EvilV:

I've only just received the bike last night, so it would be hasty to make any comparisons . But, they (the Mini and Merc) have very differing DNA, don't they?. Let me spend some time with both and then provide some feedback.

Thanks for your tips on the mods/spares. The Merc already has the aluminum tensioner. I do want to purchase a bunch of spares from Anita. She's got some great prices on her eBay site! I'll need to email her about shipping charges to California. Since there's no Merc support here, I think it would be wise to have some spares lying about.

I'm also going to take heed of some of the mods you've described over this and other threads. I believe in preventive maintenance, as you do. Hope I can continue to count on you for advice on Mercs!