Thought I would give an update to this thread...
The clutch was indeed shot and I was lucky that they upgraded it to a Gen2 package.
Was fired up and ready to rock! Planned a decent distance trip (600miles on a weekend) up into New York state and back.
Traveled up through Maryland, hit the Pennsylvania Dragon again and then into familiar roads south of Williamsport.
CLUTCH IS DOING IT AGAIN!! $h!t %#&!!
Did a turn-around as I didn't want to get stranded any further from home.
Bike back to the shop and here's the verdict.
The suspicion is that the previous knucklehead put the wrong fluid in the master cylinder and then the bike sat for several years with limited use.
The rubber lining(??) or something eroded and won't let fluid back out to completely engage the clutch plates... that's why they burned out for me.
They replaced the master cylinder (none in the US, had to order from Japan--- again---???) which took three weeks. They tried the bike again and it's STILL DOING IT!
Now going to replace the slave cylinder but there are NONE to be had anywhere and they are getting one fabricated.
Before the thought pops up that they are just juicing me for $$, the shop is taking this all on themselves.
They said "You've already put too much into this bike". SOLID GUYS! This is why I go there.
So... here's my dilemma.
I definitely don't want this bike.
I liked the couple of hundred miles I was able to crank out but I didn't get to ride the S10 platform long enough to really get a feel for it.
She's a heavy beast but certainly didn't feel that way once moving. I want to try a BDR or other off-pavement action but have been warned off taking a big bike on solo trips since I'm certainly not an expert rider. Not sure I can afford a new one but nothing else is really appealing. With a Yamaha, I totally expected to outlast the BMWs and Triumphs but now I'm not so sure.
Thanks for all of the great input! It was extremely useful and much appreciated.
(Sierra1... I'll see you over on MSN
)
www.off-the-road.de
