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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Scooter Dan on April 17, 2017, 12:56:07 PM
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This coming Thursday, I'm riding solo to Central Missouri to attend a motorcycle Meet and Greet sponsored by the Goldwing Owners Forum. I've attended these in the past when I had my Goldwing and just stuck around this bunch even after selling my GW and moving back to Maxiscooters. They're a good bunch and raze me some about riding scooters but it's all in good fun. They found out they can't outride me in the twisties on a scooter and have their respect but more, we've forged friendships like here on the Kymco forum. Would be cool to see some M&G's here too.
I've decided to ride solo even though I was invited to ride with a group of GW's from Texas. They'll ride mostly the super slap at 75-80 mph and even though my SW can easily keep up...It's not my cup of tea. I like a slower pace and stop along the way and take pics and look at the sights. Besides, we have a group ride planned for Saturday riding through the Ozarks.
My ride will take me up through SE Oklahoma, through Broken Bow, the Quachita Mountains and up through the Ozarks, thru Branson. May ride the Pig Trail again. On my return route I've booked a room in a stone lodge, the Queen Wilihmena Lodge at Queen Wilihmena State Park that sits on top of Rich Mountain. It recently underwent a major restoration that took over a year. It's a gorgeous setting with incredible vistas and a popular ride spot for motorcycling Talimena Drive that traverses from Mena, Arkansas to Talihena, Oklahoma. Their restaurant at the lodge is incredible too for a great breakfast brunch. I plan to ride Talimena Drive on my way back.
I'll take lots of pics and keep this page updated as this trip unfolds.
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Sounds great Dan. I remember my trip on my SW to the Dragon's Tail. It was such great fun. I've also have ridden, on my Harley, on the Queen Wilihmena from Mena Ak. The CMA headquarters was on Iron mountain between Mena and Hatfield Ak. I was with the CMA for 6 years and was the Chaplin for the Wheels of Grace chapter of CMA in Memphis.
Will be looking forward to your rides updates and pics. Do be safe and I wish I could join you, but my days of long rides are over. My prayers will be with you.
Mac
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Sounds great Dan. I remember my trip on my SW to the Dragon's Tail. It was such great fun. I've also have ridden, on my Harley, on the Queen Wilihmena from Mena Ak. The CMA headquarters was on Iron mountain between Mena and Hatfield Ak. I was with the CMA for 6 years and was the Chaplin for the Wheels of Grace chapter of CMA in Memphis.
Will be looking forward to your rides updates and pics. Do be safe and I wish I could join you, but my days of long rides are over. My prayers will be with you.
Mac
Thanks Mac. Not sure how many more long rides I have left as I turn 67 tomorrow? Just thank the good Lord for all my blessings right now and hope I get a good run on this health of mine.
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Sounds awesome, would be fun to go but that's an eve bigger ride from So Cal. :)
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Sounds awesome, would be fun to go but that's an eve bigger ride from So Cal. :)
We trailered our Burgman 400 out to San Diego to visit our son a few years back. Rode up the Coast Hwy. through San Clemente, Laguna Beach and up to Huntington Beach......Me ole stomping grounds. Lived there in 68. My how Newport Beach has grown.
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Looks like a wet cold weekend for this ride as there's a 90 percent chance of rain and temps in low fifties. Going to revamp my riding gear and plan for winter riding. Brrrr. I may work my way up most of the way on Thursday and leave a shorter portion left to ride in the rain. Get to try out my new riding overpants I got for Christmas.
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Really sounds like a great trip! I am with you about the group rides at 80% that sucks. My Dad hated that as well. Wish you well, ride safe.
Karl
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Sounds like you have a great trip planned. I hope for your sake everything goes as planned. Like a few others here, my long rides days are over.
I have fond memories of rides with the guys when I was younger and in good health.
Will watch for your updates and pictures.
Ride safe. boo
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We trailered our Burgman 400 out to San Diego to visit our son a few years back. Rode up the Coast Hwy. through San Clemente, Laguna Beach and up to Huntington Beach......Me ole stomping grounds. Lived there in 68. My how Newport Beach has grown.
I've trailered my Burgman 650 one year to Moab and took a ride over to Durango and up to Silverton, another year I just loaded it into the back of my truck (I bought a nice wide arched folding ramp) and took it out to Durango riding up through Ouray and back. Things have changed quite a bit since I moved back out here in 84 so I can imagine the change since 68. Costa Mesa I thought was done with development but very recently there is a big push to take out industrial areas and built condos or even taking out single family homes for them. There is going to be an explosion in population soon cramming more people in around here. It's shocking the sudden change and I can only imagine the change in local traffic.
Looks like a wet cold weekend for this ride as there's a 90 percent chance of rain and temps in low fifties.
Oh that's no fun and you definitely need to be prepared for that. I got caught once coming home from work just 15 miles in a cold rain like that. My Gore Tex jacket was fine but I just had jeans on. As the cold water hit my jacket it was channeled down into my crotch, did I say the water was cold.
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Sounds like a great time. I look forward to your pictures. I'm with you. I like to cruise at a slower pace and take in the scenery and stop when I like.
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This meet and greet just got canceled due to tornado's/dangerous weather predicted by the National Weather Service for central Missouri. I was pretty bummed about it but Deb thinks I need to get away on a bike trip as I'm revamping my plans. Never done a moto camping trip before as I may go that route.
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Or, ride the Kymco 200 miles north to this area, the Quachita Mtns. and get a cabin for a few nights and ride around the National Forest. Just not sure my backside can handle a couple hundred miles on the Kymco? Interesting options though or could trailer up the BW and day ride the mountains?
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Sorry to hear they canceled but I can understand since scooters weren't really meant to fly through the air like that. Your backup plans sound pretty good too.
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Decided to ride the SW up to the Quachita Mountains in SE Oklahoma/SW Arkansas thru Monday. No Moto camping though as it takes some time and planning to fit camping gear on a scooter. However I am renting a cabin and ride the twisties and do some hiking for a few days. I'll keep y'all posted as this event unfolds.
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Rode about 175 miles north to Broken Bow, OK this afternoon under ominous skies but never rained. Nice temps in the seventies. Found my cabin and out for some dinner. Tomorrow I'll head up to Talimena Drive and check out some twisties. The SW is a mileage eater as a touring scooter. Interestingly I've owned this scooter for several years but hadn't done any long rides on it yet. We got into trailering the bike to our ride destinations and doing shorter rides.
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Rode about 175 miles north to Broken Bow, OK this afternoon under ominous skies but never rained. Nice temps in the seventies. Found my cabin and out for some dinner. Tomorrow I'll head up to Talimena Drive and check out some twisties. The SW is a mileage eater as a touring scooter. Interestingly I've owned this scooter for several years but hadn't done any long rides on it yet. We got into trailering the bike to our ride destinations and doing shorter rides.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170421/c6d98fb642ca4482a4ab50e4a68bb208.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170421/661c7cb8ec8076750928d178abd90b87.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170421/1030075d4aa4b26187aca5d6b27dd647.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170421/ba55082babfd15270abcd1e16cb6ade9.jpg)
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Rode up to the Talimena By-way and rode east along this mountain Ridgeline over to Mena, Arkansas. Stopped at the Queen Wilhilimena Lodge atop Rich Mountain for lunch. Good thing I stopped as a storm blew over the mountaintop and dumped a bunch of wind and rain. I watched the whole episode from an overstuffed leather chair in the Great Room with a hot cup of coffee in hand. Managed to dodge the rain bullet all day long and never got a drop. The Silverwing is an amazing Maxiscooter, I think the finest ever made. The bike is running flawlessly.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170422/79365533dc4d7e417b3863d831480581.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170422/ee1728e615e1cea6b5bc5182adff3d08.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170422/090e5638a3031ceae9344316bdcefbc2.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170422/ec808eecb7ca9a3777dbaf7c1e704d82.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170422/13ceded495897ad47b8ceeffcd6384ba.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170422/38110658785ac7f6e89402d0f50786b6.jpg)
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Looks like you had a few before taking the photo of the beer (being out of focus), lol. Awe that looks so nice, wish I was out riding.
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Fine restaurant on the top of that mountain, as I remember and there was an old train there also. That was at the top of the Talimena by way. I love that license plate frame, wish I could find one. Great pictures, thanks Dan. Ride safe
Mac
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Great pictures Dan, Thanks for posting !
The wing is a beautiful maxi ! perhaps one day I shall give one a try.
Just bought my 1st kimco people 250 and made decision to pull top end today.
Sure do want to get it back together quickly for short trips around the county, mountains to the sea...
Hope to see more nice pics from you here !
redk
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We'll, I managed to kill my battery last night as the seat must not have been latched and the underseat light burned all night. Fortunately the cabin I'm staying in is in a subdivision of mountain cabins and some guys across the street had jumper cables. Think I may remove that bulb as there's no manual switch. Pretty chilly today as it rained pretty hard last night and dropped the temps. Had to recharge the battery as I've been out riding around the several state parks here. No big ride planned today. May hit a couple of local museums. A relaxing day. Tomorrow head back up on Talimena Dr. as I reserved a room at the Queen Wilimena Lodge for Sunday night.
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Really nice post, Dan!
Karl
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Visited a forestry museum today at Beavers Bend State Park. Interesting history of the timbering industry in Oklahoma and Arkansas at the turn of the century.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170423/ec70d346fe4a4b195f50dc6bfa36a0d9.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170423/917cdc644836dc52e8880b3003f45b64.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170423/999db47aecc2bbfb59c0a052435c27fd.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170423/49f7c50270c29879a9fd7d5186776e5c.jpg)
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Really nice post, Dan!
Karl
Thanks Karl. Enjoying the sabatical.
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Yesterday rode up to the Western terminus of the Talimena By-way in Talihina, OK and rode the 60 miles of twisties and roller coasters back the the Queen Wilihmena Lodge at the eastern terminus near Mena,Ok. And today ride it back the other way to Talihina,OK. That makes 3 rides on this great motorcycle route. The SW is running perfect and has been a joy to ride over the last 5 days. Headed back home now and should get in this evening.
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I have been enjoying your posts and photos Dan. I appreciate you putting this out here for those of us to travel vicariously with you. BTW, are your running your SW darkside?
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The pictures of the old chain saws was really interesting. It took real men to use those tools from yesteryear. I remember my grand father had more muscle at 70 than I did at 18 from doing hard labor in his day. The SW is an excellent mount for touring one or two up. Wish I had kept my 07. Wish you a safe ride home.
Mac
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I have been enjoying your posts and photos Dan. I appreciate you putting this out here for those of us to travel vicariously with you. BTW, are your running your SW darkside?
Glad you're enjoying the post as it's been fun sharing it too. And yes, darkside.
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The pictures of the old chain saws was really interesting. It took real men to use those tools from yesteryear. I remember my grand father had more muscle at 70 than I did at 18 from doing hard labor in his day. The SW is an excellent mount for touring one or two up. Wish I had kept my 07. Wish you a safe ride home.
Mac
The forestry museum you would have loved. They had lots of old photos from the early 1900's showing large mobile logging camps like little town's they would setup in the forest. Looks like grueling work those men performed. Yes, the SW makes a very nice touring scooter. My 03 ran flawlessly during the whole trip.
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The rides Sunday and Monday on Talimena By-way we're epic. Cool temps around 60 and sunny clear skies. This area is usually sees more traffic with motorcycles coming up from the city and SUV's packed with the rug rats. I saw 3 other bikers and very few cars. Got in around 7pm from 5 days of motorscootering. Wow, I've never had this much time alone before on my bike and in fact, my first solo trip. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/a34cfa6db64080887fde6262a5261b59.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/efa1780a131159a369f0dec81283118c.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/0b4f1a2c101196fc0d1de47b1ec6b9a8.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/96f5dfc789561c01688d81374ea97f6c.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/63a2534c2a78c8f6d997d31f576eb3d1.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170425/ae70cb7097113b7f8a9e2b7d053169b6.jpg)
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Thanks cor sharing this all with us Dan.
Still think that HONDA is my fav. big scooter.
Could you discuss 2 or 3 reasons why not to own one?....from your, or SW forums, experience? ....service wise, reliability wise?
Try to talk me out of desiring this scooter. Seriously.
For example: I would say this about my LIKE200i...."Great scooter for urban riding. Seat is very uncomfortable for taller riders. Do not expect it to cruise at more than 45mph."
Again, great photos!
Stig
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Stig, how are you supposed to pile groceries by your feet on that Honda?
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Stig, how are you supposed to pile groceries by your feet on that Honda?
Grocery items around my feet are an unsafe distraction in urban riding.....maybe less so if I lived in the desert.
Also, I'm not inclined to do a casual shopping outing on a 500lb scooter. But that's just me.
Stig
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I know now that I was a dang fool to ever let last Wing go. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy riding my DT300, but the Wing is the ultimate scoot. Mine had a Corbin seat, European lower deflectors, air horns, Red light tripper, back off tail light, Givi two piece adjustable windshield and radio and cup holder. It's the one I rode to N.C and spent a week riding the mountains and the Dragon's tail on. Absolutely flawless. Will cruise at 70 all day long. We rode 3 days in the rain. Excellent weather protection and the diablos hugged those wet mountain roads like it was on a rail. That was my second Wing and I'd buy another on today if I could afford one. Now I'm interested in hearing how Dan rates the Honda Silver Wing.
Mac
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I'm not inclined to do a casual shopping outing on a 500lb scooter. But that's just me.
500 lbs, lol. Now the MyRoad weighs 633 lbs, the B650 at 524 lbs, and the Atlantic 440 lbs.
Honda Forza Curb Weight
422 Pounds (Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel - ready to ride)
Read more at http://powersports.honda.com/2016/forza/specifications.aspx#tuvhwHoG5KSaiTkH.99 (http://powersports.honda.com/2016/forza/specifications.aspx#tuvhwHoG5KSaiTkH.99)
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Thanks cor sharing this all with us Dan.
Still think that HONDA is my fav. big scooter.
Could you discuss 2 or 3 reasons why not to own one?....from your, or SW forums, experience? ....service wise, reliability wise?
Try to talk me out of desiring this scooter. Seriously.
For example: I would say this about my LIKE200i...."Great scooter for urban riding. Seat is very uncomfortable for taller riders. Do not expect it to cruise at more than 45mph."
Again, great photos!
Stig
Hate to disappoint you Tom but I can't think of a single reason to not get a SW except for the weight for you. In several of your posts you've referred to your B400 as heavy and of course the SW is heavier. My SW weighs a tad over 500 pounds. To me though, having owned the heavier B650 and a few Goldwings, my SW feels light to me and is no problem for urban commuting and shopping. Weight is relative. The SW has a very low COG and does well at low speed manuvering in parking lots and driveways. The seat is low and much lower than my Kymco which makes flatfootng it very easy.
As for reliability, this has been my most reliable bike I've ever owned and despite the fact that it's 14 years old and has about 45k I wouldn't hesitate riding it coast to coast. The engine is bulletproof and I know of one gentleman who rode his to Alaska every year from Florida for many years, even with 150k on it.
Mine has an aftermarket Russell Day Long seat which is most comfortable and on this recent ride to Arkansas, never got uncomfortable for my 250 mile ride up and back. Good weather protection for riding in rain too. I also have an aftermarket Givi windshield which I love. The 46 liter Givi trunk is also spacious and holds allot of stuff and coupled with a huge underseat storage puts this up with Goldwings for onboard storage. For two up riding, Deb said the SW is more comfortable than our previous B650. The B650 is wider and therefore spread her hips more and was uncomfortable to her.
Power wise the bike is awesome and very sporty. It feels like a rocket ship to me. Nope can't think of a single reason to not own one unless it feels too big and heavy to someone. I've owned several Maxiscooters; (2) B650 (1) B400, Honda 250 Reflex and my present Honda SW. The SW by far has become my all time favorite Maxiscooter.
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Had a feeling you were gonna say all them things Dan. Dang it, why did I sell mine??????
Mac
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Had a feeling you were gonna say all them things Dan. Dang it, why did I sell mine??????
Mac
Mac, sounds like you had a very nice SW and set up just like you like it. Why did you sell it? I bought mine for 1900.00 a couple of years ago. Got it from a Dallas motorcycle cop. He was at a gun range with his son and his boy picked up someone else's gun and dropped it. Cost 1900.00 to repair it and now you know the rest of the story.
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I think an SW will be my next ride!
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Any more kids on that range Dan?...LOL I sold my Ultra Class and my SW after my left hip broke and I had to have a hip replacement on the right. For months I couldn't lift either leg enough to climb stairs. So, in my rush to clear out the stuff that I wasn't gonna use again, I sold both bikes and hung up my helmet for good. or so I thought. Low and behold, 3 months later I was walking and climbing steps again. Soooooooooo, I started looking. Helmet hadn't even got a good coat of dust on it. Then I saw this ad for the 2012 DT300 for $2500.. I had owned a Xciting 250 before and I knew Kymco's were good scoots. This one had less than 3,000 miles on it and the guy said he'd take $2,000 for it and as you said, the rest is history. Very happy with the DT., but I remember how great both of my SW's were. That extra weight on the wing makes for a very smooth ride and the power is very, very strong .Right now I'm building a mini chopper bike and a mini chopper trike. I have not been photographing the build, but I will post pictures when I'm done. I absolutely refuse to grow up. LOL
Mac
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Hate to disappoint you Tom but I can't think of a single reason to not get a SW except for the weight for you. In several of your posts you've referred to your B400 as heavy and of course the SW is heavier. My SW weighs a tad over 500 pounds. To me though, having owned the heavier B650 and a few Goldwings, my SW feels light to me and is no problem for urban commuting and shopping. Weight is relative. The SW has a very low COG and does well at low speed manuvering in parking lots and driveways. The seat is low and much lower than my Kymco which makes flatfootng it very easy.
As for reliability, this has been my most reliable bike I've ever owned and despite the fact that it's 14 years old and has about 45k I wouldn't hesitate riding it coast to coast. The engine is bulletproof and I know of one gentleman who rode his to Alaska every year from Florida for many years, even with 150k on it.
Mine has an aftermarket Russell Day Long seat which is most comfortable and on this recent ride to Arkansas, never got uncomfortable for my 250 mile ride up and back. Good weather protection for riding in rain too. I also have an aftermarket Givi windshield which I love. The 46 liter Givi trunk is also spacious and holds allot of stuff and coupled with a huge underseat storage puts this up with Goldwings for onboard storage. For two up riding, Deb said the SW is more comfortable than our previous B650. The B650 is wider and therefore spread her hips more and was uncomfortable to her.
Power wise the bike is awesome and very sporty. It feels like a rocket ship to me. Nope can't think of a single reason to not own one unless it feels too big and heavy to someone. I've owned several Maxiscooters; (2) B650 (1) B400, Honda 250 Reflex and my present Honda SW. The SW by far has become my all time favorite Maxiscooter.
Well 'ol Dan,
I was afraid your report would be as such.
Never sat a SW when I was at an impasse with my dealer over my busted LIKE200i. I did consider a used BV500 decked out with all the Italian fittings. Not many miles.....but BIG compared to the scoots I was looking at.
I went with a new Forza. It had 3 things going for it: It was red. It was a Honda. It had power enough for safe highway riding.
Dealer finally caved when it became clear I was going to leave the LIK200i in his service bay for as many months as I had warranty (many, many) I was merrily breaking in my new Honda and would pay monthly visits to check on their progress with the USA rep. (Karl's loaner diagnostic tool proved a dying TPS) Kymco rep. made them buy the diag. tool, and I got my new throttle body/TPS combo under warranty.
If there had been a SW to look at within 75 miles, I might have one.....but did find a good price on a left-over 400 Burgman 92 miles away. (he delivered it to me) Sold the Forza....rode the Burg. for 2 yrs and, ...lo.....it's OK, but it's not a Honda.
Turns out I'm a Kymco and a Honda guy. Not a Suzuki guy.
Who knew?
But, you know.....sometimes it is enough (maybe- better) to want something... than to get it.
Always wanted a 912 Porsche...no, not the 911. The 912.....never got it.
And I'm OK with that.
Probably will always long for a SW....doubt I'll ever get one.
But it IS good to know I'm correct in longing for a GREAT scooter!! :)
Thanks for your comments...
Stig
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Tom, when I sold my Goldwing, Deb and I knew touring was not for her but she still wanted to do day rides. I knew we were headed back to a large Maxiscooter to meet that goal as we had had previous Burgman's (650/400). A friend of mine was selling her 08 Executive for a grand as it had over 100k and had been dropped as the Tupperware was scarred up on one side. I did a little plastic welding on it and got it looking better. About 500 miles after buying it the drive belt broke which is pretty serious for the B650 as the belt is internal in the transmission. Normally the engine has to be pulled to remove the tranny as the frame is in the way. My buddy had recently replaced his own and figured a way to remove the transmission by simply unbolting the engine from the frame and jacking the frame away from the motor with a bottle jack. Anyway cost me about 500 to replace it (parts only) as his labor was free except for a few BBQ sandwiches and some hand tools. A dealer repair would probably run 2-3k. After that the Burgman's spooked me as this was the 2nd replacement of the drive belt on this scooter as the first occurred around 45k. Kept the Burgy for a year and sold it for 3k and found the SW for 1900.00. I am extremely happy with the SW. Did I say extremely??
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A friend of mine was selling her 08 Executive for a grand as it had over 100k and had been dropped as the Tupperware was scarred up on one side. I did a little plastic welding on it and got it looking better. About 500 miles after buying it the drive belt broke which is pretty serious for the B650 as the belt is internal in the transmission. Normally the engine has to be pulled to remove the tranny as the frame is in the way. My buddy had recently replaced his own and figured a way to remove the transmission by simply unbolting the engine from the frame and jacking the frame away from the motor with a bottle jack. Anyway cost me about 500 to replace it (parts only) as his labor was free except for a few BBQ sandwiches and some hand tools. A dealer repair would probably run 2-3k. After that the Burgman's spooked me as this was the 2nd replacement of the drive belt on this scooter as the first occurred around 45k. Kept the Burgy for a year and sold it for 3k and found the SW for 1900.00. I am extremely happy with the SW. Did I say extremely??
I see this kind of discussion come up from time to time but how many miles do you have on the Silverwing? How often do you change the belt or rollers? And what do the parts cost? I'm not asking just as a cost per mile comparison to the B650 but also as reference for my MyRoad 700i and Atlantic 500 scoots that also have conventional CVTs in them so I will have to consider how often I will have to do them too. These would be the first conventional CVT equipped scoots since my Honda Helix and I hadn't gotten to the point mileage wise to have changed them before I sold it. I can't even remember how many miles I put on that scoot while I had it.
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I see this kind of discussion come up from time to time but how many miles do you have on the Silverwing? How often do you change the belt or rollers? And what do the parts cost? I'm not asking just as a cost per mile comparison to the B650 but also as reference for my MyRoad 700i and Atlantic 500 scoots that also have conventional CVTs in them so I will have to consider how often I will have to do them too. These would be the first conventional CVT equipped scoots since my Honda Helix and I hadn't gotten to the point mileage wise to have changed them before I sold it. I can't even remember how many miles I put on that scoot while I had it.
Changed belt and rollers on my SW when I first bought it. Official maintenance schedule calls for 10k inspection/replacement. Many on the SW forum go 25k and some like me replace about 15-20k. Belt is 110.00 and rollers 60 bucks. Easy replacement for the do it yourselfer.
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Changed belt and rollers on my SW when I first bought it. Official maintenance schedule calls for 10k inspection/replacement. Many on the SW forum go 25k and some like me replace about 15-20k. Belt is 110.00 and rollers 60 bucks. Easy replacement for the do it yourselfer.
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Read too many when the belt quits B. 650 scare stories.......and compare that to the video of a senior changing broken SW belt alongside the highway. With tools and parts from under his seat, whilest buddy filmed the whole thing standing on the berm!
Stig
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Read too many when the belt quits B. 650 scare stories.......and compare that to the video of a senior changing broken SW belt alongside the highway. With tools and parts from under his seat, whilest buddy filmed the whole thing standing on the berm!
Stig
According to Suzuki, the B650 drive belt is a "life time" belt. Most don't have issues until 60k+ but I guess Suzuki never figured some folks might drive the wheels off these things. But I think the opposite is true as most bikes never reach those higher mileages. Except for that high mileage Burgman, my SW is the highest mileage bike I've ever bought which was 39k at purchase. Even my older 95 GL 1500 Goldwing only had 25k.
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Changed belt and rollers on my SW when I first bought it. Official maintenance schedule calls for 10k inspection/replacement. Many on the SW forum go 25k and some like me replace about 15-20k. Belt is 110.00 and rollers 60 bucks. Easy replacement for the do it yourselfer.
Ok so say at 50K about 2.5 x $180.00 = $450 in parts. I can buy a belt for the B650 for $340 from Partzilla. If the owner can work on it themselves than I'd consider it a net wash. Granted working on most scooter CVTs is very easy (my Atlantic requires several panels to be removed because the rear one overhangs the CVT cover) like the MyRoad where you just have to take the cover off the CVT/swing arm. Most B650's I've worked on for just a belt replacement and some adjuster gears I charge parts and labor about $900, but also if the owner of a regular CVT scooter can't do the repairs himself I'm sure the net cost for the same mileage would be simliar to the B650.
I think the MyRoad belt runs a bit more than your Silverwing one, about $150.
I bought some Dr Pulley sliders for the Atlantic 500 (28.5 gram rollers stock to 26 gram sliders) recently and can't wait until I have time to feel what kind of changes it will make to the way it runs.
Read too many when the belt quits B. 650 scare stories.......and compare that to the video of a senior changing broken SW belt alongside the highway. With tools and parts from under his seat, whilest buddy filmed the whole thing standing on the berm!
Yes a standard CVT is easier to work on but cost per mile should be comparable whether to not the owner can work on it or not, barring a roadside repair, lol.
According to Suzuki, the B650 drive belt is a "life time" belt. Most don't have issues until 60k+ but I guess Suzuki never figured some folks might drive the wheels off these things. But I think the opposite is true as most bikes never reach those higher mileages. Except for that high mileage Burgman, my SW is the highest mileage bike I've ever bought which was 39k at purchase. Even my older 95 GL 1500 Goldwing only had 25k.
This was discussed in the early years when the B650 came out, I even called Suzuki asking what they recommended. Ultimately either they hadn't done enough reliability testing or there were to many variables to how long they would last. Given that the majority of scooter owners (or even some motorcycle owners to as you said) never put lots of miles on them a lifetime could be of how long the owner keeps it. I have had B650's I've worked on that had belts fail at 27 K and 45 K, another local guy had one go at 49K and I've had other parts fail in them at 54 K and 62 K but the belts appeared to still be ok. If it were up to me i'd think a 50 K replacement would be reasonable.
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All told, the numbers you fellows use are phenomenal to the likes of me.
Many years spent running the V twins around...
Of course there was the Prince of Darkness, too.
Present day reliability is Awesome !
redk