Seat cushion button tear in the vinyl.
This class of motorcycle is always presented at the dealerships as "not enough bike". The sales people say this, but that is false.
This bike gets the best fuel economy of any bike I know about, while being able to carry 2 people on the highways at 65-70 mph. It gets 75 mpg when I only ride it, and,62 mpg with me and my wife on it (250 lbs for me, 145 lbs my wife).
Compared to other 250 cc bikes, it is king. It has the largest saddle for both riders, and beefiest tires of all comparable 250's. I have rode the 250 class bikes many times, and found always I would put on crazy accessories to make the bike look/feel larger than it was. This bike has the girth of a larger bike stock. It gets mistaken for much larger class cc bikes when people ask me about it.
The acceleration is good as well. It never leaves me wishing for more motor, and I have owned many big cc bikes before.
Reliability is good, maintenance cost is near nothing compared to other bikes I've had. It's commuter heaven.
I am buying the 2008 model on Friday, and I found your review to be very uplifting. As you said, the dealer kept saying how it is NOT ENOUGH BIKE. But I wanted cheap insurance and cheap payments. This seems to be the way to go for something I will only be using for FUN.
Thanks for your words!
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