[100Kmphormore]

I took the V Strom because I don't have any other vehicle for such a purpose at home. But the V Strom is such an easy to ride fun motorcycle. I'm sure it makes life easy on many of those sections. I was able to throttle out of most situations easily.

How do you think your ex-411 would have fared on this trail, with your recent training? My experience, with the limited offroading that I have done with my ex, is that throttling outright isnt the thing to do at all, but have plenty of previous momentum and proper body positioning, and the suspension will take care of the rest.

Witty writing, yet so informative. Thanks for the writeup, such things come on the days when the man/or mostly machine isnt available with us! I miss my Himalayan for things like these when I read such experiences (original plan was to retain it with the Duke).

[Shubhendra]

Originally Posted by shyamg28

Thank you!


I would prefer not to share the route details, for two reasons,
1, I don't remember it myself
2, I'm fairly certain that the team has an understanding with the nearby villagers. It would not augur well for all and sundry to joy ride through those routes and I would like to respect the efforts of the team here.

So true, plus , once the route is published online, it gets circulated in almost all WhatsApp groups, YouTube videos and Insta reels (reel name: Hidden trail near Bangalore ), that leads to nuisance, litter and drink & drive , altercation with villagers etc. and that ultimately leads to closure of the trail.
In last 17-18 years of off-road (in 4 wheelers, followed by 2 wheelers), this is one constant issue I found. we lost so many good trails and relation with villagers because of above issues. There used to be trails near villages in Pune where we used to be welcomed by villagers. But after a few from our group made the trail public, things went downhill.
Also, imagine the time, effort, money and sweat invested by organisers to curate a trail & experience. we should respect that as well.

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

How do you think your ex-411 would have fared on this trail, with your recent training? My experience, with the limited offroading that I have done with my ex, is that throttling outright isnt the thing to do at all, but have plenty of previous momentum and proper body positioning, and the suspension will take care of the rest.

Witty writing, yet so informative. Thanks for the writeup, such things come on the days when the man/or mostly machine isnt available with us! I miss my Himalayan for things like these when I read such experiences (original plan was to retain it with the Duke).

Thanks bud!

In all honestly, the Himalayan 411 and the new 450 - they're heavy
So in that department alone, I don't think I'd have felt too much of a difference.
But...I have attended Asad Khan's training session with the Himalayan, and I can tell you one thing - the Himalayan was far more forgiving, just because it has all of 24bhp and 32Nm torque. You can keep that throttle pinned without any modulation and still come out standing tall!



The Himalayan's LS410 tractor engine of course is a thing of beauty. There were 3 411s. Two Himalayans and one Scram.
All of them managed with great aplomb, with Vignesh (part of the Noroads team) recently having returned from SJOBA, absolutely thrashing about on the trail.

I'd imagine the P Strom (800 DE) would fare much better. That 21" front combined with a far better ground clearance would've meant that I could've still managed taking an arbitrary line.
But knowing the V Strom's GC, I had to be intentional with line, bumps and ruts. It's not very forgiving from that standpoint.

Where it does shine is still very much it's heart, the engine - can be gentle and oodles of torque all around. It can make my mistakes look like skill lol

The one thing that I have improved on is staying loose at the top and tight at the bottom, something that I have been practicing consciously on & off road. And like the head instructor at CSS mentioned last year - the motorcycle will manage the course given its dynamics, but it's the idiot on top it wants to throw off.

Be gentle and the motorcycle is very forgiving.

[girimajiananth]

Originally Posted by Sebring

I had major engine issues with my VSTROM 250, .

Can you please let us know what was the issue ?

[Sebring]

Originally Posted by girimajiananth

Can you please let us know what was the issue ?

Odd sound from the engine, and they kept on tightening the chain. Someone came all the way from Delhi (just to tighten chain ), but couldn't fix it.

Parts were replaced FOC, but this didn't help. Later I heard, there was a silent recall and fix for many bikes, with this problem.

Also, I feel this bike doesn't age well. All the bikes in my group are facing same issue.

The problem is, Area Sales Managers note down your complaint and direct you to a particular service guy. They do not understand 'nuts and bolts', and have ZERO solutions. There is no SERVICE HEAD as such.

Shiva let me down big time. And I had traveled 60 KMS, back n forth, just to show him the bike. He dismissed the problem and took me on a spin with full accelerator. That odd sound multiplied manifold.

Finally, I found Sapthagiri Suzuki, Rajajinagar
and there is this ONE GUY there, properly trained by the company. He was just amazing.

Got to the issue, replaced few engine parts, and sorted it by himself. I used to travel 50 Kms back and forth, just to leave the bike in his care.

By that time I had visited each and every service Suzuki had in Bangalore, as I really loved this bike & adored its looks (there was one service station on double road, purely for big bikes, but they were of no use). Wasted my time.

Now, I'm in Honda's good care and have sworn off SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES.

[shyamg28]

Things have been quiet on the V Strom 650 front for me. It's been a little over 3 years of joy! I now have several perspectives on motorcycle ownership, big and small, in size and capacity, home-made and foreign.

I've never been one for keeping a motorcycle forever. Not that I can afford to either, but it's just wholesome to see nicely ridden motorcycles. And I don't mean high mileage by that. That's more a product of lifestyle and choice.

Anyway, while I do know this motorcycle will leave my garage some time, that day seems both far and near to me. As if it could be tomorrow, just because there's really such a diverse range of capable motorcycles available for much lesser in our market today. Or as if it could be 5 years from now, because nothing justifies selling this motorcycle...yet!

It. Just. Works

The last weekend, a catch-up with friends, accidentally turned out to be a V Strom "diversity ride" lol.

While I have spoken a lot about the P and the V Strom (800 & 650 respectively), the 250 SX truly does seem to shine, both off and on road.
We were easily able to keep regular pace on the road and off it, I could see the friend manage easily.
Granted, the friend himself is an accomplished motorcyclist, but he did have good things to say about the 250.

[shyamg28]

Noroads Jiffy!

As it states, all done and dusted in a jiffy indeed.

The last time around with Team Noroads, was the Noroads 100K, a full day outing with 99% off road sections and 1% road.

Noroads Jiffy is a pleasant half-day event, equally thrilling as the 100K, fills the top half of your soul with happiness (the physical bottom half feels the pain after the half day event so...), allows you to return home for lunch, hit the mall by evening, pass out over a movie by night. Ok, back to Noroads Jiffy then.

We all gather nice and early at A2B near Attibele.


One with killer drummer Aniket, Cow Kora (BHPian ku69rd) & Kau (BHPian kaushalswarup).


V Strom in the capable hands of Manoj, who recently aced the BigRock Trail Attack.


BHPian whiskeytangofox had a great fall
There was a sudden patch of slush that hit all of us and Mr. Whiskey happened to end up bang center in one of them, lose his tyres and get all muddied.


Brand new black gear - colored all brown.


CK's bicycle...erm motorcycle, the Kawasaki KLX230 was certainly the center of attention.
Granted CK is an established motorcyclist, but my goodness was he ripping on it and some.
One hopes he can put up a review of it on the forum sometime.


After promising 3 pints of "barley water" (as he calls it) to CK, I was permitted to ride the KLX.
Honestly, all the value for money nonsense goes so far out the window, it's not even a topic of discussion, once you're atop the motorcycle.




The seat...exists! Jokes aside, I think this is conducive for riders with shorter inseam, at the same time, possibly allows one to be off the seat quickly.


Shocking - no gear indicator - how would one every know which gear they're on


Somewhere in the middle of the trail was this log that we all had to cross. The alternative being to head back home. I was prepared to do the latter but the others decided to help me cross.


Max lean on an un-dropped V Strom?


The Hima 411 goes under.


Relieved BHPian Whiskey.


The Xpulse goes under...and out in seconds.


Me with bossman Arvind Ramkumar! Full of stories, knows everyone, more importantly, everyone knows him, making this Noroads thing be a regular affair aspiration.


P.S.: Remember, the camera adds 10 pounds - also, I was wearing one of those armour vests under with an XXL Rynox jersey. Also note, the RE MX goggles.
More on these in the gear section once I have a formed opinion about them.

[100Kmphormore]

Somewhere in the middle of the trail was this log that we all had to cross. The alternative being to head back home. I was prepared to do the latter but the others decided to help me cross.

I was taken aback when I saw the Wee stuck under the tree. But then, you is you. I would have thrown in the towel

Does the usual back to the seat, put in gear and stand up with the bike work on the Wee while picking it up? On a trail riding stint, all I managed was sliding along on the ground with my ex-Himmy. Looks like a fun day, must join with my buddys new Xpulse 210.

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

I was taken aback when I saw the Wee stuck under the tree. But then, you is you. I would have thrown in the towel

Does the usual back to the seat, put in gear and stand up with the bike work on the Wee while picking it up? On a trail riding stint, all I managed was sliding along on the ground with my ex-Himmy. Looks like a fun day, must join with my buddys new Xpulse 210.

Haha...I had help

Picking up the Wee is very easy. Usual technique that you mentioned works perfectly.
It's only when we carry a kitchen sink that I struggle but even there, because of the saddle bags, the bike is inclined similar to how a GS with boxer engine would be. Makes it slightly easier.