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Downtown 300 / Potential Buyer-Exhaust Removal for Tire Change
« on: August 06, 2012, 07:44:45 PM »
Hi,
I've been riding for about 6 years now. Started with a 2005 Helix which I currently still own. Bought a Honda Silverwing for a touring bike. Sold the wing to buy a Suzuki V-Strom 650. I am looking to replace the Helix. I've got 30,000 miles on it. I've been looking at the Downtown 300 and I am really impressed. Looks like the perfect blend between a 250 and a 400 scooter with performance rivaling that of the bigger 400's while sipping the fuel which I really like. It's also a looker and I like that too. Here is my iissue/question that is keeping me from pulling the trigger. The one thing I HATE on the Helix is changing the tire. The reason is because of how the muffler has to come off. On the Helix, it is difficult to get the muffler back on without creating an exhaust leak (this is even true when replacing both gaskets). I am so sick and tired of dealing with this exhaust leak issue. If its going to be an issue with the DT 300, then I don't want it. My question to those of you who have one and have done your own wrenching and/or have had several tire changes is whether or not this an issue at all and is it easy to mate the exhaust back onto the exhaust manifold and get a good seal without having to deal with an exhaust leak.
A secondary question of interest... How many miles do you get out of the front tire? The Back Tire? I would get about 7 thousand out of the front tire on the Helix and about 5-6 out of the back.
I've been riding for about 6 years now. Started with a 2005 Helix which I currently still own. Bought a Honda Silverwing for a touring bike. Sold the wing to buy a Suzuki V-Strom 650. I am looking to replace the Helix. I've got 30,000 miles on it. I've been looking at the Downtown 300 and I am really impressed. Looks like the perfect blend between a 250 and a 400 scooter with performance rivaling that of the bigger 400's while sipping the fuel which I really like. It's also a looker and I like that too. Here is my iissue/question that is keeping me from pulling the trigger. The one thing I HATE on the Helix is changing the tire. The reason is because of how the muffler has to come off. On the Helix, it is difficult to get the muffler back on without creating an exhaust leak (this is even true when replacing both gaskets). I am so sick and tired of dealing with this exhaust leak issue. If its going to be an issue with the DT 300, then I don't want it. My question to those of you who have one and have done your own wrenching and/or have had several tire changes is whether or not this an issue at all and is it easy to mate the exhaust back onto the exhaust manifold and get a good seal without having to deal with an exhaust leak.
A secondary question of interest... How many miles do you get out of the front tire? The Back Tire? I would get about 7 thousand out of the front tire on the Helix and about 5-6 out of the back.