My V-strom story, I'm sticking to it.

[amk]

An average advrider or stromtrooper is permanently confused by the chain lubing process, and you took him so far beyond that he is speechless. Compare the figures for views and responses.
Anyway, that is for sure the most in depth "maintenance and repair" thread in beasts, hats off to you, sir.

BTW, has you eliminated the vibration you mentioned earlier, and if so, what was the cause of it?

[robberst]

thanks for the comment.

I believe anyone with moderate mechanical skills could do something like this, most likely more proficiently than I. It does take a few tools that the average shade tree mechanic probably doesn't own. ( in my case a set of Neway valve seat cutters and a couple of reamers)
Then there is deciding to do it. It's much easier to decide to fix something that is collectable. Deciding to fix a crashed, worn V-strom is a little more difficult, weighing the desire and means to just buy something else.

BTW, has you eliminated the vibration you mentioned earlier, and if so, what was the cause of it?

The engine is buttery smooth again, just like it was new. I haven't worked the engine too hard yet. In my 50 miles just a lot of speeding up and slowing down to break in the rings.

I don't know the cause of my engine vibration, but I suspect it was lower compression on the front cylinder from all the carbon build up. I cleaned out the second air reeds and those little chambers were completely packed with carbon crud. It's possible a valve was sticking or just not sealing properly from all the carbon build up.

[JCANRUN]

Interesting thread. Thanks for posting.

[robberst]

Well, I rode 500 engine break in miles this week.
I'll put a few more miles on this next week and do an oil/filter change.

There is really nothing noteworthy to say, good or bad. It runs like new.
I haven't had to add any oil in the 5-600 miles I've put on it this week. I guess that's noteworthy. It's been a long time since that's happened. Two tanks of gasoline, the first at 58mpg and the second 56.

Maybe there is one small thing: the idle speed is a bit irregular. If I set idle to 1400 rpm when hot, it idles at just over 1000 when cold. If i bump it up for cold idle, hot idle is high and wanders.

[robberst]

2000 miles on the V-strom since the engine repairs.
Just a couple of observations.

there is no noticable oil loss.
my idle issue disappeared and it idles like it should
in the 4500-5500 RPM range it has a pretty strong vibration, especially with a big throttle opening.

This past weekend we went down to St Paul, MN for the anitique motorcycle club event and it was very windy. With the bike loaded for a weekend of camping, my wife on the pillion, and a stiff headwind, the vibration was especially bad. She didn't notice it at all, but it was enough to make my hands and feet tingly. (Not even my KTM640 does that) It's a pretty high frequency type of vibration, like the in-line 4 cylinder hondas I have ridden.

While my engine always has been like this, I think since I reassemble the engine, the vibration is more intense over a larger range of RPM.

Nevertheless, I'm happy with it. Looks like there will be many more miles to come.

[amk]

Originally Posted by robberst

in the 4500-5500 RPM range it has a pretty strong vibration, especially with a big throttle opening.

Weird, Wee is known for its smoothness.

I presume you did tps/tbs.

[robberst]

If I'm honest. No

right before I diassemble the engine I had sync'd the throttle bodies and just a few thousand miles before all this I had to replace a failed throttle position sensor.

In my excitement to get it all back together.......I didn't recheck them. My thinking at the time was that I'd run it "as is" to the next servicing then do it.

I suppose I shouldn't complain about this stuff until I complete the job.

[Boon Booni]

Originally Posted by robberst

2000 miles on the V-strom since the engine repairs.
Just a couple of observations.

there is no noticable oil loss.
my idle issue disappeared and it idles like it should
in the 4500-5500 RPM range it has a pretty strong vibration, especially with a big throttle opening.

This past weekend we went down to St Paul, MN for the anitique motorcycle club event and it was very windy. With the bike loaded for a weekend of camping, my wife on the pillion, and a stiff headwind, the vibration was especially bad. She didn't notice it at all, but it was enough to make my hands and feet tingly. (Not even my KTM640 does that) It's a pretty high frequency type of vibration, like the in-line 4 cylinder hondas I have ridden.

While my engine always has been like this, I think since I reassemble the engine, the vibration is more intense over a larger range of RPM.

Nevertheless, I'm happy with it. Looks like there will be many more miles to come.

My 2007 650 has a very narrow window where it vibes enough to be annoying. Interstate travel around 75mph. RPM range is 5600-5900.