Author Topic: What have you done with your V-Strom today? (Read 1313515 times)

Froglodyte · « **Reply #12500 on:** July 30, 2024, 08:50:10 »

Re. GCHQ signage - I once went to a conference where the guest speaker (an American) was introduced as "the famous secret service agent".

porter · « **Reply #12501 on:** July 30, 2024, 17:57:08 »

Went a wee run out on my strom, called at the dealers on the way home to look at a few bikes. Liked the Transalp, fitted well but not into spokes and tubed tyres. The Re 800 fitted OK to but felt heavy, not as heavy as mine but not light either. Honda nt1100 was nice but that's heavier again. Lightest and a good fit was the Nc750x even though it's not light. DCT would suit my bad wrists but it's a bit uninspiring and I like the look of the older model better than the new 21 on model.
They're also Royal enfield dealers, I'd heard the 450 Himalayan was heavy to lift of the side stand, I couldn't believe how heavy it was, that's a major cock up for RE. I'm not small or weak but it too more effort than my strom, I'd not be bothered with that every day.
My search continues, maybe I'll just ride this another 10 years!

nigel s · « **Reply #12502 on:** July 30, 2024, 18:42:28 »

Porter,
Don't dismiss the NC 750 , both versions , I tried an X, and had one as a hire bike, they can motor if needed

A big plus is screw and locknut valve adjustment, I can see me ending up with one in time.

nigel s · « **Reply #12503 on:** July 30, 2024, 19:04:39 »

Opps, wrong place, sorry

deecat · « **Reply #12504 on:** July 30, 2024, 21:27:50 »

The Nc 750x carry there weight all low down so are a good balance bike, I have had 5 of them to go to work on all manual except the last one which was an auto (not for me) They can shift in sports mode and if you never venture above three figures they are fine.
The brakes and suspension only just do the job and not a patch on the V-strom 1000.
I do miss the trunk which was nice to have. I did think about another one but the power ,suspension and brakes are far better on the 800 especially two up.
I have just bought a cb500x as my run around when the wife has the car and to also use it through the winter, even looking at a bit of light green lane riding on it.

porter · « **Reply #12505 on:** July 30, 2024, 22:57:37 »

I think the speed of the NC750x would be OK for me now, I'd worry more about the brakes and ground clearance. The 21 on model sits very low and I like corners to much. I'm back at the dealers in 3 week for the mot, maybe I'll try the 800're demo.

deecat · « **Reply #12506 on:** July 30, 2024, 23:03:29 »

As I occasionally used my 21 reg bike two up the lower rear shock was poor ,so I replaced it with a YSS one for the NC750S and it improved the bike.

Brockett · « **Reply #12507 on:** July 31, 2024, 00:26:57 »

NC750X was not a happy experience for me.
Petrol cap is under the pillion seat so if you have a bag strapped on there it has to come off to fill up. Also, the filler neck sits over a narrowing of the tank and it is difficult to pump fuel in without it splashing back up. In poor light with the pillion seat lifted it is difficult to see into the petrol tank.The BMW side mounted filler is so much better.
The seat is quite hard at the back and was very uncomfortable after a 40 minute run. The brakes are not really up to the job and the really poor habit that Honda have of having the indicator switch beneath the horn button is very very very annoying. The motor is a slug and in no way fun or inspiring. The bodywork is a plastic puzzle with too many pieces. The suspension was too bouncy at the front and too hard at the rear. The handling was vague at best. The always on indicators are dangerous as in traffic they can be misread by a fleeting glance from a vehicle at a junction. The screen was a wind noise generator. I must say in all honesty there is nothing commendable about any part of the bike. As for the Frunk I couldn't get my full face helmet in it. Choice between a 650 Strom and a 750X . No contest, A Strom every time.

porter · « **Reply #12508 on:** July 31, 2024, 09:22:41 »

I get the feeling, can't think why you didn't like the NC Brockett! I was just looking a lighter lower bike and with my bad wrists the DCT gearbox was interesting. On the vtrom 1000 you're on the clutch a lot and this morning my left wrist is kind of sore.

Upt North · « **Reply #12509 on:** July 31, 2024, 12:22:59 »

Yeah, don't hold back Brockett, say how you feel fella,

deecat · « **Reply #12510 on:** July 31, 2024, 12:25:11 »

Its funny how we are all different when it comes to bikes. The Nc range do take a bit of getting used to and I found it fun working around the lower power at upper speeds.
The 21 on model has a better seat and like other bikes a better screen and brake pads can improve it a bit. There must have been something good about them for me to have gone through five of them and over 70,000 miles ,but it was always my second bike.
One thing I must agree on is Honda's stupid left hand switch which I changed on the four manual versions that I had for a Kawasaki switch so as not to have to keep looking where the indicators where. I am in the process of doing the same for my cb500x and if it was your only bike you would just get used to it.

nigel s · « **Reply #12511 on:** July 31, 2024, 17:08:51 »

I think it is a matter of perception, go into riding a NC accepting it is not a fast bike and it makes some sense.
I would be happy toodling along ,smug in the knowledge of how little it has cost to buy and run..... and it WILL run and run , that is important to me.

Dark-Strom · « **Reply #12512 on:** July 31, 2024, 18:04:13 »

Perception as in an NC is a diesel car with 2 wheels

.
IIRC from memory the seating position as better on the 2019ish Cb500x than the NC.
With regard to your mobility issues, I get you need a light clutch / semi auto approach, or even something with 5 gears against 6...
I guess try everything out there before you pull the pin, Jap selection is not great, but there are others...

nigel s · « **Reply #12513 on:** July 31, 2024, 18:57:40 »

All true Dark-Strom, but I have a thing about diesel bikes

https://newatlas.com/the-worlds-only-production-diesel-motorcycle/4272/

Ho Hum

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #12514 on:** July 31, 2024, 20:04:43 »

A lad I used to know built a diesel Fiesta chop. Odd.

Dark-Strom · « **Reply #12515 on:** July 31, 2024, 20:40:02 »

That's a good one nigel.
A previous place I worked we had a solicitor type bod, whom had a robin kitten 4-wheeler and a Cb400 nicely converted with a 400cc digger engine in it. Very clever bloke, but questionable if he got out much...

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #12516 on:** July 31, 2024, 20:45:52 »

.....and, as if by magic,....

Gillie76 · « **Reply #12517 on:** July 31, 2024, 22:06:59 »

Just back from a nice evening ride, it was super buggy out there, going to have to soak my lid to get all the critters off!!

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #12518 on:** July 31, 2024, 22:19:26 »

The summer gloves decided to fall apart the other day (too much use in this country

) so today we rode over to Castle Bromwich to pay a visit to the sportsbikeshop.
In & out in 10 minutes, having tried on 3 pairs I fancied & settled on the Rev'it ones.
Back home but had to stop for that ice cream I missed out on the other day.

The Laughing Duck at Fradley Junction, not far off the A38 seemed a decent call so went there. Suitably refreshed we came the rest of the way home via the back roads.
Another 76 miles.
It was too hot today, looking forward to the rain tomorrow.

A few photos to prove it happened......

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #12519 on:** August 01, 2024, 20:50:34 »

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.
The only thing I could find to cover them were some 3D gel resin stickers. Ordered from Amazon last week but only arrived today.
PS I also ordered a couple of extra ones to add that extra bit of 'bling'.