All the bolts and fasteners seem to be present, and snug. The fairing however, particularly the upper part that houses the instrument cluster, shakes a bit and is noisy (rattles) over bumps. The condition has worsened recently. Should I dismantle the assembly and install thin rubber shock mounts at critical points? The whole thing doesn't feel very solid-sort of a conglomeration of flimsy plastic pieces. '05 DL650.
Thanks Greywolf I didn't consider the possibility that the whole armature is loose. I'll check it out and see if I can access the bolts with the fairing still assembled.
Look here; right on front of the steering stem head. These two bolts have a history of backing themselves out. They should have threadlocker on them from the factory, but they don't.
My son and I did the PineBarrens300 in NJ a few weeks ago. I was on the KLR and he rode the DL650. ( I couldn't pick up that vstrom in the deep sand )
At the end, he mentioned the front fairing and windshield seemed loose, moving a lot on the dirt roads and on bumps. Fine on smooth pavement.
Yesterday I went to fill up with gas, and sure enough I noticed the loose front fairing.
I searched this site last night, came to your picture (worth 2000 words) and checked it out today.
Sure enough, the top bolt was a bit loose, but the bottom one was more than 3/4 out! Blue loctite, and now they are in tight! Ill test ride tomorrow, but looks good!
I wish all my problems could be so easily solved by looking on Stromtrooper.com. :hurray:
Wait….. maybe they can!
The two frame bolts are M8x1.25, 20mm long hardened bolts. Suzuki's gone wild of late with thread locker use but those bolts actually need it.
Sometimes, the first problem noticed is the steering won't move much past center on one side. That happens when a frame bolt comes loose and falls on the lower triple clamp.
Had this happen to me. Luckily it was in my driveway when I was pushing the bike around out of the garage. WTF, why won't the handlebars turn to the right?
Thanks for the heads-up. I just checked mine and I'm happy to report that mine are on there 'gudentight'. (2014 DL 650 with 8000 miles) Maybe the problem has been addressed?
I made same discovery on my DL650 while playing on dirt roads in Smokies. Tightened up remaining bolt for trip home. Now with longer bolt with Nylock nut on back side ,a non repeater.
The one bolt on my old 86 Concours blew out the frame lug while exploring the dirt roads of the U.P. . The muffler clamp and angle iron brackets donated by a local fab shop lasted the next 75k.
I had to call out the RAC to deal with the very same issue. Wondered why I couldn't fully turn the steering to the left.
A bolt had come loose and wedged whilst the second bolt had come completely loose. A very scary thought if I was riding at speed and trying to turn.
Same happened when I bought my old bike. Was missing one bolt and the other was holding by a thread. No locked up steering, just the fairing shook about on bumps. Got some metric screws and some loctite and she's a good as gold.
Surprising flaw for Suzuki - it's like no one's checking the maintenance data for the bikes and/or design team is not communicating with the assembly team.
I experienced the improbable nose bolt in lodged in the triple tree about a month ago. This occurred on a gravel lake road while out exploring with another strom. Bolt lodged in such a way that would not let the steering turn left. Felt like I was in a rut that took me that direction and all I could do was stop. Luckily riding at low speeds and found the issue within a few minutes. Replaced the bolt at a gas station 30 minute later and tightened both up when I got home.
This was on a 2005 DL650 with about 55,000 miles. I don't recall tightening either bolt in the 50,000 miles I've put on the bike. I did spend a week in August riding gravel roads in PA, And a prior week riding highway speeds down the NC to ride their twisty roads.
My friend Rob lost the bolt on his bike. But he only noticed a loose front end and rattles. It didn't wedge into the triple tree steering stops like mine did. His bike has lost a lot of bolts in the few years he's been riding it. He enjoys riding dirt and going too fast. I suspect either has the potential to vibrate bolts loose.
It happened to me, I was backing my bike into a parking spot outside a pub, the steering jammed up, was nearly very embarrassing, I was on a trip and happy to see the bolt just sitting there.
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