I note some of your photos appear to be taken at or near Devonport. if you live on the shore or out west, why not give the little girl some excercise up Highway 16 and return by SH1 from Wellsford avoiding the tunnels. Wouldn't do it this weekend though.

If you do try it on 16 going north, try and avoid downshifts and just test the torque for your own satisfaction, you should be able to do mucgh of 16 in 5th if you get a traffic free run. You may need a change down on Cleasby's hill near a 30km corner and goinsouth you will need to be down for much of Cleasbys. but you will find the torque excellent, just watch overtaking at highway speeds, might pay to be down for that.

Aww i hope you can visit one day. Its a perfect country for a bike .

Ive just got back from an absolutely beautiful ride in the summer sun along the coast, ( 120 km )  even stopped for a skinny dip haha.

Loving the ride, just riding the torque, and enjoying a slower pace.

Really, my only criticism of the bike overall is the rear shocks which give me a pounding. Progressives on order so Ill let you know how they are.

The ergonomics ( bars, seat,  pegs ) are a perfect fit for me, but then im only 5.6. Id imagine a 6 footer would need to be doing some adjustments !. It sure makes a change, its usually me fiddling about with bar risers and lowering kits et al.  

Last time I flew it was for work -- back in the late 90s.  I swore I'd never fly again, and I haven't.  It does limit the places I can go.

Not only would I like to see the beauty of New Zealand, but I'm an amateur astronomer and I'd love to see the southern hemisphere sky.

And proof positive that the s40 can even fit a 4 foot something size. My umm short buddy on a beach ride today
She makes the little suzuki look huge haha

Well it was rather strange JC, i asked how was it on the back ? She said oh its very comfortable! Even worse she said she kept nodding off on the ride home haha. I said did you notice any jarring through the suspension? ( i sure did ), No, she said, its super comfy  . The ride was about 80kms.

Yeps  I know what you mean about corrosion of Suzuki plating on nuts/bolts. large surfaces.

Ive noticed the quality varies from Suzuki model to model and sometimes even in the same model.

Before my SV1000 I had a sv650 that i bought from new and noticed how crappy so much of the plating was. I tried various things but after years of Suzukis have settled on a regime that works for me. I live a stones throw from the beach and all my bikes have salty breeze over them pretty much all year round.

What works for me is a an oily rag wiped over the exposed fork slides, and once a month a spray of CRC Marine on all metal surfaces. Its cheap doesnt make a mess or leave sticky coat, and it works   I had my very corrosion inclined sv650 for 5 years and the metalwork and plating were as new when i sold it. The trick is simply to keep on top of it and its a job  i dont mind.

Already had the axles out and greased them...haha can you tell ive owned Suzukis?

That Suzuki oem screen, despite appearances, is really effective by the way. But yes the chrome stays on the inside might be tricky to keep corrosion free..ill see how it goes.

Still got your 650?