Suzuki TU250X & DR200SE | Kawasaki Super Sherpa & Versys 650
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November 19, 2020
Read the full story of The Not So Delightful Journey of a 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa...she's aliiiveee!! (WARNING: It's a long one!)
Read the full story of The Not So Delightful Journey of a 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa...she's aliiiveee!! (WARNING: It's a long one!)
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May 15, 2020
Cracked 30,000 KMs while taking the TU out to Nanaimo Lakes, preferring the long way home from the office. I've been spending a lot of time on the Kawasaki Versys 650 lately, especially on longer rides, but since replacing the chain on the TU I have been having a blast around town and back roads on the little 250! The sprocket and spines on my Super Sherpa counter shaft finally went to hell, broke the sprocket welds done by the previous owners' hatchet job on the bike, which I expected to happen eventually, so the TU is my back roads bike again until the Sherpa situation is resolved in some manner.
Maintenance, upgrades and add-ons to this point since I picked up the bike at about 10,000 KMs, in no particular order:
Cracked 30,000 KMs while taking the TU out to Nanaimo Lakes, preferring the long way home from the office. I've been spending a lot of time on the Kawasaki Versys 650 lately, especially on longer rides, but since replacing the chain on the TU I have been having a blast around town and back roads on the little 250! The sprocket and spines on my Super Sherpa counter shaft finally went to hell, broke the sprocket welds done by the previous owners' hatchet job on the bike, which I expected to happen eventually, so the TU is my back roads bike again until the Sherpa situation is resolved in some manner.
Maintenance, upgrades and add-ons to this point since I picked up the bike at about 10,000 KMs, in no particular order:
- New tires at about 17,000 KM (Shinko 244) and about 29,000 KM (Shinko SR241)
- 1 set of break pads on the front and shoes for the rear at about 25,000 KMs
- Break fluid flushed at about 25,000 KMs
- 1 X-Ring chain at about 29,900 KMs
- Fork boots
- Progressive Suspension shock upgrade
- Bike Master chrome headlight bucket
- Pannier mount by previous owner (cheap plastic panniers are long gone)
- 50 Cal Ammo can panniers (currently off)
- Cheap plastic round mirrors for the trails (save the stock ones!)
- PowerMadd MX hand guards
- 12 Volt marine power socket
- Oil & filter changes about every 3,000-4,000 KMs
- Regular chain cleaning and lubrication
- Valve checks, minor adjustment at about 15,000 KMs (time to check again)
- Battery replaced at about 28,000 KM
- GPS Mount
- Clutch cable lube
- Battery tender
- Replaced spark plug
- Turn signals relocated by previous owner
- 16 tooth front sprocket by previous owner
May 11, 2020
At 29,936 Km, I had to replace the chain on the TU250X which had developed a kink over the winter that I wasn't able to smooth out with cleaning and lubricating. I order a nicely priced RK-520 Max X-Ring chain from Fortnine and waited a bit longer than normal for it to ship due to Covid-19. 10 minutes to install, 30 minutes getting myself organized. The sprockets are still in great shape so I didn't replace them. I didn't realize how much that kink impacted the ride until I took it for a quick spin before the rain started. Beauty! The next ride will see the odometer pass 30,000 Km! I'll try to get a pic just as it's ticking over.
At 29,936 Km, I had to replace the chain on the TU250X which had developed a kink over the winter that I wasn't able to smooth out with cleaning and lubricating. I order a nicely priced RK-520 Max X-Ring chain from Fortnine and waited a bit longer than normal for it to ship due to Covid-19. 10 minutes to install, 30 minutes getting myself organized. The sprockets are still in great shape so I didn't replace them. I didn't realize how much that kink impacted the ride until I took it for a quick spin before the rain started. Beauty! The next ride will see the odometer pass 30,000 Km! I'll try to get a pic just as it's ticking over.
April 10, 2020
With Good Friday looking to be a beautiful clear day and the temperature expected to be in the mid-teens, I took the Kawasaki Versys 650 for a nearly 6 Hour run up to the far end of Upper Campbell Lake, nearly to Buttle Lake, with some friends. This was the first long ride on the Versys, the total trip coming in at 389 Km. The ride up along the Coast was scenic but traffic was on the slow side. Once past Campbell River, thing opened up and we had the road to ourselves. This section of road was clear and had wonderful twists and turns and allowed for a wide variety of speeds. Taking the inland highway back home, cruising at highway speeds was relaxed and comfortable, the only draw back is that the windscreen is too small to deflect all the wind. I've already researched a replacement and the windscreen is on my short list to be upgraded soon. The Versys proved to be a great ride for me in all scenarios: the slow scenic routes, the spirited twisty's and the relaxed 110 Km/h highway cruise home.
With Good Friday looking to be a beautiful clear day and the temperature expected to be in the mid-teens, I took the Kawasaki Versys 650 for a nearly 6 Hour run up to the far end of Upper Campbell Lake, nearly to Buttle Lake, with some friends. This was the first long ride on the Versys, the total trip coming in at 389 Km. The ride up along the Coast was scenic but traffic was on the slow side. Once past Campbell River, thing opened up and we had the road to ourselves. This section of road was clear and had wonderful twists and turns and allowed for a wide variety of speeds. Taking the inland highway back home, cruising at highway speeds was relaxed and comfortable, the only draw back is that the windscreen is too small to deflect all the wind. I've already researched a replacement and the windscreen is on my short list to be upgraded soon. The Versys proved to be a great ride for me in all scenarios: the slow scenic routes, the spirited twisty's and the relaxed 110 Km/h highway cruise home.
March 29, 2020
The chain and sprocket were jammed in tight, both had to be cut out with a grinder. The weld did break on the sprocket which is probably what caused this mess to begin with.
The chain and sprocket were jammed in tight, both had to be cut out with a grinder. The weld did break on the sprocket which is probably what caused this mess to begin with.
Blobs of welding snot remaining on the splines, the sprocket wobbles and shifts on the counter shaft, and the counter shaft splines were a mess after cutting the sprocket off (you can tell they were messed up even before my hatchet job.)
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So at a minimum, I need a new counter shaft, counter shaft seal/collar, new front and rear sprockets, chain and retaining clips (instead of welds!) to get the drive train functional. It might be time to cut my losses and part the bike our or sell to someone who will be interested in splitting the cases to do the work.
March 24, 2020
Well, I think my Kawasaki Super Sherpa is cursed. I was puttering around town and on my way home from Departure Bay beach when the master link in my chain broke! And it looks like the counter shaft seal blew out, as oil started leaking. I pushed the bike up past Departurey Bay Elementary school when my rescuer came with the truck and was able to back it up to a bank so I could roll the bike in. Whew! It's a good thing I wasn't in the bush!
Maybe the stupid sprocket weld went, and then the chain and counter shaft seal. The OEM sprocket has a collar that helps to hold the counter shaft seal in. This wasn't the OEM sprocket and it didn't have a collar.
>:-(
So now I get to deal with that stupid welded sprocket on the counter shaft. I knew this day would come. Hopefully the splines are able to be cleaned up and the case doesn't need to be split to replace the counter shaft. Getting a new OEM sprocket, seals, the proper retaining clip (instead of welds!) and chain and maybe it'll be OK.
Since Covid-19 says we're not going anywhere anytime soon, I suppose this is as good a time as any to have another project! And now that I have a new covered space with room to work, it's like it was meant to be!! :-S
I'll take things apart tomorrow night maybe, to see what's what in there.
Well, I think my Kawasaki Super Sherpa is cursed. I was puttering around town and on my way home from Departure Bay beach when the master link in my chain broke! And it looks like the counter shaft seal blew out, as oil started leaking. I pushed the bike up past Departurey Bay Elementary school when my rescuer came with the truck and was able to back it up to a bank so I could roll the bike in. Whew! It's a good thing I wasn't in the bush!
Maybe the stupid sprocket weld went, and then the chain and counter shaft seal. The OEM sprocket has a collar that helps to hold the counter shaft seal in. This wasn't the OEM sprocket and it didn't have a collar.
>:-(
So now I get to deal with that stupid welded sprocket on the counter shaft. I knew this day would come. Hopefully the splines are able to be cleaned up and the case doesn't need to be split to replace the counter shaft. Getting a new OEM sprocket, seals, the proper retaining clip (instead of welds!) and chain and maybe it'll be OK.
Since Covid-19 says we're not going anywhere anytime soon, I suppose this is as good a time as any to have another project! And now that I have a new covered space with room to work, it's like it was meant to be!! :-S
I'll take things apart tomorrow night maybe, to see what's what in there.
March 21, 2020
After about 13,000 KMs it was time for some new tires on the Suzuki. The Shinko 244s were great, and I figure 13K KMs is a pretty decent run for a dual sport tire that had a lot of city and highway riding mixed in with a fair share of hard riding on gravel roads. This time I thought I'd try something a little different but still able to take the TUX on gravel roads and light trails when the opportunity presents itself. I mounted some Shinko SR241s: a 3.5 in the front and 4.0 for the rear. A quick test ride and right away I noticed the SR241s are a nimbler tire than the 244s on the street. I'm looking forward to putting them through their paces on some gravel and logging roads soon.
After about 13,000 KMs it was time for some new tires on the Suzuki. The Shinko 244s were great, and I figure 13K KMs is a pretty decent run for a dual sport tire that had a lot of city and highway riding mixed in with a fair share of hard riding on gravel roads. This time I thought I'd try something a little different but still able to take the TUX on gravel roads and light trails when the opportunity presents itself. I mounted some Shinko SR241s: a 3.5 in the front and 4.0 for the rear. A quick test ride and right away I noticed the SR241s are a nimbler tire than the 244s on the street. I'm looking forward to putting them through their paces on some gravel and logging roads soon.
March 6, 2020
I've been searching for a good deal on a motorcycle with more legs on the highway, but also with the right tires would do well on light gravel and logging roads. I hit the jack pot finding a 2009 Kawasaki Versys 650 with only 7,000 KM on the clock! The bike is basically brand new, so I hopped on the ferry, made my way over to the lower mainland and snapped it up! On the trip back to the ferry I took a little detour up Cypress Mountain and then out to Squamish. Best Friday in a long time! Add tail and pannier racks for soft luggage to go with some Shinko 705 dual sport tires and I'll be ready to tour all the roads less traveled!
I've been searching for a good deal on a motorcycle with more legs on the highway, but also with the right tires would do well on light gravel and logging roads. I hit the jack pot finding a 2009 Kawasaki Versys 650 with only 7,000 KM on the clock! The bike is basically brand new, so I hopped on the ferry, made my way over to the lower mainland and snapped it up! On the trip back to the ferry I took a little detour up Cypress Mountain and then out to Squamish. Best Friday in a long time! Add tail and pannier racks for soft luggage to go with some Shinko 705 dual sport tires and I'll be ready to tour all the roads less traveled!
February 17, 2020
Since the TU250X doesn't have a center stand, I've been using the Tirox SnapJack V2 for a few years now to help with chain maintenance and cleaning. Working with the side stand it's a quick way to get the rear tire off the ground. It's a simple option that allows the rear tire to spin freely, avoiding the need to roll the bike a few feet at a time to work on the chain in small sections. Lock the front brake with the Velcro strap, position the jack on a rubber pad under the swing arm and snap/lock it into place to lift the wheel. Because I'm often working on an uneven surface I have to use the last hole to lift the wheel high enough and can't use the 2nd safety pin but on a flat driveway or garage floor it's not an issue, particularly with regular tread road tires. Speaking of which, I'll be replacing my Shinko 244s this spring, they've now got about 10,000 Km on them!
Since the TU250X doesn't have a center stand, I've been using the Tirox SnapJack V2 for a few years now to help with chain maintenance and cleaning. Working with the side stand it's a quick way to get the rear tire off the ground. It's a simple option that allows the rear tire to spin freely, avoiding the need to roll the bike a few feet at a time to work on the chain in small sections. Lock the front brake with the Velcro strap, position the jack on a rubber pad under the swing arm and snap/lock it into place to lift the wheel. Because I'm often working on an uneven surface I have to use the last hole to lift the wheel high enough and can't use the 2nd safety pin but on a flat driveway or garage floor it's not an issue, particularly with regular tread road tires. Speaking of which, I'll be replacing my Shinko 244s this spring, they've now got about 10,000 Km on them!
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February 16, 2020
After about 3 years watching Amazon for a price drop on some replacement shocks by Progressive Suspension, part# 413-4039B 15", which I had stored in my "save for later" shopping cart, I hit the jackpot! A price drop from $340 to $188 with free shipping was certainly a nice savings! 2 days later they arrived and looked fantastic! I got the idea from a post by Weeee on the TU250 Riders forum and have been waiting for an opportunity ever since.
After about 3 years watching Amazon for a price drop on some replacement shocks by Progressive Suspension, part# 413-4039B 15", which I had stored in my "save for later" shopping cart, I hit the jackpot! A price drop from $340 to $188 with free shipping was certainly a nice savings! 2 days later they arrived and looked fantastic! I got the idea from a post by Weeee on the TU250 Riders forum and have been waiting for an opportunity ever since.
I installed them today, a quick 10 minute swap before the rains came and even managed to sneak in a 20 minute test ride. What a great upgrade from the stock shocks. I think they look great, they ride really nice and are a definite improvement for any of us riders weighing more than a soaked t-shirt! My Tux isn't any garage queen; hard working and dirty as she runs in the pics below! Looks like it's time for a chain clean and a good lube!
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November 12, 2019
I received the correct #30 pilot jet ordered off of eBay last week and installed it this weekend. The package included 4 x Genuine Mikuni VM22/210 #30 jets for $9! The Kawasaki dealer wanted to charge almost $50 for the wrong one!
I removed the tank and side covers, loosened the intake and exhaust boot clamps, disconnected the throttle cables and turned the carb sideways to access and remove the float bowl from the right side of the bike. I had already replaced the OEM cover and float bowl screws when I rebuilt the top end, so I didn't have to fight with them this time.
Removing the original jet and installing the new one from the right side of the bike was easy with the carb rotated on it's side. I had to blast a bit of WD40 to get the pilot jet to pop out after unscrewing it as I couldn't get it to fall out after rotating the carb back down and I didn't have any canned air on hand. It's nice I didn't have to remove the carb to change the pilot jet and set the air mixture, it's a tight fit in there! I set the air mixture screw to 1 1/2 turns and re-assembled everything back together. All said, it took about 25 to 30 minutes.
The bike fired right up and I was immediately amazed at the difference. The classic 10 minute warm up of sputtering, stalling, and running with the choke on for way to long was gone. It was basically ready to ride right off the bat! Reading about the improvements of a re-jet and experiencing it in person doesn't do justice to how much of an improvement it was! It really is like a different bike for me living at sea level.
Everybody who hasn't already, should do this mod, you deserve it!
I received the correct #30 pilot jet ordered off of eBay last week and installed it this weekend. The package included 4 x Genuine Mikuni VM22/210 #30 jets for $9! The Kawasaki dealer wanted to charge almost $50 for the wrong one!
I removed the tank and side covers, loosened the intake and exhaust boot clamps, disconnected the throttle cables and turned the carb sideways to access and remove the float bowl from the right side of the bike. I had already replaced the OEM cover and float bowl screws when I rebuilt the top end, so I didn't have to fight with them this time.
Removing the original jet and installing the new one from the right side of the bike was easy with the carb rotated on it's side. I had to blast a bit of WD40 to get the pilot jet to pop out after unscrewing it as I couldn't get it to fall out after rotating the carb back down and I didn't have any canned air on hand. It's nice I didn't have to remove the carb to change the pilot jet and set the air mixture, it's a tight fit in there! I set the air mixture screw to 1 1/2 turns and re-assembled everything back together. All said, it took about 25 to 30 minutes.
The bike fired right up and I was immediately amazed at the difference. The classic 10 minute warm up of sputtering, stalling, and running with the choke on for way to long was gone. It was basically ready to ride right off the bat! Reading about the improvements of a re-jet and experiencing it in person doesn't do justice to how much of an improvement it was! It really is like a different bike for me living at sea level.
Everybody who hasn't already, should do this mod, you deserve it!
October 20, 2019
It's alive! The Kawasaki Super Sherpa is back in action. The rebuild went really well and other than the planned pilot jet change (dealer sent the wrong jet) everything went according to plan - except for one very unexpected WTF moment. Based on my previous findings on the bike, such as using a roofing nail in place of a cotter pin on the rear wheel axle bolt which had to be drilled out, I shouldn't be surprised to find such a horrible hack job. I hadn't removed the sprocket cover up to this point, but having dropped a washer down in behind it during the rebuild, I removed it and found this. WTF! The frigger clearly stripped the splines off the crank shaft and his solution to the problem looks like he tacked in some bar stock and welded blobs of snot to hold the sprocket on! I set this problem aside for another day, but I can't stop thinking about it - it's driving me crazy!
It's alive! The Kawasaki Super Sherpa is back in action. The rebuild went really well and other than the planned pilot jet change (dealer sent the wrong jet) everything went according to plan - except for one very unexpected WTF moment. Based on my previous findings on the bike, such as using a roofing nail in place of a cotter pin on the rear wheel axle bolt which had to be drilled out, I shouldn't be surprised to find such a horrible hack job. I hadn't removed the sprocket cover up to this point, but having dropped a washer down in behind it during the rebuild, I removed it and found this. WTF! The frigger clearly stripped the splines off the crank shaft and his solution to the problem looks like he tacked in some bar stock and welded blobs of snot to hold the sprocket on! I set this problem aside for another day, but I can't stop thinking about it - it's driving me crazy!
Beauty! All new bits are installed and ready to go!
- Cylinder head
- Valves
- Valve seals
- Ring set
- Various bolts, studs, spring seats and washers
- Cleaned (but not yet re-jetted) carb
- new spark plugs, oil, oil filter
Right after the top end was all put together, without the cylinder head cover on or the spark plug in and after checking that they were clear of obstructions, I ran the starter with and without the oil line hooked up to verify that oil would pump through all the expected oil orifices.
Arts and Crafts time; making gaskets!
Valve clearances checked and set on the loose end of the range and finally all buttoned up!
The Sherpa fired up first time and is running nicely! Still cold blooded without the #30 pilot jet, but after a nice warm up period I cruised around the culdesac for a few laps, gently breaking the bike in and giving everything a chance to settle. I dumped the new oil after giving it a good opportunity to cycle through the system, and then added another fresh round of oil and new filter. The Sherpa is ready to go home!
I also tried popping out the tank dent with all the tricks: inflating an inner tube as a bladder in the tank, heating and cooling with upside down can of compressed air, and various combinations but nothing worked. The hump in the tank is at such a position that it's really hard and next to impossible to get anything in at the necessary angles. A purpose built bladder would probably do it, but I don't think I'll bother any further and just let the bike look like the Mad Max hack job that it is!
It's been pouring rain the past few days, so I'll wait for nicer weather to take bike out for a longer test ride and the final 30 Km ride from my Dad's place in Parksville back home to Nanaimo. As for the mess on the crank shaft and sprocket...I'll eventually have to replace that crankshaft and sprocket but am not really looking forward to the bottom end work. But I'll do it at some point. Clearly in the future, I won't be buying used bikes at dusk or without taking the darn thing apart nearly to the frame or trusting statements without verifying! Life lessons, am I right? :-S
I also tried popping out the tank dent with all the tricks: inflating an inner tube as a bladder in the tank, heating and cooling with upside down can of compressed air, and various combinations but nothing worked. The hump in the tank is at such a position that it's really hard and next to impossible to get anything in at the necessary angles. A purpose built bladder would probably do it, but I don't think I'll bother any further and just let the bike look like the Mad Max hack job that it is!
It's been pouring rain the past few days, so I'll wait for nicer weather to take bike out for a longer test ride and the final 30 Km ride from my Dad's place in Parksville back home to Nanaimo. As for the mess on the crank shaft and sprocket...I'll eventually have to replace that crankshaft and sprocket but am not really looking forward to the bottom end work. But I'll do it at some point. Clearly in the future, I won't be buying used bikes at dusk or without taking the darn thing apart nearly to the frame or trusting statements without verifying! Life lessons, am I right? :-S
August 3, 2019
Well that was relatively short lived! I blew up my 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa today, after only having owned it since the winter. I was on my way to explore the Campbell River Lakes area, Loveland Bay Provincial Park in particular, when about 30 minutes into my ride from Nanaimo the bike started losing power (not a lot, just a gradual loss) and about 20 seconds later cut off completely. Didn't think too much of the power loss, as I was climbing a minor grade, I down shifted and seconds later it was over.
I coasted over to the side of the road and did the typical quick checks for fuel, air and spark - nothing. Luckily I was only a few minutes past the Qualicum inland highway exit, and was able to be rescued by my dad from Parksville. I don't think I was waiting longer than 30 minutes. We loaded the bike into the truck and took it to his place to investigate.
Well that was relatively short lived! I blew up my 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa today, after only having owned it since the winter. I was on my way to explore the Campbell River Lakes area, Loveland Bay Provincial Park in particular, when about 30 minutes into my ride from Nanaimo the bike started losing power (not a lot, just a gradual loss) and about 20 seconds later cut off completely. Didn't think too much of the power loss, as I was climbing a minor grade, I down shifted and seconds later it was over.
I coasted over to the side of the road and did the typical quick checks for fuel, air and spark - nothing. Luckily I was only a few minutes past the Qualicum inland highway exit, and was able to be rescued by my dad from Parksville. I don't think I was waiting longer than 30 minutes. We loaded the bike into the truck and took it to his place to investigate.
Well that explains it!
Some nicely bent valves too!
The engine had oil in it, although it was at the lower marker. Still, it looks like the exhaust side was starved of oil and overheated. The cam and journal are shredded and scorched. I took it apart down to the bottom end and the jug and cylinder actually look OK.
So, it's going to need new cylinder head, exhaust cam and valves at a minimum. Parts prices are not looking like a rebuild will be worth it, the bike has 56,000+ Kms on it and it's likely it'll be at least $1,500 USD in OEM parts. Canadian pricing is going to be even worse.
So, at this point I'm thinking of parting the bike out or looking for another and keeping this as a parts bike. Too bad, even though I only had it for a few months, I really enjoyed riding it.
The engine had oil in it, although it was at the lower marker. Still, it looks like the exhaust side was starved of oil and overheated. The cam and journal are shredded and scorched. I took it apart down to the bottom end and the jug and cylinder actually look OK.
So, it's going to need new cylinder head, exhaust cam and valves at a minimum. Parts prices are not looking like a rebuild will be worth it, the bike has 56,000+ Kms on it and it's likely it'll be at least $1,500 USD in OEM parts. Canadian pricing is going to be even worse.
So, at this point I'm thinking of parting the bike out or looking for another and keeping this as a parts bike. Too bad, even though I only had it for a few months, I really enjoyed riding it.
July 14, 2019
I took a quick run out along Englishman River, scouting along the logging roads following with river until I hit a couple dead ends. The view was pretty awesome climbing out of the river valley. I'll return soon as there are a lot of minor branch roads to explore that will take you deeper into the back country. The last picture has a peek-a-boo view of Arrowsmith Lake from across the valley. I was going to ride up to it, but the road is closed off to vehicles as it is protected being the local watershed and I wasn't prepared for the 2 Km hike straight up! Perhaps another time!
I took a quick run out along Englishman River, scouting along the logging roads following with river until I hit a couple dead ends. The view was pretty awesome climbing out of the river valley. I'll return soon as there are a lot of minor branch roads to explore that will take you deeper into the back country. The last picture has a peek-a-boo view of Arrowsmith Lake from across the valley. I was going to ride up to it, but the road is closed off to vehicles as it is protected being the local watershed and I wasn't prepared for the 2 Km hike straight up! Perhaps another time!
April 20, 2019
Back in January I picked up a battle worn 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa. It had very high mileage, 56,000 Km, had some surface rust, was missing some bolts, the tank was dented, the plastics were painted, the stainless exhaust was painted, had a couple rips in the seat, had a puny non-functioning LED spot light & 12 volt cigarette power outlet, with a rusty home made rear rack welded to the grab handles and bent hand guards. In general it was it poor cosmetic shape, pretty ugly looking and definitely wasn't a garage queen! It spent most of it's life as a riding school trainer, then a bush bike.
By just about any reasonable standard I overpaid for the motorcycle, even though it was by far the most inexpensive dual sport I had seen in almost a year of searching the classified ads on and around Vancouver Island - dual sport values just seem to hold so well in BC and on Vancouver Island in particular. But I could see through the first impressions, the motor had excellent compression, wasn't pushing any blue, and everything else more or less checked out mechanically - no bent handle bars and solid steering and wheel bearing with no slop. I judged that with a little maintenance that I could clean it up for minimal additional cost, and have myself a rugged trail bike to compliment my Suzuki TU250X that I had scramberized.
Before I bought the bike, the previous owner had just rebuilt the front forks, and replaced both the sprockets and chain. That was a good start. Let the fun begin!
Back in January I picked up a battle worn 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa. It had very high mileage, 56,000 Km, had some surface rust, was missing some bolts, the tank was dented, the plastics were painted, the stainless exhaust was painted, had a couple rips in the seat, had a puny non-functioning LED spot light & 12 volt cigarette power outlet, with a rusty home made rear rack welded to the grab handles and bent hand guards. In general it was it poor cosmetic shape, pretty ugly looking and definitely wasn't a garage queen! It spent most of it's life as a riding school trainer, then a bush bike.
By just about any reasonable standard I overpaid for the motorcycle, even though it was by far the most inexpensive dual sport I had seen in almost a year of searching the classified ads on and around Vancouver Island - dual sport values just seem to hold so well in BC and on Vancouver Island in particular. But I could see through the first impressions, the motor had excellent compression, wasn't pushing any blue, and everything else more or less checked out mechanically - no bent handle bars and solid steering and wheel bearing with no slop. I judged that with a little maintenance that I could clean it up for minimal additional cost, and have myself a rugged trail bike to compliment my Suzuki TU250X that I had scramberized.
Before I bought the bike, the previous owner had just rebuilt the front forks, and replaced both the sprockets and chain. That was a good start. Let the fun begin!
- replaced both front and rear brake pads,
- bled and cycled out the old brake fluid,
- cleaned and fixed the sticking throttle and clutch cables,
- installed new hand grips,
- replaced the rusted mirrors,
- changed the oil & oil filter,
- changed the spark plug,
- replaced rusted and missing bolts,
- removed, sanded and ground the rust off the tail rack,
- repainted the plastics and rack (result was a decent 10 foot rattle can paint job),
- Gorilla taped the rips in the seat,
- changed the tires and tubes out for Shinko 244s,
- replaced the foot pegs with nice wide ones for a DR650 that were drop in replacements,
- installed a new working 12 volt cigarette power socket,
- installed a mount for my Garmin.
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Jan 6, 2019
After weeks and weeks of heavy rain, including a wind storm said to be the worst in the history of the province from the electric grid perspective, I was able to get out for a 2 hour ride to Spider Lake. The storm knocked power out for over 700,000 residences and businesses all over Vancouver Island. The outages started Dec 20th, and the last areas didn't get power again until days into the new year. Hydro crews were brought in from all over BC, the prairies and eastern Canada; special Ferry sailings ran just for the Hydro crews from Vancouver to Nanaimo, as they worked through the holidays. The damage was extensive, but the crews did a great job. I'm super appreciative of all the effort they put in and that they missed Christmas with their families to help our communities get back online. My area was pretty lucky to lose power for only 2 1/2 days, we were back online a couple days before Christmas.
The sun and blue skies were inviting me out, so I did the only logical thing, I bundled up for a ride. With temperatures hovering just above 0C, I hit the road!
After weeks and weeks of heavy rain, including a wind storm said to be the worst in the history of the province from the electric grid perspective, I was able to get out for a 2 hour ride to Spider Lake. The storm knocked power out for over 700,000 residences and businesses all over Vancouver Island. The outages started Dec 20th, and the last areas didn't get power again until days into the new year. Hydro crews were brought in from all over BC, the prairies and eastern Canada; special Ferry sailings ran just for the Hydro crews from Vancouver to Nanaimo, as they worked through the holidays. The damage was extensive, but the crews did a great job. I'm super appreciative of all the effort they put in and that they missed Christmas with their families to help our communities get back online. My area was pretty lucky to lose power for only 2 1/2 days, we were back online a couple days before Christmas.
The sun and blue skies were inviting me out, so I did the only logical thing, I bundled up for a ride. With temperatures hovering just above 0C, I hit the road!
I intended to continue deeper inland to Horn Lake as well, but I hit some rain and the skies were getting darker in that direction, so I decided to cut the trip short. I did catch a nice rainbow with a bit of blue sky over Spider Lake before I headed for home. It's likely to be some weeks before I get out again, this was just a brief break in the wet West Coast winter weather.
Oct 6, 2018
The Thanksgiving long weekend in Canada brought sunny skies! I made the 283 Km loop from Nanaimo through Lake Cowichan and across to the Port Alberni inlet and home again. I had just added some hand guards to cut the wind, they blend in pretty well with the bike and worked great. What a beauty ride!
The Thanksgiving long weekend in Canada brought sunny skies! I made the 283 Km loop from Nanaimo through Lake Cowichan and across to the Port Alberni inlet and home again. I had just added some hand guards to cut the wind, they blend in pretty well with the bike and worked great. What a beauty ride!
Sept 29, 2018
The afternoon was overcast and cool, but it made for a great opportunity to ride out to First Lake of Nanaimo Lakes. It would have been nice to head deeper into the back roads, but I only had a few hours to roam around. You could spend ages out here; with so many offshoots from all the logging roads to explore, it's pretty easy to come back and find new places with each visit to the area.
The afternoon was overcast and cool, but it made for a great opportunity to ride out to First Lake of Nanaimo Lakes. It would have been nice to head deeper into the back roads, but I only had a few hours to roam around. You could spend ages out here; with so many offshoots from all the logging roads to explore, it's pretty easy to come back and find new places with each visit to the area.
August 12, 2018
After installing some snazzy new fork boots, I made a run to Bamfield on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The 330 KM, 7 hour round trip journey was about 180 KM of gravel logging road which the bike handled amazingly well thanks to the Shinko 244 dual sport tires. The gravel section was fairly rough in places, but I was able to make good time and probably averaged about 60 Kph on the gravel. When I arrived in Bamfield, a fellow that trailed me in a van pulled up and was all grins, rolled down his window and said "Nice riding!"
I met a friendly guy riding a BMW GS800 outside the little market and pub in town, and asked if he could join me on my return leg of the trip. We had a quick stop about half way and he was impressed with how good the TU was doing - he apologized for going so slow in sections, said the road was beating up his GS. I was totally fine with the pace, the TU was in it's comfort zone on the rutty logging road, but it just goes to show that a nice big adventure bike (and it sure was nice!) isn't the only way to have an off road adventure!
After installing some snazzy new fork boots, I made a run to Bamfield on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The 330 KM, 7 hour round trip journey was about 180 KM of gravel logging road which the bike handled amazingly well thanks to the Shinko 244 dual sport tires. The gravel section was fairly rough in places, but I was able to make good time and probably averaged about 60 Kph on the gravel. When I arrived in Bamfield, a fellow that trailed me in a van pulled up and was all grins, rolled down his window and said "Nice riding!"
I met a friendly guy riding a BMW GS800 outside the little market and pub in town, and asked if he could join me on my return leg of the trip. We had a quick stop about half way and he was impressed with how good the TU was doing - he apologized for going so slow in sections, said the road was beating up his GS. I was totally fine with the pace, the TU was in it's comfort zone on the rutty logging road, but it just goes to show that a nice big adventure bike (and it sure was nice!) isn't the only way to have an off road adventure!
A quick stop at China Creek Campground shortly after hitting gravel. Not too dusty yet!
At the Market in Bamfield, I was glad to stop and have a break from the past hour and a half of rattling road! Water never tasted so good!
Home again, this is just before the bike got washed. It doesn't look to bad in the pictures, but the bike was really dusty - and so was I! It was a great ride and it was nice to ride the gravel section home with somebody. We didn't stop or chat too much on the way out, but it was fun!
May 27, 2018
I circled around Lake Cowichan, about an hour away from home, for the first time, as a bit of a scouting trip. The back half of the loop is a well maintained gravel road (which my knobby dual sport tires handled with ease) with several BC Rec and Timber West forestry campsites spread around the lake. With lots of trails and forestry backroads in the area, the campsites would make a good base for further exploring.
I circled around Lake Cowichan, about an hour away from home, for the first time, as a bit of a scouting trip. The back half of the loop is a well maintained gravel road (which my knobby dual sport tires handled with ease) with several BC Rec and Timber West forestry campsites spread around the lake. With lots of trails and forestry backroads in the area, the campsites would make a good base for further exploring.
May 15, 2018
I took a nice morning ride to Fairwinds marina, up to the lookout on Little Mountain, visited Cameron Lake, Qualicum Beach and Englishman River. Mid week traffic was light and the ride was moving along at a really comfortable pace. The TU250X is such a great fit for Vancouver Island roads, and the dual sport tires make any gravel or dirt roads and trails easy to tackle.
I took a nice morning ride to Fairwinds marina, up to the lookout on Little Mountain, visited Cameron Lake, Qualicum Beach and Englishman River. Mid week traffic was light and the ride was moving along at a really comfortable pace. The TU250X is such a great fit for Vancouver Island roads, and the dual sport tires make any gravel or dirt roads and trails easy to tackle.
May 5, 2018
I completed a 383 KM loop from Nanaimo, to Victoria, on to Sooke and Port Renfrew, then up through the middle of the island to Lake Cowichan and finally back to Nanaimo. A beautiful day for a ride, with multiple stops along the way for a ride time of just under 6 hours. The back roads were great fun to ride, lots of twisty bits, switch backs and elevation changes that the TU handled with grace with many bursts from 30 Kph to 80 Kph. I didn't stop to take any pictures, but the views were fantastic. Next time!
I completed a 383 KM loop from Nanaimo, to Victoria, on to Sooke and Port Renfrew, then up through the middle of the island to Lake Cowichan and finally back to Nanaimo. A beautiful day for a ride, with multiple stops along the way for a ride time of just under 6 hours. The back roads were great fun to ride, lots of twisty bits, switch backs and elevation changes that the TU handled with grace with many bursts from 30 Kph to 80 Kph. I didn't stop to take any pictures, but the views were fantastic. Next time!
April 15, 2018
While out on a relaxed but cool ride around town, the TU250X cracked 20,000 KMs today! I managed to pull over to the side of the road just as the odometer was rolling over to capture the moment. It's been about a year since I got my MC license and started riding the TU, it having just over 10,000 KMs when I bought it. I've been having a great time riding it this past year!
While out on a relaxed but cool ride around town, the TU250X cracked 20,000 KMs today! I managed to pull over to the side of the road just as the odometer was rolling over to capture the moment. It's been about a year since I got my MC license and started riding the TU, it having just over 10,000 KMs when I bought it. I've been having a great time riding it this past year!
Jan 30, 2018
After a pretty long stretch since I had my last ride and in between the rains that have battered the East coast of Vancouver Island this winter, I was able to sneak in a nice 2 hour ride to check out various beaches in the area. The pavement was dry but the skies were threatening!
After a pretty long stretch since I had my last ride and in between the rains that have battered the East coast of Vancouver Island this winter, I was able to sneak in a nice 2 hour ride to check out various beaches in the area. The pavement was dry but the skies were threatening!
Dec 16, 2017
Made a run to Home Depot today with the Tu250X, AKA, the Mountain Goat! The route wasn't the most direct and the trail definitely got a bit challenging! The trail was an old decommissioned logging road that had turned into a "mostly" dried up stream bed. The descent was tough, the pictures don't do the 22% downhill grade justice!
Made a run to Home Depot today with the Tu250X, AKA, the Mountain Goat! The route wasn't the most direct and the trail definitely got a bit challenging! The trail was an old decommissioned logging road that had turned into a "mostly" dried up stream bed. The descent was tough, the pictures don't do the 22% downhill grade justice!
Nov 26, 2017
A break in the weather allowed me to take a 4 hour scramble out to the Nanaimo Lakes logging roads. Hard pack, loose gravel, partial washouts, streams overflowing the roads in multiple places, some fairly steep grades, all on good to poor condition logging roads and the TU handled it all like a champ. The Shinko 244s were terrific performers in this terrain.
A break in the weather allowed me to take a 4 hour scramble out to the Nanaimo Lakes logging roads. Hard pack, loose gravel, partial washouts, streams overflowing the roads in multiple places, some fairly steep grades, all on good to poor condition logging roads and the TU handled it all like a champ. The Shinko 244s were terrific performers in this terrain.
Sept 15, 2017
After riding 7,000 Km since April, it was past time for some new rubber with a hair over 17,000 Km on the original tires. I wanted to try some dual sport tires, for some occasional gravel road action. I installed some Shinko 244 dual sport tires: 3.50 for the front and a 4.60 for the rear. I put a quick 150 Km on them, and so far so good. They definitely change the steering characteristics of the bike; slower and heavier to maneuver but I like how they ride. I think the bike is starting to look pretty fierce!
After riding 7,000 Km since April, it was past time for some new rubber with a hair over 17,000 Km on the original tires. I wanted to try some dual sport tires, for some occasional gravel road action. I installed some Shinko 244 dual sport tires: 3.50 for the front and a 4.60 for the rear. I put a quick 150 Km on them, and so far so good. They definitely change the steering characteristics of the bike; slower and heavier to maneuver but I like how they ride. I think the bike is starting to look pretty fierce!
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August 19, 2017
I'd been planning to add some .50 Caliber ammo can panniers for a while now, and Costco had a 2 pack in stock, a .30 Cal and a .50 Cal ammo can set for $27. I picked up 2 sets to use the .50 Cal cans, drilled a couple holes, mounted them on some brackets that came with some cheap plastic saddle panniers that came with the bike when I bought it and finally added some rubber washers to keep the interior water proof. I think they look pretty good and have found them to be super handy to have.
I'd been planning to add some .50 Caliber ammo can panniers for a while now, and Costco had a 2 pack in stock, a .30 Cal and a .50 Cal ammo can set for $27. I picked up 2 sets to use the .50 Cal cans, drilled a couple holes, mounted them on some brackets that came with some cheap plastic saddle panniers that came with the bike when I bought it and finally added some rubber washers to keep the interior water proof. I think they look pretty good and have found them to be super handy to have.
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June 2, 2017
I installed a 7" all metal side mounted chrome headlight (an 8" bucket, edge to edge) from BikeMaster on my TU this weekend. This replaced the plastic stock headlight bucket and was an easy drop in replacement. The stock plastic bucket wouldn't hold the headlamp in place, and would pop out of place creating an unsightly gap.
There weren't too many sites selling 7" all metal headlights for a reasonable price. The BikeMaster seemed to have a good reputation and was available in Canada so I put in my order from FortNine.ca.
I used a couple of the rubber grommets from the original mounting assembly and the stock bolts were thread compatible with the new threaded mount points on the BikeMaster headlight bucket. Fitting the wiring harness bits into the bucket was a bit tight, but it all went in, and the original headlamp power connector slipped right on.
Over all I'm super happy with this 7" BikeMaster headlight, and may need to pick up the Chrome and Black model as well when it's back in stock...for those black tie occasions!
I installed a 7" all metal side mounted chrome headlight (an 8" bucket, edge to edge) from BikeMaster on my TU this weekend. This replaced the plastic stock headlight bucket and was an easy drop in replacement. The stock plastic bucket wouldn't hold the headlamp in place, and would pop out of place creating an unsightly gap.
There weren't too many sites selling 7" all metal headlights for a reasonable price. The BikeMaster seemed to have a good reputation and was available in Canada so I put in my order from FortNine.ca.
I used a couple of the rubber grommets from the original mounting assembly and the stock bolts were thread compatible with the new threaded mount points on the BikeMaster headlight bucket. Fitting the wiring harness bits into the bucket was a bit tight, but it all went in, and the original headlamp power connector slipped right on.
Over all I'm super happy with this 7" BikeMaster headlight, and may need to pick up the Chrome and Black model as well when it's back in stock...for those black tie occasions!
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April 10, 2017
My 2013 Suzuki TU250X was purchased off of Craigslist in November 2016 with just a hair over 10,000 KM on the odometer. It was used as a year round commuter, and is in fantastic shape. It sat waiting in my shed until I passed the skills test on March 21, 2017 and as of yesterday while dodging the Canadian West Coast Vancouver Island rain, cracked the 11,000 KM mark. A 16T front sprocket was added by the previous owner, and he also relocated the rear turn signals. The rear frame hoop has been fitted with metal brackets for some cheap Chinese plastic panniers that I immediately removed, which I plan to replace with some nice 50 caliber ammo cans. Other than that, I'm a fan of the stock look and riding feel.
I just completed an oil change, and will be checking the valves shortly. Everything looks great, and after adjusting the clutch free play, rear break, and (should I admit this next statement?) dropping it in my driveway from a standstill - twice; once on each side (what a tool!)- it's been a beauty to ride, a tonne of fun.
I've seen more of my local community in the past 2 weeks than I've seen in all the many years I've lived here!
My 2013 Suzuki TU250X was purchased off of Craigslist in November 2016 with just a hair over 10,000 KM on the odometer. It was used as a year round commuter, and is in fantastic shape. It sat waiting in my shed until I passed the skills test on March 21, 2017 and as of yesterday while dodging the Canadian West Coast Vancouver Island rain, cracked the 11,000 KM mark. A 16T front sprocket was added by the previous owner, and he also relocated the rear turn signals. The rear frame hoop has been fitted with metal brackets for some cheap Chinese plastic panniers that I immediately removed, which I plan to replace with some nice 50 caliber ammo cans. Other than that, I'm a fan of the stock look and riding feel.
I just completed an oil change, and will be checking the valves shortly. Everything looks great, and after adjusting the clutch free play, rear break, and (should I admit this next statement?) dropping it in my driveway from a standstill - twice; once on each side (what a tool!)- it's been a beauty to ride, a tonne of fun.
I've seen more of my local community in the past 2 weeks than I've seen in all the many years I've lived here!
