I bought a V-Strom!

[unstuck]

Good luck fella, and happy travels.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

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

[willytheekid]

Great ride

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

[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.

[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]

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?


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


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...

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.

Stunning day across the Strait, a nice NNE blew up and it was choppy but hot and I got nicely burned as a result.


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.

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

[unstuck]

Awesome stuff, really nice looking bike. Well done chap.

[Waihou Thumper]

Awesome stuff, really nice looking bike. Well done chap.

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...