Another Convert.
With my Bike laid up for the winter months I played with a few ideas of updates and possible improvements for the Veek for 2017.
The Veek will have its first birthday in early March. That said it was a left over from 2014 and is the White paint scheme.
I have had the recalls done and the ECU, various other things as well. I loved riding this bike and last year it took me on two road trips with another two this year planned and booked.
I had read a lot about the clutch baskets and seen ‘Sharealike’ both on this forum and on ‘You Tube’, and the issues with the V strom clutch basket. Looking at his videos on ‘You Tube’ it is apparent that the clutch basket on our 2014- models has the same failings as the 2002 -13 earlier V stroms. Basically very poorly engineered and without a suitable ‘bearing ‘of note hence they rattle and shake and vibrate about. Must be a cost thing on Suzuki’s behalf.
I considered this and lucky me I have a friend who is very good and confident with his hands, and loves playing with engines and things (rebuilt my sons R6 when he blew it up). For the cost of a few beers and a night out he whipped out my clutch basket.
I sent the same item to John Sykes at ‘Sharealike’ in Huddesfield having e mailed and spoken with him on the phone. John is a top man and is clearly an engineer and I had no concerns what so ever in him dealing with my Clutch basket.
It went off by me and Hermes and was received by him on a Wednesday. The following Tuesday it was shipped back to me and received on the Wednesday by UPS.
Without giving away his trade secrets, he has done a wonderful job in making a bearing up in the middle of the said Clutch basket.
It has been put back together and today I had a quick run. What a difference.
The whole Bike seems so smoother now, and between 2 and 4K in lower revs is a pure joy. It also seems so much quieter without a ‘clattering’ and ‘vibration’ in the lower gears. I am really looking forward to a decent longer run.
For removing the clutch basket I purchased a removal tool from Flea bay that made it so much easier for my mate to remove the basket. It cost me £18.00 and will send it on to anyone else for a tenner (plus PP about £2.00). Message me re this.
The instructions on his web site for the removal of the basket relate to an earlier V strom, but are pretty much the same. My observations are that the top of the bike (fairing etc) had to be removed to get at the radiator to drain the system of coolant and this took the time. My man reckons 2 to 2.5 hours tops, and less to put it back together. With my first service coming up I used this as opportunity to change the oil and Filter.
Really looking forward to the spring now and giving the Veek a good run.
I think this will be a few quid really well spent and will increase my pleasure on this Bike.
I think another chap from Australia sent his Clutch basket to John with a 2014 Veek. to John as well. (He also lurks here)