end of the tube, meaning no cutting of the grip required, and no fouling on the bar ends/spacers, nor the controls. Much nicer than my previous ones. When prepping the throttle tube, the end ridge just flaked off with my fingers, and I filed the ribs into a ramp and left the others in situ to help with gripping the tube. It was a *tight* fit, and thought the small amount of glue I put on would set before I got it fully on, but got it in the end.

Toasty warm hands for this rubbish weather we're about to have... well, are having, because it took me 3 days with the pouring rain deciding to rain the moment I set foot outside!

[Brockett]

Beaks.
A matter of style but without practical use 
Much like glitter on party shoes.
OK for girls but I wouldn't.

[purplebikeunicorn]

Well, after fitting my grips, and giving the bike a wash (I may have missed a bit... you'll see later on), plus some anti-corrosive, and giving a final once over, took the bike for it's MOT... However, I overlooked the number plate light, probably because it was daytime. It wasn't working, so it failed.

Checked the wiring behind the mud guard, and voila. It's a proper faff to get to, especially if you've got pannier racks on, but my positive reg plate light wire had chafed through in two spots and had corrosion a good way up both directions. A very gentle pull broke the wire on both sides of the connector, and the connector was practically welded shut with corrosion on the pins.

Fixed it (had to opt for some bullet connectors as the connector wasn't salvageable), bit of convoluted tubing to stop it rubbing on anything else, and some silicone grease in the other connectors/bullet connectors to keep the water out. The indicators were OK, no corrosion of any kind on the pins and the wiring was also in good nick.

[Rusty Nuts]

Go on, Dave,  you know you want to.. 
 

[Whiterose]

Attempted to install a Cosmo Engine guard but couldn't undo the sidestand bolts for rear bracket, so had it fitted by Dave @ Motofix, Otley. Great job, nice piece of kit.

[Addzz]

Bought a new battery and powered it up fo the first time since I got it. I bought it as a salvage bike with no keys 

[Landsurfer74]

Ride out from Maltby to Squires Cafe then Selby and Doncaster (J&S) and home ...before sliding back in to bed to the screams of my wife as my freezing body found hers 

[stoatsngroats]

Had both tyres changed, now wearing BT023s.
£260 fitted, ride in and away, and not the most local place, but very competitive price, somI had to go there. A nice ride home through Petworth too 😀, and a quick photo stop at Goodwood. Shame the Aston spoiled the pic 🤣

[Joe Rocket]

Well, in that case.....DOH!   

 

Landsurfer 74, best colour bike. 

[TLPower]

Incoming pedantry.

@stoatsngroats, an Aston didn't ruin your picture, a Jaguar F type did.

[graingerblaze]

Typical, after weeks of rain the day I strip my bike down the sun comes out

[pichulec]

Fitted the screen which I have got for free from one of the forum members
Difference is like night and day. Old one is really cloudy from the exposure to the sun.

[Addzz]

Started it for the first time since buying it a few weeks ago, was a bit of a nerve racking moment when I hit the start button and nothing happened then realised I needed to pull in the clutch lever (clutch switch on my sv has been bypassed for about 15 years!) so tried to start it again and nothing!! Took a chance and bypassed the clutch switch and boom, it started without hesitation and ran nicely considering it’s sat for about 3 years. Then it spat some of its oil out from one of the oil cooler pipes.

[Rixington43]

First ever crack at valve clearances today, very glad my child brain talked me into the 1000 with the gear driven cams. Pretty sure they've never been done so first check at 32k.
All 8 are very close to the minimum allowed so all 8 will get the shim down to hit the middle of the tolerance. Pretty happy with that as it would suggest all have worn fairly equally. Cleaned and waterproof greased the electrical connector blocks whilst I was in there and fresh coolant will go in.
Only hiccup was a jammed cap on the crank shaft so avoided damaging it by putting the bike in 6th and using the rear wheel to turn the motor over.
Commence the wait for shims to arrive, see what else I can mess with whilst I wait.

[Asmith61]

Graingerblaze I like the helmet brackets you have fixed to the wall where did you get them please ?

Rixington43 great job    You have so much room in your garage 

Addzz brilliant mate  :

[UK_Vstrom650]

Started the winter prep today by putting enough ACF-50 on the bike that I'll be renaming it Moses.
Another clean of the brakes and re-grease of the footpeg pivots, and adjusted the rear brake switch as noticed the brake light was alwaysbon until you press the brake pedal and then it went out...
Finnally, swapped the standard headlight bulbs to the Osram Night Racers I'd bought before the pandemic now its getting dark earlier. I'll swap them back to standard bulbs come the spring.

[graingerblaze]

Hi Asmith61, they are just cheap wall mounts of eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373990237473?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=pduoncekq5m&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=gcSUy7XcTAS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[stoatsngroats]

@TLPower, ah, thanks, you can see how much attention I paid to it 😀

[tonkie]

Remembrance Day ride out, was like a Summers day