What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[graingerblaze]

Had a brilliant blast around Keswick, up the Honnister Pass and round lake Buttermere. It was awful weather yesterday and due to be awful again tomorrow, so a window of warmth and sun was well used!

To Phild, the low seat is perfect! The seat is far more comfortable than the standard and it’s lowered me just enough that I no longer get any turbulence with the Puig screen. Thank you so much 

[graingerblaze]

Nigel, how many miles have you covered now? I know you ride an awful lot, you put me to shame for sure. Your bike is almost new and I know you maintain her well, just wondering what mileage you got out of this bearings? I think I changed my old 650 at 25k, checked every tyre change but looked and felt good at 40k when I sold her. Must read the manual as not sure how long they are supposed to last?

[Asmith61]

Fantastic pictures graingerblaze    My bike is still hibernating for a couple of more weeks at least 😠    Chomping at the bit now though 🤣

There was a time I rode all year round,  but now I am definitely a fair weather rider 🤣🤣

[Rixington43]

Nipped over to my folks to watch the rugby, half hour each way but great to get out and break the 2025 seal.
Slight panic when I got home that I was only getting 13V at idle but she kicked up to 14.5/15 with a few revs. Might check the reg/rec and stator readings when she gets her annual service in March before the serious riding starts.
Oh and the £45 eBay fog lights finally waterlogged on our Wales trip (like everything else I might add) so replacements raring to be fitted.

[nigel s]

graingerblaze,
I am at 34,000ish now and like you never pressure wash, and don't wash  ( the bike anyway, I hastily add  ) at all ...mostly
Gt85  rocks 
They would probably have gone till the next tyre change which is 2,000 ish miles off
But having had a bearing collapse on a high mileage GS550 back in the day ( when I was still a yoof learning how to look after a bike and abused it something rotten ) , I wanted to get ahead of it.
For me at least, it is one of those things that will get in my head every time I go over a white line or a crack..Is it the bearing exploding or is it just the line??...and really spoil the ride.
 Now I KNOW it is all OK and my karma /chi/ Gwyneth Paltrow Goop inspired inner peace is satisfied 

Ho Hum

[Rixington43]

Panic over, fired her up from cold this morning and solidly 14.8V all the way down to idle, maybe just a bit less efficient when everything is red hot.
All the bearings seemed to go at once on mine after a thrash round Europe in a heat wave, maybe all the grease ran out. Think that was about 30k.
Replaced all with Koyo 2RS units and taper rollers in the headset. I do use pressure washers but I check behind the seals and regrease every couple of years, they all seem to be holding up well at 40k.

[Phild]

160 miles, Weston, Banwell, Cheddar, Wells, Shepton Mallet, Castle Cary, Wincanton, Gillingham for lunch (Dorset not Kent. Spelt the same but pronounced differently). Shaftesbury, Blandford Forum, Dorceshester….. then thought I’d better start heading towards home via Yeovil, Ilminster, Taunton and M5 home.

I stuck with the A roads as there was plenty of run off from the fields, so thought better of using the single track lanes.👍

[Joe Rocket]

A plus and a minus there Phild.

Plus- egg cooked all round but still runny yoke IINM? Poached? 
Minus- all that tomato sauce in the ramekin, not enough beans. 

Totally spoils a good ride out IMHO.

    

[Phild]

Fried egg, nice and soft. It wasn’t the biggest breakfast, but large enough for me, and tasted very good. Breakfast and a pot of tea (4 cups) £13.

The place does contain a few interesting bikes…… it used to be a classic bike dealership, with a cafe. Now it’s just an interesting cafe / restaurant.