Just to add to the knowledge base, or whatever.....

I just went on the last big (for me) ride of the year. (1500 miles in four days) The bike had about 12k when I left, so I figured that when I came back, it'd be almost due. I came back and the bike was running okay, but rich with one pipe much darker than the other one. It had a hair under 14k, so technically it was still a thou under their recommended interval for valve adjustment and whatnot.

I brought it to my trusted indy (and buddy). I told him to do the valves, replace the air filter (I went with a K&N for my own reasons), replace the plugs (with Iridium tipped ND's) and re-synch the FI.

The reason I'm posting this missive is because of the results of what he found.

Two of the valves were hugely out of spec. The air filter was so clogged that I'm surprised the bike even ran. (Almost all street use) The plugs were okay, but almost ready to be replaced. The synch was off, but no more than expected. (I had it synch'd when brand new due to running issues)

So, the moral of the story is despite the reputation of the valves being bomb-proof, so to speak, they can be off and do need to be checked. I won't wait until 30k before rechecking, that's for sure.

Also, the air intake is really low comparatively speaking, so the filter will clog faster than you (or I) think, so it does need to be checked frequently; probably more so than the manual suggests. I may try to fabricate some kind of screen or something for the intake.

Plus, it's doubtful the plugs will last the service life of 25k, well at least in my bike.

Funny thing is, the bike runs about the same. It was all in the gas mileage, which I keep careful records of, just for such a purpose.

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Kawidad
2007 DL1000K7
Farkles: Suzuki CS, Leo Vince, Givi screen, Givi crashbars, JCW top case, Moose ATV mid bend bars, Kaoko cc, SV1K clutch and brakes, RR wheel spacers, Murphs' brace,and more to come

 

FWIW, my valves were out of spec at the first check (14k mi). The intakes were fine, the exhausts were a thou or two under. My understanding: the "bulletproofness" of the valves is supposed to be from the first maintenance on - meaning they're typically out at the first check, but once corrected, they'll never need adjustment again.

My air filter was also dirtier than I expected it would be -and not from dust, from leaves, straw, bugs, etc.

My plugs didn't look new, but they didn't look too bad, either - I certainly wasn't comfortable leaving them for another 10k mi, and since you're in there anyway, might as well.

The TBS was a little off.

After maintenance, the bike ran a little bit better, but it wasn't some huge, noticeable difference.

So, I guess I'm saying: "same here."

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2005 Vee

Thanks for the reminder! I'll likely be approaching 14k by this weekend. Time for a little maintenance I suppose..

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Some of the more aware dinosaurs warned of the dangers of an iridium-enriched nuclear reactor. 'If this thing goes off', they warned, 'there would be nothing left but cockroaches and mammals.'

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K8-DL1000, Black
K7-KLR 650

Not surprised about the valves. I did mine at 15K and 7 of 8 were out of spec. Was this the first time you did anything with the air filter? Off the top of my head I thought the recommended cleaning was at 4K miles and replace at 9 or 10.

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2008 DL650ABS, 2006 DL1000
It takes absolutely no talent to ride fast in a straight line. Motorcycling enjoyment has nothing to do with high speed. It has everything to do with high adrenaline.

Riding a fast bike at near legal speeds is boring. Riding a Strom at those same speeds is an adrenaline rush.

My exhaust valves were tight at 15K, but stayed in spec at 30K, and 45K. I'm just about to hit 60K so I'll let you know if there's any change but I doubt it, these motors are not what I'd consider fragile.

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Red '06 DL1000...

El Presidente, NOTGATT Club
Member#5 Pointless Profanity Club

Uncle Heavy Say's "40 turns of the idle screw is too damn many"

Awesome - thaks! I'm gunna NITROUS my Wee!!!! Andrew_S

do you recall the differences in measurements ?

my Vee was ok @ 15, needed some adjustment @ 30k and was ok again @ 45

my old SV650 never needed adjustment till 75k, second adjustment was 120k

while generally, they stay in spec for a long time, they don't always, the potential damage from a valve not closing tight is too much for me to risk, not checking every 15k

as I've posted before, if you let valve go until it affects your performance, its too late, mere adjustment won't fix it ,the seats are burnt and maybe the stems are weakened, it becomes a big deal, heads go to a machine shop for cutting a new seat, install new guides & new valves

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RandyO
IBA# 9560
07 Strom 1k (54,xxx miles)
99 SV650 (135,006 miles)
82 XV920R
A man with a gun is a citizen
A man without a gun is a subject
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/p...dStatesMap.jpg

Dang I must have got one of the good ones. I changed my air filter out at 30k miles and it looked fine. Then I cleaned my K&N at 55k after I got back from Alaska and all the gravel/dirt roads up there. And at 70k miles it still looks like new (okay I last checked it around 63'ish, but you get my point...LOL)

Plugs... well, I finally changed the stockers out at 63k miles and they still looked pretty darn good. Needed changing, but still looked darn good for that many miles.

Valves being out, that seems kinda normal. What were the actual numbers that they were out? Until we know that, I wouldn't really be too worried about it.

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Bill (04 DL1000) (03 WR450)

Randy,

No I don't have the particulars since I ride a 1K and don't keep spreadsheets on this kind of thing. I do recall that the exhaust valves were just short of the min spec. The intake valves have never required adjustment.

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Red '06 DL1000...

El Presidente, NOTGATT Club
Member#5 Pointless Profanity Club

Uncle Heavy Say's "40 turns of the idle screw is too damn many"

Awesome - thaks! I'm gunna NITROUS my Wee!!!! Andrew_S

Yeah, it was.

However, in my own defense; I almost never rode it in real dusty conditions and rarely take it off road. So, I figured I could wait until the major service and just do it then, since everything would be apart. I had planned on doing it at 12k as a compromise, it just didn't work out that way.

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Kawidad
2007 DL1000K7
Farkles: Suzuki CS, Leo Vince, Givi screen, Givi crashbars, JCW top case, Moose ATV mid bend bars, Kaoko cc, SV1K clutch and brakes, RR wheel spacers, Murphs' brace,and more to come

And to think I was feeling guilty when I didn't clean mine until 4,200 miles. Don't I look like a schmuck! I'm actually glad to hear when people ignore maintenance schedules and the bikes don't collapse, quit running and beg for mercy. I love the reliability of these things.

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2008 DL650ABS, 2006 DL1000
It takes absolutely no talent to ride fast in a straight line. Motorcycling enjoyment has nothing to do with high speed. It has everything to do with high adrenaline.

Riding a fast bike at near legal speeds is boring. Riding a Strom at those same speeds is an adrenaline rush.