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02-04-2021, 12:42 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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2006 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom
I started feeling bad about jumping herbies thread so I thought I'd start one.
This is a pic of the shakedown cruise after doing some initial work and stripping off unnecessary items. It ran great! Geared WAY to high though. The previous owner said he jumped a tooth on the countershaft sprocket (from 15 stock to 16). Up here in Canyonland, I don't need to do 130 mph.....but when necessary, I do need to get the front end up or pull out of a deep corner without having to downshift. The 14 tooth has been ordered. New tires and wheel bearing arrived today. Time for some surgery.
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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02-04-2021, 07:02 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Somerset, KY
Posts: 687
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I had an 05 Wee-Strom for a while, great bike, did everything well....mine was blue....
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Huck 2013 Honda NC700X 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 2016 AJP PR4 2022 Templar X 250 2021 Sondors Metacycle AMA Life Member |
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02-04-2021, 06:46 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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Love the blue. Do you recall any dislikes about the bike or problems that stood out? All I ever read is how long these things are supposed to last.
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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02-05-2021, 07:04 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Somerset, KY
Posts: 687
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Quote:
The "Only" downside to the V-Strom was, it didn't have the "Soul" that I find some bikes have, even though it did everything well, with the stock exhaust, the motor sounded like a sewing machine....I don't like load bikes.....BUT, I do want to hear (or "Feel")the exhaust.
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Huck 2013 Honda NC700X 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 2016 AJP PR4 2022 Templar X 250 2021 Sondors Metacycle AMA Life Member |
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02-07-2021, 09:45 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Illinois
Posts: 866
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Quote:
You just have to twist the throttle a little harder Just kidding That's one thing I love about the bike is how quiet it is, I guess I'm getting old!
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2022 Venom KPR 200 Red- the fastest color 16t and 46t sprockets, NGK Iridium CPR8EAIX-9, aftermarket full exhaust system. Top speed 81GPS 2023 Venom SS3 KP mini 150– Nibbi carb, Nibbi air filter, aftermarket muffler, decat 2022 Venom Ghost chopper 250 1997 Honda GL1500 Goldwing 1978 Kawasaki KL250 https://youtube.com/@herbiesgarage681 |
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02-07-2021, 09:48 AM | #6 |
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Illinois
Posts: 866
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2LZ, I'm interested in how you like the 14 tooth sprocket. I was on the fence about 14 or 15 and went stock with the 15. It suits me pretty well.
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2022 Venom KPR 200 Red- the fastest color 16t and 46t sprockets, NGK Iridium CPR8EAIX-9, aftermarket full exhaust system. Top speed 81GPS 2023 Venom SS3 KP mini 150– Nibbi carb, Nibbi air filter, aftermarket muffler, decat 2022 Venom Ghost chopper 250 1997 Honda GL1500 Goldwing 1978 Kawasaki KL250 https://youtube.com/@herbiesgarage681 |
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02-04-2021, 12:13 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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So after years of owning a Swedish bike, American bikes and China bikes, this is my first Japanese bike in decades. Funny how these "vastly superior" Japanese bikes share some familiar parts! LOL!
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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02-20-2021, 07:01 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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Yet another reason to do a baseline maintenance on a used bike. I changed fork fluid today.
Fork #1 - I dumped out ATF. Fork #2 - I dumped out fork fluid. Both different volumes. My guess would be the fork with the ATF had a seal changed at one time. After a quick flush, I refilled both to spec with my favorite Bell Ray 10w and reset the preload. Much nicer now!
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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04-21-2021, 01:12 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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2006 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom 1000 mile review:
The pro's.... 1- Power. Lots of torque from 2500 that pulls to red line. Love that part of a V Twin. After years of riding 200's, the 66 hp and 44 torque are a welcome guest. Very smooth and predictable. The motor does zero funny stuff in how it presents its power. 2- Super comfy seat, even for my fat ass. Go out for two or three continuous hours and zero monkey butt. After adding pull-back risers and pedal extenders, it's also now has a much more prone riding position. That helped a lot. This isn't a crotch rocket but the seating was tending toward that feel. 3- Suspension is more than adequate, especially after finally dialing it in. The forks have a preload adjust and the rear shock has preload adjust (nice accessible side knob) and also, dampening adjust. I do have to keep in mind that it's 15 years old so high tech, it's not. 4- Handles really well for a big bike. Sweepers are almost like dancing with a graceful partner. Very predictable. 5- Gauge cluster is large-ish and very easy to read. Awesome for old eyes. 6- A 6 gallon gas tank. It's got a good range. The cons: 1- It's big....and heavy. While this adds to a super-solid feel, after years of riding smaller bikes, it's an adjustment. Kind of like after years of slow-grilling chicken and ribs, grilling a steak now is a crap shoot. 2- Not a mileage miser. Even with a full tune and filters. I guess that happens when the throttle is twisted. 3- Regarding simple maintenance, virtually everything is hidden. After years of wrenching on super-simple China Bikes, this thing has tons of Tupperware to remove. Just yesterday, I had to remove the seat, two side panels and the rear grab bar.....just to get at the rear brake fluid reservoir. It is nice that they left a small hole in the side panel to see the fluid level but if it's low....bust out a wide variety of tools. 4- I have no idea how Suzuki marketed this behemoth as a "dual sport". It's not. Dual sports don't weigh a million pounds and have boatloads of fairing plastic to crush. If I want to ride a true dual sport, I'll get on Q. 5- BIGGEST complaint, by far. THE REAR BRAKE SUCKS! People complain about the RX3 brakes???? They are Brembo/Willwood compared to this rear. Depress pedal....it's a dead block of wood. Press harder....still wooden....but I may feel something. Press harder....lockup. No joy felt at all. I did re-pad the brakes all around and I bled the rear with new DOT 4, just yesterday. Zero change. I'm going to rebuild the caliper and take a heavy scuff pad to the rear disk to see if that helps. Feels like a froze piston BUT.....there are rear brake complaints on older V-Strom forums all over the web. I hope I can do something with it. The all-mechanical drum on my old 1974 Harley worked better....seriously. I'm trying to keep in mind I did buy a 15 year old, used bike. The jury is currently out. More to follow.....
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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04-22-2021, 10:32 AM | #10 |
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Illinois
Posts: 866
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Good honest review 2lz! I agree with most things you said, can’t really speak to the maintenance part as I haven’t had to do much of anything to remove the Tupperware. I’m not sure what’s happening on the rear brake issue, mine seems just fine. The bike is a bit of a pig and not great on off road stuff but I have another bike for that, well almost
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2022 Venom KPR 200 Red- the fastest color 16t and 46t sprockets, NGK Iridium CPR8EAIX-9, aftermarket full exhaust system. Top speed 81GPS 2023 Venom SS3 KP mini 150– Nibbi carb, Nibbi air filter, aftermarket muffler, decat 2022 Venom Ghost chopper 250 1997 Honda GL1500 Goldwing 1978 Kawasaki KL250 https://youtube.com/@herbiesgarage681 |
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04-22-2021, 12:09 PM | #11 | |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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Quote:
Thanks for letting me know that your rear seems normal, herbie! There is hope.... A couple days ago, I was hooking it up a steep twisty we have by my house called "Ram's Horn Grade". I was getting a good rhythm going and picking up the pace. Came out of a sweeper left pretty hot, was tossing it over to the right while downshifting and on both binders setting up for the super-tight right.....and the rear walked right out on me, locked up. It went from numb to skidding, just like that. After I got my butt un-puckered, that's when I decided to tear it apart again.
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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04-22-2021, 12:30 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Elburn, IL
Posts: 5,959
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You might take a gander at the rear master and the rear brake hose while you are at it. Possibly some crud in the return side of the master or the hose may be delaminating internally. The hose thing I kinda doubt but the bike is going on 15 years old.
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Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts |
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04-29-2021, 01:30 PM | #13 | |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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Quote:
I just now ordered a new rotor with pads. I already have new pads on it but I want to try newly mated surfaces, just to keep an even playing field. This will mean every part will have either been rebuilt or replaced. If the brake still sucks....then it really is just a lousy brake. I'm hoping the rotor is glazed or blued and just not dispersing the heat properly.
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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05-08-2021, 01:50 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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Done! I finally replaced the disc (rotor) and new pads, yet again. After a good seating, the brake finally feels as it should. Out of all the bikes, over all the decades, I've never had to replace a rotor before.
I guess if a guys replaces/rebuilds every component, positive results should follow, right?
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"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
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05-08-2021, 07:44 PM | #15 |
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Illinois
Posts: 866
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Dang 2LZ, all that time and money for a rear brake! I'm glad you got it fixed though. But who needs brakes anyway
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2022 Venom KPR 200 Red- the fastest color 16t and 46t sprockets, NGK Iridium CPR8EAIX-9, aftermarket full exhaust system. Top speed 81GPS 2023 Venom SS3 KP mini 150– Nibbi carb, Nibbi air filter, aftermarket muffler, decat 2022 Venom Ghost chopper 250 1997 Honda GL1500 Goldwing 1978 Kawasaki KL250 https://youtube.com/@herbiesgarage681 |
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