I bought a V-Strom!

[Waihou Thumper]

Have to sell the DR 800 and the KTM LC4...
But...
I pick it up this coming Wednesday 7/01/15....:)

Here she is...Gotta name it I suppose..
I am happy, the deal is good, the bike looks good and it is a one owner.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/1x8giuw4w127j46/AABRThHR-_tpW57H8yaOFKzPa

[caseye]

Noice stormy, well done that man.

[unstuck]

Nice bike, good on ya.:niceone:

[EJK]

Nice bike! :-)

[R650R]

Man that's a serious obsessive amount of pics of one bike... serial killer material there being that organised and all!

[Waihou Thumper]

Man that's a serious obsessive amount of pics of one bike... serial killer material there being that organised and all!

These were taken to sell the thing! I was impressed with the sellers eye for detail, hence bought unseen. :) He then sent me these from the cloud...before deleting them off his classified/auction.
Obsessive? perhaps, but when you are trying to sell something I think the more the better, hence less stupid dumb ass questions?

[AllanB]

Agree. Looks well loved and the owner thought ahead for spares that may be needed in a where the heck am I spill.

One around the block with aftermarket pipes - sounds meaty but I'd be popping in the quiet inserts for off the beaten track riding.

[BMWST?]

i agree when i sold the gs i sent a short video to the guy too so he could see/hear it starting and running

[Ender EnZed]

Very nice. That the 650 or the 1000?

[R650R]

These were taken to sell the thing! I was impressed with the sellers eye for detail, hence bought unseen. :) He then sent me these from the cloud...before deleting them off his classified/auction.
Obsessive? perhaps, but when you are trying to sell something I think the more the better, hence less stupid dumb ass questions?


I thought as much.... I'd still be backing down the driveway LOL

[Waihou Thumper]

Very nice. That the 650 or the 1000?

The 1000 :)
V not wee....

[MarkH]

Here she is...

That's a serious bit of adventure bike there, you'll have to plan out some nice trips!

Congrats on the new bike, hope you have tons of fun on it.

[Waihou Thumper]

That's a serious bit of adventure bike there, you'll have to plan out some nice trips!

Congrats on the new bike, hope you have tons of fun on it.

Thanks and congrats to you too...:drinknsin

[Scubbo]

mile muncher, what a beaut!

[bluninja]

Nice!! Enjoy.

[Aslan]

Looks good - a keeper perhaps? X Twisting Throttle? Enjoy - pleased for you

[Waihou Thumper]

Looks good - a keeper perhaps? X Twisting Throttle? Enjoy - pleased for you

Thanks Stephen. Yes to both questions for sure! I even get three autographed books to read on the tour home...:)

[Waihou Thumper]

Agree. Looks well loved and the owner thought ahead for spares that may be needed in a where the heck am I spill.

One around the block with aftermarket pipes - sounds meaty but I'd be popping in the quiet inserts for off the beaten track riding.

He rode it around the circumference of Australia without a hitch, breakdown, then took it to the USA, again, without a hitch or breakdown.

[Aslan]

That machine has some serous cred in my view Mark - assume Mike Hyde may have upgraded to the current generation 'thou - he has a 'sponsorship' arrangement of sorts with a Christcuch Suzuki dealer if I recall from his books. Having spent far too much since '89 on a succession of BMW GS'es some of which I should have kept (you'll understand); I'm currently of the view (as a pensioner) that Suzuki DR, DL and Kawasaki KLR make sound economic sense and I may have one as my 'final' bike before they put me in a box or up the flue :)

[Waihou Thumper]

That machine has some serous cred in my view Mark - assume Mike Hyde may have upgraded to the current generation 'thou - he has a 'sponsorship' arrangement of sorts with a Christcuch Suzuki dealer if I recall from his books. Having spent far too much since '89 on a succession of BMW GS'es some of which I should have kept (you'll understand); I'm currently of the view (as a pensioner) that Suzuki DR, DL and Kawasaki KLR make sound economic sense and I may have one as my 'final' bike before they put me in a box or up the flue :)

Bikewise, not flue or box...:)
Mike actually went for a 650...
Yes, I know I have had my fair share of bikes, women, neither have stayed around....The bikes have gone from my own choice though. :weird:
Apparently his next goal is 50 countries in 50 days...so he says.
Have no idea how he intends to do that, but.....He will divulge when I get down there.
Remember the ride we did Lees Valley and Ukuku? Well, I may do that northbound after picking it up and if the river is high, just turn around, it is almost half way anyway, so no problem other than I must make sure I look left all the way there, so the terrain is different riding back?
Cheers Stephen and all the best.
I have been following your journey and enjoying your fine dining and roughing it...:)

[Aslan]

Bikewise, not flue or box...:)
Mike actually went for a 650...
Apprently his next goal is 50 countries in 50 days...so he says.
Have no idea how he intends to do that, but.


Yes still to reach a final decision on final resting of this old bod when my time has come - something environmentally friendly - ashes to ashes dust to dust :) key thing with my odometer closer to 70 than 60; I realise each day is precious

[Waihou Thumper]

Yes still to reach a final decision on final resting of this old bod when my time has come - something environmentally friendly - ashes to ashes dust to dust :) key thing with my odometer closer to 70 than 60; I realise each day is precious

Wise...after what has happened with my family of late (mum)..I understand and I find myself thinking too...

[98tls]

Yep very nice,my old man had nothing but praise for his after packing it up with gear and my stepmother and doing a really long tour round the whole Nth isle,enjoy.

[Aslan]

Better let your thread get back on topic Mark - again, I'm pleased do for you with your purchase.

Sorry to learn of your sadness - your Mum

My resolve this year not to take myself so seriously, be less concerned with what others think of me and think less - especially about myself :(

BTW - I still idly look at Scramblers, Bulllets and CT110 for not particular reason - as you were - enjoy the ride home on the Strom!

[98tls]

Interesting bit of usless info re the Strom,i long ago bought a Yoshi ecu adjuster for mucking about with the TL i bought the thing off a guy on the TL site,it ended up being loaned out to guys all over the world and even spent some time with some members of the V-Strom site (forget the name of it) but by all accounts the thing worked on Stroms as well which i found odd.

[Waihou Thumper]

I managed to score a good deal on our National airline $55....:)
I even bought that some weeks before the classified expired, I was confident!
So I splashed out for a luggage allowance as you do, that will include tools, riding gear (can't look like The Stig)
and tent, sleeping bag etc...

I have the GPS loaded with DoC camp grounds and will meander my way north whilst the GSH kids I have will enjoy a holiday in the kennels.

It will be a trip of buses, planes and motorbikes, with a ferry thrown in.
It will take me all day to get south, leave home at 7am, get to CHC 2100....:)
I have plenty of days but may just trip back in three or four days, inspect, clean and maintain then bugger off for a few more days.
90 mile beach or Hohoura or Pouto point beckons.

BUT, the downside is I have to sell the DR800s and the KTM LC4e....
These are on Trade me now...:(

[unstuck]

My resolve this year not to take myself so seriously, be less concerned with what others think of me and think less - especially about myself :(



Advice I think we all need to heed.:niceone:
Apart from the bit about thinking too much, thats a part of being human. The trick is to think more thoughts that feel better when we think them.:msn-wink:

[young1]

Great buy, some fun riding ahead of you :-)

Mike

[Waihou Thumper]

Great buy, some fun riding ahead of you :-)

Mike

:) Thanks Mike...yes.

[Waihou Thumper]

I am all packed, ready to go in the morning for leg one of the journey.
The KTM is sold pending payment. Loads of interest in the DR 800s.

307648

[unstuck]

Good luck fella, and happy travels.:Punk::Punk:

[Kiwi Graham]

Very nice bike and a well thought out spares package too. :niceone:

[willytheekid]

Great ride :niceone:

Enjoy the new Bike and also hope it serves you well...bloody awesome package considering all the extras on the bike and all the spares:yes:

[Hawkeye]

You'll have to come for a trip down our way and come visit me an PJ.

[Waihou Thumper]

You'll have to come for a trip down our way and come visit me an PJ.

That would be good...☺

[Waihou Thumper]

Here I am on my second glass of Wither Hills.....
25 minutes to go.....

[caseye]

So, ya got it yet?
Ridden anywhere?
Come on man stop keeping us in suspenders!

[unstuck]

So, ya got it yet?
Ridden anywhere?
Come on man stop keeping us in suspenders!

My guess is he is making the most of the weather, and grinning like a schoolboy, not parked in a field doing guy martin impressions.:devil2:

[Waihou Thumper]

So, ya got it yet?
Ridden anywhere?
Come on man stop keeping us in suspenders!

I will follow up on this very shortly.

[Waihou Thumper]

307798
A very nice evening flight down to CHC. It was a very long day, starting at 0400 and ending 2100 arrival.
By the time I had taken a look at the bike and run through the bits and pieces it was 2330....
Not much sleep, up at 0530 and in the garage packing everything. Cup of tea, a route out of CHC and I was sitting in Oxford having bacon and eggs by 0900.
Which way to go after this? The dilemma?

307799
The Strom all packed ready to go. It took a few hours to get used to but it was fun learning.
Almost spilling it twice on the bloody horrible gravel you guys have in the south:)

307800
I wound up here in this little place - Canvastown. Stayed the night, entertained by the locals and slept like a little baby.
Next morning headed over to Picton for breakfast with the intention of riding over Port Underwood road but...
307801
After heading over to Waikawa without my back pack? I had left it on the seat at the cafe...I had wallet, and all of my personal stuff inside? What an idiot!
I got back and it was still there intact, phew! First in line at check-in. I just chilled as I was a tad buggered from the ride the day before.
307802
Stunning day across the Strait, a nice NNE blew up and it was choppy but hot and I got nicely burned as a result.

307803
Just heading out of Tory Channel.

The weather was perfect until I got to Taupo, then it pissed down cats and dogs. I couldn't see at all so was riding slowly and trying to see.
Luckily it cleared by Tirau and the remainder of the trip was uneventful.
Lots of cops, I was keeping to 100-105 kph all the way which meant the Overdrive 6th gear was infrequently used.
I arrived home at 1 am, so another long day.

Today the bike was cleaned, cut a few wires no longer required, re-wired the GPS and now ready for another ride later on in the week.
I am happy with the bike and it performs really well. It takes a bit of getting used to the V Twin noise and the way the engine roars into life.
The first gear is next to useless, the 6th gear is awesome but you have to be doing at least 110 kph to get value out of it.
I filled up a number of times, got the fuel lights blinking three times and found out I still had over 4 litres in the tank. Must do a trip and run it out to see what range I have?

So, where to next?

[Waihou Thumper]

My guess is he is making the most of the weather, and grinning like a schoolboy, not parked in a field doing guy martin impressions.:devil2:

Hehe...yep, that's about it! :)

[unstuck]

Awesome stuff, really nice looking bike. Well done chap.:2thumbsup

[Waihou Thumper]

Awesome stuff, really nice looking bike. Well done chap.:2thumbsup

I have now started my unofficial V Strom thread with the riding, the servicing, and the maintenance I guess...
Oh, and any issues...:) Naa, not that there will be any...

[Laava]

Why was first gear useless?

[Waihou Thumper]

Why was first gear useless?

It is really a seriously low creeper.....Second is the best all of the time. I found that in first starting off it revved so quickly I was changing in a second...:)

[Jantar]

It is really a seriously low creeper.....Second is the best all of the time. I found that in first starting off it revved so quickly I was changing in a second...:)

And with a loud CLUNK between 1st and 2nd?

[caseye]

Good News. Owesome weather for riding the length of the country, glad you got her home all in one piece, came through the desert road 10 days ago, best weatehr I've ever experienced down there, love those climbing turns.
Looks to be a rather complete unit, nice work Thumpa.

[Laava]

If first gear is really low and good for creeping along, it has probably been geared down with front and rear sprockets. Or have I missed that from previous posts?
They are usually known for first gear being a bit higher than ideal.
And yes, it will have the big clunk between first and second. The new V has the same clunk.

[varminter]

I'm sure you know of it... stromtrooper.com

[Waihou Thumper]

I'm sure you know of it... stromtrooper.com

Yep, appreciate that, thanks. :)