09 vs 08?

[Webhead]

Hi all,

I've been researching a :spyder: for quite a while (thanks mostly to this site), and decided it's finally time to make the leap!

I'm talking to a couple of dealers in the area and one dealer is telling me the 08 SE5 is the identical bike to the 09 SE5 "except for one digit in the VIN". It would end up saving me almost $2 grand for the 08, but given the issues many of you have discussed on this board, I was wondering if this is true, or if there have been any meaningful changes from 08 to 09.

Also, for what it's worth, the service tech told me they now have the software patch for the steering (downloaded it last night), but are only putting it on bikes that have reported the issue - it's not automatically being done on every bike.

Any input would be greatly appreciated -

Thanks from a soon-to-be Yellow SE5 owner hyea:

 

[Don in E Texas]

First off ....welcome!!!!

My dealer mentioned about the same thing to me -- I saved some money by the purchase of an '08 Red SE5 (over an '09).... Turned 4K miles yesterday w/o any issues. Rode additional 150 miles today --

You'll love it!!!!

don

 

[BumbleBee]

welcome Owner of a SE5 yellow also. :congrats:

 

[fastfraser]

:congrats:welcome:spyder2n

 

[Trickie Dick]

First off ....welcome!!!!

My dealer mentioned about the same thing to me -- I saved some money by the purchase of an '08 Red SE5 (over an '09).... Turned 4K miles yesterday w/o any issues. Rode additional 150 miles today --

You'll love it!!!!

don

+1 I also bought an 08 after the 09s were out. Saved a couple of grand and now have 3800 miles-no issues.:thumbup:
welcome Ride and enjoy.
Dick

 

[bone crusher]

Get the 08 and make sure all the fixes are done...you're gonna love the ride and we all know here that the millennium yellow is the fastest color...

Get a few fuses/relays just in case you fiddle around with the bike and sometime goes...some here think the relays could be a bit faulty. I haven't had any problems, but I did blow a fuse or two when a buddy installed one of NMN's lights wrong...

 

[czdaryle]

I would image the difference would be at trade in time or sell it, just like a car. 09 would be worth more than on 08

 

[bone crusher]

I would image the difference would be at trade in time or sell it, just like a car. 09 would be worth more than on 08

True...but...

I've never bought a vehicle worrying about trade-in value. IMHO, you buy a vehicle because you like it and worry about the trade-in when you have to...

It makes more sense to save the money now as you can invest the savings and likely do better than what you get back on your trade-in, esp. if you keep the thing for more than a few years...then again, in this market, it's probably a wash! Hopefully, that will change...

 

[Bersquack]

welcome

 

[docdoru]

welcome

Based on my observations, 08/09 changes are the "wings" on the A arms covers and replacing the relay 710000740 with 278002168.

 

[Webhead]

welcome

Based on my observations, 08/09 changes are the "wings" on the A arms covers and replacing the relay 710000740 with 278002168.

First, thanks to everyone for your input - once again proving how great this site is for us newbies.

Is that a permanent component change (do they replace the stock part from the 08 with the new 09 part), or does the 08 keep the old part and the 09 use the new part?