Suzuki Vstrom 650 x 3
After the AT came a series of Suzuki VStrom 650s.
29th May 2015 - Vstrom 650 # 1 - The blue one. XT version.
In 48 hours I clocked the first 1,000 kms up.
Part of that was in a horrific rainstorm.
The Vstrom was quickly stickered & set up the way I like my bikes.
Spotlights, luggage rack, fuzebox, Scottoiler, Trailtech Striker gauge, handlebar pouch, musical horns, mesh seat cover and an Ohlins rear shock.
(
Tweaking my Suzuki V Strom 650)
A Vstrom well set up is almost as good as an AT, minus the 21inch front wheel!
The Blue XT Vstrom went all over Laos in a few quick years.
At the GT on the Laos side. August 2015.
Fully laden running maps into Laos December 2015.
Laos 2016 was an exceptional year for travel with the GF of the day.
Pakxe January 2016.
On the Cambodian border January 2016.
Bolaven plateau January 2016.
Lay Lay Border R15 Laos- Vietnam. January 2016.
On the Tha Khek Loop R1E Feb 2016.
R8 Feb 2016.
Samphanbok Thailand January 2016.
Laos Pak Beng R2W April 2016
R2W Pak Beng. April 2016.
Phonsavan June 2026.
Phonsavan. Mouang Khoun June 2016.
Phonsavan June 2016.
Pak Ou June 2016.
R13N Luang Prabang - Oudom Xai. June 2016.
Phongsali. December 2016.
Phongsali. December 2016.
R6 Xam Neua - Phonsavan. A ride through hell with a "dislocating knee" January 2017.
R3 Houei Xai - Luang Namtha. November 2017.
R13N Oudom Xai - Luang Prabang 13 January 2019 I got taken out by a Chinese 22-wheel trailer truck, corner cutting.
The extremely kind gentleman, mate & Laos lover Peter Faessler, living in Nong Khai, drove up to Luang Prabang to the rescue.
After a few days drinking in Luang Prabang we went back to Chiang Mai, crossing at Phu Du in the dark.
Peter stayed 1 night in Chiang Mai and drive back to Nong Khai via Phu Du the next day!
Salute Peter, your kindness will never be forgotten.
The bike was stripped down at Piston Shop in Chiang Mai.
At 113,280 kms the bike was rebuilt / repaired by Liam on the cheap, after Piston Shop's strip down.
3 months later the bike was back on the road & I can only commend Liam for his skill in getting a beaten-up bike back on the road cheaply.
Re-tarting & new stickering followed & I was a happy little camper back on the Khong.
FB3 Nakhon Phanom - Tha Khek on a visa run July 2019.
Nakhon Phanom July 2019.
Savannakhet November 2019 - 1st Savan Music Festival
A remote local Thai-Lao border crossing off R1123
24 December the Paradise Road sign went up on R1290.
Kong in Chiang Rai has been the main mechanic keeping my 3 Vstroms going for the last 7 years.
December 2019 at the GT on the Thai side
June 2020 @ the GT.
June 2020 at Phaya Phipak
June 2020 Singapore Road.
July 2020 Fang Ta, Chiang Muan.
R1091 Aoy's coffee Ban Luang.
July 2020 & a night on the town in Chiang Muan city with Youngie.
July 2020 the Doi Sa Ngo / Star Doi Coffee road. One of the steeper, straight up & down roads in North.
August 2020 @ Chiang Khong.
August 2020 MHS.
September 2020 discovering Panor Coffee.
Takhong Septembr 2020.
Khun Sa's chedi & old camp at Doi Larng, Mae Ai. October 2020.
Loy Krathong Chiang Khong. November 2020.
R1290 Paradise Road.
December 2020. Wat Sri Mun Rueang. Song. R1154.
January 2021. Wat Phra That Bunnak. R1126.
January 2021. The Lisu coffee shop viewpoint on R1322.
Piang Luang. Huen Kingkhala Resort. January 2021.
Piang Luang, the sensational owner of Krua Piang Luang. January 2021.
February 2021 Wat Chantaram. Mae chan.
And that was it for #1 Vstrom. It had lasted another 62,000 kms before it started to age significantly & was sold at 176,113 kms on the clock.
Just a thought?
I'm now on number Vstrom # 3 three and perhaps should stop being involved in crashes.
I sometimes wonder if the Vstrom is jinxed, or even if is the faster more powerful bikes that are the issue.
In 15 years, I never had a crash with the slow, rock-solid AT, apart from dropping it on bulldust and rocks in Laos on R4 Muang Ngeun- Hongsa,
(
Finally Did It....)
So, in retrospect I agree I / we are more on the gas and riding faster than I was on the AT. Of note too, is that the roads are also a lot faster - dual carriageway & generally a good surface, most of the time.
Why we keep at it:
(
Accidents, safety and why we ride.)
Apologies for the long self-indulgent post, but I wanted to look back on all the magnificent times I had with this bike.
Perhaps a book of bike travels beckons?
Vstrom # 2 next.
And for those who wonder about the photos of girls with the bike, try asking a guy to stand by your bike, or on your bike for a photo. It doesn't work very well. The girls like it & give you one hell of a beautiful smile! A winner ever time.
See also (
Tweaking my Suzuki V Strom 650)
