What have you done with your V-Strom today?

[Steve T]

Big Bird has flown the coup . . .

Watched her being placed carefully into the back of a big van   

But this was left in her place . . .



Right, I'm officially orf to Traitors Corner 

Steve T

 

[Brockett]

  to

[endintears]

Oil and filter AFTER  I managed to get the skid plate off...
Suppose the good thing about fasteners made out of monkey metal is they're easy to drill out😂

[MartinW]

Unburied it.

The poor thing has been buried in my Garage as I stored an immense pile of shite for the last 4 months. I couldn’t have got it out even if I wanted to.

Just in time for some predicted mega-storm to keep me in anyway.
 

[V7Chris]

Called Streetbike Halesowen to book my 2018 650 in for a 7500 Mile service. Quoted £382. That sounds very expensive to me. Any suggestions for alternatives, I don't mind travelling.

[user650]

That's way too much for an oil and filter and expensive plugs to be changed. Try negotiating  with them 

[tallpaul]

  how much?!  Can you do those yourself?

[Rusty Nuts]

D.I Y. And document all work for warranty purposes. Gawd bless smartfones.

[Sage]

Had a great winter ride the back way up to Devils Bridge, Aberystwyth and back to Pembrokeshire. Only 5-8 deg and very salty, but light traffic. 

[NeilM]

It is clear if you look carefully that my recently acquired 650 has been used all year round. The dealer I bought it from have done a really good job of cleaning the bike, but there are still a few areas that are really grubby, so today I took off the bash guard and started to work my way around the underside of the bike cleaning the worst of the grot off and wire brushing rusty fixing etc.

I used some Screwfix spray on galv paint (sprayed into the cap and then applied using a small brush) on the clutch cable bracket as the plating was looking a bit rough, and will finish off underneath tomorrow. I will also give the bash guard a quick rub down and repaint in the areas where the paint has lifted due to impact of general road crap.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Post some pics of the painted bits NeilM- I need to do that clutch bracket on mine 

[paulja]

Did 3 quick jobs... which generated a 4th: Replaced one of the Barkbuster hand-guards (got scratched when I went down the road); Added some rubber to the Givi Windscreen  in order to stop it moving in the adjuster clamps, hopefully now it won't guillotine me when I travelling at high speed; Stuck the left heated grip down to bar AGAIN (only lasted 500 miles with the latest glue I tried), so went back to the Superglue, it lasted 14K miles previous attempts. Must have put on too much glue because later I found it had dripped down the paintwork- job no.4 getting dried superglue off the paintwork  Couple more jobs todo, save those for another day.

[Fat Rat]

Hairspray is great for fitting and sticking grips 

[Lincsman]

It keeps my hair in place a treat too.

[V7Chris]

how much?!  Can you do those yourself?

Yes, quite easily but I doubt Suzuki GB would accept an owner service if a warranty claim was required. Checking with other dealers, this almost twice what some are charging for the7.5 k service, needless to say, I won't be returning to Streetbike again.

[tallpaul]

They would. Just keep your receipts for the parts you fit. If they are equivalent to oem they can't complain.

[NeilM]

Post some pics of the painted bits NeilM- I need to do that clutch bracket on mine 

Will do.

More cleaning and laying on the garage floor today.

It is clear the bike has been used all year round, no issue there but it is a shame the last (first) owner could not be bothered to hose the underside of the engine over once a week, lots of little bits of corrosion and some of the steel fixings would not look amiss on an old fishing boat.

So, all scrubbed and wire brushed and clean and covered in rust inhibitor (from the local motor factors). Once the weather calms down I will give it all another clean and it will get the ACF50 / XCP treatment.

Bash plate repainted and refitted.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Cheers Neil.

I also spent some time lying on the garage floor [I must buy a bike lift at some point  ] while I cleaned the front brakes up. I forget how quickly they get bad over winter. Tomorrow's job is to tackle the rear brake and adjust the chain.

[NeilM]

Last session on my back in the garage today (Phnar!). Brake level and linkage cleaned plus around the bottom of the engine and a few other spots, another dose of rust inhibitor and then finally investigate the chain oiler and how it works. It turns out to be a Loobman and I managed to create a little puddle of oil on the floor. I now know what it is and how it works, the internet is a wonderful thing.

Here's a pic of the clutch cable bracket, I wanted a closer shot but my slightly temperamental camera was not playing.

[UK_Vstrom650]

  that's looking good Neil. Will get myself down to Screwfix and get a can. I need to change my clutch cable anyway - spotted it was just starting to fray last year and got a new one but never fitted it, so two birds with one stone and all that.

I also spent a good bit of today in the garage sorting out the rear brake caliper. The piston wasn't too bad, but the pads were filthy and almost looked corroded. I was going to swap them for a new pair as they're looking fairly worn anyway but having measured the rear disc, it's now at 4.3mm so a new one is needed. I've therefore cleaned the pads and popped them back in while I order a new one.
I also rechecked the front left caliper as I thought the sliders on the mount wasn't moving freely, only to discover it was fairly stuck. A good blob of red rubber grease on the pins and they're sliding freely again.
Finally, I've readjusted the chain and decided it's definitely time to replace the Roadsmart 3s.