What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[nigel s]

Been trawling round some antiques shops looking for a birthday pressy for Mum on the strom this morning.
The forecast said 40% chance of rain........don't know about that .......more like 100% where I was .... ... NOT.

Ho Hum

[nigel s]

Only had a small 2hr window today , so whipped the 650 up to Hunny,b road style, didn't even stop for pics/ice cream, rode through and came back a different way. Still... nice to be out riding.
I am going to have to book it in for the 30,000 mile service next week,looks like. Not there yet but they get busy this time of year running 4/6 weeks ahead so.......

Ho Hum

[Rookie]

Finally everything back together and fitted on the bike. You don't realise how bad your suspension gets until you service it. A short test ride and then back on eBay looking for a new rear shock. When both ends had poor suspension all was fine. Now I have a great front end and a saggy back end, ohhhh er missus! I

Onwards and upwards

[Barbel Mick]

Bit of a late outing today but had a bit of time & coffee & cake were calling.
Contacted Ianmc of this parish to see if he was available, he was, so arranged a meeting time & place.
A 60 mile loop & visited two cafes.
The Tea Junction @ Hulme End for coffee & cake, then the short route to The Chequered Flag Cafe @ Darley Moor to get there before it closed @ 16.00
Just a few spots of rain but mainly dry & a lovely 18* - 20* riding temperature.
Good to see you Ian & thanks for the company. 
Obligatory photos to prove it happened...

[Barbel Mick]

Despite the bike only having 1500 miles on it I was a bit pissed that the plastic heal guards had started to mark. This is just with my textiles rubbing, not boots or zips.

I lied!! Today I had a better look, it wasn't caused by the textile trousers at all, it was a caused by the bloody big lump of plastic hinge on my Sidi Adventure boots. 

[nigel s]

 Hinges on the inside !....You sure you got them on the right feet Mick? 

Ho Hum

[Rusty Nuts]

One of them is definitely on the right foot.


But yes, hinges inside, latches outside.

[Barbel Mick]

Nigel, if you were to see me crossing the road, to catch the bus home at 18.00hrs on a Friday evening, after spending a few ours in our chosen hostelry, you might think I put my shoes on the wrong feet! 

[crump]

Took it for a little pootle to the Peak District.
Decided to go to the Yonderman for me dinner, never been before despite going to the Peaks often. It gets mixed reviews online but I thought it was pretty good, not the cheapest but the coffee was good. Instead of my usual all day brekkie went for burger (with cheese and bacon) pile of chips, salad etc, enjoyed it.
My route went via Stone, Cheadle, Froghall, Ipstones, mostly nadgery B roads, up hill and down Dale, crap road surfaces as usual. The 650 Strom aces those roads. Came home via Ashford, Newhaven, Ashbourne, Stafford (mistake).
All in all a nice little ride of about 125 miles.

[Froglodyte]

Crump - you should have gone to the Cow Shed (Beltonville Farm Campsite). Only 10 mins from the Yondermann but much better!
Just be careful of the gravel on the steep driveway in and out!

[crump]

@Froglodite, I'll give that a try another time, to be honest I thought Yonderman was fine.

[Barbel Mick]

Definitely nothing wrong with The Yonderman, but you do need to go midweek otherwise it gets too busy. Price wise it's not much different to anywhere else in the peaks now, providing the other places provide quality meats. Places like Grindleford is a bit cheaper but it's a greasy spoon & the content isn't that good.   
The Cow Shed is very good.
If you come over this way again another good one is The Old Smithy in Monyash, but again go mid week as it's heaving at weekends. 

[crump]

Yeah I always try to go midweek to the Peaks. Today the roads I was on, mostly B were very quiet. Cafe also quieter than I expected, maybe 6-8 tables in use when I got there about 12.30.
Service was fast and friendly.

[graingerblaze]

Treated myself to a nearly new 1050, only 5k on the clock and like new. Will pick it up next weekend… although completing on my new house next Friday so a little busy but I couldn’t resist! Will have both bikes in the garage, although hoping my 650 sells soon as I don’t really need two V-Stroms. Happy days!

[porter]

Congrats, great bike, very underrated. You've got the nicest colour also, more subdued than the other colours. I'd love to move to a 1050 but I promised myself next bike will be lighter.
Hopefully the 650 sells soon, it's to nice to keep as a second bike or commuter.

[graingerblaze]

It certainly isn’t light, at 252kg it’s a little porky! However on the move it’s as light as the 650 and I’m used to moving heavier bikes around the garage so should be OK. I will spend the winter getting crash bars, panniers etc. but I’m hoping the weather allows for some enjoyable rides before then. If not then I now have two bike to clean and polish 

[nigel s]

graingerblaze,
New bike...Wahey. 
I found the major difference between a std 650 and a std 1050 wasn't so much the go bit but the stop bit 
Enjoy...

Ho Hum

[Pete O Tube]

As the Old Smithy at Monyash got a mention above - for August (and possibly September depending upon demand) they'll be open on a Monday until 9pm (last food orders 8pm).

[Sir Trev]

Got Bullseye, my 800RE, back from the dealer this afternoon. He's now had his 600 mile service and is running even better than before,  and is now wearing aux lights and an Innov K7 dashcam.

The lights are very neat and suit the bike well I think. SW-Motech lightbar under the beak, with BikeVis running lights hung from them. They're fairly small and low powered at just 0.6 amps each, and will not light up the night sky,  but they improve frontal visibility very well.  So I'm a happy bunny.

[Rusty Nuts]

Let's 'ave a look, then.