Author Topic: What have you done with your V-Strom today? (Read 1394688 times)

Graham62 · « **Reply #8060 on:** March 08, 2018, 21:26:58 »

Been sorting out the man cave so I can fit these.

user650 · « **Reply #8061 on:** March 08, 2018, 22:51:52 »

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #8062 on:** March 11, 2018, 18:52:36 »

you got it sorted yet Graham?

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #8063 on:** March 11, 2018, 20:13:04 »

Replaced a blown headlight bulb. Fitted some Osram Night Racer 110 bulbs - keeping the old working bulb as a spare.

The pictures below show:
1. OEM bulb (throttle side) with a blown Philips Xtreme Blue Vision (hence the blue tinge)
2 & 3 OEM bulb (throttle) and Osram Night Racer 110 (clutch)
4 & 5 both Osram Night Racer 110.

It's hard to gauge the difference from the photos being daylight, however the replacements were much brighter to the eye than the previous bulb.

Will be interesting to to see how they performance when I next ride at night & how long they last.

Sasquatch · « **Reply #8064 on:** March 11, 2018, 21:41:52 »

Tried them in my car, lasted 6 months/5000 miles, both went within 5 minutes.

Graham62 · « **Reply #8065 on:** March 11, 2018, 21:47:10 »

@ Barbel Mick not yet had to put it on hold for a while

but I was able to get into the garage for a short time yesterday and will be in there tomorrow working on another little project.

It did give the postman time to deliver my Carb Carburettor Vacuum Balancer Gauge so when I'm doing the Regulator Rectifier Unit I can balance the throttle body's at the same time.

springy2112 · « **Reply #8066 on:** March 12, 2018, 17:06:31 »

Well in nov 2016 I sold my DL650 ...feb 2017 got gsx750f ...may 2017 sold gsx and got xjr 1300 ....OK so today sorted delivery of my 2003 DL1000 vstrom !!!! Which I just bought...I just had to have another I missed the wee strom but thought I might as well have a vee strom again..
2003 20 thousand miles in blue with touring screen engine guards and givi luggage racking already in olace to take my three boxes ...sorted can't wait till it arrives thursday....
Xjr will be sold to fund the vstrom...easy come easy go !!!

bsaboy · « **Reply #8067 on:** March 12, 2018, 17:27:15 »

Did a couple of hundred miles yesterday so today I actually cleaned it for a change.I should look after it better really

Jeff in Wales · « **Reply #8068 on:** March 15, 2018, 19:14:34 »

Hi,

Replaced front sprocket. Original has done 18600 miles.

Read on Chris1200's thread that it can be difficult to remove so nipped to work and borrowed an impact driver. Nut came loose instantly but the bike is less than a year old so maybe it's not had time to get corroded on, might have come off with just a 300mm breaker bar if I'd had one.

Uneven wear on it, left had side of teeth chamfered and the chain has worn a pronounced shoulder on the right hand side.

Got the replacement off fleebay (UrbanBike.co.uk) for £10.61

Also, installed a Bigpie relay. Went to motorfactors to get a 5A fuse for heated grips. They didn't have any 1A's so ordered off fleebay. That will do for the new TomTom I'll be fitting.

Steve T · « **Reply #8069 on:** March 15, 2018, 19:27:31 »

Fitted the battery back into the bike, in prep for it going back on the road next month.

1st press of the button and Big Bird fires right up after not being run since the replacement ECU was fiited in January.

Jusy Got to stick on the V-Strom UK stickers and pay the highway robbers thier road tax and begin pilling on the miles again

Steve T

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #8070 on:** March 15, 2018, 22:12:01 »

Rode back from Liverpool today, 14°C as I left so no heated jacket/grips until the M62 started to climb the Pennines at which point the temperature dropped to 8°C, the fog descended and the heated jacket/grips got turned on.

About 15 minutes earlier I narrowly avoided a splat when the van I was over taking decided it would occupy the same space as me

good job for the loud horn & my quick reaction on the brakes.

Yesterday on my way to Liverpool I had to stop on the hard shoulder after one of my fog lights' brackets sheared off and the fog light was swinging into my foot. Managed to break the solder joint so will have to have a look at it tomorrow. Also notice one of my DRLs has died too

hotbulb · « **Reply #8071 on:** March 16, 2018, 19:55:20 »

Actually yesterday, but gave the brakes a good going-over, scrubbed with cleaner and water (old toothbrush, very useful), cleaned and greased sliding pins etc. Pads were less worn than I'd expected, so they'll be fine for another few miles!

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #8072 on:** March 19, 2018, 23:47:09 »

Today I tackled the broken spotlight clamp

. Went as follows:
- Test spotlight still works following swinging by the wires at 70mph

- New spotlight body drilled to allow angling of the light.

- Spotlight disassembled, water drained out, dried & silicone sealed

- Test spotlight still works

- Solder spotlight back in to wiring

- Test spotlights both work via handlebar switch

- Shrink heatshrink

- Test spotlights.... buggers don't work... (neither of them)
- Check fuses (All OK)
- Bugger!!

- Close garage door and worry about it another day

I also noticed the number plate bulb has gone again. I only changed it in July 17 on the day of the last MOT

Graham62 · « **Reply #8073 on:** March 20, 2018, 00:10:45 »

had a look at the front brakes that are binding, the pistons are f***ed

so I'm now looking for new pistons,seals and pads.

but what are the best pads to fit? Expensive start to the year.

Mystrom · « **Reply #8074 on:** March 20, 2018, 23:39:07 »

A 300 mile jaunt from Fife to near St John’s Town of Dalry and back. Glorious sunshine all the way. Went down via Wanlockhead and returned via Dalveen Pass. Temp around 10C all day until the sunset then quickly dropped to 3C. Glad I took the chance for today as weather looking a bit iffy for the next few days.

Brockett · « **Reply #8075 on:** March 21, 2018, 08:30:31 »

@Graham62 - my commiserations. When in 2012 I replaced the pads on my V I found that the pistons were shedding their ultra thin chrome finish.
I can only say they were fully up to spec with all other Suzuki bright-work.
Replacements were£60 (£15 each).

Graham62 · « **Reply #8076 on:** March 21, 2018, 11:39:08 »

@ brockett the cheapest is about £20.99 each, but that is with the seals. I've been advised to strip the caliper down clean it all up and fit new seals as the damage is only to the first few mm of the pistons that won't touch the seals.

King Orry · « **Reply #8077 on:** March 21, 2018, 11:52:50 »

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/Suzuki/dl_650_al3_v-strom_abs/13/picture/stainless_steel_piston_and_seals_front_caliper/

Piston & seal kit at Wemoto

mr_diver · « **Reply #8078 on:** March 21, 2018, 13:07:07 »

Most of the aftermarket seals don't last long.
I've had oil and dust seals blow out making me slam on the rear and skid half way through a juction.
I was very lucky to not die!
That was only 2 months and few miles after replacing oem with aftermarket.
I needed to return home to change my underwear being very careful as I only had a rear brake on local roads though.

Since then I've used oem only.

Suzuki seal are good quality and usually can be cleaned with brake fluid and use red rubber grease to reassemble.

Graham62 · « **Reply #8079 on:** March 21, 2018, 15:48:14 »

thanks for the info