Just picked up a new 05KQ and skids are on my list. The cheapest I have seen the full set is $309 which is far cheaper than OEM. I fully plated my 03Vinson with OEM and it was costly. My decision for the KQ was based on all factors including long term maintenance cost.

Side note.... I bought a new KQ and gave my wife the Vinson so I have access to both styles.

My riding partner just traded his 05 650Brute for a 05 KQ. The BF was nowhere up to the capability of the KQ.

 

Sweet650, you'd definitely be upgrading with the KQ, it might be a single cylinder but it doesn't matter because it's got the smoothest power a big single has ever had, the EFI is awesome, gas milage is great, I 've got 675miles and climbing and I'm still not tired of the great performance it has and I've had ZERO problems with it...as for persuading your wife that's a tough one[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I'm waiting for the 06 to hit the market but to convince my wife it took a new french door, new AC in the house, a new bedroom suite and a new dinette set, plus a cruise. I think I have earned one!!! I am so looking forward to the KQ. My riding partner has a KP and is going to the KQ as well. He was a died in the wool Kawi guy until he got on the KQ. Does my heart proud!!

 

Utah, most likely me too. I do want to sit on a new Rincon though before my final decision. I called a dealer TODAY in St. Louis to ask when he will get the '06 KQ's in (expecting he would say Dec) and he actually said January because California will start getting theirs in Dec, who knows though with comments like that....then he said how about an '05 and I said are all the serial's #'s above the "magic" # so that the reverse problem is fixed? He had enough nerve to say, "What reverse problem?" .........I just thought to myself.....wow!

Anyway, I am leaning a little more towards the KQ and if so it will be an '06 as well.....once you pass Nov here (just like you guys up north but probably worse your way...) then there is NO difference between Dec and Jan....I might as well wait and get what I want.

Everyone realizes too that the '06 KQ's are assembled in the US this year.......the first yr was in Japan and this yr is here.

 

I heard that from a dealer too...he said to get an 05 while they last.

 

Good point to get a '05.

 

I'm really not that worried about it, honestly. I'm sure that there will be plenty of Suz folks over here watching the assembly process and the engines themselves are probably shipped completely together.

 

I'm not that worried about made in America vs Japan. I am more concerned with buying a machine that I will ride for a few months in the fall then have it sit for a few months with little riding then hitting it hard in the spring again... about the time the 6 month warranty wears out. I want to ride it hard for the full 6 months to get the most out of the warranty if there are any issues with it. The repairs should be on Suzuki's dime rather than on mine. So, I will wait until the 06 models hit the dealer and perhaps give it another month or two before laying out the cash.

 

Utah, yep, if that is your plan then to me there is really no difference whether you buy in Dec, Jan, Feb and in most cases most of March. At least that is the way St. Louis is and we aren't really in the north much at all. If your part of Utah is like it is here those months then you might as well wait until March giving your warranty through Oct.....that is actually a good idea, I may do the same! I am def out for getting one now for riding season this fall so here there isn't a lot of dif between Dec, Jan, & Feb....except playing in the snow a little.