How-to: take the wheels off a 2009 V-Strom 650

It took me just long enough to figure out how to take the wheels off of my 2009 V-Strom 650 that I thought I would write this how-to for my own future benefit and for the benefit of any other new “strom troopers” out there. 

Step 1: make sure you have all the tools you will need for this job before you get all greasy and have your bike disabled enough that you can’t ride it to the local auto parts store. (Can you tell that I need this reminder?)

Tools shown in most of my photos are the tools that came with the bike, however these were not always adequate and I sometimes needed wrenches with more leverage and tighter tolerances to get the nuts off. 

Step 2: put your bike up on the center stand if you have one. If not, find a reasonable alternative to get the back tire off the ground and the bike stable. 

Step 3: note the chain tensioner marks on the two swingarms. You will presumably need this information when you reassemble the rear wheel after changing tires or doing whatever other service you have in mind. 





Step 4: loosen, but do not yet remove, the axle nut from the right-side swingarm. Tool needed: 24mm hex wrench 



Step 5: loosen the chain tensioners to give the axle some wiggle room





Step 6: fully remove the axle nut and square washer, then push the axle through the swingarm. 





Step 7: pull the axle bolt thru from the left side; keep pulling until the axle comes out of the wheel completely. 





Step 8: disengage the chain from the rear sprocket



Step 9: slip the brake rotor out of the brake caliper. Put a wood shim (balsa wood works great for this) in the brake caliper to prevent accidental warping of the brake pads.





Step 10: remove the various pieces from the wheel and then take the wheel out of the frame. Rear wheel done!









Step 11: take the two securing bolts off of the left front caliper as shown and then slide the caliper out of the way (tool: 14mm hex wrench). Again, slide a wooden shim into the space between the brake pads. Repeat for right front caliper. 







Step 12: remove the front bolt from the right-side fork



Step 13: discover that you need a 12-mm male hex driver that isn’t included in your tool collection. Wash the grease off your hands, realize you can’t ride your bike to the hardware store now, so borrow your wife’s car and make the trip. Spend a few dollars on a male hex driver and twenty more on the oversized ratchet needed to drive it. 



Step 14: put the front of your ‘strom up on blocks so that there is at least a couple of inches clearance between the front tire and the ground. 



Step 15: remove the axle bolt through the right side fork





Step 16: remove the wheel from the frame



Step 17: loosely re-install the axle bolts and brake calipers to help keep track of where everything goes







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