Howdy from Texas

Hello,

I'm a soldier at Fort Bliss Warrior Transition Unit (where they send you to recover from being wounded) having recently returned from Afghanistan. I have owned a SYM HD200 for a few years but when I landed here in El Paso where you can ride every day and had no wheels I started searching Craigslist for a decent scoot and fortune chanced me upon a Vietnam vet whose health was worse than mine and was looking to part with his '03 Silverwing 600 FSC. I got her for a song since he was happy to see her go to another soldier who'd seen lead fly in more than one direction. So far the only modifications I've made have been to replace the windshield with a GIVI (really essential in the high winds we have here) and a Bestem t-box in matching "Honda Red". I'm looking at doing some more serious mods soon such as a variator. I've been lurking here and read about the J Costa but can't find a supplier now that Scooter Trap only has the Polini listed. I'd appreciate any suggestions where else to look for purchase. Oh, and here's my scoot.

Hmm, pic didn't send...

I'll try it another way.

Welcome aboard! Beautiful scooter, you should get lots of enjoyment from it!

Sorry, can't help you with the J Costa. Someone should be along shortly that can point you in the right direction.

Oh, and thank you for your service to our country. You guys are the best...

Hello somerled... great looking 03. That candy apple red is my favorite of all time... I thank you for your service. God bless you with a speedy recovery.

Thanks guys! BTW, I forgot to mention I replaced the original tires (they had serious dry rot) with Avon Viper Strykes. Long sold on those tires on my SYM.

http://www.sip-scootershop.com/main/base/Results.aspx?d=(max)&s=cbb04faad04f422fa865fc423710c4c6&a=1&sort=0&uc=(82b049a56fa84796bae0e3fba69a35ee)

Price is rather ugly. Scootertrap used to sell them for $280 IIRC.

Considering that if will be hard to source these things, I would probably go with Dr Pulley sliders instead of a replacement variator. Search the board and you will find many positive comments on them. I think the 28g is close to stock, and people report more performance with 24g or 21g weights.

Welcome to the board.

Thank you for your service.

Welcome to the board- thank you for your service. Nice ride. I have been looking for a J Costa dealer here in the states too. No luck yet.
Ride safe and enjoy!

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you got a sweet ride. I'm just down the road; about six hundred miles. Thank you for your service and all the others there with you.

Welcome to the board Somerled, third time lucky for the pic. Nice looking machine.

As your probably aware having lurked a while, loads of good info, with pictures too, so a bonus for folk like me.

Howy from Brownsville Texas, and thank you for yuur service.

Welcome to the Friendliest Silverwing Forum and from Silverwing rider in Texas

We all cannot say it enough ... "Thank you for your service". I hope you will be able to fully recover from your wounds.

Make sure all the recalls for your SilverWing are done ( http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/motorcycle_recalls/09/2003/honda/silver_wing/index.html ).

Hello From Tyler Tx.

Thanks, Bill, for the recall notices. I will be sure to check them out. The fellow I bought it from said it was regularly serviced at a Honda dealer so hopefully they're all done. I will call him though and check.

Welcome, Somerled and thank you so much for your service to our country. One of my grandsons will be leaving for the Marines in just a few weeks so what you have done is something we truly appreciate.

No advice to give as I am a Newbie but just wanted to say thanks and welcome.

I thought some folks might like a gander at my entire stable. Doesn't that Hannigan on the BMW look pure evil?

Here's my service dog, Baldur, ready to go for a ride.

Somerled wrote:

Here's my service dog, Baldur, ready to go for a ride.

Are the dog shoes to prevent burning his feet??

Have you ever seen Sandy the dog ( http://sandythedog.com/gallery/main.php ) movies??

honda_silver wrote:

Are the dog shoes to prevent burning his feet??

Have you ever seen Sandy the dog ( http://sandythedog.com/gallery/main.php ) movies??

Yes they are to protect from burning his feet. There's a lot of super heated pavement here - not to mention cactus spines loose on the ground. They have Vibram soles and are the same ones our Military Working Dogs (MWDs) use.

http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip-Trex_3?sc=2&category=11

No, I hadn't seen Sandy before. Great stuff! You obviously are very proud and deservedly so! I also have "Doggles" for Baldur and the same helmet. He's not so fond of the helmet since his ears go straight up. I may have to modify it or figure something else out.

One thing most aftermarket windshields do for the SW is quiet things down for communication purposes. On of my riding partners riders couldn't hear me through my Sena BT on his SW with the OEM screen. Once I installed the Airflow in his bike our Bluetooth communications became very clear even at freeway speeds.

Hey Tom, here's hoping all comes out well for you and you're retired soon. I highly recommend retirement. Should have done it when I was 20.

Salute and welcome from o-hi-o, nice looking ride.

Hi Tom and Welcome! Thank you for your service from a Nam vet.

Great looking SWing along with the rest of the stable. Nice looking dog too. They make fantastic companions. I got a German Shepherd from a neighbor who lost his job and couldn't afford to feed and care for him. I knew Shadow from him living across the street from me. I'd play and wrestle with him most every day when I walked out to get the mail. I had him for about 4 years. He was around 12 years old when I had to put him down due to a tumor in his left hip. On the way to the Vet a song popped into my head that I hadn't heard for years. It was an old Rex Allen song from a Cowboy movie, "Last Roundup". The part where he sang, "Get along little doggie, get along, get along" came it was very hard to drive and see the road through the "Rain Storm" that was happening on my face. But at least he's up romping and stomping with my wife who passed away 2 1/2 years ago and are now waiting for me.

On a more pleasant note. When I go to meet them I've always wanted to explore Saturn and Jupiter and will start a bar on the best one and you are all invited for free drinks. Maybe Saturn tho and we can take tours of all the rings.