Juv's Strom "Restoration"

[Juvecu]

Yes, I ride like a maniac and can't always be arsed to move my body. Would you now please stop telling others how they should/shouldn't be riding riding unless they've asked for advice on the subject?

[greywolf]

Would you now please stop telling others how they shouldshouldn't be riding riding unless they've asked for advice on the subject?

I'm an old riding instructor who gets irked by most riders I see making basic errors in form. I was speaking of them and they don't know enough to ask. Hopefully, UK riders are better educated and practiced than USA riders with our poor rider education requirements. A good rider with even the best form will be limited by lowered pegs all right.

[mjc506]

Yes, I ride like a maniac andcan't always be arsed to move my body. Would you now please stop telling others how they shouldshouldn't be riding riding unless they've asked for advice on the subject?

If you think that's bad, you should spend some time on the US sites

[longman]

I like to ride a little bit quicker sometimes. I normally bimble and enjoy the ride. However, when I am on twisties and in a "spirited" mood (not like a maniac) I do scrape pegs. I sometimes can't be bothered to move my body as I enjoy forces working on the bike and me in the corners. I normally scrape pegs when really committed to the tightening corner and need to lean the bike a bit more. I had the same problem on the track when I was scraiping pegs during every lap. I don't really see it as a problem. I enjoy riding the bike the way I like it and they give me a great benefit off road. Its not a sports bike so I don't expect leaning angles as good as on a sport machines. I just like my bike not being vertical:)

[Juvecu]

I've had an FI problem twice now. Once on the way back from ST7 and once a earlier this week when I turned the ignition on. The first time I used my spare key to get the seat off and put it in dealer mode before I turn the ignition off. The 2nd time I just turned the ignition off and back on. Both times it reset after the ignition was turned off and back on and it didn't seem to affect the bike while it was riding and showed up the error the first time. I thought I noted the code the first time around, but I can't find where so I'll have to wait for it to appear again to find out what it is.

Other than this a few things still need doing aside from the orange vinyl wrapping, I need to:
- balance the throttle bodies
- set the fast idle lower
- adjust the new throttle and clutch cables a bit now that they've been used a while
- fit another horn (dropped mine and it's damaged, sounds a bit sick now )
- wire in the heated grips
- extend the shift lever so I can fit the wider rider foot pegs again
- get some pillion foot pegs
- make a mid mount exhaust hanger bracket
- and sort out the intermittent FI code.

[longman]

still quite a list:)
I am quite sure the first time you had an error it was C41 (fuel pump). We were at the petrol station on the way back from ST7

[Juvecu]

I had the error again today after filling up and turning the bike back on. I didn't have my spare key with me so I just turned the ignition off and back on and it cleared again.

[Juvecu]

Just a little update related to this. The FI error went away never to be seen again, hasn't done it since the last post I made above.

I also haven't found the regulator/rectifier bracket, even after a tidy up in the garage. I've manged to get a 2nd hand one for a tenner so that's a good result. I bet I will find my own one soon after fitting it's replacement

The fork seals have started leaking again, just on one side. I opted for OEM ones to replace them this time. They cost a lot (£15 each!) and I can't really tell any big difference between them and the 'Japanese' quality ones I was buying off eBay for a lot cheaper. I really hope there is a difference, all the cheap seals I've bought so far have eventually started leaking no matter how much care was taken putting them in and I have fork gaiters to protect the dust seals. I replaced them a couple of weekends ago when I changed my fork oil for 5W oil for the upcoming Morocco trip. The result of the oil change is a much more comfy ride over bad bumpy road surfaces, but with a bit more of a bouncy feeling at the front. I've always felt the rebound damping on the Wee's forks is too much and this probably confirms it again, unfortunately the Wee forks' damping isn't adjustable.

I haven't got around to vinyl wrapping the bike to orange I will make it my winter project.

Other than that, I'm going to remove my foot peg lowering kit for now, I want to be able to fit wider foot pegs and use my off road boots for Morocco and with the lowering kit I can't have wider foot pegs or use off road boots. My off road boots are too big for the amount of upward adjustment left in the gear lever before it hits the bottom of the foot peg mounting bracket on up shifting.

Other than that there are no problems after the rebuild so I'm very happy with the results. It needs a good wash and it looks new. I still have to wire the heated grips, something this morning's nippy weather reminded me of. I also need to fit a different horn, I dropped the stock one and it's wheezy now.

[kissofdeath]

could the leaky seal be due to the thinner oil you used  

[Juvecu]

Nope, it had 10W before, I just put 5W in now with the OEM seals.

[Juvecu]

The bike ticked over to 110,000 miles on the way back up through Spain from Morocco.

After the restore it was using more oil than before. I'd noticed the valve stem seals were letting oil by while I was changing the exhaust headers for "new" 2nd hand ones. I did 3225 miles in 13 days on this Morocco trip and I used almost 2 litres of oil. Twice the bike ran with a lower than it should oil level for longer than it should've. I could tell the oil was getting low by how the gears felt when changing and how the engine sounded at idle. It's using too much oil now and I'll have to sort it out pronto. The valve stem seals likely had time to harden more than they would otherwise have done in the 9 months the engine sat without running.

Found the FI error too, it's the gear position sensor and it only gives an error in 6th gear when you've been in 6th for a while. Resets every time if you just change out of 6th and turn the ignition off and back on. When it faults it sets the ECU to think the bike is in 4th, completely unrestricted, so it's not  a problem when riding. I will take it out and clean it to see if it fixes it, but it might even be worn out by now.

Before the trip I sorted some of the final things that needed doing.
- set the fast idle lower
- adjust the new throttle and clutch cables a bit
- fitted another horn, a Stebel Magnum
- wired in the heated grips
- extended the shift lever so I could get my MX boots in under it properly

I fell in Morocco, ruined the hand guards, damaged the engine bars on both sides and scratched up the left side panel and front mud guard badly. Also damaged the left front indicator. Nothing that can't be easily fixed though so I will set about doing that after a much needed clean.

[mjc506]

Told you to do the engine too

Give me a shout if you need a hand.

[Juvecu]

I won't be spending much money on the bike as it is now. One of the reasons I restored it rather than selling and buying a new bike is because I figured it'd be more economical. If it becomes uneconomical to maintain/repair then it will get sold/broken without much hesitation. I'm not the sentimental type

Valve stem seals should be cheap though.

[MartinW]

110,000 miles
 

[mjc506]

Yeah, it's an easy job too, you'll be able to leave the engine in the frame (or at least, most of it).

[Joe Rocket]

I've just spent the last hour reading through the whole thread (well I did skip some bits....  ) but I must say well done! If I can add too that wasn't a long time doing it either but I'm sure it felt like it.

Super result.      

I have only one criticism..........your shirts! Can you please use plain pattern rags under parts when photographing them.  

Much admiration for your efforts.  

Joe Rocket.  )

[Juvecu]

Just a quick update: I bought a Yamaha MT-09 Tracer and decided to break the Strom because it had taken a hard fall on a trip in Morocco. It had some bents fork and and other damage and I wasn't going to bother fixing it and I needed the space it was taking up in the garage. It also started using lots of oil on the way back up from Morocco. I sold off a few of the trick/non-stock bits and then Mad Phil bought the whole of the rest of the bike (which at that point was still a complete rideable bike.) He replaced the front forks and put it through MOT, the Strom lives on!