Hi folks,
My girlfriend just bought a 2006 s40 this evening as her first bike (less than $3,900 out the door, not bad, eh?). I've been cruising around this site for a while now and see that the first mod I should make is to get rid of the spacer in the carb to richen the mix and end the popping on decel (which I'm assuming all these bikes have). Is there anything else I need to do?  I doubt my girlfriend will want to change out the exhaust or open up the airbox or anything. If she wants more power maybe we'll consider that later. I just want to get the bike running right for her from the beginning.  Any suggestions beyond getting rid of that spacer? Would I need to rejet? Thanks in advance for your help, and thanks for a great website!

Walt

I have to agree with Reelthing regarding shaving the white spacer halfway & drilling/pulling the cover from the pilot adjusting screw so you can richen the pilot circuit (that is what causes 99% of the backfiring when all else is proper), but it might be wise to wait out until the first checkup just to make sure the dealership is OK with it and the warranty is intack.  If however, you really know the folks at the dealership well and have a long standing relationship with them, you could then work on richening the mixture without offending their delicate sensabilities and the warranty.
It all depends on relationship.

I now have 400 miles on my S40 and havn't had any change in header color. The only thing I have done is drilled 4 1/4 inch holes in the exhaust. Sounds a little better. More of a purrrrr than poppoppoppop. But still get the occasional KaBLAM! if I let it decel too long. Thinking about drilling four more.
After the 500 mile service, I might work on the spacer issue. I have also thought about printing out some of these threads to take to the dealer and see if they can do the work for me. Possibly covered under warranty?

Saltatrix wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

An essential modification or accessory is one she wants.  You can suggest, explain what each will accomplish, but allow her to make all of the final decisions.  Saddlebags are very handy, and a windscreen adds a civilness to the ride.

Wow - what a great recommendation from Paladin!

Let her decide (I'm sure with a bike like the Savage it would be easy for a less sensitive man - I'm sure you are not one - to start wanting to do all the things many of us have done to ours to your friend's biker - or in my case are starting to do, without figuring out what the lady wants on her  bike.

I commend his suggesting recommending items she might like and why -like a screen (as we say back home) or panniers (again as we say back in England). Not wishing to sound or being sexist - my new mate Thumperclone (a male) has such, I prefer a  naked bike. Each to their own.

Far as I know anyway my bike is standard 1996 except for a slip in K & N. No pops, no bangs & it seems to run well with no bad spots. Unless your friend's bike has some issues I'd certainly leave your friend's bike alone until after the service & look @ the plug's condition to help diagnosis of possible carb work.

Thanks, George

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

If I wanted a wind screen, I'd hop in my car!  

Cheers. "Uncivil" Tammi

Well, it's not a long warranty anyway.