[bush]

I appreciate the input. I'm going as inexpensive as humanly possible for paint, and honestly it looks better without a design on it. People love the way it looks without decals until I actually tell them it's a Katana.

The reason I don't think I'll get another 10k out of it has some to do with the engine, but mostly to do with my desire for something more suited to touring. Don't get me wrong, it's done great in every situation I've thrown at it (including some offroad), but I want a Strom.

Valve adjustment intervals are 4k miles. Big problem for me, partially because I don't like that interval because it means more maintenance, mostly because the bike has 23k and as far as I know, it's never had one. It never ran like it needed it, so I didn't worry about it. Now it seems like it needs it bad - who knows how it was treated in the year it was away from me, and who knows what damage is done. I won't be stripping the engine completely, just doing the valves and carbs.

I figure 10k is on the lower end of the remaining engine life. Who knows, it could go another 23k, and I certainly wouldn't object to that, but 10k is my personal mileage before I expect a new bike. So this time next year most likely. If it doesn't happen that way, I'll run it as long as I can until I can get my Strom.

I'm not going to lie, I beat the shit out of this bike before I sold it. But I took care of it, it never let me down, and now it doesn't even seem like it's the same bike.

I like the way you think broseph, but I'm a tightwad as it is, and this bike is pretty utilitarian.

EDIT: BTW, it's a 600 and I've given consideration in the past to a 750 swap - not worth my time now.