[tmac0033]

I agree with Munch. Some of those old muscle cars only had four gears. Remember the old song “Four on the Floor?”

The problem is, the VLX engine starts to buzz a little at 65-70 mph and you find yourself constantly looking to shift into fifth, especially if that’s what you’re used to.

A fifth gear would really have smoothed things out. Only drawback to this bike.

[tmac0033]

Also — if you’ve ever driven a VLX you know how “tall” the gears are, as Munch mentions. You can downshift into first gear, for example, at practically 10-mph , whereas on my Suzuki C-90 and its 1,500 ccs and five gears, I have to go almost all the way down.

So, don’t let the 4-speed thing scare you off. The VLX can easily handle highway speeds. It just revs higher, but the engine is built for it.

[shaspaz]

Dear Owlie, I know this post on the S40 is from 2009 and you have probably moved on now. But I have recently jumped up to the S40 from a Honda Rebel, so have been researching some of the issues Im having. Backfiring etc. But I thought it honest of you to admit that you almost dropped it , as  I too almost did on my first weekend w/ the bike. Making the same right hand turn as I had moving off from a stop sign in my neighborhood, a stop I had made many times before on my Rebel.  As a beginner rider I am used to making my turns from especially coming off stop signs from closer to the shoulder of the road, as I turned the tire got caught in a slight groove and I felt it getting "stuck"… could not straighten it out as I am a small framed woman, and feared if I accelerated through it, I would most def. go down…so I had to stop and straighten the bike out to proceed. After much thought on this my riding partner and I decided the difference in the rake of the S40 from my rebel is indeed different and I simply need to adjust my turning points. I started riding very late in life (50's) and it has not been easy for me but feeling this bike is a nice upgrade and enjoying it for certain. Thinking I will have this ride for a long time….

 

[Plee-man]

You know what’s fast?
Mi Dik is fast! Very fast!
I bet you’d come faster than on a vibrator, on mi trophee stick!

[Author]

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