Took a look at the new beast
Oct 6, 2011 | 11:12 AM
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Trailblazer
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Utah
Took a look at the new beast
Well, my local dealer finally got their first 2012 Outlander 1000cc in yesterday so I went down to see it in the flesh. Overall, I was impressed and I'm liking the new look more and more. However, there were a few negative things that jumped out at me. As I sat on the beast and went to put it into drive, I instantly noticed that the shifter **** was an undersized, cheap piece of plastic that felt egg shell thin. That will have to go but is easy to fix.
Then I took a look around the bottom of the bike and was shocked that the back CV boots are completely exposed. No protection whatsoever. ANd to make matters worse, they appear to be even more in the line of fire of debris than previous models. The very first sagebrush (that's a western shrub that is notorious for ripping brake lines and CV boots) that you hit wrong is going to do a number on this design. After-market protection will be a must but probably won't be too difficult to install.
The next bad thing I noticed was also in the rear. The new frame incorporates square tubing that is open ended right out near the hitch. It looks like a mud and water trap which made me wonder how long before the rust sets in deep in the frame where you can't get to it. $10,600 machine and we don't get 50 cent rubber plugs or a flat weld to cover up the holes?
The last thing I noticed that bugged me was in the underside. They have gone away from the protective arch around the driveshaft and simply run it straight through. This would probably be fine if it wasn't for the fact that the frame or skid plate doesn't completely cover the length of the shaft. It stops short of the end and leaves a big open hole at the rear where there is no protection from rocks. Why the heck didn't they continue the protection all the way down the underside? This is real brain fart in my opinion. If they were trying to save weight, good, but wouldn't an extra two or three pounds of steel in this section be worth it?
Obviously, all these negatives can be fixed with a welder and some after-market parts but I think a few of them need to be done before the bike is ridden for the first time. And that tends to test a man's patience when he pays that kind of money for a machine and then has to wait for mods to be done before he gets to use it! Maybe I'm being too fussy, but when you have that kind of dough into a machine, I want to protect it and make it last as long as I can!
Other than those few little things, I really liked the new Outtie. It is a beast of a machine but doesn't feel any bigger than the old machines and certainly not near as bulky feeling as the Polaris of similar weight.
Then I took a look around the bottom of the bike and was shocked that the back CV boots are completely exposed. No protection whatsoever. ANd to make matters worse, they appear to be even more in the line of fire of debris than previous models. The very first sagebrush (that's a western shrub that is notorious for ripping brake lines and CV boots) that you hit wrong is going to do a number on this design. After-market protection will be a must but probably won't be too difficult to install.
The next bad thing I noticed was also in the rear. The new frame incorporates square tubing that is open ended right out near the hitch. It looks like a mud and water trap which made me wonder how long before the rust sets in deep in the frame where you can't get to it. $10,600 machine and we don't get 50 cent rubber plugs or a flat weld to cover up the holes?
The last thing I noticed that bugged me was in the underside. They have gone away from the protective arch around the driveshaft and simply run it straight through. This would probably be fine if it wasn't for the fact that the frame or skid plate doesn't completely cover the length of the shaft. It stops short of the end and leaves a big open hole at the rear where there is no protection from rocks. Why the heck didn't they continue the protection all the way down the underside? This is real brain fart in my opinion. If they were trying to save weight, good, but wouldn't an extra two or three pounds of steel in this section be worth it?
Obviously, all these negatives can be fixed with a welder and some after-market parts but I think a few of them need to be done before the bike is ridden for the first time. And that tends to test a man's patience when he pays that kind of money for a machine and then has to wait for mods to be done before he gets to use it! Maybe I'm being too fussy, but when you have that kind of dough into a machine, I want to protect it and make it last as long as I can!
Other than those few little things, I really liked the new Outtie. It is a beast of a machine but doesn't feel any bigger than the old machines and certainly not near as bulky feeling as the Polaris of similar weight.
Oct 6, 2011 | 11:24 AM
#2
ʇsıʇɹɐ ɹǝʌolloɹ
Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 16,284
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From: rindge, nh
The next bad thing I noticed was also in the rear. The new frame incorporates square tubing that is open ended right out near the hitch. It looks like a mud and water trap which made me wonder how long before the rust sets in deep in the frame where you can't get to it. $10,600 machine and we don't get 50 cent rubber plugs or a flat weld to cover up the holes?
wondering if plugging up that tubing would cause more problems with not letting water drain
even if they weld it up solid- if there should ever be a way for water to get in (crack, hole what ever...) then it would rust from the inside...
I guess a couple of rubber plugs would be nice though.
just a thought.
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