Author Topic: What have you done with your V-Strom today? (Read 1314086 times)

crump · « **Reply #10660 on:** August 10, 2022, 12:26:54 »

Just got back from a 2 week trundle around France, 3 nights on the Loire, a week in the Auvergne and a couple near Paris.
First big trip on the 650 for me and the missus (nearly 2000 miles) and the bike was faultless.
Comfy, enough grunt, handles nice, light weight, sips petrol. It was perfect for the the 'cols' of the Auvergne. Dealt with the motorway slogs fine at 70-80mph. Obviously with a little 650 twin dragging 2 'generously proportioned adults' and 2 weeks luggage around, you have to give it a few revs for overtaking etc, but it never seemed to mind.
Seen a few posts on here recently asking if the 650 is capable of 2 up touring...I'd say yes, easily.
All of the above is in comparison to my old FJR1300 and it manages fine for us, its obviously never Going to have the go of the big Yam but to be honest I never really missed it.
I'm very happy with my new choice of tourer and it will be with us for some years.
Couple of little niggles. The finish leaves a lot to be desired, think I'm Going to be constantly touching it up (ooh er missus) but from what I've seen this seems to apply to most manufacturers recently.
Also, why oh why do manufacturers insist on building bikes over 500cc with bloody chain drive...its a pita.

Oh and by the way, if you've bever been to the Auvergne, do your self a favour and plan it into a trip, it's really good for biking.

Uchujin · « **Reply #10661 on:** August 10, 2022, 16:12:10 »

Thanks to this forum and some youtube-
2006 DL650 Loose/wobbly gear shift lever- google/this forum search problem, order new bushing and circlip pliers, knock out old bushing, insert new one, grind off excess and tidy with hand file, grease pivot, reapply circlip=no more wobbly shift lever.
Total cost £6.41, Sense of accomplishment: priceless 🙂

I've got the hang of this wrenching stuff now, full engine strip down and rebuild before lunch tomorrow

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #10662 on:** August 11, 2022, 23:13:37 »

More Monday and Wednesday really, but did 220 miles to Portishead, and 220 miles back. Wow it was hot!! (bike said 29c there, 32c back 🥵) And the standard of driving... (one for the moaning old git thread).

I went down with a full tank of Asda E10, and achieved an indicated 73.4 mpg (the majority of the time under an indicated 70mph and never above indicated 76mph), stopping only once.
Return journey was same criteria as above but with Sainsbury's E5 in the tank, and achieved indicated 74.6 mpg.
Not bad effort for the bike.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #10663 on:** August 12, 2022, 10:42:51 »

1.2mpg more for the E5 ...... not worth paying the extra???
Did you think the bike ran any better on the E5? I've been swapping between the two, in the bike & in the car, for a long time now and have seen a similar small difference between the two but don't notice any difference in the running.

PS, I'm usually 5 - 10 mpg short of your mpg, but I'm mostly 2 up.

grumps · « **Reply #10664 on:** August 12, 2022, 13:37:59 »

Fitted an Airflow screen. Will report back

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #10665 on:** August 12, 2022, 13:46:34 »

@Mick, I can't say I did notice any difference in running, but was was pretty much 100% motorway riding. to be honest I was more focused on whether I'd melt or not!
I was surprised how close the MPGs were, as I'd heard E10 can use up to 10% more fuel. Not on the V-Strom though. The difference could probably be accounted for slight differences in the speed (E10 was showing 74+ until the last 50 miles on the way down).

I usually get around mid 60s but that's a lot of shorter trips and enjoying the b-roads

(Although I don't have a tank bag and full 50L top box on most of my daily riding)

Youngman · « **Reply #10666 on:** August 12, 2022, 18:00:08 »

Lent the Strom to my mate who's developed sore wrists from tightening straps on the lorry he drives all week.
That put me on the Fireblade. Eventually got out of York as the annual fun run was on, and over to Fridaythorpe, Seaways Cafe. Onto Scarborough which was pretty busy.
A64 and lots of overtaking into oncoming and back to York.
His wrists held up, my knees and hips were screaming though - grand day out!

Upt North · « **Reply #10667 on:** August 12, 2022, 23:44:48 »

Good day to ride.
Megget and Talla near St.Marys Loch in the Borders.
Blummin lovely.
Upt'North.

Monschwee · « **Reply #10668 on:** August 13, 2022, 08:00:32 »

Fitted the Suzuki Vario Screen, bought from John (Zed) on here.

porter · « **Reply #10669 on:** August 14, 2022, 18:32:32 »

Headed into the hills today as I thought it would be cooler and to get away from the crowd on the coastline. Dash showed 29°, think that's the warmest I've been out in.
Here's the big Vstrom looking for some shade.

Lemonwizard · « **Reply #10670 on:** August 15, 2022, 16:33:46 »

Serviced the front brake calipers... It was high time, let me tell you...
Forgot to take pictures afterwards though.

Ianmc · « **Reply #10671 on:** August 16, 2022, 18:56:31 »

Took it for an MOT, passed with no advisories.

Mep · « **Reply #10672 on:** August 19, 2022, 18:24:16 »

My new panniers arrived today which I bought through the forum. A test fit done. I'm very impressed with the quality and extra space over the Suzuki ones.

Rixington43 · « **Reply #10673 on:** August 19, 2022, 21:38:36 »

Fitted new front wheel bearings, old ones were well shot.
Sprocket carrier and last rear bearing being done tomorrow before a razz up to Lythe Fell again on Sunday.

porter · « **Reply #10674 on:** August 19, 2022, 21:39:10 »

Took my gear lever off today as the bush is getting quite worn and wanted to check the size before ordering.
But some plonker has been buffing the crap out of it on the corners! The lever is off and upside down in this photo.

Rixington43 · « **Reply #10675 on:** August 20, 2022, 10:32:25 »

Finished up the bearings, sprocket carrier wasn't nice either. General once over and she'll be out and about again tomorrow for a run up to North Yorkshire.

mrp192 · « **Reply #10676 on:** August 20, 2022, 12:42:49 »

Just home from a four day trip to Wales, with three friends. Stayed at the excellent Talbot Arms at Much Wenlock, Shropshire.
Rather than main road there and back, we kept to the B roads where possible and had a great ride. Two great routes in North and Mid Wales and my 1050 is now well and truly run in!
Only problem was, after three bikes with Scottoilers, I took the wrong chain lube meant for dry weather. Day 2 wet start left the chain dry so had to source some whist out. Could only get off-road stuff so now got a job on to get all the ‘fling’ off of the bike when I clean it tomorrow. Seemed to do the job though, I just never knew there was wet and dry weather chain lube. 🙄

grumps · « **Reply #10677 on:** August 21, 2022, 16:10:25 »

Fitted Bigpie's relay.

All fine and dandy

Rixington43 · « **Reply #10678 on:** August 21, 2022, 17:23:35 »

Nice couple of hundred miles up to High Bentham via Lythe Fell for lunch and then home via Widdop Reservoir and Hebden Bridge.
Beautiful day for beautiful roads on a .......... Bike🤣

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #10679 on:** August 21, 2022, 19:04:10 »

Washed it & checked the coolant. Oil & filter done last week.
While I was playing about I decided to do a check on the TPS. I had no reason to think it was out & felt the bike was running OK, however, the test showed it was out, so after a few phone calls to acquire a Torx security bit, I set too & adjusted it.
Needed a test run, so nipped up the road for a few miles & filled the tank ready for Wales on Thursday. I'll check the tyre pressures on Wednesday.