VStrom Owners Thread

Mine was similar on a recent front/rear sprocket/chain change. Are we over lubricating and neglecting to wash behind the "gears"?

Yea looks like i'm wasting chain lube, LOL.
A wonderful blend of chain oil and sand: Well the bike is at least a pound lighter now, and the handling and acceleration are noticeably improved!

Worth ensuring the clutch actuating rod and the countershaft seals aren’t leaking. I had to replace both on my ‘04 wee.

Looks pretty reasonable for the life of the chain. I've seen worse.

If you use a Teflon based dry-lube you could avoid having to clean up that mess next time you change chain/sprockets.

Gustavo

I didn't have anything to grind the spacer down with, so I just tried wrapping the inner connector end bits with masking tape. Seems to have done the trick for now. Let's see how long that holds.

My brake lights, turn signals, and dash went out when I was on a ride today. Figured out a fuse blew fairly quickly, then blew again very shortly after starting the bike again, and now I need to track down why. Everything has been fine since I got the bike over a year ago and while sitting stopped and looking at a map I saw a white cloud of acrid smoke. I noticed a hole began burning through the little flashing rear brake light (Hyperlite). Got home and checked it out.

Figured it out. I saw this hole burning after I did the fuse swap and after pulling it out of the circuit and hooking it up directly to the battery... big flame and now bigger burned hole!
It's a Hyperlite and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen? (I initially peeled off the outer layer of textured ABS in the hopes of repairing it but obviously it's dead Jim!)

Today's tip:
If you own a 2011 Wee Strom, and install the ROX 1 1/2" block offset riser, you will need to extend the front brake line by at least two inches. Of course, you can fuck around with re-routing the stock line, but it's a waste of time. I had a line made that was 3" longer than stock and it's a perfect fit.

Yep. Good advice, MrBob. That subject was recently brought up on StromTroopers, as well. With 1" SW-Motech solid riser block, no problem. Same riser but 2 inch, no way! I installed the AdventureTech (really, Galfer) +2" extension brake line, and it works fine. I bought the Eastern Beaver extension cables, too, and installed them, but they weren't really necessary. Clutch cable is about at its limit though, and if I were to go any higher it would require a longer after-market cable, I think.

I was already taking the forks off anyway, to replace the seals and also replace tbe steering head bearings, so that made access to the brake line union above the radiator a little easier.

Bolt head on that union is 12mm and there are washers in there that are just itching to break free. This was an excellent opportunity to bleed the front brake system. If your brake line fittings have a bend, make sure the lower one won't interfere with full lock turns. So glad I caught that before buttoning everything up.
eBay sells a number of Chinesium setbacks but, are the savings worth it?

Hm. The bar risers I used were SW-Motech, something I had laying around from a previous bike. No "Chinesium." But the one extra inch, (from 1" to 2"), made just the right amount of difference, at least for me.

Yea the Galfer union block is built differently than OEM. I had it installed but it just didn't seem right, until I did a bit of Googling and found some photos of the correct installation. It was one of those "Doh!" moments...
Well worth the time and effort though!

Oh man, don't bypass the fuse like that or you might be melting wires up and down the harness that will be a bitch to find. I hope you got lucky and the hyperlight was the only thing that went Chernobyl.
Wait, if you removed the Hyperlight from the harness first what made you think it was the suspect?

Perhaps it was confusing the way I worded it. I pulled it out of the circuit altogether because I originally saw a very small hole begin burning where you see. It was confirmed when I put the second fuse in while stopped and lost all brake lights, signals, and dash. After pulling it out once I got home I reconfirmed it again by attaching it for a moment directly to the battery and saw a 1/2" flame. I haven't ridden the bike, but I'm pretty confident that was the problem.

Aye....good...carry on!

Any respectable KLR owner would see that as perfectly good and reapply it.

Does the front axle on the Wee require a 12mm hex?

Yes

Looking to unload a Corbin seat for first gen V-strom. Came on my 2006 Wee from the PO. Just not comfortable for me, went with a stock seat I purchased from an inmate.

I can send more photos if you're interested. Here's a link to my post in the central flea market:

https://advrider.com/f/threads/cent...-the-first-post.520330/page-363#post-41300976

Was a $500 seat new, but I've got no idea how old it is.

Harbor Freight had one in a 14.00 set. It was 1/2" drive, in case anyone was wondering. Are there 12mm Allen wrenches?

https://smile.amazon.com/Bondhus-12180-12mm-Long-L-Wrench/dp/B001HW8ZCA/ref=sr_1_3?crid=31AJ01XEG4MNX&dchild=1&keywords=12mm+allen+wrench&qid=1607126540&sprefix=12mm+allen+w,aps,389&sr=8-3

Turns out there are.

AdventureTech will sell you a chunk of a 12mm Allen wrench for less than a Starbucks coffee.

mine works great. Put it in, put the socket on and turn the handle.

Jathkajoe