Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,746
- 5,815
My old 2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650 came up for sale... I bought it brand new in 2010, sold in in 2020 because I wasn't using it much. Wah! Big mistake. I have missed it ever since. The fellow who bought it had replaced it with two Moto-Guzzi motorcycles! He is a meticulous fellow, particularly about motorcycle maintenance. It's in better shape than ever! The aluminum boxes and their frame are a great addition. I always just used nylon fabric bags. He upgraded to stainless steel brake lines as well.
Flew down to Oklahoma City, bought it back. Packed my stuff into the boxes. Grabbed a motel room. Headed out the next day. August in Oklahoma is NOT what this Northwest fellow is ready for! Goodness. I'd planned to camp, but grabbed an air conditioned motel room with a shower for the first and second nights on the road. Eventually camped at Grand Teton National Park. Put in 2,200 miles, with the last day 750+ miles. The 650 liquid cooled, fuel injected V-twin (some call it an L-twin) handled 12+ hours of high speed riding in the heat just fine. Gotta love those Montana speed limits, 80-90 mph was normal yesterday. Worst fuel economy was 48 mpg while I was doing that. Best was nearly 60 mpg while I was riding easily through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
So happy to have this back. I've had a motorcycle most of my adult life and really regretted letting this one slip away. Here's a few photos of my trip through Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington.
Alma claims to be the highest elevation incorporated town in North America:
Didn't pause to socialize with folks. Didn't do much photography though I had my good camera with me. Just rode and rode, and got back home.
Regards, Guy
Flew down to Oklahoma City, bought it back. Packed my stuff into the boxes. Grabbed a motel room. Headed out the next day. August in Oklahoma is NOT what this Northwest fellow is ready for! Goodness. I'd planned to camp, but grabbed an air conditioned motel room with a shower for the first and second nights on the road. Eventually camped at Grand Teton National Park. Put in 2,200 miles, with the last day 750+ miles. The 650 liquid cooled, fuel injected V-twin (some call it an L-twin) handled 12+ hours of high speed riding in the heat just fine. Gotta love those Montana speed limits, 80-90 mph was normal yesterday. Worst fuel economy was 48 mpg while I was doing that. Best was nearly 60 mpg while I was riding easily through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
So happy to have this back. I've had a motorcycle most of my adult life and really regretted letting this one slip away. Here's a few photos of my trip through Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington.
Alma claims to be the highest elevation incorporated town in North America:
Didn't pause to socialize with folks. Didn't do much photography though I had my good camera with me. Just rode and rode, and got back home.
Regards, Guy
