SuzukiSavage.com - Bought my S40

Jerry Eichenberger

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2006 S40. OEM
windshield, saddle
bags, Sportster

Posts: 2919
Columbus, Ohio
Gender: male

Bought my S40
04/15/08 at 07:22:43

Hi Gang -

Last night I finally bought my S40. I saw the ad, called the fellow, drove 130 miles to see it and ride it, and another 130 miles back. Home just before midnight.

It's a 2006, windshield, bags, 2200 miles, showroom condition.

Now trying to get a rain free weekend day for the seller to trailer it those 130 miles to me. Of course, long term weather this week is breat, but rain for this weekend, when he's available. Those pesky April showers.

If I had another month's experience on the road, I'd ride it home on country roads. But at this stage, just getting back into riding (about 4 times so far on a borrowed bike) I just don't feel safe trying to get it home.

Keep looking for questions - I'm sure there'll be many.

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Jerry Eichenberger
Columbus, Ohio

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T Mack 1 - FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline sold 2001 LS650 for a 1986 XLH1100 Posts: 2919 Emmaus,Pa Gender:	Re: Bought my S40 Reply #1 - 04/15/08 at 07:53:23 Congrat's!!!!!!!
Back to top	Engineers design things, Technicians make them work. --- 30% of being mechanical is confidence/30% is knowing to go slow when needed/30% is looking repeatedly at what you have/10% is dumb luck IP Logged

mornhm - FSO Serious Thumper Offline HMMM Posts: 1105 Gender:	Re: Bought my S40 Reply #2 - 04/15/08 at 08:13:16 Congrats, probably a wise choice not to ride the MC home if you don't feel confident. Probably will be said many times, but a BRC is a real good investment for returning or new riders.
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Jerry Eichenberger

Serious Thumper

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2006 S40. OEM
windshield, saddle
bags, Sportster

Posts: 2919
Columbus, Ohio
Gender: male

Re: Bought my S40
Reply #3 - 04/15/08 at 08:26:20

I'm signed up for the BRC for the last weekend in May. They started taking reservations on 2/11. By the time I got to the office that morning and got my computer fired up, that was the earliest course not already filled up.

I think something needs to be done to increase the number of courses, and the locations at which they are given.

I could easily see someone who comes along now, say, and finds all of the courses filled for the entire upcoming summer, saying, "Forget it - I'll just practice and take the test".

I wonder if other states (I'm in Ohio) have the same crowded schedule?

I know the HD dealers have their own deal, but it costs about $300 around here to take it thru them. And, of course, you probably need a HD, or get teased to death.

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Jerry Eichenberger
Columbus, Ohio

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ChicagoRider

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SuzukiSavage.com
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Chicago suburbs
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Re: Bought my S40
Reply #4 - 04/15/08 at 09:17:50

Congrats on the purchase. I was in a simlar situation last year when I bought my used 2007 s40 from a guy 90miles away. I had just passed the BRC and got my motorcycle license. Never road a motorcycle on public roads before in my life.

I drove it all the way home using back roads, my girlfriend followed behind me. It was a little nerve racking.

I don't blame you, get comfortable with the bike first. Be safe.

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Prophet_10

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Dekalb, IL
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Re: Bought my S40
Reply #5 - 04/15/08 at 11:34:55

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 04/15/08 at 08:26:20:

I could easily see someone who comes along now, say, and finds all of the courses filled for the entire upcoming summer, saying, "Forget it - I'll just practice and take the test".

Well, that's exactly what happened to me.

Congrats on the bike. I've had mine for 10 months and I love it.

-Matt

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-Matt

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my space page

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Chopped Senior Member Offline Hurts Like hell when you shoot yourself! Posts: 499 Stafford, VA Gender:	Re: Bought my S40 Reply #6 - 04/15/08 at 11:50:11 Welcome to the club...NOOW START WRENCHIN!
Back to top	"You are the choices you make in life..... I choose to Play Hard.... Ride Hard.... or Die Hard!" IP Logged

Jerry Eichenberger Serious Thumper Offline 2006 S40. OEM windshield, saddle bags, Sportster Posts: 2919 Columbus, Ohio Gender:	Re: Bought my S40 Reply #7 - 04/15/08 at 12:21:07 Won't be much wrenchin by me. I would prefer the bike not to self destruct.
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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sold 2001 LS650 for
a 1986 XLH1100

Posts: 2919
Emmaus,Pa
Gender: male

Re: Bought my S40
Reply #8 - 04/15/08 at 12:31:05

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 04/15/08 at 12:21:07:

Won't be much wrenchin by me. I would prefer the bike not to self destruct.

Not much wrenching..... then make sure you keep up on the oil changes. And, I suggest you go with full syntethic motorcycle oil. (MC oil only becuase, even though there are some here that can actuallly understand the oil bottle label, many can not ...)

The bike will work fine if you do that. But.... it will live longer if you have someone do the carb adjustments to un-lean the engine. Lean running engines run hotter, and air cooled engines don't like that as much.

Ride safe, and remember, you don't have to use the full throttle while you're getting use to the bike.....

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Engineers design things, Technicians make them work.
---
30% of being mechanical is confidence/30% is knowing to go slow when needed/30% is looking repeatedly at what you have/10% is dumb luck Wink

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Jerry Eichenberger

Serious Thumper

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2006 S40. OEM
windshield, saddle
bags, Sportster

Posts: 2919
Columbus, Ohio
Gender: male

Re: Bought my S40
Reply #9 - 04/15/08 at 13:07:25

T Mack -

Thanks. The bike already has MC synthetic oil in it - just changed in November after riding season.

I'll change it again soon, as oil is still cheap compared to the alternatives.

Tell me more aobut enriching the mixture. While I'm not much of a hands on mechanic, I do have a good grip on mechanical principles and generally understand how things work.

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Jerry Eichenberger
Columbus, Ohio

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Bought my S40 Reply #10 - 04/15/08 at 20:46:46 Honda has a MC course here around Atlanta.Usually not so full that you can't get in whenever you want to or soon thereafter. Cost about the same as the MSF course. I drove someone out to my bike(that I trusted) and they rode my bike home for me.I followed them to make sure everything went well
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 29042 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Bought my S40 Reply #11 - 04/15/08 at 21:03:22 Me too! I met the PO in the GLAZA parking lot so I'd have room to test ride and not have to deal with traffic. My BiL rode it home with me close behind.
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Reelthing

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Fish or ride that is
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Houston,Tx
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Re: Bought my S40
Reply #12 - 04/15/08 at 21:03:39

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 04/15/08 at 13:07:25:

T Mack -

Thanks. The bike already has MC synthetic oil in it - just changed in November after riding season.

I'll change it again soon, as oil is still cheap compared to the alternatives.

Tell me more aobut enriching the mixture. While I'm not much of a hands on mechanic, I do have a good grip on mechanical principles and generally understand how things work.

At a minimum never let it run low on oil - check the sight glass at least every couple hundred miles - only takes 5 seconds or less - the basic richer mixture can be done with the idle mixture screw - covered by a brass plug - and knocking a little off the infamous white spacer - after all you wouldn't let a airplane engine run too lean right? Same thing happens here - the head temp goes up too high - suzuki's way of meeting epa regs at the tail pipe - But of the two the oil checks are likely the most important - all you need do is stand the bike straight up on level surface lean down and and look at the sight glass - after a few times you can do it one handed in 5 seconds

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Jerry Eichenberger

Serious Thumper

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2006 S40. OEM
windshield, saddle
bags, Sportster

Posts: 2919
Columbus, Ohio
Gender: male

Re: Bought my S40
Reply #13 - 04/16/08 at 07:08:02

I'm sure I'll spend more than one rainy day reading the tech section and trying to learn some of these things.

No, we don't run airplane engines too lean, but we have, in the past couple of decades, run them far leaner than before.

In fact, most engine manufacturers (Lycoming and Continental) now recommend running lean of peak exhaust gas temps. when the power is below 75%. You still get the same result; lower temps, you just do it on the lean side of peak rather than the rich side.

Couldn't you do the same for a bike engine? This is radical thinking to old timers like me, but when you take an objective look at it, again, you get the same result, cooler head and exhaust temps., and lower fuel flow rates.

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Jerry Eichenberger
Columbus, Ohio

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vtail

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life's short, ride
fast

Posts: 408
Portland,OR
Gender: male

Re: Bought my S40
Reply #14 - 04/16/08 at 09:53:35

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 04/16/08 at 07:08:02:

No, we don't run airplane engines too lean, but we have, in the past couple of decades, run them far leaner than before.

In fact, most engine manufacturers (Lycoming and Continental) now recommend running lean of peak exhaust gas temps. when the power is below 75%. You still get the same result; lower temps, you just do it on the lean side of peak rather than the rich side.

Couldn't you do the same for a bike engine? This is radical thinking to old timers like me, but when you take an objective look at it, again, you get the same result, cooler head and exhaust temps., and lower fuel flow rates.

Running lean of peak works on aircraft engines IF you have BALANCED injectors like Gami's. Not recommended on carburated engines since the mixture is not as evenly distributed.
Carburators have different stages of fuel delivery (Needle,main and Idle jets) and have richer and leaner spots while opening the throttle.
Mine runs super with the below mods, runs clean, I can not even get my fingers dirty (no soot) by sticking them in the exhaust. Wink

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'07, White spacer REMOVED, 152,5 main jet, K&N drop-in filter, Mac exh, Sigma 906, ENM PT15B2 tach, factory s bags, shield, backrest/lug rack, crashbar, Kuryakyn 7980 ext hwy pegs,412-4233C+'09 C50T

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