france and back
 

I pick mine up tomorrow and set off for south of france the next day for a week or so before heading back to uk, I will let you know how the bike handles touring on tarmac and maybe off roading if I get half a chance when up in the alps.
Took one for a two hour non stop test ride and it felt very comfortable afterwards. Saw 120mph on speedo but buffeting was problem over a ton, maybe adjusting or even replacing screen would cure this.
Very light and managable if ugly but I'm looking forward to adventures on mine already.
Have to sell the R100gs now...!

I have 31k miles on my '04 Wee Strom, and just returned from Prudhoe Bay, AK.
After riding an 1800 Wing, I thought I would be disappointed in the power, not
so, the little bike is very strong. Plan to ride it to TDF around the 1st of November. I have the Pat Walsh skid plate, and Givi bags, and run Metzeler
Tourance tires. Also made the run from Coldfoot to Deadhorse without using
the extra gas. Did have a problem shifting gears when mud got into the linkage.
I started spraying the linkage with TRI FLOW, the same thing I use on the chain.
That took care of the problem.

Thanks Grant for the info on TRI FLOW, this stuff works!

Harold

what about the electrical parts? are they enough strong to do +10000km without any maintainces?

In 31k miles I haven't replaced even a light bulb. It took a sever licking on the Dalton Highway, but like a Timex it kept on ticking! I changed the oil at 12k, never had to add any, I use 10-40 Amsoil.

Harold

I'm reviving this thread as I have a 2004 Dl650 with already 50,000 miles on it..

Any experiences here of taking one up to 80,000 miles ??? I might ride this thing to Australia going through Mongolia which will be tough on the old girl.

are there any problems on this machine ? As far as I can tell, it seems to be pretty bulletproof but I was wondering if It was worth swapping the cam chains/valves and rings..

It's been well looked after. Full service history etc but it's starting to feel it's age/mileage.

Cheers, Ted

hi

Ive a 05 with 34k on the clock.... was going to take it round the world but decided to go with a Yamaha TT600RE.
I just feel its too heavy for the tough stuff !!

Needed a few shims at 28k and apart from oil,chain and brake pads shes as good as new.. well with a few scratches lol

cheers
Geordie aka Will

I totally hear you..... I've always taken off road bias bikes travelling, but even in Africa I really didn't need to. I'm a bit tired of the fatigue involved with riding enduro bikes for long long days on tarmac for months on end just so I can feel better for the 1% of dirt tracks, unpaved roads etc.

If we're realistic with ourselves, how much time do we really spend off road and how much more capable is an enduro bike once it's all loaded up ??

There's a lot to be said about 'Just ride what's sitting in your garage' I'd feel different if I was crossing deserts and jungle etc but I'm probably not.

I've got the bike there, it only cost £2000 and it's fully loaded with luggage, crash bars, centre stand etc. It's mega comfortable, got a 250 mile range tank and is frugal.

Would it make financial sense to change it ??? :innocent:

I think that´s the key point. Very few bikes sustain good handling, when loaded to the fullest, and more or less all lightweight offroad-machines will suffer a lot, when you double their allowed weight... :rofl:

But of course the trips, riders, and also peoples personal preferences differ a lot, so there really is no one definite answer here.

The V-Strom is definitely not the best off-road bike, but it´s still much better than a 100% streetbike, and a good rider can actually take it through surprisingly bad places (good to keep in mind, that it does not crash very well, though!) And then you´ve still got its on-road abilities, the fact that it carries weight very well, and known reliability. When you put a heavy load on the bike, that V-twin is still surprisingly sweet on the highway, something that cannot be said of any 1-cylinder dual-purpose bike I´ve ridden. They all feel exhausted.

Maybe I haven´t been to the real tough places yet, and I take these figures totally out of my hat... but for me, travelling around the world has so far been about 80% fully tolerable or good roads, 15% not-so-good, and only 5% really terrible. To me, it does not really make sense to choose the bike because of that 5% (... and I think the V-Strom has been, if not perfect, still ´just fine´ for the not-so-good).

Yeah... I'd love to take it on a massive diet.

The crash bars, sump guard, pannier frames all add weight but as you say, it is well distributed and the seat fairly low compared to my other bikes.

I'd like to improve the suspension but I don't want to spend too much on it.

Maybe a new shock and fork internals...

I went thru many stages.. yes take the strom.. no its too heavy and big

I even bought a little DR250.... then settled for the TT600

I will sell the strom but prob buy another in a couple of years when I have finished my RTW trip.

I just hope I dont go thru the stage of wishing I had brought my strom along lol

Cheers
Geordie aka Will

Unless it's noisy & using oil or the compression is down I wouldn't bother change all those gubbins; I'd take the strom & leave it where if falls if you get a major disaster with it.

I just a bought an XT660Z for a Morocco trip and one of the factors is the relative simplicity - single, screw and locknut tappets - and the fuel economy, but I don't think it aces the strom particularly in that aspect.

Yeah, I think you're probably right Doc...I'll probably leave it.

I 'Might' drop £400 on the full Hagon shock and fork springs package and let it breath with a £200 exhaust and probably spend £100 on bearings and bushes etc.. Only just serviced it with oil, filters and valves clearances etc.

That would have me on the road and rolling for £2500. Not too shabby I think.

It doesn't burn a drop of oil. Engine and gear box aren't exactly crisp and flutter free but I think it's easy good for another 30,000-50,000 miles.

I just to decide where I'm going to point it :scooter:

:thumbup1::thumbup1::innocent:

That differs, some people follow the main route, other go to remote places. Personally I find it easier to go to remote places with a bigger bike because it's easier to carry food, petrol and water.


You are getting there Ted:clap::clap::clap::clap:

hahaha. It's a slow road to find out what the right answer is. It's even longer when there is no right answer..

doh

bier bier