2023 Suzuki Vstom 250SX -Bike Down!

A couple of weeks back on my second ride i dropped the Suzuki Vstom 250 SX on a muddy dirt track and had lots of issues getting the bike back on its wheels

[@farangdan]

Great story Warro lad! Agreed with fella who mentioned you met 2 good people that day! Glad you're ok now. Living the dream! 🎉

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah it worked out pretty good really. nice to see that woman pull over to ask if all is ok and that alone can be a risky move 35 klm out of town. plus had the guy do the 200 metre walk to the bike to help put it back on track. overall i appreciated both parties help

[@slartybartfast6526]

I really enjoy your videos. I like to hear the stories. I can imagine what most people would think if they pull over and someone is trying to get them to go off in the woods. Stay safe!

[@ridewithwarro]

i'd say those that passed by thought maybe a looney on the side of the road and hit the gas pedal.....lol good to hear you enjoy the content too

[@icedidi]

been waiting for the footage, who'd of thought it! Unlucky dmg from a low speed spill but could always have been worse - be nice to go back, if only to stop and look at why that section is so lethal. all the best Warro.

[@ridewithwarro]

ive rode through far worse than this and you would have too. plus in most cases drama free. in this area it must be a more slippery kind of mud as the ground there is heavily peppered with small quartz rocks. i usually stop about one klm further on .totally different soil type. either way i might have to look into better tyres further down the track but not that track...lol

[@raymondkinch3766]

Thanks Warro another good one!

[@ridewithwarro]

good to hear you enjoyed the content. testing the wind deflector clip will be up next

[@lears6169]

Warro, glad you weren’t injured with that one. Puddles hide everything. Hidden ruts can throw off any bike regardless. Good plan to stay away from that black hole. Very nice that folks are willing to assist. Surprised the bars twisted but should be an easy adjustment. Great content, thanks for sharing. Lots of folks would leave that footage on the edit room floor.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i like to show it as it is. that way one can count that im showing all aspects and not caning others. up untill 3 weeks ago i had never come off any bike over 10 years back on them and i've been on quite a few. then i hit a rough patch and two different bike dropped at slow speed in the very same mud hole too. even i find that part hard to believe but i never had the camera the day the classic 350 toppled over. saddlebag framed held it more upright and i was able to just pull it back up -not so with the vstrom 250 sidestand dug deep into the mud and i had to use a stick to dig it out so it would fully retract. ive been down that track heaps of times but i usually went to the far left and along the edge of it - no issues but on the two ocassions i tried to ride straight through....party over for me...lol

[@michaelevans7260]

You wee fortunate to be able to restart the bike after the fall. My last ride on a bike (scooter) was a Majesty400 about 6 years ago. I was going to work when a driver coming back in the other direction. It was rainy and I was doing 80kph. Hit the breaks and the bike slide down the road. I had broken my back 18 months earlier and was relieved that I’d done no further damage, but the bike wouldn’t restart; I found out later, because of that kill switch if it gets dropped. I’d planned to get a postie bike till I saw your video on the CB125f. Looks like a lot of fun to ride on dirt roads and other adventures. Will purchase one soon. Stay safe.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i had an issue with the classic 350 reborn and a cel when it slipped in exactly the same area. i thought i'd be safe on this bike as its tyre pattern was more agressive but i think we can safely call that idea ...wrong....lol i've had 2 of the honda ct125 trails and although they look the part and similar to and enfield single in eye candy alone...lol the cb125f is still a much better bike for half the money or here it is at aud$3600 vs aud$7800 if you can still pick one up. i had plans to take out the cb125f yesterday but bad weather here but again its a nice little bike and good value

[@henrypesky6746]

Another stack! Go hard Warro! 💪

[@ridewithwarro]

....an another one bit the dust or the mud i should say...lol

[@michaelannett1322]

It happened so fast. Glad you made it safe home after your ordeal. Sorry for the damage to your new Suzuki

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah only minor stuff on the bike but totally agree it happened extremely fast one minute on and the next grounded...lol

[@philandrea8954]

We've all done that before Warro I'm tipping it won't be the last time, stay safe and keep out of the puddles lol

[@philandrea8954]

Take care Warro, you don't bounce anymore 👍 It's such a nice looking bike even with the mud on it

[@ridewithwarro]

pretty nice bike indeed for not much money. was a bit pissed off this happened in forst 100 klm of its life. ive had many bikes which have travelled a bit of distance and its never happened

[@ridewithwarro]

@@christga100 looks better standing up but not too bad on the ground either...lol did you go back and re-test the hunter 350. i'm just waiting now for the importers to send a 023 plate bike to the dealer as i said i wouldn't take the 022 plate bike in stock i'd like a bike a bit away from first run of imports as my classic 350 were in those areas. no real issues apart from faulty speedos but i think they have had time to smooth out any hunter issues if any.

[@ridewithwarro]

@@christga100 i expect the hunter will be a better bike to ride especailly down low in the mid range area but not as good to look at as a classic 350 reborn. well thats what i think but in time i will find out. even the classic 350 once those saddlebags go on and even if they are just for show -its much harder to get them up on the centre stand too plus i removed the grab handle as i dont like the look of them and doesnt help much either. when i was buying the 500 i thought they were just gutless sewing machines buzzing along and i hit most of them immediately with better plug and sports exhaust. those two moves alone woke them up. never done much to the 350 reborn as it sounds fine and i know the xmax will beat them and a 500 anyway...lol plus the vstrom would bowl em over pretty easy too. 350 or 500 gotta face it..enfield and power twins yes but singles...lol

[@stup1299]

At least there are still decent people out there. Take care !

[@ridewithwarro]

thanks. pretty happy all went well on the day and i still managed to ride it back home too. all the best!

[@stevesanelli90]

Wow, nothing like going in hard! I’m impressed you laughed at your misfortune 😂 Hopefully nothing broken on you🤔 The bike is built for this!

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i guess im not used to being on my tail so it was more of a shock i think.

[@dondle2]

Bit of an adventure there Warro. !!! Think I spotted a screen extension on the bike, did you notice an improvement with the buffeting. ??

[@ridewithwarro]

actually did and i was going down that track to pull over another 50 metres further on and do the delfector review. have not finished that part off yet as this side tracked me a bit. hope to complete the deflector info shortly and get it up

[@paulstoker7650]

The main thing is that you're ok, the bike will fix up. It happened so fast and at such a low speed. I would probably avoid that track. Ride safe

[@ridewithwarro]

happened quick alright. i had plans to avoid it but late today i decided to take the cb125f out there to see how it would go. only issue track had mostly dried up but still slippery exactly in the part i went down ...lol anyway i have plans to try and put something together should the bike or bikes drop again and if it works i plan to put up a clip. if it doesn't i still plan to do a clip but advise not the case either way should be interesting regarless all the best!

[@mariomessinamotorcycles]

Good to hear that you didn`t hurt yourself. Shame you didn`t get to do the screen deflector video because of this. Oh well, at least its one more video that I can look forward to watch!!!! In fact maybe many more to come when you start modifying the bike for it to become your bush bashing go-to motorcycle. More aggressive tyres, a better bash plate, barkbusters, engine,frame and tank guard, just to name a few...

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah anything is possible. not exactly sure what is about for these bikes but later on i plan to look into that side. yeah i guess i missed that wind deflector clip by roughly 50 metres...lol either way im not going back down that track to try an complete it....lol

[@mariomessinamotorcycles]

@@ridewithwarro Like the Enfields, I reckon that most of the after market stuff will reach our shores in time. Good idea, not going that track anymore!!! lol

[@chrisweeks6973]

Mate, you're ok, so that's the main thing. Bits of plastic don't matter. Good on the two folks who stopped to help you; not everyone's a self-centered bugger. The advice about lifting the bike from Russ Parker is spot on, too.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i dont think my back would take it but i think any-one without any back issues would be advised to take a look. meanwhile i am working on a more friendly idea for me and in a matter of a week or so if successful with the idea i plan to do a clip on it. if it fails i may still put it up and class it as i tried....lol yeah good the guy came down and gave me a lift and with no phone receiption it was appreciated. in future i'd prefer to be relying on no-one if possible so the best way out of that i think is better preparation on my part. even the bike dealer van drove past but i guess he didn't want to pick up a suzuki either...lol

[@chrisweeks6973]

@@ridewithwarro Yes, I can identify with the back issue. Damaged mine in the military, 61 years ago; MO said that it was, "Just muscular strain, laddie; it'll be ok in a couple of days." Yeah, right!... lol. Mate, if you can design a better mousetrap, that'd be great! If it doesn't work out, at least you've given it a go.

[@ridewithwarro]

@@chrisweeks6973 worth a try i think and apart from a few $$$ i have nothing to lose...lol plus it might work too so best of all i dont have to go that far out in the scrub to test it out. when the time comes and i get it all together i'd much rather a real world test than a back yard job. in the backyard one can just walk back inside and say...try again tomorrow but i found out the hard way...no tomorrow out there gotta get it done on the spot...lol

[@chrisweeks6973]

@@ridewithwarro Good idea to try it in the backyard first, see if it works, then go try it in the field. Good luck!

[@ridewithwarro]

@@chrisweeks6973 yeah once i get this stuff in i require i will do a practise on the cb125f and if that works out ok lay the vstrom down in the yard.....its use to it now i think...lol

[@samdog1096]

What an amazing adventure. Glad you did nt injure your self, thats the main thing.

[@ridewithwarro]

apart from the foot hookup all went well and no issues now. overall it was good to know that i was unable to get the bike back up but now i am working of a system which i plan to show later-positive or negative which may help me if it happens again or probably more like when...lol

[@TallyHoTech]

W A Z Z A. That was epic Keep your head up! Don’t look at the ground as that’s where you will go. First scratch is the hardest and battle scars are awesome on and adventure bike. Now we need around Australia W A Z Z A

[@ridewithwarro]

dunno about that around aust side although years back i did just that in a new escort RS2000 but might do a couple of longer runs in this area soon

[@TallyHoTech]

@@ridewithwarro RS 2000 a beast. That must of been Epic. I reckon that Suzuki will be a popular adventure bike with a few mods. That would be epic on a long trip

[@ridewithwarro]

@@TallyHoTech yeah the escort was ok i guess. i think once people get out and take a look at them they will see value for the money. i was never that keen on a suzuki but i bought one...lol no regrets either -good cheap ride and does everything well plus knows how to rest when it gets tired....lol

[@juliancain6128]

The shifter rod going into the case didn't look bent, that's a bonus - Maybe some gorilla glue for that handguard? Glad there wasn't any permanent damage to you or old Yella 😇

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i dont know how that happened. only thing i could think of is me pulling it around or trying too whilst it was grounded

[@andrewgreen6060]

Great clip, and good on you for putting it up! I wonder though if that body work makes it harder to grab the bike to lift it when it's down? Gear linkage and hand guards look a bit flimsy for an adventure bike but at $6.5 K you shouldn't expect more. I've been rescued lots of times by motorists over the years. People are mostly much nicer than you might think - although I did once have a someone pull a gun on me 'just in case'!

[@ridewithwarro]

i think your right there or i think so. i found it pretty hard to find a good grip point regardless. im working on a better idea to overcome this issue and maybe plan to try it out in the next week or so when i have it more to my liking yeah i think that linkage and covers sort of go with the price and its not a huge outlay so for what one gets i think its pretty good there. not many with guns this way but not a good feeling. i once had a copper pull his handgun on me and i was only fishing....lol that was 30 years back when i was right into hunting and had a dozen guns myself.

[@antonycrisafulli6858]

S##t happens mate, glad to see your still in one piece 😅

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah all good my side. worst part i think was having to ride a new bike with 100 klm on the clock 35 klm in second gear. but it was pretty cold and i rested it once on the way so that side went well.

[@Stefan_trekkie]

I am glad you reacted with laughter..Are you going to put some knobby tires on the Vstrom?

[@ridewithwarro]

well there was a swear word in amongst that but i pulled it...lol just to be on track there. happened so fast i didn't really know what to think and later both bikes same area ...thats hard to believe

[@farracuda]

Hey Warro, just shows there are still good people around, you met two of them. I am not sure that I would wander into the forrest with a stranger…..

[@ridewithwarro]

i was actually thinking that myself and worst of all i was in an area with no phone coverage. plus when i came out of the scrub they maybe thought a yowie...lol hard to believe the dealers truck where i bought the bike drove past and i gave them a double way like problems etc and the driver just kept driving...lol can't help bad luck there...lol

[@russellmarshall5288]

Wow, that was a slam dunk Warro. No warning whatsoever.😢 On a different note there should be a tool kit with the bike for obvious reasons.

[@ridewithwarro]

must admit it was pretty quick...lol must admit i wasn't prepared for it as its only happened twice in 10 years and in this exact spot on two bikes within a week of each drop...lol good call on the tool set i will have to take a look and see whats there. on the day it was getting late too or by the time i got a bit of help to lift "old yella" and i just home just before dark after that 35kl run in 2nd gear. that alone most likely ran the bike in...lol or 2nd gear anyway. i'd been surprised if i'd fixed it on the spot anyway regardless as my head was more clear the next day and i sorted it out after the magpie incident. im not what you call mechanically minded. i will try if i have no choice but usually i like to pay some-one to just get out of it...lol anyway lesson learnt and 2 drops wiser...or so i think all the best!

[@mattyoz0]

You need full on knobby tyres to go through mud with any sort of grip. Maybe it might be a good time to start doing a few mods on it.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah i think thats a possability of this and the classic 350 reborn and i might do the cb125f too. i once hated dirt roads but i dont mind them now so i guess i may have to adapt to the enviroment...lol or pay the price

[@RogerBays]

Hi. I spoke with you a few weeks back on Honda cb125f. Wondering which bike you prefer this Suzuki or the Honda?

[@ridewithwarro]

hard call there as they are both great little bikes to own. i think it would depend up your budget and the suzuki would be a good option if you like the idea of cruising along the open road at 100 kph and pulling hills much easier. but again dont rule out the cb125f as it too is a great little bike for the money. naturally not as quick but i had it out where i dropped the suzuki in that muddy section and i was cruising along at 90 kph which it appears to like. so in my case its a very hard call to say which one as both are great bikes....lol ask me an easy quiestion like classic 500 and classic 350 reborn and i'd tell you straight. the 500 if you like trouble and fixing bikes or the 350 reborn if you just want to ride and enjoy...lol

[@RogerBays]

@@ridewithwarro Thanks. I am pretty set on the Honda. But might upgrade to the bigger Suzuki later.

[@ridewithwarro]

@@RogerBays nothing wrong with the honda and its a great little bike if not i'd cashed it by now. have a few upcoming rides planned for it too so it will be here for a while actually been trying to find some off road style tyres but in 18" hard to get them

[@RogerBays]

Thanks

[@ccooper8785]

Looking on the bright side (VERY unusual occurrence for me), at least it is not a BMW 1250GS.... (both in terms of picking the thing up and especially repair costs). TIL that you need VERY aggressive tyres to ride through mud !

[@ridewithwarro]

i may look into the tyre side later. see how things go and if positive go for a set of good ones

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

Any scratches to the bodywork?

[@ridewithwarro]

nah got out of it well really. no big issues to me if there was as at first i had plans i might cash it and buy another...this time correct colour...lol but it came through fine and i really wasn't going quick anyway so it was more a sort of i've had enough and it fell over. either way i plan to stay clear of that place for a while as i dont like that type of mud anymore...lol

[@norsehall309]

G'day Warro, don't go down that track as everything happens in three's, and it wasn't a Magpie that took that bolt it was the workshop demon 👿 everytime I'm working on my bikes l put something down it not there when l go back for it, hope the bike is ok it should be no real damage done, cheers mate, Neil 🤠.

[@ridewithwarro]

no all good. have the bike under control now and that magpie actually came through the back sliding door to get a ball of mince. i bet it took it all right...lol

[@chrisc9376]

🙄 Oh dear, long as you are ok, and made it home safe mate, that's all that matters.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah all good but no big hurry to try out that track again plus its been raining here for 2 days on and off and that would be worse there now. ive been on quite a bit of dirt and through a fair few water riddled mud holes but in that area there must be something in the content of the mud -maybe clay or something which caused the drama

[@andrewhamilton-gill]

You are a bugger for punishment Warro, bikes are expendable, as long as you’re safe that’s all that’s important. Stay safe and get a riding partner.

[@ridewithwarro]

all good there and i dont think i will venture down that track anymore unless i have better off road tyres. i know little about tyres and i thought they would be better than the ceat on the enfield turns out neither are any good in mud but both are good on dry dirt roads so i know that much...lol

[@stewartmckay9830]

Stare into your skid and hold your speed the same. It takes a bit of practice but once you've picked it app you become good at it. Find a wet grassy field, And practice practice. Don't try and pull your front out of a track in the deepest mud. It's not the bikes. It's not the rider. It's the lack of practice on dirt

[@ridewithwarro]

thanks and good helpful info

[@theadventuresofbellatheenf4627]

Worro not again its a puddle lol the bike learning to swim mate

[@ridewithwarro]

i can see proper off road tyres coming later for this bike and maybe the classic 350 too

[@theadventuresofbellatheenf4627]

Worro buddy if you let abit of air pressure out of tyres i will handle off road better carry a pump for tarmac see if this helps a tip that just might work

[@ridewithwarro]

@@theadventuresofbellatheenf4627 i will keep that info in mind for my next dirt road excursion...lol

[@jamesdspaderf2883]

damnnnn a lot of damage for a slow stumble

[@ridewithwarro]

i'd say so considering the speed and landing. plus when the enfield 350 went down in the very same puddle it ended up with a bent up brake pedal

[@rabbi6225]

Rubber side is supposed to stay down. Be safe.

[@ridewithwarro]

....and i plan to keep that in mind and stay away from that track too...lol

[@daintree2455]

...oops , know that feeling only to well

[@ridewithwarro]

don't like that track much at all...lol

[@ruahinesrider]

Need ya helmet Warro to get em to stop otherwise they'll think 🤔 you're a Wolf Creek psycho out there.

[@abdulfarahat1018]

I think you could have driven this bike better through that mudy area .. good job anyway ..

[@ridewithwarro]

Yes, you are right

[@jackwhite2422]

It’s not the tires it was you turning in mud on street tires if was bloody hilarious

[@ridewithwarro]

that it was ...lol plus it happened pretty quick too

[@MrB590]

Those tyres are not made for that mud

[@ridewithwarro]

neither am i...lol

[@ruahinesrider]

Geeze Warro glutton for punishment I would be avoiding that place & sticking to the dry stuff.

[@ruahinesrider]

Don't go down there again Warro especially in 350 & avoid the mud.

[@ridewithwarro]

yeah thats a good call unless i have better protection like quality off road tyres. later on i will work on that and a couple of other ideas which may help me out

[@ruahinesrider]

@@ridewithwarro Need to start doing what I do on new bikes & get crash bars.You'll be surprised 😯 at how much hazards around like a oil stain in shed or driveway put your foot on that & could slip over & is common cause of drops.Small investment at beginning to protect bike.

[@ridewithwarro]

@@ruahinesriderive seen some nice crash bars on the overseas bikes. it might be something i look into later plus the tyre option too. especially if i decide to take it on more dirt road rides but maybe not that one...lol that track only goes 400 metres max and i was only working on doing the deflector clip. only missed it by 50 metres too...lol i had the cb125f over same area but ran far enge of track and no issues. once one points into the abis-its party over...lol

[@ruahinesrider]

@@ridewithwarro I would just avoid mud altogether.Once moving through mud got a keep it straight & keep speed up but not to fast abit of a art to riding in mud.I avoid mud & stick to the dry but usually just try & to stay on the road.

[@jasonhildreth3071]

Way to slow mate...bit more speed through there would have been fine ..

[@ridewithwarro]

will keep that in mind next time.....lol

[@findingneutral]

Ugh, bummer mate. That happened so freaking quick! Fact it crunk right up and got you home says a lot. I'm confident you'll have it all fixed up good as new in no time. The lady and guy who stopped to help are good people. Magpie not so much 🔩

[@ridewithwarro]

no doubt it was a pretty quick trip to the ground thats for sure. plus got up a bit wiser too...lol looking at various ways i may be able to get the bike back upright myself rather than try and rely on others. thats the plan anyway. all i have to do is get the idea working. doen't have to be perfect ...just works...lol