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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Adding to the fleet
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Message started by Bluejeanz on 05/23/05 at 19:50:33

Title: Adding to the fleet
Post by Bluejeanz on 05/23/05 at 19:50:33

Well folks...the time and opportunity has come for me to add a playmate to my Savage's pen.

I found a 1993 Intruder VS800 with only 5800 miles on it just longing for a home.

I don't actually have it yet, but if all goes well, I will by the end of the week.

I am VERY excited about this...Now, I will have a good interstate bike. Plus, having a second bike around means hubby has no excuse for not learning to ride now.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by bobo383 on 05/23/05 at 19:54:10

Good for you!

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by WD on 05/23/05 at 21:53:00

VS800 handles like a pig on rollerskates on greased ice if the tire pressure gets low. Ask me how I know...

VS800 is an interesting machine. FWIW, the handlebar angle is NOT adjustable unless you own a die-grinder or Dremel tool. Risers have little locator "teeth" that lock the bar angle. >:( Takes about 5 minutes per to delete them.

My wife has a VS800, 1996, in a neat pearl teal. If you have any questions specific to riding the Intruder, shoot her an e-mail or private message through my contact info. Also check out IntruderAlert dot com. Good folks there as well.

The Savage will stomp a stock 800 into the ground stoplight to stoplight... And watch for the back end to rise if you really whack the throttle. Perfectly normal, but disconcerting until you get used to it. Driveshafts are for cars...not motorcycles.
-WD

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by gitarzan on 05/24/05 at 06:46:43

bobo383 wrote:

Good for you!

Bluejeanz get's a "Good for you," and I get a bucket of coal? ???

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Love2Ride on 05/24/05 at 06:48:32

She's keeping her thumper.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by gitarzan on 05/24/05 at 06:50:11

Love2Ride wrote:

She's keeping her thumper.

I'm keeping my bank account intact. :o

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by lancer on 05/24/05 at 06:52:21

Don't worry GIT, santa has you on his "nice" list.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Love2Ride on 05/24/05 at 06:58:03

gitarzan wrote:

I'm keeping my bank account intact. :o

I can dig that, for sure. Personally, I'd have to find something at least pretty close to as straightforward as the Savage for me to feel really good about it. Not being a professional mechanic (or even a very experienced amateur), the simplicity of "the VW of motorcycles" is a real plus in my book.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by gitarzan on 05/24/05 at 07:11:00

Honestly, I'd love to keep it. It's a real hot dog, but;

1. I don't have a garage. I keep the bike(s) on a covered patio in the summer and in a lawn barn in the winter. There's hardly enough room on the patio for two bikes and certainly not enough in the shed.

2. I had to touch some funds that I promised my wife I'd pay back. How much? About the same as the Sookie will get me.

3. I need an easier riding bike. I've got arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and other issues relating to a pituitary tumor that cause pain and soreness.

4. The VStar and I were meant to be together. I was looking at this same bike last year about April, when I decided to get the thumper instead. The owner changed his mind after a few weeks and rolled it back into his garage. Saturday he decided to try to sell it again, I saw it and rode it and bought it. Kismet, if you ask me...

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Love2Ride on 05/24/05 at 07:33:36

If you're happy and it keeps you riding, it's a good thing. But you can't expect this crew not to give you a hard time.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Reelthing on 05/24/05 at 07:39:14

Nothing like kicking a brother when he's down!

actually the v-star is a fine ride - I've got a buddy that traded in a late model low mileage vstar for a new HD Classic ~18 months ago along with 10Gs+ and won't come out and say it - but seems to wish he hadn't - sure didn't endup w/10g more of a motorcycle!

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by gitarzan on 05/24/05 at 08:27:07

Love2Ride wrote:

But you can't expect this crew not to give you a hard time.

I expect NOTHING LESS!

;D

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Paladin on 05/24/05 at 10:46:49

gitarzan wrote:

....
4. The VStar and I were meant to be together. I was looking at this same bike last year about April, when I decided to get the thumper instead. The owner changed his mind after a few weeks and rolled it back into his garage. Saturday he decided to try to sell it again, I saw it and rode it and bought it. Kismet, if you ask me...

If you had got the VStar the first go-around you wouldn't have stumbled into this extremely friendly forum. You wouldn't have posted the picture of you in your "Old Thumper" t-shirt. I wouldn't have gotten the "Old Thumper" pump handle clip that is now sitting on my front fork. And I have no idea why it should be there but I have long since quit questioning fate.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by gitarzan on 05/24/05 at 10:56:57

I love this forum and it's got the best bunch of riders I've ever met, cyberwise. I ain't leaving no matter what I ride. Besides, I'll not be the only person in here without a Savage.

BTW, the VSTAR forums seems to suck.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Bluejeanz on 05/25/05 at 06:15:59

Selling the Thumper NEVER crossed my mind. I don't plan on it.

gitarzan wrote:

1. I don't have a garage. I keep the bike(s) on a covered patio in the summer and in a lawn barn in the winter. There's hardly enough room on the patio for two bikes and certainly not enough in the shed.

I don't have a garage either. My bikes are parked in the yard under a tree, under cover in the summer and in a leanto with a tarp over the end for the winter.

gitarzan wrote:

2. I had to touch some funds that I promised my wife I'd pay back. How much? About the same as the Sookie will get me.

Can't argue with you about that one. I'm the breadwinner in my family and while I generally play fair and am the good wife, when it comes to my bike(s), "I made it, I'll spend it" comes to mind a little to frequently.

gitarzan wrote:

3. I need an easier riding bike. I've got arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and other issues relating to a pituitary tumor that cause pain and soreness.

Is the VStar that much different? I have arthritis and CTS too. I have a throttle boss, which helps a lot. I don't seem to have as much trouble on the clutch side.

gitarzan wrote:

4. The VStar and I were meant to be together. I was looking at this same bike last year about April, when I decided to get the thumper instead. The owner changed his mind after a few weeks and rolled it back into his garage. Saturday he decided to try to sell it again, I saw it and rode it and bought it. Kismet, if you ask me...

Well you can't argue with fate :D. That Intruder starting calling my name as soon as it rolled out into the lot...

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Bluejeanz on 05/28/05 at 14:11:06

Well folks, I brought her home today and now my two Suzuki's are playing in the yard like puppies...I'm happy as a pig in mud!

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL760/2847338/5971816/98341433.jpg

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Bluejeanz on 05/28/05 at 14:18:45

What's funny is, as I've said before, my husband doesn't ride. So I stopped by the leather shop today to pick up my chaps and I was telling the guy about my new bike and hubby was standing there. Another customer smiled and said, "So now you both have bikes?" I turned and laughed and said, "Nope, now I have two!"

Of course, that's all going to change. Hubby really does want to ride so I'm trying to get him into the next MSF course and get him on the Savage.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Paladin on 05/28/05 at 20:42:54

You said it was a '93, above. On the other site you tag the Intruder as a '95. Which? (Hopefully a '93 so I don't have to correct your page.) (http://www.savage.andruschak.net/bluejeanz.html)

Also noticed you're using http://www.andruschak.net/Avatars/ThumperAV.gif for an avatar (I'm flattered!)

They allow 100x100: Gif:http://www.andruschak.net/Avatars/Thumper100.gif or Jpg:http://www.andruschak.net/Avatars/Thumper100.jpg

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by PerrydaSavage on 05/29/05 at 16:47:58

8)Congrats on the 'Truder! They are great Bikes ... a pal of mine replaced his old '86 LS650 with a brand new '04 VS800 last year ... and he is totally smitten by the Intruder ... looks great and goes like a scalded cat!
Enjoy and Ride Safe.
P.S. curious ... are you gonna hang on the Savage as well?

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Bluejeanz on 05/30/05 at 19:53:34

Paladin wrote:

Whoops, sorry, I didn't even think about the page. Truth is, I was looking and and planning to buy a 93 Intruder when all of a sudden, out of the blue I found a 95 that was really a better deal. So it is a 95...

The owner of the 93 still hasn't managed to get a clear title, which was starting to make me a little leary...and his bike had no windshield (something I really love having), a stock seat, and some rust on the underside that I wasn't too thrilled about. The 95 has more miles, but appears better maintained and has the greatest leather seat imaginable. And a big ol' windshield...

As for the Thumper avatar...I hope you don't mind. I didn't remember where I got it, but it is absolutely the cutest thing in the world. I love it!

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Paladin on 05/31/05 at 05:19:34

Motorcycles appear to be similar to automobiles as to durability -- 100,000 miles is not abnormal on a maintained machine. Unless you use the bike as a long distance daily commuter the mileage does not mean as much as condition.

Title: Re: Adding to the fleet
Post by Bluejeanz on 05/31/05 at 11:49:29

Paladin: That's about the way I was thinking too. The last three vehicles I've owned have topped 200,000 miles because we took good care of them.

This bike has been babied and loved and it shows. That said more to me than a lower mileage bike with a questionable history...how do I even know they are being honest about the miles?

And I do sort of plan on using the bike as a long distance daily commuter. My job is moving. Right now they are 4 miles from home, but soon it will be 70+.

Perry: You are absolutely right. Once I got the hang of it, scalded cat is a good mental picture. I hit the interstate and gave the throttle a good twist coming off the ramp...now I know why there's a backrest on this thing! Good thing I was hanging on!

And yes, I'm keeping the Savage too. I really love that bike and the Intruder is powerful, but the Savage has more "pep". I'm hoping to convince the hubby to ride with me.