Hello from possible future Swing owner

Greetings, Swingers, I don't actually have a Swing yet, but am looking at one Tuesday
I currently ride a Suzuki Boulevard S40, which is a good enough bike, but I do have some issues with cranky knees and hands going numb while riding (no, not from vibration, It happens in certain positions while off the bike, too)
a few years back I got back into riding as a practical matter after my now ex wife left me and my car developed major mechanical issues
Having made my living working on cars for a while, I was able to eventually get it fixed, but in the meantime I decided to get something simpler to work on, so got a Rebel 250. Nice bike, and more capable than most would believe, but a bit underpowered for the Freeway IMO
Next came my S40
Much better, but still could be better at Freeway speeds
Ninja 500
Very excellent bike, but my knees and hips complained on longer rides (I lean forward more than most on a Ninja 5, short arms / long torso)
next was an XS1100
too much, and why is such a big torquey beast geared so tall?
at the end of it that car is gone (replaced by Ford Ranger) and I'm still on the S40
Step forward a few more years, and I'm on a peice of land in Garwood Tx living in a Travel Trailer
So I try to finance a bigger better Trailer; no dice, I have a good credit score, not much credit history
I can, I discover, finance a CB 500X
Insurance would be 900+ a year
A Forza would be 300 / year to insure
the dealer I'm talking to doesn't have a Forza in stock
They do have a 2012 Swing $4999.00
out the door 5544, insurance 448 / year
total financing, no down, 148 / month, less if I trade my S40
I at one time rode a Burgman 400 and liked it, enough to try trading the Ninja 5 in on it, but at that time couldn't get financed
I go Tuesday to look at this machine, and decide whether to pull the trigger or not

I am unfamiliar with Swings and particularly want to know of any things I should be looking at closely
Thanks in advance for all advice and info
Art

Sounds like a pretty good price for an NOS bike.

I don't know how much you know about riding a CVT transmission machine, so if this is redundant, I apologize. My only advice is that you should understand that riding an auto trans bike like the CVT-equipped SWING is different from riding a standard motorcycle. Regular motorbikes have manual clutches whose friction zones can be used for maneuvering at low speeds. The SWING, and machines like it, have automatic clutches which release below a certain speed. In order to keep the clutch engaged at low speeds for maneuvering, it is necessary to keep a bit of throttle dialed in and control speed with the rear brake (left lever). It sounds more difficult than it is...a bit of practice is all that's necessary and then it becomes second nature.

I do recommend the Givi AirFlow windshield as a replacement for the stock piece. The stock windshield, for me, was a buffeting nightmare. The AirFlow pretty much completely eliminates that and can be adjusted up and down for more wind protection in the winter and more air flow in the summer. It's truly a great piece of gear and not difficult to install.

I also like the Corbin replacement seat...much more comfortable, although the company itself is difficult to deal with. I'd stick with the stock seat for awhile and see if it works for you...but if it doesn't, I'd get the Corbin.

I also recommend that you obtain the factory service manual for the SWing. The SWing is pretty easy to service, at least for the basic bits like oil/filter changes, etc. I'm not hugely handy and have the more difficult stuff done by the dealer, but the service manual allows you to understand what they're doing so you can speak sensibly with the shop.

There's quite a bit of info on this site regarding tires and oil, so do a search and get educated. I like Shell Rotella as the oil for the SWing, but there are many opinions out there. Get a good quality oil in the proper viscosity and you'll be fine. For tires, I'm really liking my current Pirelli Diablos, but I understand they may have a shorter life than some other tires out there. I'm sure others will chime in here in a bit regarding oil and tires.

I consider the SWing a do it all bike. I've ridden it extensively on local (50-300 mile) runs in the valley and into the Sierra Nevadas. I've also run it on Patriot Guard missions and I've done long distance multi-state touring on it. It's great for that as well, but when carrying a lot of stuff, load carefully, keeping the heavy stuff forward and down low in the underseat compartment in order to avoid negatively affecting handling.

The SWing is the one machine I have which I will not consider selling...it's that good and it's been highly reliable, comfortable and user-friendly, with good power, good handling and good stopping. Since Honda no longer makes the SWing and there aren't many NOS machines still around, I've thought about what I'd replace it with, but I'm not coming up with a good answer. It's definitely a keeper. I suspect you'll like yours.

Good luck...let us know what you decide.

Thanks for your reply and info, jinglebob
The Burgman had an auto transmission, and it did take getting used to, but wasn't really disconcerting
That does bring up a question though
When loading my Motorcycle in the bed of my truck, the method I use is to start it and use throttle / clutch interplay to walk it up the ramp into the pickup
From what I've read so far, I don't think a Swing will ride in the truck much, but I'd guess you play the brakes against the engine to walk it up a ramp?
glad you mentioned the method of control at low speed, that was helpful, thank you

I will hope the stock windshield is at least better than none

Maybe I can get the FSM thrown into the deal

this isn't NOS though, it's got 6k miles on it, so it's a used machine

I always find a forum for any machine I buy, for exactly the reason that there is good info to be had, you'd be amazed how many errors there are in service manuals for some bikes, the S40s FSM has some recommendations that would lower service life

I am a longtime rotella user myself, great product

the statement that the Swing is a good all rounder and your loyalty to it are high recommendations to me, I like a do anything machine and have been saddened by the lack of true standards in the motorcycle world , aside from some 'retro' designs that are usually overpriced

It sounds like a good price to me.  If you have ridden a Burgman 400 you will find the SilverWing more powerful than the B400.  I haven't riddent the B400 but I did have the Majesty which is a 400cc like the Burgman.  The SilverWing has more hp than the S40 and it is a better interstate bike as well. I have read that the S40 only has about 40 hp and the SWing has 50 hp and it has better range so you will fill it up a bit less.  Good luck and tell us what you end up doing.

And welcome to the site.

At 6K miles you'll just need to check the tires and remember that in a few 1000 miles it'll be due for a drive belt change. Ask the dealer the last time the fluids and filter was changed.

I had a Suzuki Volusia and a Burgman 400 a few years back at the same time. I rode the Burgman waaaaay more than I road the Volusia. Nothing wrong with the Volusia, it had plenty of power but after an hour my lower back really hurt.

Moved on to a Burgman Exec and sold those two bikes. Loved the 650 but you had to plan where you were parking carefully because it was a monster to push around. I sold it when I found a Honda VFR 800 I wanted. Always missed the scooters and saw a Silverwing that a Harley dealer took in on trade. They wanted it off their lot quick and I got a good deal on it.

The Silverwing is not much different than the Burgman 400. I think the engine sound is a touch harsher on the SW and when you first roll on throttle the plastics shake a bit more, at least on mine. The suspension is a bit more plush on the SW. I put the Givi Airflow on mine (the original screen looked like it was cleaned with sandpaper) and it takes a lot of turbulence off. All of the scooters take off from the line much faster than a conventional bike and an indicated 70 or 75 on the freeway is not an issue at all. I prefer the simplicity of a CVT over the Burgman 650s transmission which has shown itself to be incredibly expensive to fix if and when it fails.

I never rode that little Suzuki thumper cruiser, but if you want a bike you can use like you would use your car as far as having a large cargo area and comfort and ease of use I say go for the Silverwing.

An ex-wife and a Silverwing. No need for a bigger trailer. Just ride!

I had to look up Garwood. It looks like you are in a great area for some nice rides.

Welcome!  My two cents is if you like the Silver Wing, make an offer.  The Silver Wing is no longer available in the US and resale value has dropped due to that.  It would not hurt to at least try and get a better deal...

Personally, I love my Silver Wing and have 17K on mine. Would be more but I have a Goldwing too so the miles get shared.

As to the windshield the Honda unit is not that bad, most likely you can live with it.  A lot of people on here do use the adjustable one so something to keep in mind down the road, if necessary!

Curious why the insurance on a CB500X is so much. All of the quotes you mentioned seem high. Have you tried another insurance company? Progressive is really easy to log on and get a quote. I think you're getting hosed.

JeffR wrote:

It sounds like a good price to me.  If you have ridden a Burgman 400 you will find the SilverWing more powerful than the B400.  I haven't riddent the B400 but I did have the Majesty which is a 400cc like the Burgman.  The SilverWing has more hp than the S40 and it is a better interstate bike as well. I have read that the S40 only has about 40 hp and the SWing has 50 hp and it has better range so you will fill it up a bit less.  Good luck and tell us what you end up doing.

And welcome to the site.

Thanks JeffR,
the S40 has 30 HP actually, and I have no problem believing the Swing is a better interstate bike, MPG on the S40 drops off to the 40s at 75-75 MPH
That's a good thing though because by the time you've gone 80 miles or so, your butt needs the stop more than the gas tank

hankster wrote:

At 6K miles you'll just need to check the  tires and remember that in a few 1000 miles it'll be due for a drive belt change. Ask the dealer the last time the fluids and filter was changed.

Thanks hankster, I'll keep that in mind

dalehazelton wrote:

I had a Suzuki Volusia and a Burgman 400 a few years back at the same time. I rode the Burgman waaaaay more than I road the Volusia. Nothing wrong with the Volusia, it had plenty of power but after an hour my lower back really hurt.

Moved on to a Burgman Exec and sold those two bikes. Loved the 650 but you had to plan where you were parking carefully because it was a monster to push around. I sold it when I found a Honda VFR 800 I wanted. Always missed the scooters and saw a Silverwing that a Harley dealer took in on trade. They wanted it off their lot quick and I got a good deal on it.

The Silverwing is not much different than the Burgman 400. I think the engine sound is a touch harsher on the SW and when you first roll on throttle the plastics shake a bit more, at least on mine. The suspension is a bit more plush on the SW. I put the Givi Airflow on mine (the original screen looked like it was cleaned with sandpaper) and it takes a lot of turbulence off. All of the scooters take off from the line much faster than a conventional bike and an indicated 70 or 75 on the freeway is not an issue at all. I prefer the simplicity of a CVT over the Burgman 650s transmission which has shown itself to be incredibly expensive to fix if and when it fails.

I never rode that little Suzuki thumper cruiser, but if you want a bike you can use like you would use your car as far as having a large cargo area and comfort and ease of use I say go for the Silverwing.

Thanks dalehazelton, I watched a video on belt & slider replacement and my first thought, watching how simple that was, was 'that's IT? all the hoo ha over CVTs and they're simpler than a regular gearbox? wow'
and yes, that's the idea, truck = tow vehicle / lumberyard runner, bike = everything else, weather permiting

Hi Yo wrote:

 
  An ex-wife and a Silverwing. No need for a bigger trailer. Just ride!    

  I had to look up Garwood. It looks like you are in a great area for some nice rides.

a 16x8 bunkhouse might be smaller than you think
but I'm not looking for huge, just adequate
if I don't upsize, I at least need to repair, dis place got issues
and yup, I have a few roads around here I'm fond of

GHM-PM wrote:

Welcome!  My two cents is if you like the Silver Wing, make an offer.  The Silver Wing is no longer available in the US and resale value has dropped due to that.  It would not hurt to at least try and get a better deal...

Personally, I love my Silver Wing and have 17K on mine.  Would be more but I have a Goldwing too so the miles get shared.    

As to the windshield the Honda unit is not that bad, most likely you can live with it.  A lot of people on here do use the adjustable one so something to keep in mind down the road, if necessary!

Thanks! I always wanted a Gwing, but never could afford one

dalehazelton wrote:

Curious why the insurance on a CB500X is so much. All of the quotes you mentioned seem high. Have you tried another insurance company? Progressive is really easy to log on and get a quote. I think you're getting hosed.

I agree it's atrocious
when I moved here from Columbus Tx (20 miles away) my auto insurance went up by 20 a month
my Moto insurance went down, but that was because i sold one of 2 I had at the time
now the 900 for the CB, the agent mentioned that since it was a sportbike (yeah right) and a newer model, they might not have had much experience with it yet,m and that price might come down
Personally I think I'm getting hosed too, but when I swiched to GEICO, I searched quotes form all the insurers, and all of them, including Progressive, wanted more
that's been a few years back though, might be time to 'shop' again

Art,

I'm surprised the S40 only has 30 hp. If you decide on the SWing you will notice the very increased amount of power right away. I had the SWing for 7 years and really enjoyed every minute of it but decided to try out a CTX 700. They have about the same power but the CTX700 is just a bit quicker. But I really miss the weather protection and the storage. I would go shopping with my SWing and people would watch me pull up a shopping cart with about 8-9 plastic bags of food and put all of that in the top case and under the seat. If you get a top case get a big one and they are cheap on ebay. Mine was 52 liters and was only about $90. I have the same cheap, but well made, top case on my CTX.

Art wrote:

When loading my Motorcycle in the bed of my truck, the method I use is to start it and use throttle / clutch interplay to walk it up the ramp into the pickup
From what I've read so far, I don't think a Swing will ride in the truck much, but I'd guess you play the brakes against the engine to walk it up a ramp?
glad you mentioned the method of control at low speed, that was helpful, thank you  

How to properly load your Silverwing on the back of a truck:

I bought a 2002 Swing recently with less than 15,000 miles on it. I put new tires, plugs and a new belt on it and have ridden it 1000 joyful miles. I really like this scooter. It is comfortable and reasonably easy to handle. I modified the seat rest to make it a back rest and riding two hours at a stretch is pretty easy. I highly recommend the Swing and it sounds like the price and financing terms offered are reasonable. I think you will really love this bike.

Thanks Kenjj, we'll see Tuesday, lord willing and the creeks don't rise

did not go to see Swing, got a bit of a situation here
Also a bit cold for riding

I have a 2012 Silverwing. Goldwing got a bit heavy after knee replacement. SW is heavy; just a bit lighter than the Goldwing as far as center of gravity. harley

for maneuvering, it is necessary to keep a bit of throttle dialed in and control speed with the rear brake (left lever). It sounds more difficult than it is...a bit of practice is all that's necessary and then it becomes second nature.

Thanks for that Jinglebob, Ive been wobbling all over the place at low speed, very helpful.

Weatherbug says Garland TX has a low of 49 and high of 52 today - that's when riding behind the screen and cowl of a megascooter really makes sense. Get a balaclava for your head and winter gloves for your hands and the mid 40s on a Silverwing is not a big deal.

Jerry "Motorman" Pallandino's "Ride like a Pro" video series is well worth giving a gander at. While the SW doesn't have a manual clutch you can simulate the system he uses by carrying just a bit of power to allow the SW clutch to slip and using the rear brake to control speed in the turn. I have no problem doing lock to lock figure eights and U-turns using his method. It works as well on the scooter as it did on my Goldwings.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ride+like+a+pro&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=&gws_rd=ssl

dalehazelton wrote:

Weatherbug says Garland TX has a low of 49 and high of 52 today - that's when riding behind the screen and cowl of a megascooter really makes sense. Get a balaclava for your head and winter gloves for your hands and the mid 40s on a Silverwing is not a big deal.

How about when it's raining? cause that's what it's doing here
also got a roof leak, that sort of trumps getting a new ride
really I would have gone but it's all the way in Victoria
Maybe Saturday

thanks Exavid, I enjoyed 'roficient motorcycling' I'll see about getting a look at that

dalehazelton wrote:

Weatherbug says Garland TX has a low of 49 and high of 52 today - that's when riding behind the screen and cowl of a megascooter really makes sense. Get a balaclava for your head and winter gloves for your hands and the mid 40s on a Silverwing is not a big deal.

Same today. I've been out in the sunshine. No tornadoes.

Watch out with that Balaclava head gear, these days you might be mistaken for a criminal or worse. Besides with a decent helmet one's face stays warm. I took a 30 mile ride a couple days ago at 28-30F and was comfortable though I do cheat with Gerbings gloves and heated handlebar grips. On my previous SW I used to make trips up to a couple of the mountain lodges in the late fall and early spring in when the temperature was around 30F. Gerbings gloves and jacket liner under my First Gear heavy jacket kept me comfortable and that was before I replaced the OEM windshield with the GIVI adjustable. The Burgman650, SW and now my BMW C650GT all provided good weather protection in the cold and rain, just as good as my GL1800 did if not better in some ways. If you're lucky enough to have a Silverwing with ABS that's about as good for all weather touring as any motorcycle.

I have a serious lack of bad weather riding gear
rain pants, destroyed by S40 exhaust
no real cold weather gear
usually it's my hands and feet that limit my riding in low temps, but in the 40s even the neck is a problem
I need better gear

Art...If you're looking for some economically priced gear, I suggest you puruse Leatherup.com. They have about everything you might want. I've found the quality is commensurate with the price and everything I have purchased from their website has met my expectations.

Good to know, others have downed them and I wasn't willing to chance it with my limited funds, thanks

I've also had satisfactory dealings with Leatherup. I gotta tell you Art, the SW is about the most reliable maxi-scooter out there, handles great, plenty of performance for riding the freeways and nimble enough for the country roads and mountains. Some guys knock the single front brake but the SW doesn't need two disks, one is plenty for it's weight and does the job very well. Ditto the other gripe some motorcycle riders make about the front fork. The SW doesn't use a traditional triple tree set up, it's designed much like an aircraft nose wheel fork. on the SW the thing is plenty massive for the job and less likely to go out of alignment than a typical bike fork.

If I could have latched onto a SW with ABS I'd still have one. I was wooed by a BMW 650GT with ABS and succumbed to the urge. I got sold on ABS on my GL1800. It really is hard to pick among the big three maxis, the Burgman 650, Honda Silverwing and the BMW. All are great scooters. But the SW is the most proven reliable. The Burgman 650 has had some expensive transmission failures and the BMW 650GT is a new model without much of a track record. The SW is as bullet proof as a bike can be. It's a real pity that Honda no longer exports them to the USA. Big mistake in my opinion.

Honda probably stopped importing Silver Wings to the US because there isn't really a market for maxi scooters. You haven't embraced the concept like mainland Europe has and you're fixated on big cruisers, Harley Davidsons, and the macho bada** image. Most Silver Wing buyers seem to be old blokes who are ex Gold Wing owners who are forever comparing them. Then there's the new (to me) owners who are pretty clueless about the used Silver Wing they've bought to the extent that they join this forum to learn how to start it or pull it onto the main stand.

Meanwhile back in the UK, the Silver Wing is seen as a bit of an old farts scooter that's been around forever. There's no real minuses to owning one apart from putting up with the heavier fuel consumption of the earlier models.

It's just not as cool as owning a TMax which has 'motorcycle like handing' as I'm led to believe usually from owners who've only ever ridden twist n' go scooters because they 'don't like changing gears'. All the more amusing because they have gone done down the Auto only licence and have never ridden a motorcycle with a manual clutch and gearbox.

After five years I'm now getting a bit bored with my Silver Wing, but it's a great tourer and there's not much out there I'd change it for.

one worry i do have is fitting it in the 6' bed of my Ranger
There are times you'd rather haul than ride

Finally got to go see the Swing today
you guys already know the tradeoffs between a relatively light cruiser and a Swing
Suffice it to say, there's a Swing in my yard tonight, although parting with my S40, which has seen the 3 sisters and the dragon, was sort of hard
what size moto cover fit's a swing? i don't have a garage or shed at this time
I would ask about any known issues, but my reading so far suggests the only known issue is...a lack of issues
Links to cheap but not crappy top boxes / luggage? (I haven't tried my cortech sportbike bags yet, they might work, but hard bags are better
I should also get a service manual and put a toolkit together (or buy a factory toolkit))

Congrats. I always have remorse about giving up bikes but it usually fades quickly (except for my Burgman Executive, which is why I have another mega scoot).

I would go with an extra large Dowco or whatever brand you can get made for a big cruiser. That gives you room for the stock windscreen and a larger screen later and for the S'wings big rear end.

I have Givi scooter saddlebags which I don't believe are made anymore. The straps have to be extremely long to bridge the passenger seat. I like soft luggage over hard, I just think it's easier to pack. There are a lot of cheap top boxes on ebay or at places like JCWhitney, although the mounts are not made specifically for the S'wing so you'll have to get drill happy. Have fun

Drill holes in my Swing? :nonono:
I'll see if the cortech bags will fit, though pulling them off to access the underseat will be a bit of a hassle (the real reason I like hard bags on a scoot)maybe I'll get some kind of inspiration
rode her as an owner for the first time tonight (in 44 degree temps) and I have to say, the stock shield is much better than I'd been expecting, the headlight seems to actually throw some light (the S40s light seemed to put out the approximate lumens of a candle) and the amount of weather protection stock is very nice!
If I can get that whole loading the engine against the brakes thing for low speed maneuvers I may never look back

Art wrote:

Drill holes in my Swing? :nonono:
I'll see if the cortech bags will fit, though pulling them off to access the underseat will be a bit of a hassle (the real reason I like hard bags on a scoot)maybe I'll get some kind of inspiration

If you decide to fit a top box you'll have to drill four holes into the rear rack to fit the mounting plate for a Givi Monorack or whatever.

As for using soft saddlebags/panniers, you mount them so the straps go across and under the seat not over it. That way they're more secure and a passenger isn't sitting on them.

The compartment under the seat holds a LOT. You may not need saddlebags unless go on a trip. If the sportbags are big enough but the straps are short maybe a tailor can lengthen them for you. I don't know if you can look at my avatar image any larger but I have the Givi saddlebags and a Cortech top bag that's roll shaped. It works well for me.

How about a picture?

I've been happy with my Bestem top box.Price is real good considering it comes with the light kit built in. Yes I had to drill holes in my Swing (even drilled one hole in the wrong spot, but is covered up by the rack). http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0094E0FGM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1452741114&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=bestem+929&dpPl=1&dpID=41E31BmW6QL&ref=plSrch

Meldrew wrote:

Art wrote:

Drill holes in my Swing? :nonono:
I'll see if the cortech bags will fit, though pulling them off to access the underseat will be a bit of a hassle (the real reason I like hard bags on a scoot)maybe I'll get some kind of inspiration

If you decide to fit a top box you'll have to drill four holes into the rear rack to fit the mounting plate for a Givi Monorack or whatever.

As for using soft saddlebags/panniers, you mount them so the straps go across and under the seat not over it. That way they're more secure and a passenger isn't sitting on them.

Gotcha, thanks Meldrew
might be a moot point, as I underestimated how much the underseat will hold

dalehazelton wrote:

The compartment under the seat holds a LOT. You may not need saddlebags unless go on a trip. If the sportbags are big enough but the straps are short maybe a tailor can lengthen them for you. I don't know if you can look at my avatar image any larger but I have the Givi saddlebags and a Cortech top bag that's roll shaped. It works well for me.

How about a picture?

Thanks Dale, I learned that myself the other day, it'll hold my backpack handily, plus a hardback book, and some more besides
I'd love to send a pic, but I access the internet through USB teatering of my PC through my phone, and for some reason Photobucket won't let me upload that way
Maybe I should look at the FAQ for posting pics, not every site requires going through PB

ScottO wrote:

I've been happy with my Bestem top box.Price is real good considering it comes with the light kit built in. Yes I had to drill holes in my Swing (even drilled one hole in the wrong spot, but is covered up by the rack). http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0094E0FGM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1452741114&sr=8-3&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=bestem+929&dpPl=1&dpID=41E31BmW6QL&ref=plSrch

thanks for the link Scott, that's pretty reasonably priced

Tried to host apic from my computer, but it didn't work?