Such a Tool!

[ZenMan]

And the V-Strom is the only affordable adventure-tourer out there... the Beemers and KTM's and other euro bikes are way more expensive, and really don't have that much over the V-Strom.

I am trying to decide between a V-Strom 650 and a Concours (not the new ZX14 one) when I rent a bike next month for a few days in Rockies around Denver (before my meeting starts on Monday).  Any thoughts from anyone who's ridden one or both?

I've owned the DL650 and ridden a late-80's Concours interstate travel.

Two-up long distance.... the Concours. It's a great highway bike that is also fun in fast curves and long sweepers, goes down the freeway comfortably all day long. A little heavy for city riding or tight twisties though.

One-up city or country, the V-Strom 650 hands-down. And you can take it on dirt and gravel roads up in the mountains. Just stay out of deep mud or sand, it's not a DRZ y'know.

It's a light & quick handling machine, will keep up with most sportbikes in tight twisties, and flick through heavy traffic and light-to-light city riding. The power will suprise you, and it gets great gas mileage, over 50 mpg easy.

Try to get one with luggage on it.... even if it is one of those big ugly top-cases.  

I'd bet once you ride a DL650 for a couple days, you'll want one for your own.  

[JReviere]

Aye. The only thing in the kit I've found useful has been the spark plug tool.  a regular 18mm one won't go down in the hole and reach the plug. Like a lot of other folk, I've got a "Heinz 57 Varieties" tool box... some Snap On, some Williams, some Craftsman, some Mac and a lot of no name tools. If they work, I'm not impressed by the name on them.  

I've got a rather extensive collexion of tools, but ran into a problem today for which I had no tool.  Somewhere along the way, my right side bar end weight went away taking the long screw with it.

I tried in vain to get the shorter of the two rubber plugs out of the bar.  Just inside from the weight, there's a rubber sleeve about 2" long with a steel sleeve inside it.... I got that out.   Then there's a short rubber plug about 1/2" long with the locking nut behind it. The nut had fallen off the end of the screw and down into the innards of the handle bar. I tried to get the 1/2" long rubber sleeve out so I could fish the nut out with a magnet... couldn't budge the bloody thing.  

I ended up taking the other bar end weight off, removing both plugs so I had a hollow bar... Then I took enough stuff loose to tilt the end of the bar up and proceeded to fill it with lead BBs to serve as vibration dampener weight.

Then I fashioned short rubber plugs inserted them and then ran large self tapping screws in their center holes to stretch them and seal them in place, then I went for a ride to see if I had a buzz problem.  

I couldn't tell any difference from when both bar ends were in place. No buzz at 60, 65, or 70, so without bar end weights, I'm good to go.

JR

[Sven]

I ended up taking the other bar end weight off, ...proceeded to fill it with lead BBs to serve as vibration dampener weight....short rubber plugs inserted...ran large self tapping screws

New bar end weights are cheaper than my time!

Hey, this thread is about as off-topic as Gunner's "we tote the note" thread.  Seems to me the problem might be the Zenster...

[Red01]

when it comes to racing, I'm a TEAM GREEN fan all the way... GO KAWI!!!

Someone's gotta root for the underdawgs. I just didn't expect to see it come from someone whose stable includes (or recently included) a DR200, a V-Strom and a B12.5.

Hey, I'm a Cowboys fan even though I live in Missouri... is that ok with you?      

Over the last 40 years, most of my dirt bikes have been RM's, and most of my street and track bikes have been Kawi's. But I did race a FZ750 the last season before I quit.

As a race fan, brand loyalty rates high for me... yep, I usually root for the underdogs. Kawasaki has done amazingly well over the years considering how much less money and personnel they put into racing compared to the Big Three. When I watch a race, I immediately pick out those bright green bikes and start pulling for 'em.

As far as my B1250, it's just the best bike for the buck out there, it's everything I want in a road motorcycle. I don't have to tell you that... this is BanditAlley, we all know what's so great about Bandits, and the '07's continue the tradition.

I might consider a FJR or even a ST if I ever hit the lotto, but for under $8K nothing comes close... and that includes insurance rates.

And the V-Strom is the only affordable adventure-tourer out there... the Beemers and KTM's and other euro bikes are way more expensive, and really don't have that much over the V-Strom. We bought the DR200SE along with it as a package deal.

Anything else you need to know for your book, Red?    

Hey - I didn't even ask a question...

I usually pull more for the riders than the brands they're on.  I've had bikes from all the Japanese big 4 (and an Austrian bike with an American name). As brands go, I tend to favor Yamahas & Suzukis more than the other two and that reflects in my ownership history - as well as who I'm more likely to root for.

[longislandbandit99]

The best part of the Ebay pic is the rust on those tools.  That is no good.

[ZenMan]

Hey, this thread is about as off-topic as Gunner's "we tte the note" thread.  Seems to me the problem might be the Zenster...

Guilty as charged.    

What can I say... everything is connected to everything in a circular motion, man... it's a Zen thang.  

Can you grok it?