I am getting one too!- see my introductory post
here, if you like.
wow, this is long. Lemmie know if I'm not allowed to write longs ones like this in the future- sorry.
As far as plans for the new
4t Stella, obviously cosmetically – wait, that reminds me about “non-cosmetic plans”…
Regarding Performance upgrades to the Stella 4T: (I wasn’t sure if anyone had mentioned this – forgive me if someone posted the same guesstimation timeline)
Of course, I don’t want to void an awesome 2 year parts and labor warranty (from a company that would actually make good on its warranty)- in fact, I don’t imagine anyone would. Especially on a 1st of its kind, 1st production run scooter with a completely redesigned engine that I imagine even an authorized dealer/mechanic would be a little apprehensive to crack this thing open. [It should be an defendable fact that Genuine has put a lot more love and attention into this particular engine than perhaps on any other engine they've sold.]
And for that reason I don’t believe there will be a
“Market” for NEW aftermarket performance parts for the
4t Stella until at least, May 2012, depending on the delivery date. So even though it’s possible that companies could certainly design and sell performance parts as soon as the 2010 is released or even later in that 1st year, the question is – who would buy them? and is that enough customers to warrant all that effort so soon? In any economy that would be a bad business idea- let alone in
*this* economy.
And so, I predict, a realistic “release date” for
4t Stella performance parts would not be until May 2012 or later. Agree with me if you like, I’m not mad if you don’t. Just from a business standpoint… that’s all I’m saying. I could be wrong- wouldn't be the 1st time.
Anyway, Hopefully those scooterists who don’t even look at a new scoot until it has performance parts will take this "theory" into consideration, And still give this beauty a chance!
Anyway- back to the changes I will make- or “what I will do with it once I get it” reg: my Stella 4T:
“As is”-it is pretty close to perfect if you ask me.
Ex: I like the brown seat and the hand grips the way they are. I would have always wanted to get brown accents anyway, even if they came in black, so the brown saved me money since I would have changed it to that anyway. I don’t want to say “classier”, because I am aware that implies that if it’s any other way –it is somehow-
not- classy, and that is not accurate. There is plenty of ways to look swEEt, this particular way “just suits my tastes better.”
I even like the 5-point star hubcaps! I come from a mustang family and the star wheels are indicative as "GT" model. On Other cars/trucks/bikes/scoots they might mean nothing in particular, but to me - it means "special".
I just prefer it.
But I will change some things, here ya go…
On My
4t Stella - I was able to convince my dealer to include the spring fling package, impossible right? But here’s how I did it and you may agree it is a possible regrettable idea (ie: stupid on my part). I had to pay for the whole scooter up front, before the March 31st deadline. Now I had the money, as I had been saving it for a long time, (knowing “the idea” of what I wanted to get). And after all my research, I knew I was going to get a
4t Stella – so at the time it seemed like a “no-brainer.” But, the more I think about it, this could invariably come back and bite me, if, say, anything bad happens: genuine goes out of business, my dealer goes out of business, the boat carrying my scooter sinks, WWIII breaks out, I fall into a coma, or any other “not likely” but “certainly possible” scenarios. Oh well, my burden to bear, I suppose. I do still feel good about it, in a “don’t look down” kind of way.
I am curious if anyone else was able to talk their dealers into including the spring fling package (which was obviously designed to sell the Older models) on this New
4t Stella scooter, and
how they were able to do it. (there must have been a better way than what I did…)
Once I get the package, I will do what appears to be a rare thing and
keep it! The parts are awesome! It just might be a bit “much” for my particular
4t Stella, so I will dress my scooter in varying layers of accessories (different stages- if you will) probably over the course of the 1st year, starting with leaving it just the way it is. I never was a fan of the cowl protectors but if I get them for free I might be sold to keep them on. Then I can find which chromed version of the scoot I prefer and keep it that way, Selling the rest for cheap probably. (or keep until I change my mind down the road- I dunno)
Other things I will do:
• get my GPS mounted
• and find a good Transformers Autobots emblem, Example
Here. (as a “latch-key kid”, Optimus Prime was like a father to me.)
• And get a sticker made to look like bomber plane art on the cover of the Refreshments CD (RCPM!)
- (Google it if you like) I wont put a link on this as some people might think it’s inappropriate. But my wife and I love the band and she thinks it'd be an awesome decal – like the bomber art on old planes, but also because we love that band!
And further down the line, but still in the 1st year, I will get some other things:
• a knight light or something similar
• an alarm or something similar
• and then ultimately a stereo system (I am not keen driving with “earbuds’ and I think it’s illegal in my state, anyway)
- oh yeah- also a few more mirrors. Not because I am wanting to pose as a "mod" from a movie I've never actually seen (but sure I'd love
) but more so because I like to not only be seen but also to see. And I
HATE turing my head away from what is in front of me. its like chopping wood with your eyes closed- it'll just lead to problems...
Other than that (as far as while I wait for it to get here and pass customs etc.): insurance, helmet, jacket. All the stuff I would have had already if I hadn’t taken a 10 year break from scootering… it’s good to be back! (or, it will be once my Red
Stella 4T arrives!)
~Scotty (LovelandStella)
