What do you think?

I am due to collect my new SW next week. It has been registered as a 2016 bike but presumably, as the SW is coming to the end of its model run, my bike may have been sitting in storage for some time. Maybe even years.

My question is this. How might that period of storage affect the bike in the long term? And what, if any, additional early maintenance might be worth doing to mitigate any possible effects?

Hey, Crusty. There are several areas you need to pay immediate attention to: battery, tires, brakes, coolant and oil and final drive oil change. Your first ride on the SWing will also give you a better idea as to what needs to be done down the road.
Tires deteriorate over time, and they have a limited lifespan. So do the coolant and oils. Plenty of reading for you on this forum on these topics. Use the " Search" function as things come to you. Almost all your queries will have been answered.
Jay.

The North American Silverwings have a VIN# plate is located on the right side near the radiator, above the front wheel. Ya gotta get down on your knees and look up to see it. Right side of the scoot, left side as you are looking for that plate. Anyway that VIN plate states the year of manufacture, so that should answer your initial question.

If you have confidence in your dealer I wouldn't anguish about other problems due to the scoot having been warehoused for that period of time. Just enjoy the ride.

Tim

[Edit] Jay make good points too.

Take a really close look at the tires for fine cracks.  There was plenty of tread on the tires of my 2005 but after some time I noticed all the cracks in the sidewalls.  Then I found the tire date code which indicated the tires were 10 years old.  Most likely they were the original tires on the bike.  They were changed before I rode it again !!  I learned from people here that 5 or maybe 6 years is the "shelf" life of the tires.

Mike