hey guys -- so i recently got the monster of my dreams -- a 2008 s4rs tricolore, number 300-something out of 400 (i can never remember). thought i'd start a ``build thread,'' as i'm adding a few things to it now -- it was (put back to) bone stock when i bought it with a little over 12,000 miles on the clock. initial thoughts: v chuffed! with the exception of some lightness in the front end. i was worried about headshake so i put on a DP steering damper, which completely blows. i'll be switching it out for a matris unit, whenever bellissimoto gets them back in stock, but in the meantime a suspension adjustment (one of the PO's had dropped the back end to the bottom) and a new set of rubber, it feels fine anyway.
first mod that i've undertaken was a medium tailchop -- the frame had already been cut
and i wanted to keep the duck bill -- plus a full arrow exhaust with a k&n and a rexxer flash -- absolutely awesome! v impressed with the quality of the exhaust, as well as the sound and the fueling of the rexxer flash. i thought the arrows in carbon would be too loud, as i've read that in the past, but they're not as loud as the termis on my multi or diavel and not louder than the akra's on my panigale. not even approaching the slashed headers on my harley sportster 48 -- not within a mile. also, the fueling is better than the rexxer flash on my 2014 multi with open termis. the little details, like the engraving on the end caps surprised me, this is my first arrow system (super cheap via italy as well, compared to list). see pics:
i've got some barends that i'll probably reluctantly go to -- i'd prefer to keep a stock look with some higher quality antennae, but i can't find anything that doesn't look a little too rizoma-bling, and i want to avoid that. i obviously also put on a clutch cover from my shop up at bear mountain -- nick rockwell=motoshop-saint. and i'm most excited about the aluminum tank i've got on order from beater in japan, though that'll take months and is already hitting me hard in the wallet area as the yen gets stronger and stronger. but i think it'll be worth it to have no more worries about expansion and, frankly, a higher quality paint job in the middle to match the slick cowl pieces, which look like much classier than the standard appearance of the tank.
i'll keep you updated! also love to get any suggestions. --matt (and steve the dog)
