What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[Upt North]

Thanks Kwakkers, I thought it was me, although it probably was.

[Upt North]

Could have been a lot worse Doc.

[The Doctor 46]

Reference above. Sometimes the world seems like a very shyty place, then you get on your bike and all is well again. I was ready to ride at 8am this morning then remembered I must take a call at 10:00am so, helmet off, more tea, another fag and I'm wiggling my thumbs itching to get out.

It's going to be a good day 

[Barbel Mick]

Had a run around the North Devon coast looking for fish & chips plus, Ice cream of course.
We weren't dissapointed. Completed just 120 miles & the temporary puncture repair held out but I had it booked in to a garage up the road for a 'proper' repair.
1/2 hr & £20 later all is good again.

[Ianmc]

     185 mls.to Cadwell Park and back,to have a look at a “club” get together,several clubs rent the track for a day for a bat around and some instruction also.Cafe is good,had a very nice beef pie lunch.We went the “scenic” route going and the quick route back.

[nigel s]

Fitted the madstad brackets,but after first test decided to increase angle with some nylon rod,still testing screens to bodge on, early days.

[nigel s]

Just got back from a run to Downham Market.Google maps said 60 miles on main roads,I took about a 100 there on b's.All quiet till I had to cross a main road,nose to tail every time ,glad I'm not stuck in that lot.
On the way back went over some cattle grids onto a common where they graze horses ,no fencing they come onto the road.Some wag had been at the warning sign.

[Barbel Mick]

After the wheel had to come out t'other day to repair the puncture I had a close look at the rear pads & noticed that the offside (nearest to the piston) had worn twice as much as t'other so today I took the caliper off and had a look. Nothing was seized & all seemed OK except that the pin had worn a fair bit where the near side pad sat on it.
Although they came out easily enough, after reading the posts on here about fitting stainless steel pins I have ordered some, plus some new pads.
I cleaned the caliper & piston & re-greased the bolts all ready for the pads & pins to be fitted when they arrive.

I also washed the bike. 

[nigel s]

I do hate it when me pin gets ridged.


ho hum

[Rusty Nuts]

Re: the Madstad bracket, I often wondered when I had mine, why the two handwheels weren't replaced by a single quick release device. Something remarkably similar to a bicycle skewer, running through a spacer tube between the brackets, would allow one-handed operation of the mechanism. Incredibly crude visual guide to ridiculous concept shown below.

[graingerblaze]

One of my cheap auxiliary lights went, thought it was my wiring but swapped back the 3 year old versions I replaced over winter and working fine. I guess for £12 a pair you win some and loose some 

In regards to screens, I find the MRA system very clever, so many possible angles and heights. Pricey but worth it. Good luck with finding a solution that works for you.

[nigel s]

I've go those spots not fitted them yet. Should I bother?

[graingerblaze]

The first pair were perfect for three years, very reliable and bright with very low power draw. I only changed them this winter as the paint was looking a little tatty after three years, but they still worked fine. I’ve put one of the old ones back on to replace the 6 month old one, all working again now 😊.

[nigel s]

Ta for that, I'm waiting for 15,000 mile service to keep up the warranty ,then will fit them.

[nigel s]

Rusty, that is a brilliant idea.Though as the firm is american and lawsuit shy I doubt they will do it.
Some nut on a gen 2 fazer thou will fit one with a 24" screen go 150 mph and have the screen fold flat.
Who the f@ck would do that?

Ho hum

[purplebikeunicorn]

Front brake pads changed to EBC HH pads, bit of fighting and swearing at the pad retaining pins (they're a little flat spotted where the pads rest, and corroded). Pushed the pistons out a bit more to clean off the corrosion, and also old brake dust and crap in the caliper and on the springs. Cleaned the old grease out of the rubbers and new silicone grease in, cleaned up and greased the slide pin and the retaining pins with a very thin layer of lithium grease too to ward off any corrosion.

I am definitely missing the shims off the brake pads, so they're also on the shopping list. They'll have to come from Japan, because there is no way I'm paying £20 per shim for the big one (Japan has them at £2ish each, shipping at £16, so for the cost of one side I get both).

Put back together for the time being, they don't squeal at walking speed, and due to go out later on for the true test! Also nb: wear sun cream, the sun is hot, I may or may not have got burned doing this job 

[nigel s]

Purplebike unicorn,I'm a boat builder, you spend anytime on the water you soon get burnt to a crisp,it comes from both ways. Factor 50 hardly touches it!

[purplebikeunicorn]

Hah! I'm always on Factor 50 cos I burn like nobodies business. I'm not even ginger!

The pads and/or just servicing the brakes properly, my god don't those HH pads bite strong. Absolutely 100% improvement in stopping power (to the point that I stopped a bit quicker than I anticipated at a roundabout and it upset my balance a bit) Definitely don't need to use them as much as my older pads, I was gentle on them on their maiden voyage too, and, drum roll, no squeals!

[nigel s]

Result!
Better to stop short than the alternative I think

[MartinW]

Got up at 5am for an early summer morning ride.

I've done 90 miles, which is probably my longest ride in 3 or 4 years.

Swindon-Marlborough-Calne-Chippenham-Malmesbury-Cirencester-Lechlade-Highworth-Home.

Nobody around so a nice peaceful hassle-free ride.