ProZac
Member
Over the past 20 years or so I've owned a few Honda's, couple Suzuki's and one Yamaha. However my last 10 motorcycle purchases (for myself) have all been Kawasaki. A couple months ago I saw a post here speaking of a high mileage Vstrom that had a bad tick. Recently I saw an ad for it and was speaking to the owner I decided to buy it. 2003 DL1000 with 143,000km on it.
So here's the story. He bought it brand new in 04. Religiously done all the maintenance, replaced bearings, valve adjustments, voltage regulator, etc. Cam chain guide front cylinder broke 80,000km huge ticking sound. Changed guide and installed new chain ticking gone. Cam chain guide broke again rear cylinder 143,000km, he chainged the guide but didn't install a new chain this time. Bike still runs great but the rear cylinder is still ticking. He sent me a video of it. I'm thinking the rear chain might have a kink in it and also may need a new tensioner. I'm gonna start with a valve adjustment and new chain and tensioner for the rear cylinder. 1430,000km on the stock automatic tensioners is crazy. Srings have to be weak in them by now. I'm gonna replace the front and rear. Givi top rack and top box, Givi engine guards, heated grips, stock and aftermarket windscreen, stock seat and factory suzuki low seat. Seems like a real honest person and he's buying another new Vstrom. Really comfy bike for the highway as some of you know. I have a friend in Ontario with a 2004 DL1000 and he had over 200,000km on his when he sold it. The gentleman I'm getting the bike from says he's confident the lower end is good because of his routine maintenance and the top end looks perfect. He's been across the TLC 8 times, the bike has been all over the US and Canada. I found an engine from an 04 with 16,000 miles on it and it's in a parts box so I can get whatever parts I need relatively cheap. For the price I'm getting the bike for even if the engine needed a total rebuild it's still worth it. I have new tensioners and a rear chain on the way. The bike is loaded up and ready to come across the island tomorrow to it's new home. Timing was perfect because he's heading to NS so I was on his way. I plan on this being my main bike and logging many many more km on it.
So here's the story. He bought it brand new in 04. Religiously done all the maintenance, replaced bearings, valve adjustments, voltage regulator, etc. Cam chain guide front cylinder broke 80,000km huge ticking sound. Changed guide and installed new chain ticking gone. Cam chain guide broke again rear cylinder 143,000km, he chainged the guide but didn't install a new chain this time. Bike still runs great but the rear cylinder is still ticking. He sent me a video of it. I'm thinking the rear chain might have a kink in it and also may need a new tensioner. I'm gonna start with a valve adjustment and new chain and tensioner for the rear cylinder. 1430,000km on the stock automatic tensioners is crazy. Srings have to be weak in them by now. I'm gonna replace the front and rear. Givi top rack and top box, Givi engine guards, heated grips, stock and aftermarket windscreen, stock seat and factory suzuki low seat. Seems like a real honest person and he's buying another new Vstrom. Really comfy bike for the highway as some of you know. I have a friend in Ontario with a 2004 DL1000 and he had over 200,000km on his when he sold it. The gentleman I'm getting the bike from says he's confident the lower end is good because of his routine maintenance and the top end looks perfect. He's been across the TLC 8 times, the bike has been all over the US and Canada. I found an engine from an 04 with 16,000 miles on it and it's in a parts box so I can get whatever parts I need relatively cheap. For the price I'm getting the bike for even if the engine needed a total rebuild it's still worth it. I have new tensioners and a rear chain on the way. The bike is loaded up and ready to come across the island tomorrow to it's new home. Timing was perfect because he's heading to NS so I was on his way. I plan on this being my main bike and logging many many more km on it.
