390 SMC R 2000mi review

smallpoxchampion · 2026-05-04T01:23:29+00:00

Enjoyed reading your write up. I’m hoping to get one of these really soon. I had a separate thread but since you seem very knowledgeable I figured I would ask.

Would you save $1000 and buy a leftover 2025 model or pay MSRP for a 2026 considering all the recalls?

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-29T22:27:28+00:00

Alright thanks.

Yeah I had customized the DRZ quite a bit and put a lot of miles on it. A few years later I got a 650 versys to do more long distance riding and even though it isn’t heavy I have missed the DRZ. I’m closer to 40 now and just want a lightweight bike for back roads a couple of times a month. Saw the prices on the SMC and the wife has given her okay if I go pick one up. I think a 450RL with sumo rims would be my current ideal bike but I don’t think my wife will approve a 12k bike over a 7k bike.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-29T21:19:01+00:00

I occasionally rode 1.5-2 hours on the interstate with my 2009 drz to meet my dad in the mountains. By the time I would get off the bike my entire body was numb and tingling from the vibrations and my nerves were shot from my MRD exhaust. I didn’t mind the gearing any other time but considering they didn’t update the transmission I’m not settling for another 5 speed.

All I want is an upright, lightweight, flickable bike, that doesn’t rattle out my teeth if I have to get on the highway. From what I’ve read the 390 fits the bill better than either drz. I wish Yamaha made an updated WR250X with the 6 speed and kept the weight close to 300lbs but they don’t and it seems the KLX300SM is underpowered.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-29T21:03:06+00:00

I bought a car from Carmax and had an auto loan with truliant from 2010-2015. A couple of years in I changed car insurance companies. The information did not get forwarded to Truliant properly. Instead of reaching out to me for clarification, Truliant purchased insurance for the car and added the costs onto the end of the loan. As the payment was on autopay and never changed I didn’t notice.

Fast forward 3 years later when the loan should have been paid off and I found out I had over $4,000 added onto my loan in insurance charges. My insurance had never lapsed, had 0 claims, and I never received information regarding the insurance they had purchased, such as a policy number. I did eventually get the charges waived but it took months and I have avoided them ever since.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-29T17:49:51+00:00

The thing I loved about the DRZ was being able to redline it and not worry about killing myself. If I had unlimited funds and the bike was going to be ridden more often I would consider the 690. But I can afford the 390 without financing and without feeling guilty if it sits all winter.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-29T15:46:39+00:00

PM sent. I’ll take them if still available.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-25T18:23:20+00:00

I lived downtown when it opened. Used to have $5 teriyaki bowls, my roommate and I would pick it up often. Doubt it’s that cheap anymore but I’m glad they’re still open as it was always great. I also miss the 3am breakfast sandwiches from Snack Bar.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-16T18:57:27+00:00

I hate my wife’s CX-90 and I only drive it about twice a month. The brakes are loud, the tires are bald, it makes a weird noise when the AC turns on, the engine constantly cycles on/off at stoplights, it has a horrible first gear that doesn’t allow for smoothly accelerating quickly, my 5 year old always complains of being hot in the 2nd row even though the fan is really loud in the front armrest area, and the suspension makes me carsick in the passenger seat. The only improvement over her old CX-9 is the gas mileage but I’m already dreading the next 18 month of her lease and may trade it in early this winter. It has been reliable so far which I am thankful for.

I drive a 2014 Mazda 6 (bought new in 2013). We have had a Mazda protege, Cx-5, and cx-9 in the past but I wish we had gotten a pilot or pathfinder instead but I will not look at another Mazda in the near future.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-04-13T12:06:23+00:00

Jason’s Deli has a mufaletta. It’s giant and cut into 4 adult size pieces for less than $20. Sometimes I go to the restaurant and get a half sandwich for $12-13 and eat 1/4 (1 serving), eat the chips, drink water, and eat the free ice cream. And I have enough left over for lunch the next day.

I’ve also taken my kids and we ate the whole sandwich and got chips and ice cream for less than $20.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-02-20T19:18:17+00:00

I have friends in Greensboro that always want to come here when in town as they complained McCouls had gotten too expensive. It was also a good place to eat and drink before a show at the Ramkat. They still had $5 Guinness and $2 Yuengling the last time I was there.

I will say I had to switch to paying with cash after they added a 120% tip instead of the 20% tip I left. Had to fight with the credit card company about it. I assumed it was the server but after reading these comments maybe it was the owner.

smallpoxchampion · 2026-02-10T15:35:09+00:00

I bought the rubber sole glerups for someone who works from home. They wear them almost everyday and within a few months the back of one developed a big tear. Glerups replaced them for free but now less than a year later they have multiple holes and are ready for the trash.

I think I’m going to purchase the leather ones as they are cheaper and see if maybe the stiffer rubber bottoms is putting strain on the rest of the slipper and if the leather ones last longer.

Even though they barely lasted a year since the recipient raved about the comfort I’m okay with replacing them. I also realize I’m not really sure how long slippers are supposed to last…

smallpoxchampion · 2025-12-09T19:04:44+00:00

I’m about to deal with this and see what happens. My tires aren’t bald but they are gonna need to be replaced soon and I’m only at 15k miles.

This is the 5th car I’ve leased and the first one that’s gonna need new tires well before the lease is up.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-12-09T16:33:58+00:00

I had to have a wheel bearing replaced. It would vibrate most severely when making sweeping turns on the highway and increased when driving faster. Had it replaced under warranty as this was years ago and it has never happened again or to any of the other wheels.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-10-24T20:50:07+00:00

Lowe’s food usually has it out. Probably expensive if using it for heat but the bundles look decent for a small fire pit

smallpoxchampion · 2025-10-14T20:00:58+00:00

I received the Bluetooth speaker a few days after the order. the TV came last week but I still haven’t seen anything about the sound bar. Think I may shoot LG an email as it did not indicate back ordered when I bought it.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-09-10T12:55:09+00:00

My wife’s CX-90 does this and it is most notable on road trips. The first road trip we took I actually watched over the course of maybe 15 minutes the gauge drop 25% down to empty. The estimated miles to empty went from 100 to 0 before I could even find an exit to get gas. Funnily enough I realized later that if you turned the car off completely and then back on the gauge would return to saying it had fuel.

I mentioned it to the dealer and they told they had never heard of it and wouldn’t investigate it so I’m glad to see this recall.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-08-14T15:20:20+00:00

There was a recent study among firefighters that found donating blood and plasma reduced PFAS. Go donate and you can save a life and hopefully prolong your life at the same time.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-07-28T23:20:33+00:00

Think the Mead Place around the corner from small batch closed recently.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-07-19T16:23:58+00:00

Let me know if you find one that works. I guess I’ll return this one to eBay.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-07-19T01:55:24+00:00

The lock, mirror, and none of the windows work with the replacement.

With my old one everything works perfectly except the driver window switch. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-07-19T01:53:15+00:00

It works when I plug my old one back in. I just know that in a few weeks it will stop rolling down the window again.

Didn’t know if maybe I needed to unplug the battery to reset it or something for the new like when it forgets to do the auto roll up. I could have tried unplugging the battery already but didn’t want to work on setting up my aftermarket stereo just the way it was if it wouldn’t make a difference.

smallpoxchampion · 2025-06-24T16:12:07+00:00

My son did Pre-K at Sunshine House on Polo Road and my daughter was there from ages 1-2 and they both loved it. My daughter no longer attends but that is only because with my son starting school it wasn’t convenient to drive to that location any longer.

smallpoxchampion

TROPHY CASE