For you who don't know, Suzuki named this model motorcycle the V-Strom. V is the V Twin Engine type and Strom is German for Stream. Why a Japanese company elected a German name for its motorcycle, I have no idea.
I finished mating her to the Dauntless sidecar this evening, took me less time in terms of the mounting hardware, the hard part ironically was the electrical connections between the sidecar and the tug. Note to self, if you don't have a good ground, you are going to have weird symptoms and stuff won't work right.
The present chain on the tug is an RK 525 with a tensile strength of 8800 lbs. I ordered a Sidewinder 525 chain, their "Extreme Performance" model which has a tensile strength of 16000 lbs, it's twice the price of a regular chain but I think it'll be worth it. It should be here at the end of the week, I'll put it on this weekend and keep the present chain as an emergency spare I guess.
I may buy new sprockets as well if the dealer has them though to my amateur drive-chain motorcycle eyes, the ones that came with the new tug look pretty good. I am trying to find out when the previous owner last changed sprockets, if recently, then maybe I won't swap them out when I swap the chain.
Here she is, sorry but it was late when I took the picture and the light in the garage sucks for photographs.
16 comments:
Looks great. When is the maiden voyage? Should be to a great destination. Looking forward to readying about it.
First of all, I like the name!
'Strom' also means current or (electrical) power in German, maybe 'power' was what the Japanese had in mind, but in fact the translation of 'power' would actually be 'Kraft', but I digress.
The hack is ready to ride? I am impressed. I like a man of quick decisions! More pictures in daylight please ;-)
Dom,
I am happy for you. I hope you have many miles with this rig. It is time for some careful and carefree journeys.
By the way, I very much like the name Yoshie
~k
Well done.
Sorry to hear about Vikki. It doesn't take much to get a bike totaled these days, so as someone who's been there and done that, I'll raise a glass in Vikki's honor.
It's pretty awesome how quickly you were able to find a new rig. Yoshie's a great name, too.
It's looking pretty good. What sort of additional items came with the bike?
I have no experience with motorcycle chains but lots of experience with bicycles. As far as replacing the sprockets I think it depends. If the chain has stretched "significantly", then it will have worn out the sprockets as well no matter how hard the metal is. The best way would be to look at the sprockets and see if they are worn to a point or worse yet, a hook. Now that I think about it, it sounds just like the final drive splines in an Airhead.
Dom:
it must feel good to be mobile again and we still have lots of summer left
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Motoroz, thanks, maiden voyage was a commute to work this morning...she did ok but I've apparently a 'sticking" brake switch for the rear brake pedal....hopefully some lubricant will fix that tonight.
SonjaM....hmmm, power. That would make more sense. V-Power.
Raftnn, thanks.
RichardM: The old sprockets were worn as you describe. The ones in the new tug, subject to further examination, are in much better shape.
Bobskoot, you forget, I had Brigitta, my faithful Beemer to satisfy my riding "fix".
Dom,
I may never forgive you if you don't name your machine 'Motoko.' Unfortunately, my disapproval holds no weight anywhere in the world. I suppose that leaves you free to choose any name you like.
Joking aside, I think the new chain is a great idea - as I'm sure you already know. If the chain ate your last machine, then I'd say go with it. I would definitely recommend getting new sprockets, as well. I don't know if high-strength sprockets are made (I assume something of higher quality is) but, at least, you want to be darned sure that your sprockets are not deformed before putting your new chain on. (My current sprocket teeth are horrific. I would never put a new chain into that. Plus, it's considered best practice.)
Good luck. I'm surprised it all happened so quickly. Enjoy the new tug. I look forward to hearing about it.
Brady
Behind Bars - Motorcycles and Life
http://www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com/
Your garage is once again replete. Yoshie is a good name, but don’t get it confused with Yo Sushi, or you could get people coming to eat raw fish in the sidecar!
Nice and I glad your still rigging...
Nice and glad your still rigging.....
Congrats! Great tug.
sheesh, I go on a little vacation and you swap bikes. shame the old one didn't work out.
I'd swap the sprockets and the chain at the same time. no sense wearing out a new chain prematurely because you didn't do the sprockets.
Yoshie is a good name.
I'm tickled to see you have a sidecar rig together and rolling. Hoping you get many miles of enjoyment from this rig.
-Peace
Thank goodness! With no hack in your garage the earth was shifted a bit on its axis. Now it's right side up again. :)
Post a Comment