Welcome Jeff, I also ride a V-Raptor 250. Have almost 8000 KMs on it. This bike needs love and attention, but if you don't have a Problem with that you will have alot of fun with her. The black paint on the Frame has also faded on mine. With a can of black and some Newspaper it will look like new again. Like weld said, take it with a sence of Humor.

Eric

Hi, Thanks for the comment - I have kept the "stiff upper lip" through all this. Another dealer has offered a machine at list, delivered in 3 days.

I phoned the dealer (again) wondering why he hadn't returned my call from last Monday. He said the cat had died, his mechanics were off ill, his mechanics were on a training course, he was very busy and so on. O.K. I lied about the cat, but then again, he may have just forgotten to add that.

He said the bike was in the workshop a week late and had the tank and seat off and they were "working on the paintwork". He did offer to bring the bike up to me in his 'van (90 mile trip) so I could decide on what to do - fair enough. He even said that the price is negotiable, even at below cost. He has promised photo's by tonight or tomorrow morning - so I will give him one more chance.

Looking at the vacation and business trips I have planned, I don't see myself riding it very much this year anyway! I have a business visit next week to Moscow, then pencilled diary dates for Mexico and Beijing and a 5 week holiday to the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. That's the summer gone, and I am, at my age, a "fair weather" rider - bugger the water running down your back and a soggy crotch from the so-called water-proofs!

Jeff :)

Jeff, it sounds like you have an amazing year ahead of you!

:)

But after a lot of health scares, operations for "C" and a small stroke 18 months ago I am making sure I get to enjoy the benefits of having worked so hard for so long. Early retirement and some consultancy work. Having said that, the consultancy is almost as busy as a full time job :tdown:

I used to believe "live fast, die young and have a good looking corpse"

Now I believe "any day you wake up is a Good day" . . . . :yay:

Jeff (full of life and enjoying every minute)

EDIT : Getting a bike again took some negotiating skills from "SWMBO" . . but agreeing to a 35 day cruise helped.

(She Who Must Be Obayed)

I could make considerable SWMBO progress with a 35 day cruise!

Oh, I have, I have . . . . . . .

For the price of a 35-day cruise, it makes more sense to "buy" a brand new, fully spec-ed SWMBO :D

:hehe:

Ah, but the trade-in price and remaining lease costs would wipe out any benefits. :lmao:

And, SWMBO may think the same and trade ME in and then I lose out - who will do the cooking and ironing while I am out riding? :crazy:

Jeff

Good News . . .

No, not the SWMBO trade-in

. . . but the dealer came back to me with the photo's of the paintwork that is being polished / t-cut and/or restored and it looks reasonably O.K. so I am going ahead with the deal and am just awaiting the licence plate details so I can get insurance and the bike can be registered.

Hopefully, more positive news soon.

Jeff

Good for you, Jeff. :tup: Of course, we expect to view copious photographs of the new bike. ;)

Will do . . .

A couple to start but a proper post when I get it.

Picture of frame "bloom"
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/a...12%20Small.jpg

Picture during polishing
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/a...05%20Small.jpg


Jeff

It looks great! I hope it gives you many happy miles.

Can't do it. I already married up.

X2 on both points. :)