Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
slowed to ~55-65mph & holy crap that's good for 5-7mpg :lol:
43-45mpg vs. 38-40
she must be an oil/gas burner for sure around the rings. Don't want this to be my problem after summer....I'll just keep topping it off, drop the price, and disclose it to the next buyer. By then I'm guessing I'll be at 50,000+ miles anywho so I can't imagine it's worth too much by then...hopefully with all hard cases + new tires + madstad + sargent seat will be worth something to someone.
tried a wee bit of dirty on the street shinkos
https://i.imgur.com/gG7LSOf.jpg?1
to be honest, it felt about the same as the 85/15ish Metzeler Tourance :lol:
I figure in the range the bike is being used (hard pack fire road), they are fine. Unless I was doing more steep/technical stuff that required the traction of a knobby (think TKC) I can keep riding on these. A buddy told me the bikes are fine off road...just need to visualize where you want it to be and not be afraid to practice until it's there. Still afraid to drop it though...
otherwise, I think I'm ~1,500 on the new rear tire...budgeting to replace this within a few months before touring + selling
Read up on emulators and fork seals here:
Replacing Front Fork Oil Seals | Black Lab Adventures
Made me think:
1.) I'd never pull out an emulator after installation to fiddle with it - not worth buying
2.) maybe I can do the fork seals myself. Mostly just looks like a "take everything apart, swap pieces, put it all back together"
maybe :hmm:
it's been high 40's/low 50's at night. Rain suit + under armor base layer + madstad + OEM hand guards = mostly toasty except hands. Need heated grips.
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Wee’s are known to use some oil, no??
I highly recommend slowing down. It’s MUCH less stressful than rushing. Mpgs and lower stress is a good thing.
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
I'd recommend paying to have the fork seals and steering head bearings done. Some specialized tools required and it also takes some trail and error on setting bearing preload if you don't already have a bunch of experience doing it. Plus it's just a PITA.
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheIglu
I'd recommend paying to have the fork seals and steering head bearings done. Some specialized tools required and it also takes some trail and error on setting bearing preload if you don't already have a bunch of experience doing it. Plus it's just a PITA.
I may need to take a ride and borrow those things, if thats cool by your hairyness.
:teehee:
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Both sound a little provocative, but I am guessing the tools
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
For tools, you'll need either the "proper" tools, meaning the castle socket and the bearing race remover/installer, or an assortment of kludge friendly tools to be used carefully with instead (punches, BFH, pry bars, chisels, Dremel with a cut off wheel, etc).
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
For the record, I have them but am on the wrong coast to help...
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kurlon
For the record, I have them but am on the wrong coast to help...
FedEx, USPS, UPS ............
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tls25rs
FedEx, USPS, UPS ............
MINE, you can't HAS MY PRECIOUS TOOLS!
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Not necessary lol
You can always post on a local Moto board (ie. Strom trooper, Facebook, or adv rider) for tools
It's miscellaneous + skill for service that's questionable
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tls25rs
FedEx, USPS, UPS ............
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kurlon
MINE, you can't HAS MY PRECIOUS TOOLS!
They ship tools back to the original owner too.....................
breakdirt916 has explained that tools can be borrowed locally so you are off the hook.
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Ya and I tinks twas chipper wanna borrows from Iggy-Lou
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Oil is cheap
Probably oil seals on the valve stems you can can change with only getting the buckets out, also check shifter shaft and drive sprocket for wet, both can be changed from the outside
The best way to get money for cases is to part them out
Is oil use a CARB problem in Cali, keep the bike change your state
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
I've never seen a valve seal that you can get out without removing keepers, retainers and springs. Cylinder needs to be pressurized.
Well, maybe a Ducati...
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Yes getting at the back one might prove impossible
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
while day light savings time means earlier mornings for most; it means later light for me and dirt bike rides after work!
Iglu is right - with these bikes being so darned versatile, you just can't beat how easy it is to have one bike to get to work, canyon ride, off road, then go back to the hood and park and not get stolen
met at Cook's Corner
https://i.imgur.com/vW7LC8i.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/Vday73y.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/sELTHlD.png?1
obligatory wheelie
https://i.imgur.com/VBlNBJn.png?1
quick canyon zip down live oak canyon
https://i.imgur.com/Zzfgwis.png?2
quite a bit of 4 wheel traffic...I'm guessing because this was the only open/local place, it just rained (= "good" conditions), and it was a weekend with later light
https://i.imgur.com/Nr2Rxsq.png?1
https://i.imgur.com/M0ADaDz.png?1
we passed everybody
https://i.imgur.com/gmc2J62.png?1
stopped by the 4x4 crawl spot...there were tons of guys out foolin...but being on the Vstrom I had no interest in going up myself
https://i.imgur.com/vzO8CjD.png?1
this was never there in the past, but after all the rains the off-road guys turned it into a mud pit and dug a hole
https://i.imgur.com/H6HQIwU.png
on wards into the woods
https://i.imgur.com/lSddmNH.png?1
we stopped at the entrance to Holy Jim Falls, when it started to get dark, so we turned around here
https://i.imgur.com/gFu6Br2.png
then a quick zip back to the entrance
https://i.imgur.com/6AnmvCj.png
https://i.imgur.com/xBlJLA5.png?1
then my buddy and I swapped girlfriends...oops, I mean swapped bikes
https://i.imgur.com/RcJapL9.png
and I had my first ride on a DR650
https://i.imgur.com/CtcY6HB.png
fun fun fun...Cal City next Saturday!
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
took a couple weeks off from the bike, and wowza...that thing feels like a rocket ship! felt super light and free compared to the truck
rode it to the grand prix kick off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNF1l2uE6vs
even took it to the beach Saturday - loaded up with a bag of charcoal, water, grilling supplies, chair, and rode down for a beach sunset/bonfire :lol:
oil was really, really low...I read online that high speeds are a culprit
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
so April was supposed to be an adventure tour throughout the desert before it gets too hot...
and it's already getting hot :sad2:
not sure what my limits are, but weather showing 95ish in Borrego Springs
between having fun on my full days off riding/drinking, disney pass days, and renovating one of the units (original plan - 1-1/2 months - almost at 3 months now with 1-2 months to go) I just haven't been spending full days off working on the bikes...just playing :lol:
going to do 2 more desert/touring rides then use the summer to do my maintenance and tour in fall again + track days...hopefully cover Nevada/Vegas/coastal rides (up PCH) area and maybe a national forest (Yosemite?)
Will try to sell by winter or early spring next year and switch to a Meyers Manx buggy :beerbang:
https://images.craigslist.org/00B0B_...Y5_600x450.jpg
goals here:
-street legal - can throw surf board on roof and cruise down to the beach, grocery run, drive to local spots >> Razor
-on/off road - seems to be pretty capable with all the weight on the rear - can drive it to work + hit local spots after work >> Razor
-can do open desert roads = miles upon miles of terrain
-no trailer/storage required - can street/driveway park + tow with F150 using tow bar to desert (?) >> Razor
-open top - cuz it's Cali lol...one thing I love about a bike is the forced immersion in the elements...just not the same in an SUV with AC
-can bring passenger - not that it's very comfortable LOL
-more reliable(?) - not sure about this - but no belt drive, and doesn't seem overpowered for it's own good...people say you can work on 'em solo
-price point - price seems to vary but $4k-$7k seems to get you one that's turn key
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
360+ mile ride today!
https://i.imgur.com/6jRO8fI.jpg?1
san diego county is REALLY COOL...within 20-30 mins/1 hour of each other we were shredding the canyons (pretty fun on a vstrom! easy handling), touring the countryside through meadows and fields (passed through warner springs/A13x's town!), then suddenly turns into open desert and mountains. hit a gravel uphill and some sandy parts (sucked in sand) in the desert...was 95+ in the desert, and I felt it (along with the bike), but was okay if I kept moving. The mountain pass roads were AWESOME - raises you up in elevation for some stellar views of the open desert. Borrego springs was a dead/middle-of-nowhere sort of desert town, but had some cool metal sculptures...and the ice cream shop owners were from Stoneham/Dedham/Cochituate! Got some pie in a small town called Julian (amazing)...and I went back to the stock seat and my butt got sore...need to mail out that Sargent seat to get recovered. Overall it was a fun day! Need to do more day trips like this!
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
I am at a real estate investor meeting...and the back half of my skid plate fell off on the way here! Held it on with my feet to get into the parking lot :lol:
Huh boy...maybe I have some zip ties to get home. I will wait until all the bmw’s and other ballers leave haha
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
left work 5:15, got gas, at the trail head by 5:40 :hellyeah:
one huge issue with the Vstrom off road is ground clearance.
https://i.imgur.com/COYNAht.jpg?1
pics don't do justice, but getting through here made for a loud "crunchZING" and I didn't even take the most difficult line
didn't see much 4x4 traffic on the way up...passed 2 courteous trucks up to 4 corners
https://i.imgur.com/btnhfBP.jpg?1
kinda hazy in the distance - but there are more mountains behind there
kept going up to the peak when I heard a DING...scrrrraaaape...dingaling...scrapppee
https://i.imgur.com/OYXzbMS.jpg?1
sacrificed the rear zip ties for the skid plate...right in the "fun" section
zip tied it back up and kept going...then had it happen again 30 yards ahead
https://i.imgur.com/rYG8ToP.jpg?2
yeah, I'm pushing her too far...I need a new skid plate mount
now I was over it...lost my rhythm on the bike and just coasted down in 1st to a spot I could eat my dinner
https://i.imgur.com/f1RXFRq.jpg?1
and watch TV...only 1 channel played - sunset :lol:
https://i.imgur.com/TToI8l8.jpg?1
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
You’re not pushing it too far, you just need bolts and some blue loctite.
Re: 2007 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - breakdirt916
Looks at the limit for adventure bike