Your tire problems could be indicators of low tire pressure. The rear
will slide and it will ALSO cause the front end to misbehave. I
discovered this phenom years ago on my trusty XS1100. ('member those?)
Cover should not have cracked. I've not heard anything at all like that
before.
As for 'tar snakes', well, that just can't be helped. They exist, we
suffer.
Oil is always a surprise at first, but dealer is correct. So check your
oil before you ride. (You know, the 12 point check that you do EVERY
time you ride. ;^) )
That's all I'll address. There are others that will fill you in on the
flat spot and how adjusting your pot will...uh, I mean adjusting the
'pots' can help that problem.
And the tire thread....this is a never ending subject. Tires WILL make a
difference in ride and performance, the big trick is to figure out which
ones will work best for you. Good luck.
Brandon
