My new ride

[mrlmd1]

And what about me? I'm over there too.
They've got sections for all the bikes. specific to them, as well as many generalized sites.

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

And what about me? I'm over there too.
They've got sections for all the bikes. specific to them, as well as many generalized sites.

Oops, my bad. A sincere apology for missing you. But my excuse is old age and tired memory cells. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[mrlmd1]

In addition to those excuses, there's always the effects of years of booze.
Works for me.

[alanmcorcoran]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Oh yah, we should probably invite Alan with his Strat. " Attention Alan, come join us there too. "

Hadn't seen this. Thanks for invite. I've lurked on a few other sites, I think I'm a member of a Yahoo Strat group, but at the end of the day, this one is about all I ever really participate in, and only sporadically at that. I seem to get the info I need even though neither I nor a good percentage of the members are still riding a GZ.

I guess that is a credit to Dupo and Patrick.

[Water Warrior 2]

Alan, I always land here first too. Strange how that works. As for the Strat you can get some good info about the care and feeding of the big Yamaha from others who have made the leap from other bikes. Haven't actually looked at the Strat section of the M-J Forum very often but I am sure you will like it. The M-50 section helped in a super big way with riders of all makes/models offering sources and hints concerning farkles and mods. The same would apply with the Strat section.

[mrlmd1]

So WW, I saw that string of posts about the M50 shaft drive lube problem on there- very well documented and written up as how to repair. Did you do that yet or ask Suzuki to take apart Lynda's?

[mrlmd1]

Slight highjack - So WW, I saw that string of posts about the M50 shaft drive lube problem on there- very well documented and written up as how to repair. Did you do that yet or ask Suzuki to take apart Lynda's?

[Water Warrior 2]

We will be sitting tight and waiting for a while to see if Suzuki will do a recall or something of that nature. If not I will be taking care of it myself or take it in to a local Yamaha dealer with the writtem material about the problem. It all depends on my ambition and willingness to mess with the bike. The Yammer dealer is good to us and far better equiped to do what is necessary. We do not have a local Suzuki dealer or it would be done soonest no matter what the factory wants or decides. One would think the assembly line workers would speak up about not being required to lube a drive shaft system to prevent a breakdown. Suzuki is not making any points for being so lax with lubrication. Luckily it is a reasonably easy fix for anyone with tools and ambition.

[music man]

Sarris Requested an update on how I like the Vs800, since I have been off the air for a while, so to speak. I haven't gotten to put the seat time on it I would have liked to since I got it, due to a whole string of life's little pranks that it likes to play on ya (I am sure most of you on here know what I mean by that).

But anyways here goes, I love the power difference in this thing, it only weighs 100 pounds and some change more than the GZ and has an Sh@#load more power, I catch myself going 65-70 in town all the time, because I rode the GZ for so long, and on the GZ, if your going 65 you damn well know it, but not on this thing. I love the seating position on it too, very comfortable. The only thing ride wise to complain about is the PO put some really bulky aftermarket Grips on it, and they seem to make my hands cramp up, so I am gonna buy some replacements and see what happens with that.

Now onto the bad stuff, first of all, the battery is underneath the bike, and is like what you would imagine doing a self tooth extraction would be like trying to get it out, Ditto on the air filters, one is underneath the gas tank (it is actually the easiest one to extract) the other is up under the driver seat, and it is a real B@#ch to get out and back in, (I believe they changed this on the newer models but don't quote me on that), So note to anyone who is looking for a new bike and likes doing there own maintenance like me, you will probably want to stay away from this one, also no center stand (thanks again Suzuki).

So all and all it is a great bike, that I got dirt cheap, My only regret with buying it is that I gave up the GZ in the process :poorbaby: , if I had it to do over again I would have kept it, whats worse is I sold it to my nephew and I still have to see it from time to time (in poor shape I might add).

[mrlmd1]

Most of us don't realize how good we got it with the GZ as far as doing your own maintenance goes. With the S50 and the Ninja I have now, you have to remove 3 or 4 other body parts and engine parts to get to anything needing servicing, like air filters, carbs, plugs, valves. The GZ is so much easier to work on. Everything is reachable, visible, about the only extra thing you may have to do it remove the gas tank, which takes only a few minutes.
Fortunately both of these bikes, like the GZ, are "bulletproof" with proper maintenance (like routine oil changes) and need very little servicing down deep for everything else during their lifetimes. On the M-J forum, there is one member who had 2 VS800 Intruders, one presently with 75,000+ miles, the other with 139,000 miles which would still be going if it wasn't wrecked, so MM, the VS800 like the S50 is a wise choice.
We all get spoiled by the GZ on how easy the maintenance is when moving up to a bigger bike. Think AC even wants to tackle anything on the Strat?