Well, I had a rather fun and 'interesting' riding trip this weekend. I've come to the conclusion that I do not care for 2-stroke ATVs and I plan to sell mine very soon. I've also decided that I will be replacing it with a 2001 Black DS650. After reading this forum for the past year or two since the DS650's inception into the market I have come to the conclusion that this is the ATV that I would like to own.

I have yet to hear of anything horrible going wrong with the 2001's. If anyone has had trouble, it would appear to be far less in numeration than the 2000's which overall I don't think were that bad. (All things considered - any one of the problems in and of itself is horrible for the person experiencing it!)

I've also noted that a good amount of what has happened to these machines is very dealer/mechanic related. I believe I have selected a potential dealer (Team Alba Racing in Poway, CA - they sell it for list price with a pipe, steering stabilizer etc already installed.) that could eliminate some of that worry. (Though the dealer is very far away from me.) Prior to this purchase I do plan to go through all of the normal channels of calling a variety of dealers from here to there and see if any of them can give me a good deal.
Additionally, I feel compelled to find out from other DS owners any of the finite details specific to the exact machine that I will be selecting that I should look for to ensure that no minor defect is present on that unit, as I hear it they have about 12 DS650s in stock ready for sale so I do get the pick of the litter, so to speak. (Also assuming I DO purchase it from there.)

Any input from DS650 enthusiasts is welcome, and I look forward to hearing from and joining the ranks very soon.

 

check the chain roller, make sure it turns freely(I would just replace this right off the bat).Make sure your chain is not to tight,and your first ride make sure your fan is working properly.I think you will be happy with your choice. Have fun!!!!!

 

Before i bought mine i called ALBA also because they advertise w/ the add ons at list price. However the final # was high i thought.Their setup charge was astronomical.Even though it would be nice to get one setup that way,unless money isn't a factor(few feel this way)I'd check around and price out the HP parts YOU want.

 

clif get the tm design works chain roller for the ds it has bearings, good for you blackhawk hope you love your ds as much as i love mine.

 

how much r u selling your LT250 for? i'm looking for a newer one but i don't have a lot of money unfortunately.

 

BlackHawk,
You are going to love it! Be sure to check the set-up on the chain and the suspension, 2-3" of sag, then check it again after about 10 hours of riding time, max. Once set it holds pretty good. If you do this you most likely won't have the chain roller problem, I haven't, even after 80 hours of ride time. The TM design unit is slick, and I will put one on as soon as mine grenades.

If you like to work on your quad, buy the service manual right away, about $70. Do your own service and you will have a great machine.

If you don't buy the Alba DS, do buy a pipe, filter, and Dynojet kit. The difference in low end power is significant.

Enjoy!
Ken

 

KenDS, How do you like the CT pipe? Do they have a site. Trying to get an idea which one would be the best for me. Thanks.

 

dskurt,
Yes they have a site it is: http://www.ctracing.com go to news and you will see the pipe. I like the performance of the pipe, but the fit and finish is pretty weak. Really crappy chrome job on pipe and loose (leaky) fit on slip joints.

I helped my buddy put his new Big Gun pipe on his Raptor and I must say the fit and finish was flawless. The performance change knocked his socks off, granted this is a different bike but I was impressed.

When I can afford it I will probably replace my CT pipe with a Big Gun or Graydon Proline.

 

BlackHawk:
I'm not bashing the DS. It's a fine machine. Little story: I called Alba way back in July, they told me they had a waiting list for the Raptors a mile long. The salesman then told me that they hadn't sold any DS's since the release of the Raptor. Their charge for setup is way too high. Here it was around $250. Their's was around $800.00. That pays for all the extra stuff. Also, check the website www.traderonline.com They should have some killer deals on new DS's. I have seen the DS's sell for as little as $5500.00 new.(for a 2000 model). Also, if you need to ship it across the country, go with Forwar Air. Way cheap. I sent a 560 lb crate (400ex and extras) from Sacramento, CA. to Minnesota for only $144.00!! Their site is www.forwardair.com give them a call first, they're way cheap and fast! Hope this helps.

 

Yeah, I just checked the cycle trader online. There was a new 2000 for as little as $5850.00 And some used one for as little as $5000.00. Don't forget, you can usually always talk people down on price! Here's the link: http://www.cycletrader.com/adsearch.html