Category: Maintenance RSS feed for this category
Repairs and rides
The front-right turn signal is cracked on my V-Strom and I bought ‘drop-in’ replacements from Touratech. I also bought new brake pads and bar-end weights. I planned to spend a few hours getting these parts installed and my first task was to get the turn signals replaced. Getting to the large nuts that hold the front turn signals in place was not an easy chore and after spending over an hour trying to get the front fairing off my bike, I threw up my hands and gave up. There is a bizarre combination of hex-head screws, snaps and hooks that
Favorite dealership closed its doors
I purchased my Suzuki V-Strom from Action Motorsports in Fairview, Oregon back in February of 2007 and have been going to them ever since for parts, accessories, and especially service. Their service department always did a great job at a fair price. When dropping off some new tires yesterday to have installed on my ‘Strom the owner informed me they had closed their doors. There were three semi-trailers in the parking lot to haul away the bikes. The owner told me he and his partner hoped to open up a service shop soon. I’ve been a loyal customer and have
Winter maintenance, dryer weather
My 2007 V-Strom 650 hit 20,000 miles recently, giving me an average of just over 10,000 miles per year (I purchased it on Feb. 12, 2007). I change the oil every 3,000 miles, it’s on its third set of tires (Metzeler Tourance), its second chain, and I’ve had the throttle bodies synced twice (although I don’t think it needed it either time). The bike has been 100% reliable with zero failures or problems of any kind. Saturday I changed the oil and gave my chain a real good scrubbing and lube job. I’m not sure what scheduled maintenance is due
Chain, chain, chain
Sing it with me now, “Chain, chain, chain ….. chain of fools” No, seriously, it’s not foolish to put a decent chain and new sprockets on your bike. Especially when it’s hit 12,000 miles, as mine did over the weekend. My original factory chain and sprockets aren’t looking too bad, but I’ve got some big trips this summer and 12,000 miles is a good change interval for original equipment. I bought a DID 525 ‘gold’ chain from Adventure Motostuff in Nevada and will have my local Suzuki dealer install it. It’s a highly recommended brand/model and if I take good
Site issues: Missing photos
I recently moved this blog onto a different server and just noticed that all photo links got disconnected as a result. I’ll work on getting them re-uploaded and re-linked ASAP.
Battery tender
There is a lot of rain coming our way so it’s not likely I’ll be able to ride for at least a week, maybe more. It’s just that time of year. Back in the first part of October I purchased a Yuasa battery charger from Aerostich and decided now is a good time to hook it up. I connected it to the battery while it’s still on the bike. We’ll see how it works out. Yuasa Charger from Aerostich
Ride: Wildcat loop
Prior to leaving, I checked every engine-related bolt I could find, and a few others as well, to make sure nothing was loose. Everything was tight. I then removed the seat (again) and added some more close-cell foam padding on the contact points where it touches the frame. In order to test my handy work I had to go for a ride, so after making sure I had enough gas in the tank, I geared up and rolled on. I headed south on 362nd, then headed toward Borndstedt, connecting with Kleinsmith. The pavement was wet in may places and I
Ride: Clackamas River to Three Lynx
The saddlebag brackets and turn signal light stems I ordered from Jack’s came via UPS this afternoon. I had to run up to Thrifty Auto to buy a metric socket set and some wrenches, and while I was there I bought a can of Sea Foam engine treatment. I also sprayed the chain with the chain lube I bought at the Honda dealership earlier in the day. I mounted the brackets and put the saddlebags on the bike, and put about 1/4 can of Sea Foam in the tank. As I was looking at the bike in the garage and
Ride: Trip home from Honda shop
I rode the bike home from the Honda shop, after getting the rear tire replaced, the front forks redone, and the front brake fluid changed and bled. They also replaced a diaphragm in the master cyclinder, lubed the clutch and brake levers, and inspected the chain and sprockets. I bought a can of Honda-brand chain lube on top of the service. The total damage? $506 and some change. I made a quick detour into the Gresham Chevron station and put $3.77 worth of $1.43 gasoline in it and then boogied home on Hwy. 26. The bike performed fine and the
Waiting on a friend
To quote the Rolling Stone song lyric, “I’m still waiting on a friend.” My Rebel is in the shop and has been for nearly two weeks now. I took it in to get the rear tire replaced and the front forks worked on (the right side had a slight leak). I intended to replace the front brake fluid after I got the bike back home, but since I’ve never done that before, I figured the safest thing was to have the shop do it the first time, and I’d make any subsequent attempts. Safety first. The tire took several days
