Ya the E440A's where so limited that even the S's had more availability. Would love to find a Revloc for me E440 though, would make woods riding almost as easy as my RZR.
So if the Ohlins wasn't it, what was the difference between the E440 and E440R besides the red color scheme instead of yellow??? I had always seen the E440 with the shivers and the E440R with Ohlins.
And I love how the Euro market got the dual sport... WTF?
Well, Glad this topic came up!
Got me thinking and remembering...and made me dig out my old dealership invoices on the last two batches of '03 bikes i got in which included E440R's and E440's, first would like to say some correction here on my part and on the details of the bikes, yes i know the '03 E440 according to brochure and new bike dealer sales pre-info (which was kinda contradicting to brochure)...On the brochure the '03 E440 was going to be yellow/black/silver color scheme with the cheaper cost 45mm Marzocchi front forks according to dealer price lists and pre-info to lower price to retail $7295.00, the E440R was going to be in the red/black/silver color scheme and remain with the higher cost 46mm Ohlins front forks at retail $8195.00.....hence the higher end model!
Fist thing, i never got in any '03 E440's or '03 E440R's in a yellow/black/silver color scheme, The only bike i got in that Y/B/S color scheme was one of the VERY few E440A's (Revloc) which i still have today (along with a extra complete Revloc set up for future use!....thought i would excite you a little there! LOL!), but as was told on that situation by my 4th. drop-in at store type C'Dale rep (which wont mention his name...as this thing has already made me upset again...about this and along with other things he did or didnt do!) is that the Y/B/S color graphics and seat covers were on used up and more was on back-order from vendor, so to keep supply of anticipated and waiting dealers happy and bikes moving they used the R/B/S stuff to get them out the door on both models!, and then the same reason about the 'Zoke forks was that a large shipment was being waited on from Italy so was using what 'Zoke's they had and then building both models with either stock they had as they still had some Ohlins on hand although again more Ohlins supply were also back-ordered as i was told!
But, here is my opinion and answer on all this and as we all know what was really going on as the truth!, as we all know the '03 models were really for the new year models late arrivals to most dealers to begin with!, due as we all know the fact that they were going down!, Ohlins had already shut them off on supply due to account reasons as many other vendors had, Cdale was having to go to other vendors for things like Marzocchi who was happy to supply and sell forks as they had just came out with there new Shiver and it really was and is a good set of forks, as have dealt with 'Zoke's on my other Italian brand bikes so knew the fork company and the forks, Cycra was another source that until paid up, supply stopped, bill caught up, shipping begins again...case with others also!, So again in reality C'Dale was using what they had and what was trickling in from sources they could get from and keep proimising...checks in the mail! LOL!, So again thats why i ended up with some E440's with Ohlins and some with 'Zoke's and the same being on the E440R's which i also knew other dealers were also getting in the same mix-matched version of the same bikes, and same with the C440R models!, And had 2 E440's that came in that were C's with light added to them at the E's price but on CO had E440 model with C Vin and on bikes....another story!, And if you remember right after the big sale of everything, parts that hit there warehouse in large quantities right before the lock down and before they got to use them on the bikes were later for sale flooding out from everywhere...mainly large amounts of Marzocchi forks, Ohlins rear shocks and a lot of Yellow/Black/Silver decals and seats to name a few....and theres still a large amount of new Y/B/S seats and other parts out there today...sitting in liquidation warehouses in limbo...popping up every now and then!, And yes i snatched up a bunch of those 'Zoke forks and other great parts for a little bit of nothing back in those days!
But as my life never ends in finding out things or on something that always seems to cost me money....and knew then also....but was promised credit and things to make up for it!, to make a long story short, all in all by looking and doing the math from the invoices on the E440,E440R,C440R's i recieved, C'Dale cost me aprx. $2112 (Hey! great Rush album!) on bikes that should have came with the Ohlins forks!.....but whats that little amount compared to how much i lost overall.....my dealership and almost my home and everything!, but i look on the bright side of it C'Dale was there for me when they had the power and after that did end up with some cool bikes and stuff at there expense...somehow....or did i?!....and people still ask...after all that why? my reply!...quoting one of another brands slogans: "If i had to explain ..you wouldnt understand" LOL!
Or my personal favorite inspirational quote, live by motto thing i keep in mind on playing with these bikes im the pursuit of keeping them alive and making them better still is:
???It???s been said that science fiction and fantasy are two different things: science fiction: the improbable made possible; fantasy: the impossible made probable?????? ~ Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone